Gorillas & hiking Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains
Price
£3899 excluding flights
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More info
Includes English speaking local guide and Trekking guide throughout, plus wildlife guides for Gorilla tracking.
11 nights twin share accommodation.
Single rooms available for a supplement of £350. Excludes $800 Gorilla permit.
11 nights twin share accommodation.
Single rooms available for a supplement of £350. Excludes $800 Gorilla permit.
Description of Gorillas & hiking Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains
Map
Price information
£3899 excluding flights
Convert currency:
Includes English speaking local guide and Trekking guide throughout, plus wildlife guides for Gorilla tracking.
11 nights twin share accommodation.
Single rooms available for a supplement of £350. Excludes $800 Gorilla permit.
11 nights twin share accommodation.
Single rooms available for a supplement of £350. Excludes $800 Gorilla permit.
Check dates, prices & availability
Travel guides
Otherworldly landscapes, epic views and summit sunrises await on the world’s most lofty trails.
This guide attempts to capture why this is considered by many to be one of the most magnificent wildlife safaris in the world.
Reviews
2 Reviews of Gorillas & hiking Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 10 Jan 2025 by Jane Currie
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Actually seeing the gorillas in their natural habitat...so special.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The treks were very demanding due to weather conditions, altitude and terrain.
Ensure you're up to it and have rain proof equipment.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We were give the opportunity to see local villages and dances. Hopefully our visit
and gratuities helped the local community....I believe the permit required to see the gorillas goes towards their conservation and wellbeing.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I would describe this holiday as an adventure rather than a holiday! Managing the hikes was certainly a personal achievement....As an aside I didn't realise the tour operator used a different company to provide the holiday. Not sure the tour operator needed to be involved!
Read the operator's response here:
Many thanks for your feedback. We are so pleased that seeing the gorillas did not disappoint. Booking through a UK tour operator provides you with financial security. Some local ground handlers only work with tour operators and not directly with the customer.
Reviewed on 08 Jan 2025 by Jennifer Steward
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There were many memorable moments: tracking gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP and discovering two gorilla families interacting; climbing up and down the 3 peaks of Mt Sabinyo - a challenging hike with impressive scenery into three
countries (Uganda, Rwanda and DRC); trekking to the otherworldly Lobelia Gardens in the Rwenzori Mountains; spotting a leopard in Mt Mburo NP on New Year's Day; meeting the Batwa people and discovering their culture. The list could go on... :-)
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
While the country is magnificent and the people friendly, the distances are long on bumpy and dusty dirt roads. There are not many places to stop for a rest/ meal. The Rwenzori trek is challenging and the weather is tropical - be prepared for heavy rain and deep mud on the trails. Make sure all your gear is properly rain-proofed and good waterproof boots are a must. The mountain huts can be cold so bring warm clothes and sleeping bag. The itinerary is evolving so travelers should be prepared for changes and adjustments (both prior to travel and when in-country) - don't expect everything to go exactly as planned.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Very much so! Guides (and porters) from the local community were used and some of the accommodation was linked to conservation projects - we were given insights into the Conservation through Public Health initiative in Bwindi. The trip also
introduced us to the Batwa people and their culture and ongoing challenges.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Uganda is an incredible country! The trip was a great blend of challenging trekking (Rwenzori) and hiking (Mount Sabinyo), cultural and conservation experiences. There were some elements which did not go exactly as planned but, overall, that did not detract from my enjoyment of of the holiday. The key trip elements were five stars - fantastic and unforgettable - however the trip management and itinerary need a little refinement which reduces the rating overall.
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) holiday so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your holiday to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet
We work with the policy of ‘take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints’. In other words, we ensure that we as a company leave these areas as we find them and as such we operate a strict no litter policies, taking all refuse to either be recycled or properly disposed of in nearby towns.Wherever possible we have chosen to camp or stay in recognised eco accommodation: Days 2-4, 6 & 7 and 10
The nature of this tour involves some in-country travel, which is done primarily by road. We limit the heavy carbon load of internal flights to one domestic flight (duration 1hr 35mins) to enable us to reach the Rwenzori Mountains. At all other times, we embrace the road journey as an integral part of the adventure, taking time to observe and start to relax in the African environment we pass through.
On Days 6 & 7 we support the work of the Conservation through Public Health NGO by using their Gorilla Conservation Camp accommodation as well as of course, supporting the Ugandan Wildlife Authority and Jane Goodall Institute with our purchase of wildlife permits.
Finally, we are very proud to have partnered with Water-To-Go, specialists in personal and expedition water purification, instantly, and on-demand. Their unique, 350L water bottles incorporate advanced filtration technology to convert even the dirtiest water to drinking water as you fill up.
Being able to produce safe drinking water from sources off the beaten track, of sometimes dubious quality, offers incredible benefits to our adventure travellers and eliminates the need for single-use plastic bottles. We subsidise this product to make it more accessible to you.
People
We operate just 2 small group tours (max 12) per year and throughout this exciting 2 week adventure our clients will meet and benefit from the work and support of many local guides, and those working within the accommodation we use.On Day 8 of the adventure, we spend time with a Batwa tour guide in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The plight of the Batwa people is emotive and complicated - their fates are tied into the conservation of gorillas and use of land for agriculture. We aim to help our clients understand the complexities and sensitivity around this, as well as give them an insight into the fading culture of this group.
We inform our clients as much as possible about the local culture and the expectation of visitors so we make only a positive effect on the areas and communities that we visit.
We encourage our travellers to support the communities by spending their money with local businesses through the purchasing of locally sourced goods and souvenirs.
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