Enjoy witnessing the stunning Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat on this gorilla conservation project!
This award-winning gorilla project gives you the chance to get up close and personal with captivating and endangered mountain gorillas in the forest greenery of their natural Ugandan habitat. The work undertaken on this project 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 ongoing protection of these incredible creatures, but you will also have the privilege of watching them roaming freely in their natural habitat. Your gorilla treks will take place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - a sanctuary that is home to half of the world's endangered mountain gorillas, and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Here you will collaborate with the local communities on environmental protection efforts, along with livelihood initiatives. Additionally, you will help to educate the local community on the importance of gorilla conservation and help them implement strategies to actively contribute towards this cause.
As well as two permit-inclusive gorilla treks, this volunteer project also includes an excursion to Lake Mburo National Park where you’ll embark on two classic African game drives and venture out by boat to spot pods of hippos and crocodiles. You will also have the opportunity to track wild chimpanzees in Kalinzu Forest, where you’ll participate in their habituation process.
Not only is this an incredible opportunity to experience once-in-a-lifetime great ape encounters, but this project will also wrap you up in the warmth of Uganda’s local communities and paint a picture of the country’s unsung beauty and incredible wildlife that will stay with you for a lifetime.
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.
To secure a place on this project, a deposit of $245 is required at the time of booking with a further deposit of $1,500 required 6 months prior to your start date to secure your gorilla trekking permits. The remaining balance is due 60 days before your start date.
Flexible Payment Options: If you select a start date more than 3 months in advance, we offer convenient payment plans, allowing you to pay off your balance in instalments.
Tip: Groups of 2 or more can book dates not listed below, but this is dependent on the availability of permits. Please get in touch with our travel team for more information.
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.