![Accommodation in Kigali](https://cdn.ahead4.com/thegreatprojects/images/6/6/a/d/c/66adcf680fb584f83502a13dbc48bca6.png?width=300&height=200&format=png)
Enjoy witnessing the stunning Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat on this gorilla conservation project!
On this gorilla project, you will engage in a wide variety of activities within the local communities, supporting areas of mountain gorilla conservation in and around the national parks. You will also take part in two breath-taking treks to see the beautiful endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Please note, itineraries are subject to change and what follows is simply a rough guideline. All trips, however, will include two gorilla treks, one chimpanzee trek and work with the local communities.
On the first night, you will be staying at a lovely hotel situated near Kigali International Airport. You will be given a spacious room that overlooks the beautiful gardens and has an en-suite bathroom. The accommodation in Kisoro, where you will be spending most of your time on the project, is basic but comfortable, and your room will include a mosquito net and en-suite bathroom. There is also a bar/lounge area where you can make use of the free Wi-Fi. Next, you will be in Lake Mburo National Park where you can enjoy stunning views of the lake from your safari tent. Your shared room will have an en-suite bathroom, linens, and power points to ensure your comfort after a busy day. In Kalinzu Forest you will be accommodated at an eco-friendly, family-run hotel that offers large, clean rooms with en-suite bathrooms and Wi-Fi.
All rooms are allocated on a twin-share, same-sex basis, although double rooms are available for couples. For more privacy, it is also possible to upgrade to a single room for an additional fee.
3 meals per day are provided and for most, you will have a full menu to choose from. All beverages (including alcoholic) are not included but are available at each accommodation and throughout the trip. When taking part in the gorilla treks, water and a packed lunch will be provided.
The most popular months to go gorilla trekking in Uganda are from May to September and December to February, as whilst it is warm throughout the year with average temperatures of 25-28°C (77-82°F), these are the driest months and so offer the best conditions for trekking.
We offer select group start dates during these months but can also offer private trips for groups of two or more throughout the year, except for in July and August as the schools are closed for holidays.
You will need to arrive into Kigali International Airport (KGL) on the start date of your project, where you will be met by a project representative and transferred to Hotel Chez Lando in Kigali for your first night's accommodation. Arriving before 6pm is preferred as there is a welcome dinner at approximately 7pm, but if you have a flight arriving later, a transfer can still be arranged.
On the final day of the project, you are transferred back to Kigali in the afternoon and so will need to book a flight that departs Kigali International Airport after 7pm. This is because you may not get back to Kigali until 4pm so this will ensure you have enough time and will not miss your flight. You can also book another night at Hotel Chez Lando and fly the next day if there are better flight options but this will be at an additional cost.
Most nationalities will require a tourist visa to enter Rwanda and Uganda. It may be possible to obtain a visa on arrival, but if not, we recommend obtaining an East Africa Visa as this allows you to travel between Uganda and Rwanda, and means you only have to apply for 1 visa. Tourist visas for Rwanda can be applied for online at https://irembo.gov.rw/user/citizen/service/dgie/request_a_visa, and tourist visas for Uganda can be applied for online at https://visas.immigration.go.ug/.
This project does not involve much in the way of physical labour but is heavily based around trekking on the gorilla tours - usually in fairly humid conditions. Therefore, all volunteers should have high enough levels of fitness to be able to partake in regular treks. No specific skills or experience are required, just commitment to the project and its aims. You must be prepared to work alongside other members of the team and to bring an upbeat, positive attitude to the endeavour as a whole.
All visitors to Uganda are required to have a yellow fever vaccination and must present the certificate upon arrival. Any other vaccinations will depend on your medical history, so we recommend speaking with your GP/Doctor regarding your own vaccination requirements.
See how you could spend your time as a volunteer on The Great Gorilla Project. This project combines incredible wildlife experiences with community impact as you adventure through stunning national parks, visit indigenous communities and schools, go on a game drive and a boat cruise, and of course, join the highly anticipated gorilla and chimpanzee treks.
Amira and Catriona share what it was like when they volunteered on The Great Gorilla Project. Over their fortnight-long adventure through Uganda, they explored the rich culture and landscapes of East Africa, visited rural communities, took part in two spectacular gorilla treks, and so much more.
