You can’t ask for better care than what I received from Jackie and my driver/guide Emma. I presented a different set of challenges which they both handled admirably: I wanted an 11-day safari focused on primates with multiple gorilla treks, yet had no dates for Jackie to plan around (my safari wound up being over the Christmas holiday!) and it was unknown if/when I’d be able to get my yellow fever immunization (a Uganda entry requirement) or in which country.
Jackie is an effervescent, intelligent, creative force to be reckoned with! She patiently answered all of my questions, provided useful pre – trip information and packing tips, and worked overtime coming up with creative ways to ensure both gorilla trek permits, golden monkey trek, chimpanzee habituation, plus lion game drives I had requested.
She came up with an alternative schedule/route which allowed for all of it! In addition, a friend of mine who has toured extensively through many African countries was impressed with the itinerary she put together, the reasonable cost, plus the amazingly comfortable accommodations at the mid-range lodges (all had private porches or balconies with incredible views!).
When I did finally arrive at Entebbe, Customs and lost luggage caused delays, so Jackie and Emma waited outside the airport for me for hours yet both of them still cheerily welcomed me and delivered me to the guesthouse, checked me in and reviewed the plan for the following day.
Emma took it from there. He is an amazing guide. I knew I was in good hands when he leaned outside for a moment to identify a bird by ear. His eye for spotting wildlife is nothing short of impressive (for what it’s worth, I’m a biologist and look for animals for a living too).
There are few wildlife encounters as exciting as coming eye to eye with the largest, if not most charismatic, of the great apes, the gorilla. What makes this experience so special is difficult to choose. The fact that these gentle giants are so closely related to our DNA probably has something to do with it.
Mountain gorillas are naturally restricted to a niche area of forested highlands. Unfortunately, this already-small habitat is shrinking due to overpopulation. The income derived from tourism is crucial to secure their future.
By booking a gorilla trekking safari, you have the opportunity to contribute to the fight for their survival. It goes without saying that you should also listen to the instructions given by your guide, especially in the event of a gorilla approaching you. The biggest danger on a gorilla trek is perhaps twisting an ankle on the slippery slopes. Make sure to wear good hiking boots that have been worn in before the big day.”
Chimpanzee trekking is one of the highlights on any Uganda holiday. Imagine the adventure of heading out to track these great apes in dense rain forest. Seeing chimps in their natural habitat is a real privilege. As we share 98.8% of our DNA with chimpanzees, they are our closest relatives.
Like humans, they tend to have strong personalities, and their expressive faces make their identities very recognizable to us. Their intelligence and social behavior are endlessly fascinating to observe, and no two visits to a community are the same. You might hear them before you see them; hearing a chorus of vocalizations, called pant-hooting, at close range is a spine-tingling experience you’ll never forget.
While tracking chimpanzees and gorillas, you will require a reasonable amount of fitness. Every day is different though, and some days the trek is more strenuous than other days. Chimps and gorillas have big territories, and you might be lucky to find them after 30 minutes or it might take two hours.
You get to spend an hour with the chimps and gorillas and this experience is very variable too. They might be stationary, feeding or resting, or they might be on the move. Contrary to gorillas, chimpanzees move very fast through the forest undergrowth and trying to keep up with them can be a great challenge.
Being from the area we toured through, he is intimately familiar with everything from species of animals and plants, to the terrain and how to best navigate it, as well as subtle cultural nuances, good music, and where to get great coffee!
He has contacts everywhere we went and facilitated everything from getting my luggage delivered to a remote area, to having someone find socks for me on the way to my first gorilla trek at Bwindi (would have been a very uncomfortable hike without them!). He is knowledgeable about the native wildlife and specializes in birds (has the plate numbers of a 600+ page field ID book memorized – that’s not an exaggeration).
He’s kind with a great sense of humor, patient, and observant. Nine+ days into the trip he remembered offhanded comments I made on day 1 about my other interests and suggested a wide range of activities based on those comments (everything from learning about coffee roasting and native plants via a Bigodi Community Walk, to visiting a ravine where chimp trekking can be done to see the tree tops below, to finding birds I wanted to learn about, to stopping by the lake that is printed on the 20000 shilling, just to name a few of the many great ideas and suggestions he had).
I can’t say enough good things about Jackie and Emma. You’re in great hands – see gorgeous, picturesque, rugged Uganda with Gorilla Safaris Tours.
