The Great African Primate Expedition

Trek through Uganda's forests to find the elusive mountain gorilla!

Trip Overview

Trek through Uganda’s rainforests to find the rare and elusive mountain gorillas
Visit a chimpanzee orphanage and observe chimps in the wild in Kibale Forest
Help save Africa’s primates through the ecotourism efforts that serve to protect them

You push aside a tangled rope of vine, pressing through the maze of foliage, when at last you see them. Ten or twelve mountain gorillas sit in a forest clearing, two more up in a tree. They stop munching for a moment to observe you, nonchalant. A few feet away you spy the big silverback. Twice the size of the young females, he sits on massive haunches, stripping leaves from branches. He’s close enough to hold your gaze with his liquid brown eyes. Something primal, inexplicable, connects the two of you in that moment, when the world exists only within this rarest of encounters. Natural Habitat Adventures Africa safari through the mountains and forests of Uganda is adventure travel at its best. See mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and support ecotourism efforts to protect them.

Location of Adventure
Uganda

Group Size Limit: Approximately 11 Travelers
A very important feature of our African safari to primate destinations in Uganda is the limited group size as ecotourism expeditions are best experienced with smaller sized groups of travelers.

Included
Accommodations, all meals from lunch on Day 1 to dinner on Day 11, land & air transportation, transfers, some gratuities, services of one porter on gorilla treks, permits & park fees, services of NHA's professional Expedition Leaders (on scheduled departures only, local guides on custom departures).

Not Included
Travel to and from Entebbe, gratuities for local driver/guide, Kibale Forest chimp walk guide, local trackers and trekking guides, gorilla porters and Expedition Leader, optional services of additional porters on gorilla & chimp treks, alcoholic beverages, laundry (except at Gorilla Forest Camp & Ndali Lodge), airport taxes and required medical evacuation insurance.

Physical Requirements
Moderate to Difficult
The strenuous (sometimes very strenuous) trek to the gorillas usually takes between two and three hours, but can take as short as fifteen minutes and as long as four to eight hours (we’ve had one trek take even longer than that). We travel at a pace to accommodate all hikers. Travelers are not required to participate in all activities and are welcome to forego any portion of the program. Travelers should be aware that if they turn around due to fatigue, illness or any other reason the remainder of the group, including the Program Leader, will go on. The returning traveler will be escorted by a local guide.

Getting There & Getting Home
Arrive in Entebbe by 11:30am on Day 1 if you would like to visit the famous Entebbe Botanical Gardens. Otherwise, we ask that you arrive in time for a 7:00pm welcome dinner. We encourage travelers to arrive a day or more early to rest from their plane trip. You are free to depart Entebbe after 5pm on Day 11. We can best serve you if Natural Habitat Adventures’ Travel Desk makes these reservations for you as they are intimately familiar with the special requirements of these programs and can arrange the most efficient and cost-effective travel. Please call us at 1-800-543-8917 .

2008 Dates
Jul 27 - Aug 6
Sep 20 - 30

2009 Dates
Jan 23 - Feb 2
Feb 3 - 13*
Feb 23 - Mar 5*
Jun 27 - Jul 7
Jul 27 - Aug 6
Sep 20 - 30

*These departures can be combined with our Great African Migration Safari in Tanzania. We can also arrange customized East African extensions.

Natural Habitat offers Custom Departures for Primate Watch anytime on demand with a minimum of 2 travelers. Call us for more details: 1-800-543-8917 .

2008 Fees
$7,545
$400 small group surcharge (1-4 travelers)
Single Supp: $795
Deposit: $1,000 non-refundable

Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Fees may increase for 2009.