Gorillas and Community Work in East Africa

- Multi-Country

Locations in Africa

  Uganda

Kampala

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks

Description: If you are patient, have a great imagination and love working with children then you can have a great time helping Mombasa's vulnerable children. Most of these children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS so by giving your support you will help to get their lives back on track. Then after the hard work is done travel over to Uganda in search of Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat deep in the forest. You'll be trekking through the jungle keeping an eye out for these amazing creatures a once in a lifetime adventure!

*Day 1: Your arrival into Mombasa
Welcome to beautiful Mombasa, you will be picked up from the airport and taken to your local hotel where you will spend your first night.

*Day 2: Orientation
You will have an orientation meeting that will tell you all about life in Mombasa and prepare you for your project for the next 7 days. You will stay at the volunteer house or in a local homestay.

*Day 3 to day 7: Work with underprivileged children
The projects that i-to-i work with in Mombasa endeavour to offer support and advice to young people affected by homelessness, poverty and/or the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Volunteers are desperately needed to support the staff running the centres, and to provide some basic skills and companionship. You will be getting in various activities including some teaching of English, Maths and other topics that you feel comfortable with. You can help the children develop their vocational skills through craft work and sports and day to day running of the projects by cooking, preparing meals, cleaning won`t go amiss too!

*Day 8: Transfer to Uganda
Today you will be taken to Mombasa bus station for your epic bus journey to Kampala in Uganda. Don`t forget to pick up any snacks beforehand for your trip! The trip last for around 24 hours but will give you a great insight into life in East Africa with stops along the way and lots of people to talk to to while away the hours!

*Day 9: Arrival into Kampala
You will be met at the bus station in Kampala and transferred to your hostel accommodation for the evening.

*Day 10: Drive to Bwindi Forest
After breakfast at the hotel you will drive to Southwestern Uganda. En route you will stop at a local community famous for making local drums and crafts and here you can buy souvenirs for friends and family and if you are feeling peckish then the local fruit market will go down a treat. From here you move on to the equator - a great opportunity to get your photo taken in both hemispheres! Finally you'll then travel onto the Bwindi area, a highly fertile mountainous region with steep sided hills covered from top to bottom in neatly terraced rows of cultivation&&amazing scenery. You will stay overnight at community camp.

*Day 11: Gorrilla Trekking-the day you have been waiting for!
After breakfast you will have a morning briefing before enjoying the highlight of the trip- Gorilla trekking- which could last the entire day. You will trek through the rainforest and bamboo covered slopes, accompanied by a guide and trackers, in search of a Mountain Gorilla family. The walking can sometimes be tough and long, but when you catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback, your tiredness will be totally forgotten.
When the gorillas are sighted, you will be guided to within around 6 metres from the gorillas and be able to sit around them for up to an hour while gazing into their big round eyes. After this amazing adventure you will return to camp for a well-deserved rest.

Please note that these gentle giants are highly endangered and anyone suffering from anything from a cough to a cold will not be allowed to go on the trek.

*Day 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast you will drive through the stunning savannah grasslands heading for the Queen Elizabeth National Park.

During your time in the park you'll go on a game drive in the northern sector of the park giving amazing views of the Ruwenzoris otherwise known as the 'Mountains of the Moon'. Enjoy the drive back to the lodge through large expanses of savannah grasslands as you hopefully spot some more wildlife. Overnight at a local hostel.

*Day 13: Game drive at Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will set out early in the morning for a game drive in the northern part of the park on the Kasenyi Track in search of lions, elephants and buffaloes. This is the best time for opportunities of viewing the big cats in action and you should have an excellent chance to view just about every animal here at close range! Later in the morning there is the opportunity to relax by the pool at the lodge. In the afternoon you can go for a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel giving you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippos huffing and spraying mere feet away from the boat, with buffalo lingering in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others. After this wonderful afternoon, enjoy a slow drive to a relaxed evening at your accommodation at a local hostel.

*Day 14: Day for optional activities and transfer to Kampala
Today you will have time for several optional activities in the park before setting off for the 6 hour drive back to Kampala. Heading eastwards leads you to the Kyambura wildlife reserve where you have the option of tracking the chimpanzee in the tropical rain forest (approximately $50 per person). You will hike into the Kyambura river gorge as you search for the chimps, the beautiful river valley is also home to many species of birds and butterflies.

Alternatively, you can go for a bush walk through the Maramagambo Forest (approximately $40 per person). This is one of the largest forests in Uganda, and forms a habitat for a number of primates and forest dwellers. Due to its location, Maramagambo also has a great diversity of butterflies and birds. The walk ends with a visit to volcanic caves that are home to thousands of bats. You may also see pythons waiting in the crevices of the caves for their prey. During this walk you will see the picturesque 'blue lake' - Kimeranjojo which got its name after swallowing an Elephant!!!
During your transfer to Kampala (about 6 hours driving) you will travel through some of the most breathtaking scenery and rolling plantations in Uganda. You will stay overnight at the hostel in Kampala.

*Day 15: Transfer by overnight bus to Mombasa
Today is the day for your transfer back to Mombasa by bus, don't forget your snacks! This is a 24 hour journey so relax, enjoy the scenery and make friends with your fellow travellers!

*Day 16: Arrival into Mombasa
After your bus journey, you will be met by the Mombasa team and taken to your accommodation to relax for the night.

*Day 17: Depart to the airport
Today is the day that you say goodbye to your friends after your amazing experience and head to the airport for your travel home or for your onward journey. Please note that the cost of your transfer to the airport is not included.

Highlights:
* Coming face to face with the incredible Mountain Gorillas of Uganda
* Spending time working with underprivileged children in Kenya
* Game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
* Spending time in two of Africa's most interesting destinations - Kenya and Uganda

Cost in US$: USD 2,525.00 for 2 weeks

Two nights on the overnight bus from Mombasa to Kampala and return.

Uganda - various hostels and guest house accommodation during your stay in country with breakfast included in Kampala and breakfast, lunch and dinner whilst outside of Kampala.

* Food: Breakfast and dinner while in Mombasa, breakfast in Kampala, and breakfast, lunch and dinner outside of Kampala   
* Airport Pickup: Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
* Training: In-country orientation
* Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Year Founded: 1994