Gorilla Trekking for a Single Traveller
 

I'm looking to join a tour for gorilla and chimp trekking in December and am a single 30 year old female. I've checked out Intrepid, G Adventures, Acacia, Dragoman...they all have interesting itineraries and look like fabulous trips, but I'm really reluctant to sleep in a tent for 2+ weeks. Does anyone have any recommendations for a tour that's good for singles in my age range that doesn't involve camping?

Also, is it advisable to try to do this trip over Christmas and New Year's? Or will too many things be shut down or closed for the holidays?

The gorillas do not go on holiday or close shop because it's Christmas/New Years. Though Christmas, Boxing Day (26th Dec) and New Years are official holidays for office workers, not so for those looking for our cousins. This is one of the busiest times of the year for visitors.

Sorry, can't comment re tour groups.

DEAR RFEIRT
I recommend you to visit Tanzania Gombe National Park on the Western of Tanzania here you will see the chimps but not the Gorrilas also you will be able to get accomodation in the rest house and not a campsite also you will have a full day tour to the amazing city of Dar es salaam.further information contact me through [email protected]

Gorilla tracking in Bwindi impenetrable National park would be advisable as it is home to 326 gorillas, almost half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas.

You could try one of these lodges:

Engangi Lodge Rating: Midrange
Engagi Lodge is a small, simple lodge located approximately four kilometres from the Bwindi park headquarters at Buhoma, where you start and end your gorilla tracking excursions.

Mahogany Springs Rating: upmarket
Set on the banks of the pristine waters of the Munyanga river and facing the Impenetrable forest

I would also suggest a mix of Bwindi and Lake Mburo
http://www.tracksbergtravel.com

hey there, you can contact wild excursion safaris. you give them your budget and preference and they fit you into a group of your choice. even private safaris. email address is- [email protected]. they organised a great trip for us.

just surfing and read your topic. by now you are probably
booked but if not check out....gorillatours.com
click " join a scheduled tour " scroll down to the 9 day gorilla,QENP,chimps & lake Mburo tour. i'm a single traveler also and i signed up for the 30 NOV 2013 Tour. kind of covers what i want to see and do ( ck their itinerary ) i'm going with the budget plan and you can ask but i think the self-cont.
tents have a bed and toilet. when i was in Tanzania i stayed in one and it was fine. think they need at least 1 more person .
after the tour, i rest up in EBB for 2 days and then head up to Kidepo National Park ( the real Africa ) with a rented
Toyota 4x4 and Afro driver. a 7 day trip. a long way to Uganda from the USA so i made my own itinerary for this trip.
got to do more than one thing when you are this far away. good luck
stanski

Well there is absolutely no need to sleep in a tent for 2 weeks when going on a safari in Uganda. Even if it is based on a budget. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi as I did it with www.instinctsafaris.com was 500 USD, the lodges around the national park are somewhere around 80-120 USD per person when you are a single traveller. And I am not talking luxury hotels like Clouds or like Sanctuary Retreats. Instead, go for Traveller's Rest in Kisoro or Wagtail in Rubuguri bordering the forest directly. And from your perspective and if you are even still in the planning phase - there is still some time to book. I booked with Instinct about 5 weeks before my flight went and they got everything for me within the first two weeks of contacting them.

Lee

Gorilla trekking feedback with Gorilla expeditions

I've written this recommendation to share with other internet users.

"it was july 2012 when I had my vacation to Uganda and Rwanda , I used a local travel agency here in Australia through Clifton from Travel managers to arrange my vacation to Uganda, it was by surprise that Clifton chose /subcontracted to work with a local company based in Uganda called Gorilla expeditions it was a 8 days trip highlighting gorilla and chimp trekking +wildlife , jackson was my guide sure I had a wonderful guide on my tour of Uganda, he took me off the beaten track and went out of his way when I wanted to visit a church and school friends in Australia wanted me to do. I met his Mum and we had the best time, I was on the tour just he and me. It was very special and we have remained friends and keep in touch. I would recommend this company to anyone who wants to tour Uganada....and, I saw the gorillas. I will return to do another tour or if not to visit Jacakson as I now have a World Vision child in the north of Uganda (kitgum) who I would like to visit. We saw so much in the week I was there and wonderful game in Queen Elizabeth National Park, my guide spotted the lion and cubs and we watched till night fall, we had the whole spectacle on our own, it was magic. Loved Murchison Falls and the area, the beautiful countryside where we went into the villages and met lots of locals, a memorable holiday - which was all due to gorilla expeditions. In case any one else is interested, I have attached to link to his company’s website: www.gorillaexpeditions.com ."

Rfeiert, are you gorilla tracking now? It is well into December.

Gorilla trekking is usually a one day event, I would recommend you combine it with other activities in Uganda and East Africa as a whole. Also our tours use lodges as opposed to camps, so they are more comfy, in December you can also join a set departure group from the 14th. Below is a sample itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival-Kibale Forest National Park.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking – Kibale Forest
Day 3: Kibale Forest – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 4: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 5: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Lake Mburo National Park
Day 6: Return Trip to Kampala