13 days / Starting From $13,895
Ultimate African Primate Expedition
A Rare Opportunity to Visit the Endangered Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda and Uganda
Humans have long been fascinated with gorillas and chimpanzees, our closest living relatives. To pause, sit and match a gaze with the contemplative eyes of a huge silverback, just yards away in the rainforest – during such a rare encounter, there’s something deeper occurring than simple observation. Yet these magnificent apes are in danger, struggling to survive in the face of poaching and habitat destruction. Our travels take us to their natural habitat, a visit that may be the only hope for their future. This once-in-a-lifetime adventure will certainly change your life – it may well change theirs, too.
- Traverse the rainforest heartland of the mountain gorilla with multiple treks in both Uganda and Rwanda
- Complete the primate experience in Kibale Forest National Park, observing wild chimpanzees and colobus monkeys
- Join NHA’s top Expedition Leaders as we search for the famed primates, as well as plains game and predators, on the savannahs of the Western Rift Valley
Location of Adventure
Uganda and Rwanda
Uganda and Rwanda
Group Size Limit
Approximately 11 travelers
A very important feature of our trips is the limited group size, as nature expeditions are best experienced with smaller groups of travelers.
Included
Accommodations, all meals from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on final day, bottled water, services of NHA Expedition Leader, local guides and lodge staff, gorilla trackers, and one porter on gorilla treks, some gratuities, airport transfers on Day 1 and final day, four gorilla, two chimpanzee, and one golden monkey trekking permit per person, entrance fees, and all taxes.
Not Included
Travel to and from start and end point of trip, alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, passport and visa fees, optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, souvenirs, etc.), airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes, optional travel insurance, and required medical evacuation insurance.
Physical Requirements
Moderate to Difficult
The strenuous (sometimes very strenuous) treks to the gorillas usually take between two and three hours, but can take as short as 15 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 forgo 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 Expedition Leader, will go on. The returning traveler will be escorted by a local guide.
Important Information
Perhaps the two biggest benefits of choosing NHA for your primate safari are our professional Expedition Leaders and our well-engineered itinerary - both provide for an extraordinary journey through the highlights of Uganda and Rwanda without back-tracking. Our leader understands our guests’ needs and makes special arrangements to capitalize on impromptu opportunities along the way. This trip is designed for those seeking exposure to the range of habitats of the mountain gorilla. NHA has been visiting gorillas in Africa since 1989, and this itinerary is the pinnacle of our offerings. A total of four gorilla treks - two in each of Bwindi (Uganda) and in the Virungas (Rwanda) are the highlight. In addition, we’ll visit the chimps of Kibale Forest and observe Africa’s classic wildlife at Queen Elizabeth National Park. We ask our guests to understand that the accommodations in this region are not, collectively, of the standard that may be found in other, more established safari countries. Some lodges are extremely luxurious while others are plain but clean and comfortable.
Getting There & Getting Home
Arrive in Entebbe, Uganda 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 from Kigali, Rwanda after 3pm on the final day. 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.
