Wilbur Begumisa the founder and managing director
Gorilla Trek Africa
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2004)
- Member Of:
- NU & AUTO
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $80 to $600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
CA
Email Anne | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding experience with Gorilla Trek Africa
My husband and I have just returned from a trip to Rwanda and Uganda organized by Nicholas at Gorilla Trek Africa. Right from the initial inquiries about cost, itinerary, logistics etc. Nicholas answered all our questions promptly and provided information we had not thought to ask. Wiring the deposit and final payment was no problem, in fact the money was received in 2 days from Canada.
Rodgers, our cheerful, informative driver and guide was excellent, providing us with enough information to make our trip interesting, educational and fun. He generously shared his impressive knowledge of the history culture, traditions, birds and wildlife of each area we visited. His driving skills, for those of us who are nervous passengers, are excellent and we felt safe at all times. We are still in awe that he could drive and spot lions at 1/4 mile away. We had asked Rodgers to take us to a local orphanage and he took us to Ruhija orphanage where we were entertained by the children. They are in desperate circumstances so we were glad we had an opportunity to help with clothing items and a donation.
We chose the moderately priced accommodations and were delighted with each lodge we stayed in. Two of the lodges were solar powered, charging stations and wifi were available in the common area. All the lodges we stayed in were set in the most magnificent locations, snuggled up to a crater lake, the heart of a wildlife park, nestled against misty mountains, etc. The people working at the lodges were charming and helpful, as were all Rwandans and Ugandans we met along the way.
The gorilla treks were challenging (we are in our late 60's) but there is not a more exhilarating wildlife experience on the planet than gazing into the amber eyes of a huge silverback or playful youngster. Anyone reasonably fit can make it as the guides set a pace so that hikers are not exhausted. Porters are available to pull you up the steep bits and carry your gear for $10 which is much needed income for the community. We really enjoyed the Golden Monkey and Chimpanzee treks as well, not quite as challenging a climb.
Anyone contemplating a trip to Rwanda and Uganda will be rewarded with stunning scenery, warm and friendly people and magnificent wildlife. Go, it is a life changing experience. Thank you many times over Nicholas and Rodgers.
CA
Email Angi Rivier | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfection!
As a single female, booking a one month trip into Africa was a bit daunting. I didn't use a travel agency, just contacted the various camps and guides myself. It was my first trip. Nicholas was great (and very patient) helping me every step of the way to customize my days in Rwanda exactly as I wished. I didn't want a posh lodge, making me feel encapsulated in tourist-like protection. I like to travel in a manner in which I can experience the culture of the place I am visiting.
Rogers, my guide, met me at the airport, late in the evening, and drove me to my lodge. He was charming, personable and highly knowledgeable, and made me feel at ease right away despite my slight trepidation, being my first time in Africa.
I stayed in the town of Ruhengeri, at the Muhabura Lodge, where Dian Fossey sometimes stayed when not up on the mountains. It was rustic, basic and perfect. Do not use this accommodation if you want luxury. There was no working TV, the water was not plentiful, and the decor very minimal. But it had a super comfortable king size bed and without modern distractions, I was in heaven. This was Africa, finally! Wifi worked fine, and there was electricity to manage my photo equipment and charging. The little restaurant had great food, and I could sit on the patio out front and watch the locals trekking about with their baskets on heads and babes toted to their backs. People were warm and friendly and always waved and said "Allo" if I did first.
What struck me first was the cleanliness of Kigali and all of the mountain towns. There is no litter in this country. People are beautifully dressed in traditional, colourful clothing and walking barefoot is understandable in the pristine streets (a plus for me who loves to be barefoot). The children are quick to wave and shout hello as whites are few and far between and they recognize you as a visitor. The first day I toured the cultural village where the people put on a fantastic show, re-enactments of traditional dances and dressed me as Queen of the village for the visit. Great fun! The medicine man and I compared health-care notes and dancing and singing ensued. I highly recommend the visit!
The second day I made the trek up to see the Mountain Gorillas. Not being in the best of shape, I was a bit concerned if I would make it, but no worries. Our group of 8 set out with two guides who were delightful, and met up with some Rangers, guns in tow, part way up. Everyone was fabulously friendly and helpful. Even when I fell down in the thicket and ended up with some ants in my pants (literally), it didn't matter, as the few nips I got didn't even register, what with the family of Gorilllas only feet away and on full display. I was crouched down beside the leader of the group, a giant silverback named Guhonda, who munched happily on his leaves while shooting the odd look my way, perhaps as curious about me as I was of him. Humans are to keep about 3 metres away from the Gorillas, but when a big 400 lb male decides to plop himself down 7 feet away from you, you just go with it. When he got bored of me, he stood up (yes, my palms were sweating), pounded his chest, and ambled off. I never could have imagined the intensity or amazement I felt during these moments.
