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The Adventure, Mountain Gorilla Trek Reach the peak of Mutinda, track Gorillas in the mist and make a difference in the playground…
In 1908 Winston Churchill explored Uganda, mainly by Bicycle, to declare that Uganda was ‘truly the Pearl of Africa’. With the largest mountain range in Africa, beautiful lakes, rolling hills, lush vegetation, jungles, all the animals of the savannah and some of the world’s friendliest people Uganda is still the Pearl that Churchill came to see. Then there is Bwindi Impenetrable forest, which is one of the last places in the World to see the Giant silver back mountain Gorillas in the Wild. The Gorilla Mountain trek will challenge you to climb and trek through the Rwenzori mountains to summit on Mount Mutinda at just under 4,000m. The absolute highlight of the adventure is your chance to track through the Jungle to meet the Giant silver back and his family. Simply put nothing will prepare you for this incredible, powerful and humbling experience as you get up close for the ultimate selfie! After the adventure trek you will have the opportunity to spend time living within a local community to help East African Playgrounds and their local building teams to refurbish and renew an old playground and run arts and play sessions with the local children and teachers. This adventure will give you a rare chance to see a country up close, push yourself physically on the highest mountain range in Africa and get up close to the incredible Mountain Gorillas. 3
Mountain Gorilla Trek In a Nutshell...
To get your place on the Mountain Gorilla Trek adventure you need to register online to confirm your place before committing to fundraising for one of our incredible charity partners. In a nutshell what you need to know: Registration Fee: £295 Fundraising Target: £2750 (less if you choose Flexi-Fundraising, see page 10 for more details) Net amount to charity: At least £1475 goes to charity, 100% of anything raised above the minimum goes to charity (our record from a student is £19k!) Charity, choose between:
East African Playground
Duration of Adventure:
18 days, 6 days trekking, 10 days to explore Uganda
Adventure Dates:
Range of dates over the summer months
Get your place on the adventure today by booking online at www.studentadventures.co.uk/gorilla
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Or call us on 0845 643 9801 to register over the phone with one of the team.
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Your Itinerary 17 Day - Adventure Guide DAY 1:
Arrival, Fort Portal acclimatisation
Arriving in Fort Portal, surrounded by beautiful crater lakes, the home of the King of the Toro kingdom and of course the gateway to Africa’s largest mountain range, the Rwenzori Mountains, you’ll settle in to your hostel with the evening being yours to take in the spectacular surroundings and the relaxed African life. >> Breakfast and Lunch.
DAY 2:
Kilembe base camp, Team Brief and Orientation
Kilembe is the gateway to the Rwenzori Mountains with the peaks to the west and breath-taking lakes to the east; Carter lakes, Lake Edward and Lake George. The afternoon will be spent meeting your guides, getting your team brief and preparing for your trek. The rest of the day is yours to explore one of Africa’s most unique villages. Alongside the mountain streams, beautiful views and vegetation is the abandoned Kilembe copper mine. Abandoned in the 1970’s the mine still has all the machinery still in place which makes for some great exploring. >> Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
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DAY 3: Kalalama camp Acclimatisation Hike (4 - 6 hours trekking) Hiking up through the valley that acts as a natural gate way to the mountains we spend the first day trekking to Kalalama camp. This is an important day to begin your acclimatisation to the altitude. Today after breakfast we’ll begin the hike that will give even more magnificent views of the towns, lakes and safari park below with a glimpse of the snow covered upper peaks of these magnificent mountains. >> Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
DAY 4:
Kalalama to Mutinda base camp (4 – 6 hours trekking)
After breakfast we head up through the marshes, over raised platforms, rope bridges and using ladders until we make the Mutinda base camp. On the way we will pass through some diverse eco systems with the wetlands, mountain marshes and water falls. As this route has been done by so few people many of these marshes and waterfalls are yet to be named! >> Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
DAY 5: Mutinda base camp to Mutinda peak (5 – 7 hrs trekking)
Day 8: Travel from Kilembe to Lake Bunyoni
This is your big day of trekking as we climb from the base to the top of the Mutinda Peak. This tough days climb will be rewarded with some of the most spectacular panoramic views you will ever see. Standing where David Attenborough filmed the snow peaked mountains of the Rwenzoris you can take in the views of national parks, the three Rift Valley Lakes, tens of crater lakes, the eight more peaks of the Mountain Range, and the blue mountains of the Congo in the distance. Unlike most mountain hikes your team will be the only group on the mountains so you will have this magnificent experience and view all to yourselves. >> Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Today we head to the shores of Lake Bunyoni and the foot hills of the Bwindi impenetrable forest. The drive takes a safari feel by going through the Queen Elizabeth National park, stopping to allow the wild Elephants casually cross the road then drive through the rolling hills of tea plantations. We arrive at the lake ready for a well earned rest with the evening spent around a campfire on the shores of the lake with plenty of local singing and dancing.
