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The Mountain Gorillas of East Africa
A Love Story Which Began 20+ Years Ago
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Greetings from East Africa!
This month, whilst dividing their time between Travulous' offices in Kigali and Kampala, Kristin and Richard made another of their routine visits to Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. From Richard's first foray into African Tour Operations in 2003 to Kristin's first visit to Uganda and Rwanda in 2007, they've spent 21 years of exploring the width and breadth of the African continent yet always enjoy returning to their favourite safari activity, gorilla tracking in Rwanda and Uganda.
In our quest to stay abreast of the latest developments in the 3 gorilla parks we feature, we caught up with our suppliers to make sure we are fully up-to-date with all the current and forthcoming developments in these national parks. For example, we learnt all about UWA's (Ugandan Wildlife Authority) new online booking system which enables tour operators to make gorilla permit bookings for mountain gorilla tracking and other attractions in the protected areas.
To bolster our Tour Leader line-up, we are pleased to announce the recent addition of Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, the founder and CEO of Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), to our team. In the legacy of the late Dian Fossey, Gladys has become one of the leading conservationists and scientists working to save mountain gorillas in East Africa. Gladys will be leading our forthcoming FAM trips to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, whereas Ian Redmond, who introduced Sir David Attenborough to the mountain gorillas and taught Sigourney Weaver to 'grunt like a gorilla' for her award-winning role in 'Gorillas in the Mist', will be leading our FAM trips to Volcanoes National Park in 2025.
For many of our guests, gorilla tracking is a once-in-a-lifetime activity. This is why the team at Travulous is exceptionally focussed on providing the very best services to our customers. In this month's newsletter, we are going to talk about our love story with the mountain gorillas, facts about the gorilla parks in which Travulous operates, our behind the scenes gorilla itineraries, our expert tour leaders, in addition to showcasing some of our favourite accommodations in the featured national parks. We will also discuss why Travulous is your perfect partner in the Great Lakes region, including outlining details of our forthcoming Familiarisation Trips to Rwanda and Uganda.
We work tirelessly to build Travulous' reputation as a dependable purveyor of gorilla tracking information.
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OUR LOVE STORY WITH THE GORILLAS | |
Kristin and I are often asked about where we first met and how we ended up living in East Africa running Travulous together. Let's just say you could call it a love story that started with a cute photo of a girl mountain gorilla tracking in Rwanda and Uganda: | |
A boy in the Swiss mountains grows up dreaming of following in Dian Fossey's footsteps. In 2003 he starts operating tours in East Africa, bringing travellers to Volcanoes, Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks to visit the majestic mountain gorillas. | |  |
A girl from a small town on the beautiful shores of Canada's Lake Huron dreams of exploring the African Continent. She first visits the mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Ugandan in 2007, after which she returns to see her favourite gorillas as often as possible. | | |
In 2010, in search of romance, the boy spots a photo of his future sweetheart mountain gorilla tracking in East Africa. He plucks up the courage to contact her, they meet up for a drink and the stars collide! This is the beginning of their joint Africa journey together. | | |
Fast-forward 8 years and in 2018 Kristin and Richard lay the foundations for Travulous' launch in 2019 and their subsequent move to Rwanda. In pursuit of their dreams, they love living in East Africa whilst dividing their time between their offices in Kigali and Kampala. | | |
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Never losing sight of their passion for the mountain gorillas, the conservation success story of these magnificent creatures, and the founding principals of Travulous, Kristin and Richard visit the mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda at every possible opportunity. | | |
GORILLA TRACKING IN EAST AFRICA | |
According to the most recent census, the population of mountain gorillas has increased from 480 to 604 individuals in the Virunga Massif, and from 400 to 459 in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the adjacent Sarambwe Reserve. At the end of 2019, it was estimated that the overall population of mountain gorillas had reached 1063. | |
Once on the brink of extinction, mountain gorilla numbers continue to grow. In Rwanda, this success is celebrated with the annual 'Kwita Izina' baby gorilla naming ceremony, which is now in its 18th year. | |
In Which Gorilla Parks Do We Operate? | |
Travulous operates in Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. All the mountain gorilla tracking details we publish online (specifically the number of habituated gorilla groups, permits per group, and total number of permits available per day), have been thoroughly checked and verified by the respective Tourist Boards, and their gorilla permit booking offices: | |
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Volcanoes National Park
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Country: Rwanda
- Permit price: $1,500*
- Habituated groups: 12
- Permits per group: 8
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Total: 96 per day
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Bwindi National Park
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Country: Uganda
- Permit price: $800*
- Habituated groups: 23
- Permits per group: 8
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Total: 184 per day:
-Buhoma: 48 permits
-Ruhija: 32 permits
-Rushaga: 72 permits
-Nkuringo: 32 permits
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Mgahinga National Park
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Country: Uganda
- Permit price: $800*
- Habituated groups: 1
- Permits per group: 8
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Total: 8 per day
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*A percentage of the gorilla permit fee goes to supporting the communities living around the parks, in addition to funding conservation and management of the parks.
Virunga National Park in the DRC also has a number of habituated gorilla families but Travulous does not currently operate in this country. As mountain gorillas roam freely, with no wildlife borders between Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC, these numbers are subject to change.
