Gorillas (Lake Bunyonyi)
The mountain gorilla is an extremely endangered animal and though the precise numbers of its population vary, it is largely believed that there are just around 650 of the gentle giants remaining. Paying a visit to the gorillas is a lovely way to support their future on earth as the money you spend on your gorilla permit goes toward their protection. A crucial part of conserving the gorillas that are still left lies within the community development work. As local communities adjust their attitudes toward nature and wildlife, and begin to protect rather than poach, the future of the beautiful mountain gorilla is guaranteed.
Because permits granted to visit the gorillas are extremely limited, we will require some flexibility on both our travel itinerary and the location where will actually get to see them. The mountain gorillas reside in man-made borders, therefore, their inhabitance range includes Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC. Whenever it is possible, we will be making use of the National Park in Uganda, but this is dependent upon the availability of permits. If we do not manage to obtain permits to go on our Gorilla Trek, then all passengers will be told beforehand that our journey will travel to Rwanda or the DRC.
On our free day spent in Bunyonyi, we will have the chance to partake in some Optional Activities. You can choose to go on a boat ride to visit the Batwa (pygmie) community, who reside on the islands that lie adjacent to the lake, in order to observe their cultural lifestyle and behaviour as well as be entertained by their traditional performances. You can also opt to go hiking or to explore the region on mountain bike.
Meals: Breakfast X2, Lunch X2, Dinner X2
Accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort or similar
Facilities: Water not drinkable, shared ablutions, bar, craft shop, laundry service
Route: Lake Bunyonyi National Park to the starting point of the Gorilla Trek +/125 kms in safari or smaller vehicles (Day 49), Starting point of the Gorilla Trek to Lake Bunyonyi +/-125 kms (Day 50)
Travel Time: +/-3-4 hours (Day 49), +/-3-4 hours (Day 50)
Optional Activities: Visit the Batwa (Pygmies) tribe, mountain biking, nature walk, hiking
PLEASE NOTE: Although there are 2 days allocated to Gorilla Trekking you will only spend one day on the trek. The other day is there to provide a large enough window in which to obtain permits and to allow the entire group to trek if there are more than 6 of you on the tour.