There were several females and one particularly adorable baby who sat close and played around on mom's lap. Overall, about ten Gorillas showed up for our visit. The oldest silverback on that mountain and his son are members. The group consists of about 13 members and is named Sabyinyo, named after the mountain they inhabit. Sabyinyo means "Old Man's Teeth"! The trek took about an hour over the farmland slopes and then through an easily walkable bamboo forest. When the big male decided to climb further up the more daunting slope, bramble covered and full of stinging nettle, the trek became a little harder. However, we were a mix of old and young, and everyone made it no problem. When the goal is to get close to Gorillas, it's surprising how your adrenaline moves you along.
Again, I can't say enough about Rogers, my guide, who was helpful, informative and made me feel like my needs came before everything. Nicholas was again, patient with all my questions and always answered me promptly with clear and understandable instructions. There is nothing to fear in Rwanda, and you will be amazed at these hard-working, friendly and industrious people. The scenery, from the moment you leave the airport, is breathtakingly beautiful. I have zero complaints or warnings about this place. The climate is lovely and bearable (I spent three weeks in Kenya afterwards which can get pretty hot!!).
The only regret I have is that I did not book two trips up the mountain. I was worried about altitude and acclimating myself to the area so I booked a day off to begin with (we did the cultural village). If I were to return, it would be for longer, with more treks. The money from the permits to meet up with these glorious creatures goes to protecting their habitat, keeping poachers away (no incidents for the past 15 years I'm happy to report) and medical care of the Gorillas if need be.
The Rwandan government has good incentive programs to employ ex-poachers in the tourism industry to encourage them to move on to better lives, which I thought was excellent. One of the greatest characters at the cultural village was the resident "poet" who was an ex-poacher turned entertainer, and was an absolute delight. I asked him how his life had changed, leaving his old ways and doing good things now, and he said he has never been happier.
Overall, I can truly say this was one of the best experiences of my life, and certainly the highlight of a wonderful trip to Africa. Asante Sana to all of the folks at Gorilla Trek Africa, and if I get the chance I will surely return to this magical and enchanting country. Kwaheri na Kukuona Guhonda!!
US
Email Rachael | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kicked By A Silverback- Once In A Lifetime!
I booked a Gorilla Trip for mid August in 2015. I went alone as a female and was extremely apprehensive before going. Nicholas helped to plan and coordinate my trip to perfection! He answered every question that I had almost immediately and was extremely reliable and professional during the entire experience. When I arrived to Rwanda I was placed with Eric as my Tour Guide. Eric was friendly, sweet, knowledgeable and overall a great person to have! He made me feel comfortable and I always felt that he put me first as well as my best interests.
The first day we toured Kigali and Eric asked me what I wanted to see and tried his best to make it happen. He included all the must see highlights as we drove to Volcanoes National Park. I ended up staying at the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge which was beautiful! The room was huge (much too big for 1 person) yet cozy. The Eucalyptus permeated the air such a pure and clean smell which is something that I have never experienced before. The following day we headed to the park for our Trek. I chose a medium level difficulty for the trek. Which actually still ended up being pretty hard since you end up hiking on a very very steep incline. The Guide and Porters were friendly and hard working. The trek was beautiful and so very different and unique. I loved every minute of it! We eventually approached the Gorilla's which were securely guarded by armed guards. They may seem scary at first but they are really fun happy guys! Don't be afraid of them there's no need to be! Once we entered into the Gorilla's territory they came very close to us. If there was one experience in my life that seems indescribable this would be it. We ended up being so close that you almost forgot that you are in their world and habitat. Towards the end of our hour experience a Silverback awoke and stood up. The beautiful beast started to come towards me. My guide quickly advised me to squat down and look away from the Silverback. As King Kong became closer he gave little kick (playfully). I was then informed that getting touched by a Gorilla means good luck. This of course just added to the already amazing experience. I mean who gets kicked by a Silverback! Everything about this trip was fantastic. I highly recommend this tour company and my guide Eric! I spent 3 1/2 weeks traveling all over Africa and tackling an astonishing amount of 6 countries in such a short amount of time. Rwanda and this experience was by far my favorite. It's a must do!!!
Still Smiling!
There were four people in our group. My husband and I and also our adult son and a friend. Our son planned the entire adventure with the expert help at Gorilla Trek Africa. Upon arrival at the airport in Rwanda we were greeted by our tour guide Eric and he took excellent care of us from start to finish. He is very kind and knowledgeable and enjoyable to be around. Our tour began with highlights of the city and then a visit to the Genocide Museum which we all feel was a very emotional but highly important and part of our experience that had an impact that we will never forget. The drive to our destination was very beautiful with many people out of the streets in colorful clothing (it was a Sunday) and many carrying items on their heads or pushing huge bags of potatoes up hill on bicycles. It was amazing. The scenery was breathtaking and all the while Eric was answering all of our questions and sharing his knowledge of the people and the places which we found to be invaluable. We stopped to buy fresh bananas too so that was fun and delicious. The hotel and food that was part of our adventure was very good and everyone we met was very helpful and accommodating. Eric took us to a cultural center where we had so much fun enjoying some of the reenactments of the culture and ceremonies of the past. It was an entertaining and interactive experience. On our second day we went on our Gorilla Trek. There are no adequate words to describe even one aspect of this experience. To begin with you are immersed in environments that are truly breathtaking with bamboo forests and jungles and lush hillsides with volcano backdrops. Our porters, our guides, the gorilla trackers, the environment, and then, of course, The Gorillas will always be held close in our fondest memories of this once in a lifetime adventure. My son was nudged by a silverback and I was brushed by a smaller gorilla. We saw mama gorillas with their babies and playful young gorillas. I think there were 19 gorillas in the family we had the ultimate pleasure of enjoying for an hour after finding them. Our gorillas took us on an adventure as they went off trail and we followed with lots of help from the trackers who managed to cut and hold over vines to allow us through some of the most amazing foliage you could imagine. The gorillas were so awesome and captivating and the wonder and adrenaline of being in their presence didn't allow for fear. We had complete confidence in our guides and trackers and they had prepared us well for what to do while spending time with the gorillas. We all feel like this was an adventure of a life-time and we will recommend Gorilla Trek Africa to everyone we know.
US
Email Lori | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience, Once in a lifetime!
I can not express how absolutely wonderful my 5 day Rwanda trip was with Gorilla Trek Africa. My guide, Bernard is one in a million!!!! The nicest, kindest and most capable guide I have ever met. I was traveling as a solo female and felt safe and well taken care of the entire time. Every little aspect of my trip was perfect right from the first email response I received from Nicolas. I emailed 5 or 6 different companies and Nicolas was the first to respond with many companies never responding at all. The planning stage went flawless. I stayed at the following: Rusizi Tented Camp at Akagera National Park, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge near Volcanoes National Park, and Paradise Malahide on Lake Kivu. Each property was wonderful in their own special way, especially the service, the kindness and care of the staff. I would highly recommend each. The gorilla experience is a once in a lifetime Bucket List item that leaves lifelong unforgettable memories. If I could give Gorilla Trek Africa 10 stars I would. Again, Bernard is a gem and made my trip even more special with all his knowledge and kindness I can't thank him nor Nicolas enough for making my trip one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Book with Gorilla Trek Africa and ask for Bernard...you won't be disappointed.
CH
Email Raina | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
GTA - Rwanda - Uganda - Outstanding
I booked a six day gorilla trekking experience with Gorilla Trek Africa. I had wanted to see the gorillas for over twenty years so there was a lot of pressure on the company to get it right, which they did in every way possible: the booking process was seemless with the amazing Nelson answering my numerous queries and the wonderful Krish who was my guide/driver for the entire trip. Krish did everything possible to make my trip as comfortable and special as possible, even providing me with replacement hiking boots when mine were destroyed while tracking chimpanzees. Gorilla Trek Africa exceeded every expectation and I will be visiting Rwanda and Uganda again with this company (and hopefully I will be lucky enough to come across Nelson and Krish again).
US
Email Helen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible experience
Nicholas was ALWAYS available to answer, and assist with, any and all of our questions and concerns! The service we received from him was excellent!
Patrick was a great guide, very informative and easy to understand and travel with. He helped to make those long drives as enjoyable as possible and went out of his way to accommodate o ur needs.
We had a great experience in Kibale and our guide Jessica was fun and professional. She explained things and assisted us through our journey with the chimps.
Our adventure in Bwindi with the gorillas was also a once in a lifetime experience, but I was disappointed in the guides. Not once did they offer an assist, or helping hand, as we trekked through the mud and hilly terrain. Several times we had to call out to them, because we weren't sure which path to follow. They were not informative or very friendly. Aside from that, this was still an awesome adventure!
Our walk to the village in Rwanda was very nice, as was our tour in the city. Our visit to the Rwanda Genocide Memorial was memorable and informative. All of our accomodations were great, especially in Rwanda!
If I were to do it again, I would do my homework better and try to avoid so much travel time each day. I didn't realize how many hours we would be spending in the car. An extra couple of days would definitely have made this trip even better!
Thanks Rwandagorilla, aka Gorilla Trek Africa, for a superb adventure!
US
Email Kelly | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best trip EVER!!
