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This trip combines the amazing experience of getting up close and personal with the Mountain Gorillas with some of the best game viewing in Africa and plenty of cultural interaction. We do not disturb the delicate eco-systems of the Gorilla trekking area, the Masai Mara, Serengeti, Lake Nakuru and Ngorongoro Crater as we camp in designated areas, and rigidly adhere to low impact camping guidelines.
Days 3 and 4 of this trip take you to Bwindi, which is located on the doorstep of the darkly named Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The drive from Mbarara to Bwindi offers glimpses of rural Ugandan life and the stunning scenery of south-western Uganda. You spend two nights at the national park rondavels, enveloped by the jungles of the World Heritage-listed Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
The next morning you meet our specialist gorilla guides for a brief safety talk and further information about the gorilla trek and the national park. Our guide is fluent in English and will pass on information to us that to ensure that we understand more about the gorillas and how they live. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest covers an area of 330 square kilometres and is located in the far south-west of the country where Uganda, Rwanda and DRC (Congo) meet. This pocket of huge primeval forest is one of the most biologically diverse areas on earth. It has an eco-system that defines the very essence of the continent and has therefore been designated as a World Heritage site. The money from the permits goes towards protecting and conserving this environment and these magical silverback gorillas.
During the Gorillas and Wildlife Encounter we also include a visit to the East Africa Mission Orphanage (EAMO), located near Nakuru in Kenya. It was the first beneficiary of our Community Trust. The camp fees we pay go towards the running of the orphanage, which currently provides full care for 195 orphans, although this number continues to grow. The goal of the orphanage is to treat the resident children as if they were their own. We have raised funds for the construction of a purpose-built nursery and employment of a teacher.
A visit to the School of St Jude in Arusha as part of this tour is a highlight few will ever forget. Peregrine donates US$10 per client to help with the school's running costs. Founded by Australian woman Gemma Sisia, the school is 'fighting poverty through education' in Arusha, Tanzania, by providing free education to over 1500 students. These students are the poorest of the poor in the region. We spend time with the students and teachers at their weekly assembly or a school lunch. Meeting these bright kids, it’s hard not to be touched by their optimism and drive. Don't be surprised if the highlight of your trip isn't a lion in the Masai Mara, but time spent at EAMO or the School of St Jude- be warned it’ a powerful experience.Don't be surprised if the highlight of your trip isn't a lion in the Masai Mara, but time spent at EAMO or school of St Jude- be warned it’ a powerful experience.
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 and ensures we eat at local restaurants. 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 also get the chance to explore a very traditional Masai village in northern Tanzania and gain an insight into the daily life of the Masai. A Masai woman shows us her house and we learn how the Masai women actually build their houses.
We are constantly seeking new and innovative ways of neutralising our impact on the environment. Consequently we offset the land component of all our tours carbon emissions. We think that since it’s our tours that created the emissions then it’s our responsibility to do something about them; we don’t think it’s fair to simply transfer our responsibility to you. We work with Climate Care to use Gold Standard carbon offset projects (or accredited equivalent) to offset our emissions.
In 2010/11 we paid $120,030 to Climate Care Projects. The money goes towards projects like the Uganda Efficient Stoves Project, where efficient wood burning stoves are supplied to families and institutions in Uganda. Other contracted projects include hydro and solar projects.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
