Mountain Gorilla Safaris
| country: | Uganda |
| trip type: | Walking safaris, introductory walking |
| departures: | 2009: 21 Nov 2010: 2 Jan, 13 Feb, 27 Mar, 8 May, 19 Jun, 3 Jul, 17 Jul, 14 Aug, 18 Sep, 23 Oct, 4 Dec 2011: 1 Jan, 22 Jan, 26 Feb, 19 Mar, 30 Apr, 4 Jun |
| price: | From £1075 (8 days) excluding flights. Local payment US$300 . We can arrange flights from the UK |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
If you are short on time but who have always wanted to see some of the rarest primates on the planet, then this is the trip for you. We travel from Entebbe to the south-western corner of Uganda, Bwindi, to spend time with the majestic highland mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Passing incredible landscapes, meeting local Ugandans and visiting a chimpanzee sanctuary on a small island on Lake Victoria are other highlights of this trip. Coming face to face with endangered gorillas in their own environment is a real privilege and an experience that will be indelibly etched in our minds. There is no real way to describe the intimacy of getting close to these giants - for many, it is a deeply moving experience. Quite simply trekking to visit mountain gorillas is one of those 'must do' things and Uganda offers an incredible opportunity to achieve this.
Unlike most other companies Gecko's pre-purchases gorilla permits from the Ugandan authorities to ensure that we are able to offer them for each departure. Please note that the Ugandan government may revoke or change permit conditions at any time (including after purchase) without prior notice. Gecko's Adventures does not accept responsibility for loss of enjoyment or compensation resulting from any changes beyond our control.
From our joining hotel in Entebbe, our customised safari vehicle, takes us on our journey through Uganda. We stay in local hotels or tented camps that are fairly basic, but all offer hot showers at the end of the day. A local leader escorts us during our safari, giving us a valuable insight into the cultural aspects of the country and the local ways, whilst expert trackers help us in our quest to find the mountain gorillas.
Unlike most other companies Gecko's pre-purchases gorilla permits from the Ugandan authorities to ensure that we are able to offer them for each departure. Please note that the Ugandan government may revoke or change permit conditions at any time (including after purchase) without prior notice. Gecko's Adventures does not accept responsibility for loss of enjoyment or compensation resulting from any changes beyond our control.
From our joining hotel in Entebbe, our customised safari vehicle, takes us on our journey through Uganda. We stay in local hotels or tented camps that are fairly basic, but all offer hot showers at the end of the day. A local leader escorts us during our safari, giving us a valuable insight into the cultural aspects of the country and the local ways, whilst expert trackers help us in our quest to find the mountain gorillas.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Entebbe |
| Day 2: | Mbarara |
| Day 3: | Bwindi Impenetrable Forest |
| Day 4: | Gorilla Trekking (Bwindi - Uganda) |
| Day 5-6: | Bushara Island Camp - Lake Bunyoni |
| Day 7: | Entebbe |
| Day 8: | Chimpanzee Sanctuary - Entebbe |
travellers' tales
Wonderful! The gorillas were the most memorable part! (more)
Award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society how this holiday makes a difference
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This trip is focused on respecting and benefiting the local people and the environment of this country. On this trip you will be lead by an experienced local leader passionate about their country's history, heritage and natural beauty that will help you to get 'under the skin' of their country and see it through the eyes of a local. This trip stays at locally run accommodation; we eat at local restaurants and travel on local transport. This ensures the financial return to the local economy opens up training and employment opportunities - and allows for informal and meaningful interaction between our travellers and local people.
We are constantly seeking new and innovative ways of neutralising our impact on the environment. We will become the first Australian adventure tour operator to offer a voluntary carbon offsetting option on the land component of all its tours, as well as the accompanying flights. Our Community Trust provides funds for local community projects and initiatives that promote responsible and sustainable tourism development in the destinations in which we operate. First and foremost, but not exclusively, the Trust supports projects and initiatives that advance education and employment within the tourism and hospitality industry. The Trust operates on a not-for-profit basis, with every cent of funds donated by us, our staff and our travellers, going to the nominated projects. The maximum group size on all of our adventures is 16 passengers – with exception of some African trips (24 max) and in the Polar Regions, where our ship carries a maximum of 110 passengers. Travelling in small groups ensures we make significantly less impact on the natural environment, as well as breaking down many of the communication barriers presented by a larger group. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and time to make your own discoveries. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as gaining an understanding of the respective cultures you visit. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |