Gorilla Trekking Tours for NGO Workers

Gorilla Trekking Tours for NGO Workers – Explore Bwindi Gorilla Tours

Supporting NGO Workers

The Uganda National NGO Forum serves as an independent and inclusive national platform for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Uganda. It focuses on addressing the concerns of NGOs and civil society organizations, fostering the growth of a respected and well-informed NGO sector.

Special Discounts for NGO Workers

Trek Africa Expeditions is a locally owned tour operator that specializes in arranging tours and safaris in Uganda and Rwanda. Having collaborated with numerous NGO groups through the Uganda National NGO Forum, we are pleased to offer special company rates to both national and foreign NGO workers operating in Uganda. If you are a traveler from one of the East African countries, you can take advantage of discounted gorilla permits and discounts from Trek Africa Expeditions.

Requirements for Special Discounted Safaris

To qualify for our special tour package, NGO workers are required to meet the following criteria:

1. Work Permit: When contacting Trek Africa Expeditions, you must provide documentation proving that you are either working or volunteering with an NGO in Uganda.
2. Diplomatic Passport: In cases where acquiring a work permit is not feasible due to holding a diplomatic passport, you must obtain a formal letter from your organization along with a copy of your diplomatic passport.

Special 3-Day Gorilla Trekking for NGO Workers

Overview

Bwindi Gorilla Trekking: Bwindi National Park is the largest national park that is home to mountain gorillas in all three countries that harbor the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Covering an area of 321 square kilometers, it is one of the oldest national parks globally.

The park, located in southwestern Uganda, is renowned for its mountain gorillas, with approximately 800 of these majestic creatures inhabiting the national park. Bwindi’s natural beauty extends to its primates, birds, trees, antelopes, and much more.

The name “Bwindi” translates to “darkness” in the local language, a fitting moniker for the forest with its dense vegetation, streams, and steep mountains that require physical fitness to navigate.

The park is also home to 12 habituated mountain gorilla groups, a variety of primates including chimpanzees, baboons, white and black colobus monkeys, numerous mammals, reptiles, butterflies, frogs, birds, and more. Gorilla trekking can take from 30 minutes to three-quarters of a day, depending on the gorillas’ location, as they are wild animals constantly on the move.

Highlights

• Scenic drive to Bwindi Impenetrable
• Gorilla trekking
• Birding
• Visit the Batwa Community

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Pick-up and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After an early coffee, your guide will pick you up from your hotel or guesthouse. You’ll receive a brief overview of the 3-day trip and the planned stops during your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This early departure ensures an early arrival and minimizes traffic congestion.

The drive will take you to the southwest of Uganda, with a stop at the equator for photos and stretching. Standing at the imaginary lines crossing the globe, you can explore souvenir shops to collect mementos. Continue to Mbarara town, passing through grasslands where you’ll spot long-horned cattle grazing along the roadside.

Continue your journey to Bwindi, enjoying views of banana plantations, rolling hills, and more. Arrive at your lodge, check-in, relax, and have dinner.

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner Accommodation (Optional):

• Trekkers Tavern Cottages
• Rushaga Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
• Buhoma Community Rest Camp Drive Time: Approximately 8-9 hours

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking

Following an early breakfast, you’ll meet your guide again and head to the park headquarters. There, you’ll join other travelers for a briefing at 7:30 am, covering the dos and don’ts when encountering gorillas in the forest. Meet your game ranger and commence the hike, which can range from 30 minutes to three-quarters of the day, depending on the gorillas’ location.

During the trek, observe various tree species, and bird enthusiasts will have the opportunity to spot several bird species. Keep an eye out for primates such as black and white colobus monkeys, mammals, and more. The muddy, steep slopes may require the use of a walking stick, and a minimum level of fitness is recommended for a successful trek.

Once you encounter the mountain gorillas, you will have one hour to be in close proximity to them for photography and to listen to informative talks from the wardens and rangers. Lunch will be enjoyed in the jungle before returning to the lodge to celebrate your gorilla experience and receive a Gorilla certificate.

In the evening, visit the Batwa Community, where you can witness their culture and traditions. The Batwa were the original inhabitants of Bwindi Forest, and you can enjoy their captivating dances, poems, and more.

Please note that gorilla trekking can be physically demanding, so a minimum level of fitness is essential for the hike.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, and Dinner Accommodation (Optional):

• Trekkers Tavern Cottages
• Rushaga Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
• Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Day 3: Departure to Kampala

After breakfast, bid farewell to the lodge, carrying with you cherished memories of the giant mountain gorillas. Embark on the journey back through picturesque rolling hills, terraces, and lush vegetation, often referred to as the “Switzerland of Uganda.”

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch Drive Time: Approximately 8-9 hours

This concludes your tour. Contact Trek Africa Expeditions to book your gorilla trekking tours for NGO workers, and we will assist you in securing your gorilla permits in Uganda.