T
THE GREAT APES OF UGANDA
Visiting the mountain gorillas of central Africa was a defining
ravel with WWF’s Allard Blom, Managing Director for the Congo Basin Program to experience Uganda’s incredible diversity of habitats and animals up close on a variety of wildlife adventures. Search for iconic safari wildlife in Kibale and Queen Elizabeth National Parks like elephants, hippos, and the elusive tree-climbing lions of Ishaha and the Kazinga Channel; admire the soaring volcanic Rwenzori mountains; watch for birds, hippos, and crocodiles on a river tour; and interact with chimpanzees in the Kibale Forest.
moment in my life. It led me on a path to starting the successful habituation of western lowland gorillas, which had never been done before. I look forward to sharing with you the incredible opportunity of meeting gorillas while learning about WWF’s work on great apes. —Allard Blom, Ph.D, WWF’s Managing Director, Congo Basin Program
A Safari to Uganda with WWF’s Allard Blom July 6–15, 2020
WWF Expeditions is an invitation-only conservation
Come explore the best of the natural world and see how together we are making a difference for our planet.
FRONT COVER: ANDY ROUSE / NPL
The trip ends with two days of trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the chance to encounter the ever-charismatic mountain gorilla—a truly unforgettable experience. Here WWF has worked for more than 40 years to save the mountain gorilla and its forest habitat. In 1991, Fauna and Flora International and WWF partnered to create the International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP). With the IGCP and other partners, we work to conserve gorilla habitat and populations, and help improve the quality of life of local people.
These custom-designed journeys are led by WWF experts and offer exclusive opportunities to discover the wildlife and ecosystems we protect; meet community members whose lives are being improved because of our work; and immerse yourself in the worlds of our field staff and partners on the ground.
JOHN WARBURTON-LEE / DANITA DELIMONT
VILLIERS STEYN / SHUTTERSTOCK
travel program for our closest supporters,along with friends and family, to see firsthand the positive impact World Wildlife Fund is making.
We spend two days trekking, our prime opportunity to meet gorillas. Bwindi boasts nearly half the world’s mountain gorillas—about 400. We may see a range of ages: younger gorillas playing, mothers carrying babies or a silverback, the patriarch of the troop. On our final morning, we fly back to Entebbe for a farewell meal and transfers to the airport.
ARCO IMAGES / ALAMY
Day 1-4: Entebbe, Uganda and Kibale National Park Upon arrival in Entebbe, you’re transferred to the Hotel No. 5, followed by a welcome dinner. The next UGANDA morning, we fly to Uganda’s verdant highlands, before reaching Kyaninga Lodge where we may explore the surrounding area or relax and enjoy Kibale N.P. Entebbe the majestic view from our lodge, which is Queen Elizabeth N.P. perched on the rim of a crater lake. On day three, Lake Bwindi Victoria Impenetrable we explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, Forest followed by an afternoon chimpanzee trek. This equatorial rain forest reserve has one of the highest concentrations of primates in the world— 1,300 chimpanzees. We may also see red or black-and-white colobus, gray-cheeked mangabey, and other monkeys. Our final morning offers another chimpanzee trek before lunch at Kyaninga where we take a walk around one of the nearby crater lakes. To register or if you have questions, please contact Karl Egloff at 202-495-4119 or
[email protected]
Day 5-6: Queen Elizabeth National Park
As we transfer to Ishasha Wilderness Camp in the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth Park, the volcanic Rwenzori Range provides a dramatic backdrop, with snowcapped peaks rising 16,000 feet. The park is home to a great diversity of wildlife, with over 600 bird species and nearly 100 different mammal species. During the following morning game drive, we search for classic African wildlife, possibly spotting leopard, buffalo, elephant, and antelope in the park’s northern sector. We then cruise the Kazinga Channel on a private boat to view large concentrations of hippos. The waterway is also home to colorful birdlife and baboons that entertain us from the banks. While exploring this region, we look for the famous tree-climbing lions.
Day 7-10: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
We head westward to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and watch savanna change to mountains. We spend the next three nights at Buhoma Lodge, our luxury camp and gorilla-trekking base. Here we will learn how WWF is working with IGCP to help communities grow tea plants in “buffer zones” that separate national parks from community lands, provide income, and prevent wildlife from straying into agricultural land. STEVE BLOOM / ALAMY
Allard Blom, Ph.D, is the Managing Director for the Congo Basin Program at World Wildlife Fund. Before joining WWF in Washington, DC, he spent more than 16 years working in Africa. He was instrumental in establishing the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Lopé National Park in Gabon. In Dzanga-Sangha in the Central African Republic, he initiated a long-term sustainable funding strategy which includes a tri-national conservation trust fund and a successful gorilla habituation program, where tourists can visit the elusive western lowland gorillas. Blom holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in biology/ecology and a Ph.D. in ecology and wildlife management from Wageningen University in the Netherlands.
PHOTOGRAPH BY CHARLES J SHARP
Meet Our Expert
ANDY ROUSE / NPL
Reservation Information & Trip Details Dates: July 6– 15, 2020 Cost: 4-6 guests: $12,615 per person, based on double occupancy 7-9 guests: $11,995 per person, based on double occupancy $980 per person for internal airfare $1,500 per person for chimp and gorilla trekking permits Group size: Limited to 9 participants For reservations and additional information, please contact Karl Egloff at WWF at 202-495-4119 or
[email protected]
www.worldwildlife.org/expeditions
