Wild rivers, rainforest-clad volcanoes, welcoming, friendly people, amazing wildlife - Uganda and Rwanda have it all.

The Great Gorilla Adventure provides all this in a 10-day itinerary plus the once-in-a-lifetime experience of tracking very big and wild mountain gorillas!

A wonderful adventure, this trip is also for a wonderful cause - helping The Gorilla Organization save the gorillas that you go and visit. You’ll also have the chance to see how gorilla projects are making a difference to this critically endangered species.

Due to restrictions on the numbers of people visiting the gorillas, places on this challenge will be limited to 16.

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ITINERARY

DAY 1 - 19 MAR 09 / 16 OCT 09
Meet and greet at Entebbe airport early morning. Transfer by road to Jinja, the ‘Source of the Nile’ (2hrs). Check in at Nile Porch lodge. Day to acclimatize and rest with an optional afternoon quad biking excursion to explore the local area. Lunch, dinner and overnight at Nile Porch.

DAY 2 - 20 MAR 09 / 17 OCT 09
The wet and wild part of the adventure with 30 kms of the best white water rafting you could ever experience. Twelve major rapids are run on this full day section of the mighty River Nile, plus lots of lower graded runs. Four of the rapids are Grade 5 and are guaranteed to get your heart pumping and adrenaline flowing. Watch out for ‘Total Gunga’, ‘Over Time’, ‘The Bad Place’ and appropriately, ‘Silverback’. Please note that safety is our main concern and all participants will receive a briefing and be properly fitted with a life jacket. In addition, each raft will be accompanied by kayak life guards ready to pluck any ‘swimmers’. Being able to swim will set your mind at rest but the safety standards are such that even non-swimmers can take part. After successfully negotiating the river, there’s a celebration BBQ back at the Nile Porch and a chance later on to watch yourself on a video of the days rafting. Overnight at Nile Porch.

DAY 3 - 21 MAR 09 / 18 OCT 09
After conquering the mighty Nile, the journey to the gorillas begins. The first leg is a 4/5 drive from Jinja, heading southwest and across the Equator, through savannah grasslands with banana plantations and herds of Ankole cattle with their long curving horns. The destination and overnight stop is Lake Mburu National Park where you’ll arrive in time for an evening boat cruise and sun-downers on the lake whilst watching hippos and amazing water birds. Overnight at the Lodge.

DAY 4 - 22 MAR 09 / 19 OCT 09
A chance for an early morning game drive before breakfast. The park is famous for its biodiversity and hosts 68 species of mammal, including zebra, buffalo, topi, eland, roan antelope, leopard and hyena. Then it’s back on the road to the gorillas. Approaching the border with Rwanda, the route ascends into the Kigezi highlands, known locally as the ‘Switzerland of Africa’, with terraced farming and epic mountain scenery, before reaching Parc National de Volcans (Volcanoes National Park) in Rwanda. Total driving time is 4-5hrs, including stops. Dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla Nest

DAY 5 - 23 MAR 09 / 20 OCT 09
Early morning briefing by our ranger guides before starting gorilla tracking. The gorilla habitat is damp, dense rainforest with steep valleys and hillsides, but is criss-crossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. In addition to the gorillas, mammal species recorded include golden monkey, buffalo, elephant, black-fronted duiker, bushbuck, giant forest hog and leopard and these maybe seen during the search for the gorillas family groups. The time taken to find them varies according to the movements of the primates. However, when eventually found, the thrill of spending time observing the these shy and peaceful creatures as they interact, is a privileged, emotional and unforgettable experience. Lunch, dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla Nest.

DAY 6 - 24 MAR 09 / 21 OCT 09
A day visiting projects and learning more of the work of the Gorilla Organisation including lunch with key local staff members. Late afternoon transfer to Kisoro. Dinner and overnight at Travellers Rest Camp.

DAY 7 - 25 MAR 09 / 22 OCT 09
A day of trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The park comprises three extinct volcanoes and the high point of the trek offers views across 3 countries: Rwanda, DR Congo and Uganda. Animal inhabitants include mountain gorilla, buffalo, elephant, bushbuck and golden monkey. The journey is 14kms in total and takes around 8 hrs. Dinner and overnight at Travellers Rest Camp.

DAY 8 - 26 MAR 09 / 23 OCT 09
After breakfast, return transfer by road to Kampala with lunch en route. Journey time: 7-8 hrs. Sit back and enjoy the sights of Uganda – ‘The Pearl of Africa’. Dinner and overnight at Africana Hotel. Options for bars and dancing in the nightspots of this buzzing African city.

DAY 9 - 27 MAR 09 / 24 OCT 09
Transfer to Entebbe – 1hr by road. Boat cruise on Lake Victoria to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Lunch on arrival followed by an afternoon with the chimps. You will be privileged to see the chimps close up with feeding viewed from a raised platform along the edge of the sanctuary fence. The sanctuary aims to educate visitors and local communities about this remarkable species and the importance of conserving their fragile forest habitat and you’ll meet the staff and learn about their work. As well as the chimps, Ngamba Island is a wonderful setting with beautiful views across the lake. Return to mainland in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel.

DAY 10 - 28 MAR 09 / 25 OCT 09
Early morning transfer to airport for onward journeys.

FEES AND SPONSORSHIP

Sponsorship Option:

• Registration Fee (payable to GO): £350, payable when signing up.
• Sponsorship (payable to GO): £2,300, 75% payable 10 weeks prior to
• departure.

Direct payment option:

• Registration Fee (payable to GO): £350, payable when signing up.
• Project Donation (payable to GO): £500, payable 10 weeks prior to departure.
• Direct Payment to World Odyssey: £1,140, payable 10 weeks prior to
• departure.

INCLUDED:

• All activities as mentioned
• All accommodation and 3 meals a day
• All internal transfers

NOT INCLUDED:

• International flights
• Alcoholic drinks
• Tips and items of a personal nature

TRIP NOTES

• Gorilla tracking and trekking is a strenuous activity and a basic level of physical fitness to enjoy this tour.
• Minimum tracking age is 15 years.
• Anyone with signs of communicable diseases will NOT be allowed to track.
• While possession of a gorilla permit is a guarantee of trekking and sighting the gorillas, the quality of the gorilla trekking cannot be guaranteed.
• Maximum time allowed with the gorillas will NOT exceed ONE hour.

RECOMMENDED CLOTHES AND EQUIPMENT

• Rain poncho (lightweight)
• Long-sleeved shirt
• Waterproof trousers
• Sturdy hiking boots
• Leather gardening -type gloves
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Necessary medications must be brought from home town
• Still Cameras and Camcorders are allowed

For the purposes of the Great Gorilla Adventure, the Gorilla Organization acts as an agent for World Odyssey (ATOL number 5345). The Gorilla Organization allocates places on the challenge and any monies paid to the Gorilla Organization are protected by World Odyssey’s ATOL bond.

Need more info and pictures? Check this out: Additional Information

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