Uganda – Gorilla Conservation Adventure

Mountain gorillas are majestic creatures that can now only be found in three countries in the world – one of those being the dense jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. On this truly once-in-a-lifetime experience you will have the opportunity to spend a day trekking through the jungle and observing gorillas in their natural habitat. We’ll also use our time to make a small contribution to the protection of mountain gorillas, as well as chimps and lions along the way, as we assist teams of conservationists, researchers and veterinarians in their important work. A veterinarian will join us on the trek to collect stool samples to later test in the lab for parasites & other diseases. This will help determine the overall health of the gorilla family as well as provide a first-hand glimpse into the work being done to protect these gentle giants.

On this 10-day journey, you will also come face-to-face with rare tree-climbing lions as well as track wild chimpanzees in the Equatorial forests of Uganda. We’ll also enjoy a host of authentic cultural experiences, from visiting children at a rural community school to meet with women involved in a local charity project.

Volunteer Time = 12 hours

Venture through the jungle watching chimps swing from tree to tree in one of the densest concentrations of chimps in the world. Join a researcher with a radio tracking device to track the infamous tree-climbing lions. Typically a rare sight to see, conservationists work to track these lions behind the scenes to protect them from approaching livestock and people, and you will get a chance to experience this project firsthand. You will also help a veterinarian collect samples and assess the health of the gorillas after your trek, helping to contribute to The Gorilla Conservation Camp. Check to see if the gorillas are pregnant, have a parasite, are sick, and more.

When you’re not focused on the wildlife of the region, spend time supporting those who call Uganda home. Learn basket-weaving from women involved in a local charity project setup to empower women struggling with poverty, HIV and domestic violence. After, spend time at a primary school getting to know the children and helping play educational games.

Journey into the heart of the East African wilderness by exploring three of Uganda’s famed national parks. Immerse yourself in the natural world with overnight stays in stunning safari lodges combined with excursions into a series of Ugandan wildlife reserves. Animal encounters will include tracking and observing chimpanzee families in their natural habitat, spotting elephants, leopards and buffalo on game drives, and coming face-to-face with rare tree-climbing lions – a rare breed of lion only found in two places in the world – as you track them with a local conservationist. After your trek when you have finally reached the gorillas, spend 1 hour with them observing their behavior.

In addition to the game drive and tracking chimps and gorillas, sail along the Kazinga Channel, a narrow stretch of water connecting Lake Edward and Lake George where you can spot elephants, hippos, and more on the shore.

Throughout Uganda we will stay in a series of luxury safari lodges located in and around the national parks. In Kibale National Park, we stay at Ndali Lodge, a collection of luxury colonial-style thatched-roof villas set on top of an extinct volcano, with views of the Rwenzori Mountains and Lake Nyinambuga. In Queen Elizabeth National Park, we will stay at Mazike Valley Lodge, where you can see elephants and other wildlife roaming free from the veranda of your spacious, traditional cottage. And in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, we stay at Mahogany Springs, a complex of beautiful individual villas overlooking the park – and occasionally visited by curious gorillas.