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Our Behind the Scenes Gorilla Itineraries | |
Our specialist Tour Leaders, who are the former research staff and colleagues of gorilla primatologist, the late Dian Fossey, are available to lead both our Tailor-made and Small Group Tours. Below is a sample two-country itinerary, which incorporates visits to the mountain gorillas in both Rwanda and Uganda: | |
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Overview
- Tailor-made or Small Group
- Country: Rwanda & Uganda
- Highlights: Nature & Wildlife
- Duration: 06 days
- Lodges/Camps: 4 - 5 star
- Fitness: Demanding
- Tour Leader Bios
- View our Itineraries
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Highlights
- Enjoy up to 3 gorilla treks in Volcanoes NP & Mgahinga NP
- Visit the Dian Fossey Fund's Ellen DeGeneres Campus
- Meet the Batwa in Mgahinga National Park
- Go Golden Monkey tracking in Volcanoes NP & Mgahinga NP
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Itinerary
- DAY 1: Kigali
- DAY 2: Mgahinga NP
- DAY 3: Mgahinga NP
- DAY 4: Volcanoes NP
- DAY 5: Volcanoes NP
- Day 6: Kigali
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Prices
Prices will fluctuate based on the:
- time of year
- length of stay
- accommodation choices
- number of participants
- inclusions and exclusions
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This sample itinerary is available as either a Tailor-made itinerary, or a Small Group Tour.
Alternatively, you may wish for us to start with a blank canvas, to handcraft a personalised itinerary based on what you want and nothing more. For additional information, book a callback with us:
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Accommodations in the Mountain Gorilla Parks | |
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When choosing accommodations in Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, we can suggest a wide range of properties where guests can stay. A sample of some of our favourite lodges and camps are listed below.
Click on the blue property links to watch our videos:
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Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | |
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We have access to the best locally contracted industry rates, and we regularly compare our prices against those of our competitors to ensure we always offer a competitive service. We also conduct regular site inspections in every destination to ensure all properties and suppliers featured in our itineraries adhere to and maintain the service levels as expected.
Click on the buttons to view additional properties in Volcanoes or Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks:
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WHY TRAVULOUS IS YOUR PERFECT PARTNER | |
Travulous' differentiators are defined and underpinned by our company's product offering, experience, reputation, partnerships, financial protection, and expanding office network in East Africa: |
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Tour Leaders who lived and worked with Dian Fossey
Travulous' Tour Leaders are the former research staff and colleagues of gorilla primatologist, the late Dian Fossey. Our Tour Leaders lived and worked with Dian at the original Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda in the 1970s and 80s. Today they work for, and advise, leading conservation organisations including the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Born Free Foundation, and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
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Dian Fossey inspired Tailor-made itineraries & Small Group tours
Led by our specialist Tour Leaders Craig Sholley, Ian Redmond, John Fowler and Peter Veit, you will hear the stories, first-hand, from the very people who worked with Dian to make it possible. There is no better way to learn how mountain gorilla conservation has evolved from the 1970s to the present day, and what it must have been like for Dian and our Tour Leaders living in the remote location of Karisoke Research Center all those years ago.
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Travulous' CEO worked for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
Did you know, prior to co-founding Travulous, Richard operated as the the exclusive Travel Provider and Tour Consultant for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund (DFGFI) in Rwanda? He created specialist mountain gorilla itineraries for DFGFI customers visiting East Africa, escorted by specialist Tour Leaders including Clare Richardson, President Emeritus of DFGFI, and John Fowler. Richard also partnered with the Born Free Foundation and the Jane Goodall Institute in East Africa.
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20+ Years of Safari experience in East Africa
Working in the region since 2003, Travulous is the creation of Kristin and Richard. With over 20 years of experience in the travel, tourism and events industries, they have extensive experience of designing one-of-a-kind luxury travel experiences in East Africa, for both the travel trade and customers who book direct with us. From the provision of ground services to flights and accommodations, we take great pride in executing every trip in East Africa to perfection.
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Travulous is a member of Protected Trust Services (PTS). Regardless of your location, book with confidence knowing all monies are fully protected and safely held in a separate trust account, managed by independent trustees, with the funds only used to pay for your booking. All business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) customers of Travulous benefit from its PTS trust account and insurance model. | |
FAMILIARISATION TRIPS TO RWANDA & UGANDA | |
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There is no doubt Mountain Gorillas and the Big Five will be the big highlights of our safaris in 2024 and 2025, so why not experience these for yourself?
In 2024 and 2025 Travulous will be offering Familiarisation Trips for the Travel Trade to visit Rwanda and Uganda:
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The Volcanoes National Park segment of this trip will be guided by Ian Redmond. Ian worked with Dian Fossey at the original Karisoke Research Center in the 1970s, introduced Sir David Attenborough to the mountain gorillas, and taught Sigourney Weaver to grunt like a gorilla for her award-winning role in 'Gorillas in the Mist'.
Site inspections will include luxury properties in Kigali, Akagera NP and Volcanoes NP (including The Retreat, Magashi, Kwitonda Lodge, Bisate, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge and Gorilla's Nest).
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The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park segment of our two trips will be guided by Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka. In the legacy of the late Dian Fossey, Gladys has become one of the leading conservationists and scientists working to save mountain gorillas. Gladys is the founder and CEO of Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH).
Site inspections will include luxury properties in Entebbe, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kibale National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
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If you belong to the Travel Trade and are interested in joining us in 2024 or 2025 to learn more about Rwanda or Uganda, sign up or log in to our Agent Portal to review the itineraries, including dates and prices: | |
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RWANDA OFFICE:
Anglican Business Centre, KK 18 Avenue, Giporoso, Kigali, Rwanda
Tel: +250 786 415 499
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UGANDA OFFICE:
Plot 2321, Kyadondo Block, Kigowa, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256 742037702
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