The Great Ape Adventure (A Wildeye / GAFI Project)

Trek to see/film wild mountian gorillas and chimpanzees in the forests of Uganda, whilst learning about and participating in conservation projects to protect our close relatives.

A unique itinerary is planned to give participants an incredible opportunity to see wild great apes and engage in their conservation – see full itinerary below – highlights include: mountain gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, visiting the Ngamba Chimp Island Sanctuary, several game drives featuring lions, elephants, monkeys, buffaloes and more, boat cruising, learning about and participating in conservation projects such as tree-planting, teaching local people about the value of wildlife, and the Pedal Powered Cinema Project, staying at Dian Fossey Lodge.

Accommodation will be in a variety of hotels and lodges – links to these are provided in the itinerary below. Full board is provided throughout. Single supplements are available.

As well as local guides and specialists you will be accompanied throughout by Madelaine Westwood (founder of GAFI (The Great Apes Film Initiative) and the Pedal Powered Cinema Project) and Piers Warren (Principal of Wildeye).

The gorilla trekking can be up to 9 hours so you must have a fair degree of fitness. This trip is suitable for video and stills photographers and sound recordists as well as anyone wanting the ultimate great ape adventure. If you wish to document the trip using video, stills and/or sound, the experienced tour leaders can assist you with this throughout.

(photo on the left © Jonathan Kersley during our last trip)

Comments from previous participants (of a GAFI Gorilla trip):
‘Our expedition to Uganda was an experience of a lifetime! We met some wonderful people and were amazed by the wildlife and diverse countryside. All highly recommended!’

It was an amazing trip and such a thrill to see the gorillas. The tree-climbing lions and the chimpanzees were all highlights as well as the hundreds of lovely school children and their singing and dancing.

Quite simply a life-changing experience!

What a wonderful time we had, all seems like a dream now. Madelaine you are an unsung heroine for the amazing work and contribution you have made, thanks for organising our trip of a lifetime!

Itinerary

Day1 (Monday 14th November 2016): Arrive at Entebbe Airport.
On arrival at Entebbe international Airport, you will be met by our drivers/guides who will transfer you to the Airport Guesthouse in Entebbe for dinner and overnight.

Day2: Ngamba Chimp Island.
After breakfast, drive to the pier to take a boat trip to visit to Ngamba Chimp Island Sanctuary. View the morning feeding at 11am and also visit the vet unit at the sanctuary. After, cruise back to the mainland and arrive in time for afternoon lunch at the hotel. After lunch visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens which have a colony of vervet monkeys as well as numerous birds and tropical plants. Dinner and overnight at Airport Guesthouse in Entebbe.

Day3: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park.
After breakfast, drive through Kampala, the capital city, and head to Kibale forest. Arrive in time for lunch in the restaurant. After lunch visit communities working save the forest. Dinner and overnight at Primate Lodge.

Day4: Chimp tracking.
Go for morning chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest. After tracking, have lunch before driving out to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Arrive in time for boat cruise along Kazinga Channel that connects Lake Edward and Lake Gorge, you will see many bird species as well as hippos and buffalo.. Dinner and overnight at Buffalo Safari Resort.

Day5: Morning game drive and afternoon Chimp tracking.
Wake up early for a morning game drive. You may be able to see animals like lions, buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, waterbucks and many birds. After the game drive back to the lodge for lunch before you go for afternoon chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge. The gorge has other animals like black and white colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey, forest elephants and numerous birds. Dinner and overnight at Buffalo Safari Resort.

Day6: Ishasha – Bwindi.
After breakfast, checkout and drive to Ishasha sector. Take a game drive through this sector and search for tree-climbing lions and other animals. After game drive, lunch at Savannah Hotel and drive to Bwindi National Park for gorilla trekking. Dinner and overnight at Ruhija Gorilla Lodge.

Day7: Gorilla trekking day.
Wake up for early morning breakfast before a briefing from the ranger guides. Carry packed lunch and bottled water with you. Depending on where you find the gorillas in the forest, trekking can be estimated between 1-9hrs and the trekking success with experienced guides is at 99%. The permits allow for one hour in the presence of the gorillas. After trekking, go back to the lodge and relax. Depending on what time you come back from trekking, you will go for a community walk and visit some projects around the area as well as local orphanages and the Batwa people community who have been resettled from the forest to promote gorilla conservation. They used to depend on the forest for food and they are known as good hunters and fruit-gatherers. Dinner and overnight at Gift of Nature Lodge or Ruhija Gorilla Lodge.

Day8: Tree planting and drive to Kisoro Town.
After breakfast we join local villagers in planting trees. This is one way of promoting gorilla conservation projects as this will reduce pressure on the forest from the surrounding community in the form of firewood and timber. You will also be promoting environmental conservation because the trees planted will reduce carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere. After lunch, drive from Bwindi through rolling hills commonly known as the Switzerland of Africa to reach Kisoro Town. Overnight at Dian Fossey Lodge/Travellers Rest, Kisoro.

Day9: Golden Monkeys at Mgahinga
Drive to Mgahinga National Park for a day trekking to view golden monkeys and other wildlife. The endangered golden monkey is endemic to the Albertine Rift, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers a rare chance to track these striking creatures, high in the dense bamboo forests on the Gahinga trail. Return for dinner and overnight at Travellers Rest.

Note that there is also the option of a further gorilla trek on this day instead of the golden monkey trip. The extra cost towards the permit would be £200 per person.

Day 10: Pedal Powered Cinema project.
Visit a local school to witness the Pedal Powered Cinema project. Further tree-plating with the school children. Dinner and overnight at Travellers Rest.

Day11: Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Take a game drive after lunch during which you may see zebras, many species of antelope, hippos and numerous birds. Dinner and overnight at Eagle’s Nest tented camp, with superb views over Lake Mburo National Park.

Day12 (Friday 25th November 2016): Drive back to Entebbe for return flight home.
After breakfast drive to Entebbe. Lunch at Anna’s Corner before transferring to the airport for your departure flight.