5 February 2008

On 13 October 2008, 16 brave and determined people will leave for Africa to take on the Great Gorilla Challenge. They will raft the source of the Nile, trek through the bamboo forests of the Virunga Volcanoes and come face to face with one of our closest relatives, the Mountain gorilla. The Gorilla Organization is now looking for adventurous people who are prepared to take part in the race to save the gorillas from extinction.

The sponsored adventure, organised by the Gorilla Organization, will raise over £13,000 for the charity’s projects in central Africa. Neil Bridgland, the Great Gorilla Challenge organiser said, “we are looking for adventurous people who are up for doing something different and exciting, and who are prepared to go a little bit further to help save a magnificent creature from extinction – it is going to be immense!”

The 10-day adventure will begin in Uganda, at the source of the Nile, where the adventurers will spend two days braving grade 5 rapids. They will then cross the equator and travel through savannah grasslands and banana plantations to the border of Rwanda. The following days will be spent trekking the steep volcanic slopes of Virunga National Park in search of the magnificent mountain gorillas, and visiting the Gorilla Organizations community based conservation projects in the surrounding villages. Returning to Uganda, the travellers will spend a day gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park before heading to the bright lights and nightlife of the buzzing African city, Kampala. The last day before retuning home is spent at a chimpanzee sanctuary on a beautiful Island in lake Victoria.

Bridgland continues, “During the challenge, we will be visiting local villages and understanding the real threats to the gorillas’ survival, we will also experience first hand the work of the Gorilla Organization - these are experiences that you don’t get on a package tour – it will be a once in a life time opportunity.”

The Great Gorilla Challenge is the latest in a new series of Great Gorilla events from the organisers of the Great Gorilla Run. These fun and challenging ‘gorilla themed’ events will get people from all over the world engaged in unique activities that will make a difference to the gorillas long-term future.

All proceeds from the Great Gorilla Challenge and other Great Gorilla events will help fund the Gorilla Organization’s projects in central Africa. The Gorilla Organization works internationally to save the world’s last remaining gorillas from extinction, by tackling the main threats to the gorillas’ long-term survival. The charity’s projects provide local communities with viable alternatives to the unsustainable use of the gorilla habitat. These not only bring vast benefits to local people, but also enable them to play an active role in gorilla conservation and become stakeholders in the gorillas’ future.

For further information or photographs contact:

Abi Girling, Communications Officer
The Gorilla Organization,110 Gloucester Avenue, London, NW1 8HX
Tel: 020 7916 4974
Mobile: 07801 971123
Email: abi@gorillas.org
www.gorillas.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Great Gorilla Challenge

Location: Uganda and Rwanda

Date: 13 October – 22 October 2008 and 16 March – 25 March 2009

Duration: 10 days

Group size: 16

Cost: Prices start from £1850 of which a minimum of £850 is donated to the Gorilla Organization.

Included: All activities, all accommodation and 3 meals a day, all internal transfers

Not Included: International flights, Alcoholic drinks, Tips and items of a personal nature

To sign up email info@gorillas.org 020 7916 4974.

Web: www.gorillas.org and www.greatgorillas.org (launching end of February)

Itinerary

DAY 1 / 13 OCTOBER ‘08

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 acclimatise and rest with an optional afternoon quad biking excursion to explore the local area. Lunch, dinner and overnight at Nile Porch.

DAY 2 / 14 OCTOBER ‘08

The wet and wild part of the adventure begins with 27 kms of the best white water rafting you could ever experience. 12 rapids are run on this full day section of the mighty River Nile. 4 of the rapids are Grade 5 and are guaranteed to get your heart pumping and adrenaline flowing. Watch out for “Total Gunga”, “Big Brother”, “Over Time” and the simply awesome “The Bad Place”. 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. Lunch, dinner and overnight at The Haven in tented accommodation on the banks of the Nile.

DAY 3 / 15 OCTOBER ‘08

Another half day of riding the white water rapids. Once the rapids are conquered, a huge BBQ awaits on the riverbank - the perfect way to celebrate conquering the Nile. Overnight at Mabira Forest Lodge.

DAY 4 / 16 OCTOBER ‘08

An early morning start for a long day on the road crossing Uganda. From Jinja, the road heads southwest and across the Equator, through savannah grasslands with banana plantations and herds of Ankole cattle with their long curving horns. 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 8-9hrs, including lunch and regular stops. Dinner and overnight at Mountain

Gorilla Nest

DAY 5 / 17 OCTOBER ‘08

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 may be seen during the search for the gorilla 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 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 / 18 OCTOBER ‘08

A day visiting projects and learning more of the work of the Gorilla Organization including lunch with key local staff members. Late afternoon transfer to Kisoro. Dinner and overnight at Travellers Rest Camp.

DAY 7 / 19 OCTOBER ‘08

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 / 20 OCTOBER ‘08

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 / 21 OCTOBER ‘08

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 / 22 OCTOBER ‘08

Early morning transfer to airport for onward journeys.