DAY 6:
Today is a day to relax on the beach and give yourselves a well earned chill in the hammocks after your trek through the mountains. If you’re not into relaxing on the beach then you can grab some canoes and paddle around the islands of Bunyoni. Lake Bunyoni is a crater lake that is surround by steep islanded hills that give it a unique look and the amazing step like farms up the mountains. You will struggle not to fall in love with this place. >> Breakfast.
Mutinda base camp Samalira camp
(5 – 7 hours trekking)
Heading out from Mutinda we have a good day’s trekking through the amazing Namusangi valley past the beautiful mountain lakes to the Samalira camp. Incredible views of these lakes and the spectacular snowy Mountains are real highlights that will take your breath away! Using newly made paths you will wind you way through the valley to set up camp and Samalira.>> Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
DAY 7:
Samalira camp to Kilembe base camp.
(5 – 7 hours trekking)
Last day of the trek is a nice relaxed wind down the valley following the mountain streams back to the Kilembe hostel for a cold beer, home cooked meal, fresh linen and a nice hot shower. On your way down it’s the perfect chance to look back and see what you have accomplished, Africa’s largest mountain range. >> Breakfast and Dinner.
>> Breakfast.
DAY 9: Rest day on the beach (12 – 15 hours trekking)
DAY 10: Impenetrable Forrest – Tracking the Gorillas Be prepared for an unforgettable day seeing the last remaining Silverback Mountain Gorillas. At the gate of the Impenetrable forests of Bwindi, we will meet our guides and trek through the early morning mist of the forest. With a team of trackers and rangers we will follow the path of a family of Mountain Gorillas lead by the famous Silver back Gorilla. Once we find the family we will have time to get close to these incredible wild Gorillas. There is no comparable feeling to being so close and personal to these kings of the Jungle.
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DAY 11: Bunyoni to Jinja After experiencing the breath-taking scenery and wildlife of Uganda it is time to volunteer with the friendly people that make the country amazing. We will take a drive down to Jinja, where East African Playgrounds is based, along the way you will see more breath taking scenery and stop of at the Equator for lunch for the classic equator photo. Arriving in Jinja you will be greeted by the school, and some very excited children, where you will be volunteering.
DAY 12-15: Volunteering; building a playground, supporting arts and play programs With your team you will be promoting the child’s right to play through refurbishing a high quality, safe, fun playground; designed and created by the children and community themselves, as well as working with teachers in an arts and play kids club to build on skills and knowledge to inspire creativity within the children. This will be an experience of a life time as you get to live within the community and builders that the money you have raised is directly impacting. You will get chances to build, paint and play with hundreds of very excited kids. >> Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (x4).