Well where do I start. My trip was over about 1 month ago. I am still reeling over the time I had!! This was my birthday trip. Little did I know that this was a trip of a lifetime, and I do mean this. I originally signed up because of the gorilla trekking but this trip is SOOO much more. Don’t get me wrong I was able to sit with these majestic beauties not once but twice. The treks were both in different environments which was nice. The demonstration school was my highlight equal to the gorilla trekking. Such beautiful children and people and teachers, very impressive. The premature baby hospital was amazing. The visit to the Batwa village was extremely informative and very heartbreaking.
Just came back from Uganda/Rwanda on The Great Gorilla Project – a truly wonderful, eye-opening, challenging experience. From the very first contact with the team in London to the final farewell in Kigali, the whole thing was handled professionally – all questions and concerns promptly dealt with. The project team in Africa, Peter and Dennis, were amazing – always happy and willing to answer our questions, openly and honestly, and always looking for ways to improve our experience. They coped brilliantly with all the issues thrown at them and were willing to be flexible when we suggested tweaks to the itinerary, and even, whilst always looking for ways to improve the overall experience, ensuring we had the opportunity to watch the football (Euros) in the evenings, an unexpected bonus! Our group collectively wanted to do more volunteering elements, so Peter and Dennis arranged for a second session to be spent at the children’s Development School helping to repaint another classroom. The days spent at the school were amazing – heart-warming and funny – very much among the main highlights of the trip. Also, we wanted to find a way to further help the Batwa pygmy community that we visited– Peter... Just came back from Uganda/Rwanda on The Great Gorilla Project – a truly wonderful, eye-opening, challenging experience. From the very first contact with the team in London to the final farewell in Kigali, the whole thing was handled professionally – all questions and concerns promptly dealt with. The project team in Africa, Peter and Dennis, were amazing – always happy and willing to answer our questions, openly and honestly, and always looking for ways to improve our experience. They coped brilliantly with all the issues thrown at them and were willing to be flexible when we suggested tweaks to the itinerary, and even, whilst always looking for ways to improve the overall experience, ensuring we had the opportunity to watch the football (Euros) in the evenings, an unexpected bonus! Our group collectively wanted to do more volunteering elements, so Peter and Dennis arranged for a second session to be spent at the children’s Development School helping to repaint another classroom. The days spent at the school were amazing – heart-warming and funny – very much among the main highlights of the trip. Also, we wanted to find a way to further help the Batwa pygmy community that we visited– Peter and Dennis discussed specific needs with the community leader, took us shopping to buy various provisions for them and then took us back to the village to distribute all the goods. Of course, the gorilla and chimp treks were brilliant – all three different and challenging, but we were rewarded with lots of close up encounters, and some fantastic photos/videos. The rangers, guides and porters were so helpful, knowledgeable and keen to make our experience as memorable as possible – it was great to see the local communities directly involved and benefiting from The Great Gorilla Project. A special mention should be given to the staff at Golden Monkey in Kisoro, where we spent most of our time, particularly Benard, who was our wifi guru and kept us fuelled with cold beer, Claire, Eric and James, whose happiness and positivity was infectious. Also to Abbott, the chef, who kept us extremely well fed throughout and, finally, to Sheba, the owner, for continually striving to make every aspect of the trip perfect for our group. I’m sure each group is different, so it is important that the team is keen to hear requests and suggestions and to put forward options for accommodating them, as well as to learn for future groups. Overall, as an opportunity to visit somewhere a long way from the main tourist trail, to get a real feel for life there and experience some genuine bucket list activities, this trip can’t be beaten – go and do it, with an open mind and a willingness to muck in and be flexible, you won’t regret it. (Show More)
It was a great trip and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone considering combining a gorilla trek with some volunteering. We really felt as if we had a genuine experience, not just a 'tourist' one. Painting a classroom, planting trees, visiting a pygmy tribe and taking some students for a walk in the national park were very worthwhile and everyone was so friendly. The coordinator Peter and guide Denis were faultless, always willing to answer all questions and we wouldn't have had nearly such a great time without them. The volunteer accommodation is of course fairly basic, but perfectly adequate with lovely friendly staff and meals that were plentiful, tasty, and nutritious. Uganda is beautiful and although the treks were hard going, they were definitely a tick off the bucket list.