Uganda is an incredibly diverse and beautiful country and William, who is “made in Uganda” welcomed us with an open heart and open arms. His love of his country showed at every turn. Gorilla trek Africa, William and the people of Uganda are incredibly hospitable. We did the 10 day safari through Entebbe to Mburo>Bwindi>>Queen Elizabeth>Kanyanchu> and finally Murchison Falls and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Some highlights include the hippos, gorillas, chimps, elephants, lions, and giraffes just to name a few. It was truly thrilling to see. Our guide, William was EXTREMELY knowledgeable and well spoken and went out of his way to tell us special things here and there. We learned about birds, Ugandan Street food, the culture of the people, religion, etc. This particular tour was a whirlwind. We are from the US and we only get 2-3 weeks of vacation time. It was perfect for us and our time needs. We got A LOT in. If you have more time, you could spend 2-3 days in each place instead of 1-2. That and the insects would be my ONLY complaints. Which wasn’t anyone’s fault. I loved every inch of it. Even driving through the country on the bumpy red clay roads with the wind in my hair and African sun on my skin. The smells, sights and sounds of Africa will be with me forever. Thank you Gorilla trek Africa and William for a truly unforgettable experience that will be in our memories and hearts forever!!
DK
Email Anne | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
1 day gorilla trek in Rwanda
We did a 1 day gorilla trek with a city tour of Kigali and the Genocide Memorial the day before the trek. Everything was very well organised and our driver showed a lot of knowledge about the area, which he shared with us during the trip. All communication with the office before travelling was fast and to the point and everything went smoothly when we arrived in Rwanda.
The gorilla trek was an absolutely amazing experience and I would recommend it to anyone. We got so close to them that we could have reached out and touched them if allowed. The big silverback passed us by at a distance of 2 meters, it was such a fantastic experience!
Rwanda is a very nice country to visit, very lush and beautiful with hills everywhere. The visit to the genocide memorial was a humbling and special experience and you can’t tell that this country went through hell only 20 years ago. I will recommend a visit to the country and especially seeing the gorillas to everyone.
SG
Email Debaditya | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Tour Company, Great Guide, Wonderful Visit to Akagera and Gorillas
Pre-trip service:
- We corresponded with Nicholas initially and with Nelson when Nicholas was not around. Both were very prompt and helpful in giving information and giving us a quote for the trip. Information provided was to the point and complete with packing lists, etc.
- There was a moment of anxiety for one individual in our group of 3 when his receipt for the deposit placed with Rwanda Development Board had only his first name and not full name. Nelson assured us that this would not be a problem as it was only the receipt and not the permit and that they have given the full names and passport numbers to the RDB. Indeed there was no problems at all.
On-trip:
- Our guide was supposed to be Eric; we had asked for him after reading reviews although Nicholas had told us that all their guides were very good.
- Nelson advised with apologies at the last minute that due to some personal problems he wouldn't be able to come and our guide would be Enos instead.
- Enos is a great guide; very punctual, patient and professional with fluent English and most importantly with so much charm, humility and politeness. His calm but confident demeanour put us at ease from the very beginning. We were super impressed by his nuanced answers to our queries and he, at our request gave us a Rwanda genocide 101 - the context of the madness and how it built up to what it was starting over a 100 years ago.
- There were 3 of us and on the 2nd day in Volcanoes National Park, one of us was doing the gorilla trek the 2nd time and two of us were going to do the golden monkey trek. And we had to go in different directions to two different starting points. Enos was very resourceful and ensured that we reached our destinations in time.
- I also need to mention that Enos was very sensitive to every one of our individual needs and ensured that all of us had a great time.
Trip Itself:
- We went to Akagera National Park where we did a boat ride and a game drive the next day. Lovely experience not because the animals were very close by (except for the zebras, buffaloes and impalas, topis) but because of the solitude. It was like it was just the 5 of us (3 of us, Enos and the park ranger Didier), the wide savannah and the animals. The silence in such a large place with so many animals was complete! We had a good time spotting animals which were generally far away for most of the drive but in the end we came to a huge plain which had a lot of zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, topis etc. We also got to see two herds of elephants but they were pretty far.
- The Volcanoes National Park is a beautiful place with the misty mountains peaks and the jungles. We had a great time on the gorilla visit - the apes were very close by so we had good views and it was the same for the golden monkey visit. Both the treks through the dense jungles of central/east Africa were very enjoyable and unique experiences. I am not writing much about the gorillas because they are widely covered elsewhere and this is a review about the tour company.
Overall
- Very impressed by Gorilla Trek Africa.
- We had found them from the TripAdvisor reviews and they are #1 amongst 26 tour companies doing the gorilla trekking in Africa and it is totally justified.
- Booking directly with Gorilla Trek Africa is highly recommended.
- They also have another website by another name (i forget the name); the reason is nothing other than to increase reach.
- Thanks to Nelson, Nicholas and Enos for a wonderful experience.
- If we do the gorilla trek or Akagera National Park again, I am going to use this company.