able to trek a short walk (maximum 30 minutes) to be alongside the huge creatures. In trekking with the Rhino’s you are supporting their conservation efforts. Then on to Murchinson falls national park through primate filled jungle to reach your beautiful camp site in the grounds of a 5 star hotel overlooking the Nile. >> Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
DAY 17: Game Drive You will have an early start crossing the river Nile are begin your safari, spotting huge numbers of giraffe, elephants, antelopes, a family of Lions and if you are really lucky the very rare Leopards. After a morning of breathtaking animals it is your chance to relax at the swimming pool overlooking the Nile. >> Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
DAY 18: Boat Safari and Murchison falls You will start the day on the river spotting hippos, crocodiles, elephants and many species of birds. To then arrive at the bottom of the incredibly powerful Murchinson falls, hiking up alongside the falling water to reach the top and take in the power of the river Nile being forced through a 7 meter gap. After all the adventure it is time to travel back south with a mind full of memories. >> Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
DAY 16: Safari – Treking with DAY 19: Return home Rhinos This safari has been custom-made for you to take in the best of Ugandan’s wildlife and scenery. Starting off at the Rhino sanctuary where Rhinos are protected from poachers with the long term aim to be realised back into the wild. You will be
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All good things must come to an end when we fly home from Entebbe back to the UK with incredible memories of your adventure. >> Meals on the plane.
Please note the itinerary is only an indication and is subject to changed based on group strength, weather, wildlife and other external factors. Your Adventure Manager’s decisions are final and we would ask you to be flexible in a result of a change to your itinerary.
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Flexi-Fundraising Flexible fundraising puts you in charge of how much your fundraising target is. Find out below how you could reduce your fundraising target by a lot if you pay a little extra.
So how does Flexible Fundraising work?
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You pay your registration fee when you confirm your place
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Choose to pay some of the trip costs yourself from £10 to £350 – this can be paid in instalments throughout the year to help you budget.
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For every £10 Flexi-Pay your target is reduced by £17. See your fundraising target get reduced by up to £600!
Example:
No Flexi Pay Fundraising Target: £2750
Registration Fee £295
+ Flexi Pay £200 (paid in two instalments over the course of the year) Registration Fee £295
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+ Flexi-Fee £200
Fundraising Target: £2410
Example:
Registration fee of £295 Flexi-fee of £200 paid in two instalments over the course of the year Fundraising Target reduced from £2750 to £2410
The maximum flex-fundraising fee is £350 to reduce your target by £600!
“Reduce your fundraising target by up to £600 by paying a little bit extra in instalments to meet the cost of your trip. The percentage of money going to charity increases whilst your fundraising target decreases!”
Your Adventure What’s included International flights to and from the UK to Uganda. Internal transfers scheduled on the itinerary. Hotel accommodation on a B&B basis on the night prior to and after your trek. Mountain Gorilla Trek with full support crew, guides, chef and porters. Volunteering opportunity with East African Playgrounds.
What’s not included Personal kit. Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary. Tips and gratuities to your Mountain Gorilla Trek support team. Optional extension adventures – Safari. Personal Travel Insurance – we can recommend an appropriate provider for adventure travel.
National Park fees, permits and vehicle fees as needed for the itinerary.
Evacuation – in event of a serious medical emergency we will co-ordinate your evacuation with your travel insurance.
Meals (where indicated) and safe drinking water on the trek.
Vaccinations.
Support prior to and during the adventure.
Spending money for drinks, souvenirs and additional activities.
24 hour emergency response line. Adventure T-shirt.
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More Adventure Than You Can Handle...
The Mountain Gorilla Trek is an awesome challenge, but it’s not the end of the adventure! After your trek in the Rwenzori mountains and tracking the Mountain Gorillas you have 10 days some of which will be devoted to volunteering and experiencing the work the East African Playground does in Uganda first hand. (Included in your fundraising) You will also to undertake your own independent travel or come with us for some unforgettable extension adventures that are amazing and great value for money as well. Not to mention that you’ll be hanging out with your new found friends from the trek.
Volunteering with East African Playgrounds With your team you will be promoting the child’s right to play through refurbishing a high quality, safe, fun playground; designed and created by the children and community themselves, as well as working with teachers in an arts and play kids club to build on skills and knowledge to inspire creativity within the children. This will be an experience of a life time as you get to live within the community and builders that the money you have raised is directly impacting. You will get chances to build, paint and play with hundreds of very excited kids.
