Enjoy the thrill of Gorilla Trekking on this gorilla conservation project
This award-winning gorilla volunteer project gives you the chance to get up close and personal with captivating and endangered mountain gorillas in the lush greenery of their natural Ugandan habitat. The work undertaken during this gorilla conservation tour is essential in bridging the gap between indigenous communities and the gorillas who share their vulnerable rainforest homes.
As a volunteer, you will not only be able to actively contribute to the on-going protection of these incredible creatures, but will also be able to experience them roaming freely in their natural habitat. Your gorilla trekking tours will take place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - a sanctuary that is home to half of the world's critically endangered mountain gorillas. Here you will collaborate with the local communities on reforestation efforts and will work towards educating these communities on the importance of gorilla conservation.
As well as two permit-inclusive gorilla treks, this volunteer project also includes a four-day excursion to Uganda's renowned Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here you and your fellow volunteers will have the opportunity to track wild chimpanzees on a chimpanzee trek, join an unforgettable boat trip on the Kazinga Channel and accompany game-drives searching for elephants, lions and other species.
Not only is this an incredible opportunity to experience the majesty of Ugandan wildlife species in all their natural splendour, but it is also a chance to make a real difference to the conservation of one of the continent's most treasured great apes.
On this 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. However, all two week projects will include two gorilla tours, one chimpanzee trek and work with the local communities.
To secure a place on this project a deposit of £195 is required at the time of booking with a further deposit of £650 required 6 months prior to your start date. This is required so that your gorilla trekking permits can be secured. Your final balance payment will then be due any time up to 60 days prior to your start date.
Select a duration below to see the available start dates. All dates shown are currently available for you to join this project!
It is still possible to join this project any time up to the start date, however, we will just need to double check that we can book your gorilla trekking permits, therefore, if you would like to go any time in the next 6 months, please do send us an email or fill out the enquiry form below.
The success of this tour, founded in 2011, was recognised and celebrated by leading travel experts, and was voted as one of the most innovative eco-travel initiatives in the Guardian's Green Travel List. This is the most responsible and sustainable manner in which to view endangered mountain gorillas in the wild, as the programmes that this project supports have truly remarkable positive impacts on local communities.
One of the most remarkable of these is the Kisoro Demonstration School for blind and deaf children, which this project supports financially. This school provides a safe learning environment for blind and deaf children in the area, who may not otherwise have access to an effective education. We are thrilled to be able to support these children on a year by year basis, and seeing their progress each time volunteers visit is a real thrill and a privilege. One of the children who we have supported through their schooling is Gedion, and you can read more about these courageous young mans progress in the blogs below.
Volunteers in Uganda are essential in all the work and success of this project, as their enthusiasm and passion helps to empower the local people with knowledge and strategies. Both the initiatives the project supports and the interaction of the volunteers helps greatly to bridge the gap between local communities and the endangered mountain gorillas that inhabit the same land.
This is your chance to read all about the Gorilla families who live in the forest at the site of The Great Gorilla Project! There are currently four different Gorilla troops in the forest, but to see them all you'll have to make sure you keep your eyes peeled!
What are the most endangered species in the world? The Great Projects are here to inform you of just that in an attempt to spread awareness of the plight of these innocent species. If action is not taken rapidly, we are at risk of losing species that have inhabited the earth for thousands of years. Expand your knowledge and help the circle of life to thrive!
The 19th of May is Endangered Species Day, and the need to help our planet's at-risk animals is greater than ever. Find out how you can make a difference by reading today's blog.
On arrival, you will be transferred to a beautiful guesthouse in Kigali, close to the airport with ensuite bathrooms. The rooms are twin-share.
The accommodation provided at the project base is more basic, but still includes rooms with mosquito-nets, an ensuite bathroom and based on twin-sharing. This guesthouse boasts a stunning view of the volcanoes on a clear day.
In Queen Elizabeth National Park you will stay in a hostel right in the middle of the park’s wildlife in shared rooms with shared shower and toilet facilities. This accommodation offers some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities that you will have whilst in the National Park. Elephants and hippos are known to make frequent visits.
3 meals are provided a day and you have a full menu to choose from daily. Beverages (including alcoholic) are also available at the guesthouse but are not included in the cost.
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.
The vaccinations required will depend on your medical history. We recommend that you consult with your GP regarding your own immunisation needs. In conjunction with this, we would also recommend that you check Fit for Travel’s website.
Whilst you are able to volunteer throughout the year there are certain elements that are unavailable in July and August, namely any work at the Kisoro Demonstration School or with its pupils. Therefore, we are unable to offer this project in these months.
Popular months to gorilla trek in Uganda are May to September and December to February due to the drier weather, although it is warm all year round with temperatures between 25 and 28°C (77-82°F).
You will need to arrive into Kigali International Airport on the start date of your project preferably between 8am and 5pm, where they will be met by a project representative and transferred to Hotel Chez Lando in Kigali for your first nights accommodation.
On the final day of the project you are transferred back to Kigali where you can depart Kigali International Airport on flights with a departure time of 9pm or later otherwise you may have to book another night at Hotel Chez Lando.
If you would like help booking your flights, please visit our flights page and fill out the form. A member of our team will get back in touch as soon as possible with a suitable quote.
Both a Rwandan and Ugandan Visa are required for this trip, and both can be bought in country depending on your Nationality, so it is best to explore this first. As you will be in Rwanda at the beginning and end of your trip, it is worth having a multiple entry Rwandan Visa. Your Ugandan Visa can be single entry. In order to avoid time spent at the border or perhaps issues on arrival, it is also very easy to purchase your visa in advance, which can be obtained from Ugandan high commissions or embassies prior to departure. More details can be found in the pre-departure information given after booking. We recommend, however, obtaining an East Africa Visa as this allows fo travel between Uganda and Rwanda and means you only have to apply for 1 visa. This can be applied for online at https://www.migration.gov.rw/index.php?id=28 and costs USD100.
The currency in Uganda is the Ugandan Shilling. 1 UGX is approximately 0.0002 GPB, 0.0003 EUR and 0.0004 USD. For up-to-date exchange rates please check xe.com. You can only purchase shillings in Uganda so volunteers should bring out their cash in US dollars which are accepted in all hotels and the popular tourism areas in both Rwanda and Uganda, and are easy to change into shillings upon arrival.
If you have any questions about this project or would like help finding the perfect project for you then please feel free to give us a call or send us through your enquiry and we will be happy to help.
Nikita & team.
There are so many memories I will take away! Amazing wildlife encounters but obviously the Mountain Gorillas were stunning!
Margaret St.George Sproule, 2017
Walking into the orphanage and realising it wasn't just the gorillas that I'd come to help and protect. When I went to Gisoro primary school and I asked the crowd of excited boys and girls for a hug and they all hugged me. All of them.It brought me more joy and happiness than i could ever imagine. The work you're doing is great and I'd love to be a full-time volunteer out there.
Khristine Strain, 2017
The itinerary is well organised (and quite intense - you've got to be quite fit!); just excellent. Being so close to the amazing gorillas, the beautiful countryside and the happy but so poor people. l will never forget this wonderful adventure!
Ruth Warren, 2016
The moment when I first saw a silverback sitting with his 6 month old was the most amazing feeling and a pleasure to experience. I also loved being able to see the Nshongi group (which was the oldest group) and also the Kahungye group (one of the largest groups), it was such an adventure!
Angela Goodsir, 2016
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