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More Adventure Than You Can Handle... Safari This safari has been custom-made for you to take in the best of Ugandan’s wildlife and scenery. You will be visiting the famous Murchison fall national park; Camping in the EAP private campsite situated in one of the 5 start lodges; have access to amazing swimming pool overlooking the Nile; Have your own private chef; You will walk alongside Rhinos, Travel through a primate filled jungle, Safari on the Nile Delta where you can see the big five Safari Animals; Boating down the Nile to see the amazing bird life, Hippos and huge Nile Crocodiles; Hike up the worlds most powerful waterfall and all in 3 days.
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What You Really Need To Know Frequently Asked Questions Is the Mountain Trek Adventure for I am worried about fundraising, how me? would I raise the money? Absolutely! Trekking in the Rwenzori mountains to reach the summit of Mutinda before tracking the last remaining wild Gorillas in their own habitat of Bwindi National Park is genuinely once in a lifetime adventure that everyone should experience. Trekking through the Impenetrable Forest as the mist rolls back to reveal these incredible animals is a very rare opportunity. You’ll also have the chance to volunteer with East African Playgrounds and see exactly how the funds you have raised makes an impact on the ground and the opportunity to go on safari as you get up closes to lions and so much more by way of wildlife! The Mountain Gorilla Trek is for you… if you have a sense of adventure!
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It’s natural to be worried about fundraising; it’s a challenge to raise the money for charity. You will have a great support network to help you through the process. There will be an Adventure Leader (a fellow student) at your University as your first point of contact who will help you every step of the way having been through the process before. Our great charity partners have dedicated staff to run fundraising workshops to help you develop a plan with loads of brilliant ideas and they’re at the end of the phone and email to help.
What happens if I don’t reach my fundraising target? If it looks like you’re not going to make your target you can postpone your adventure to a later date to give you longer to reach your fundraising target and take the pressure off.
BS8848 and is ATOL protected (no 10415) In terms of fitness, this is a tough challenge where you will have to trek at altitude and keep going when the going gets tough. You’ll need to train to prepare to get to the top.
I have friends at another University, Can I reduce my fundraising target in can they take part with me? anyway? Absolutely! All you have to do is send them the Yes! Using our flexi-funder you can reduce your target by up to £600 if you meet some of the costs of the adventure yourself. This can be paid over manageable payments over the course of the year to fit in with your student budget. For more details check the website on how to do this.
Is the adventure safe and how fit do I need to be?
registration link on our website and get them to join the adventure with you!
Do I have to be a student to take part? No – all you need is a sense of adventure and you can take part in an adventure with some of the lowest fundraising targets in the UK!
What do you do to protect the environment? All adventure travel has an element of risk, but our adventures are risk-assessed and you are with experienced local guides who know the mountain well and how to look after you. Our adventures comply with the safety recommendations of
We support the national parks to help them maintain and restore paths to minimise erosion and we work in partnership with local communities to make an impact.
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What Do Students Say? A few thoughts from students who have volunteered with East African Playgrounds in Uganda... “I had the time of my life in Uganda, it really opened my eyes to different cultures and people of the world. I absolutely love the country. Thank you for everything it was just amazing. I really felt in my element out there.” Nicole Church Volunteer 2012 “Each day presented a new challenge to our group, whether it be the simple task of fetching water in 5 gallon jerricans or facing digging out an entire netball court or taking on the rapids of the Nile. Each day was different and exciting.” Mily Matthews Volunteer 2009
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Get Involved and Get Your Place! The Mountain Gorilla Trek is an awesome adventure through the incredible Rwenzori Mountains before tracking Gorillas in the wild, this is definitely something you shoud do! Get involved and get your place today!
Book online at www.studentadventures.co.uk/gorilla Call to book with one of the team on 0845 643 9801 or ask any questions.