Dates Aug 25–Sep 10, 2006
Leader Jeff Foott
Fee $10,595 from Nairobi, Kenya
Deposit $400
Limit 7
Special Terms and Conditions Apply

The high-altitude forested slopes of Rwanda shelter half of the remaining mountain gorillas found in the wild. Here amidst the peaks of the Virunga volcanoes, the mountain gorillas make their home in luxuriant montane cloud forest. These gentle giants spend the majority of their day foraging in their “salad bowl” habitat, eating roots, leaves, stems and pith of many herbs, vines and bamboo.

Rwanda is without question the gold standard for gorilla photography. Its gorillas are habituated to human visitation and the exhilaration of their close proximity can easily be described as a life-altering experience. The photo opportunities in Rwanda are far superior to those possible in neighboring Uganda. (Uganda's Impenetrable Forest is called "impenetrable" for good reason!) Four gorilla groups—ranging from 8 to 35 individuals of all ages, including the impressive silverbacks and small babies—can be visited by carefully controlled (and limited) groups of tourists. This is a truly unusual adventure designed for the most intrepid of wildlife photographers. Be prepared for a potentially tough, arduous day on the mountain slopes while tracking the gorillas. Once located, photographers are permitted to spend no longer than one hour with them per day—but what a mind-blowing hour it is!

In addition to our gorilla visits, we have an exciting new opportunity to photograph chimpanzees with a much higher viewing success rate than the better-known sites in Tanzania! Over the last few years the Rwandan National Park authority has been habituating a troop of chimpanzees in the Cyamudongwe Forest, a small satellite to the much larger Nyungwe Forest Reserve. Our group will be among the first to have access to this habitat, which because of its size should require much less arduous trekking in order to achieve good photo opportunities.

Chimps feed on a much greater variety of food than other primates—this being necessary to support their “almost human-sized” brain. Their mobility makes tracking them very exciting and occasionally strenuous.

Getting amazing shots of both gorillas and chimpanzees requires more effort than most of our other photo safaris, but interacting with these not-so-distant “cousins” is one of the natural world’s greatest experiences. Join Jeff Foott on a sensational Photo Safari not soon forgotten!


Day 1
Depart from home.
Day 2
Arrive in Nairobi.

 Day 3
Fly to Kigali and take a relaxed tour of the city. (BLD)

 Day 4
Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park via Butare. (BLD)

 Days 5–7
Each day the search for chimpanzees begins in the cool early morning. Our Rwandan guide leads us to the area where they have nested the previous night—we track the troop from there. It can take an hour or more to get close to these remarkable primates, but once we find them, the thrill and connection between observer and subject is simply amazing. Our base during these days is the Gishakura Guest House, a quaint rural facility surrounded by a working tea plantation. It is very simple but clean, and a welcome respite at the end of the day. (BLD)

 Day 8
Photograph colobus monkeys, as well as other primates, in Nyungwe Forest. (BLD)

 Day 9
Drive to Ruhengeri via Kigali. (BLD)

 Days 10–13
Early departure by road to Volcanoes National Park for our first gorilla visit. A professional gorilla tracker will coach us in the safety rules and body language required to come close to the gorilla troops. The climb begins through the lush terraced farmland of the lower volcanic slopes. The journey can take as little as an hour, or several times that.
As the slopes become steeper and rockier, the vegetation becomes thick and tangled; our guides use their machetes to help clear a path. Huge trees, clinging vines and undergrowth add to the challenge of swift streams and slippery red mud underfoot. At around 8,000 feet of altitude, signs of the huge animals become apparent. Damage to the bamboo trees is an obvious sign, since the gorillas relish the young tender shoots and break older stems to suck the sap. Nearing the gorilla family we hear loud crashes or dull reverberating thuds. The silverback—the dominant male—is a primate of impressive dimensions who can attain a height of over six feet and weigh more than 440 pounds. Far from being an aggressive animal, as movies and legends claim, the gorilla is gentle and peaceful in its habits, and it is only when threatened that the male might adopt an intimidating attitude in which he howls and beats his chest with his fists. Once his confidence has been restored, he’ll accept us as nonaggressive intruders. Gorilla’s Nest Lodge, our base during the gorilla treks, is in a lovely rural setting near the park headquarters. If time (and our energy) permit, we’ll explore Lake Kivu at the end of each day. (BLD)

 Day 14
Morning visit to the Virunga Volcanoes to photograph the beautiful golden subspecies of Sykes monkey. Return to Kigali in the afternoon. (BLD)

 Day 15
Fly to Nairobi. (BLD)
Day 16
Depart for home. (BLD)

 Day 17
Arrive home.

 NOTE: ACTIVITY LEVEL This photo safari is best suited to very fit travelers who are able to hike uphill for several hours. Porters will be available to carry camera gear, but heat, humidity and altitude will require stamina and persistence. For most people this trip should be preceded by a conscientious fitness preparation program.




Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc. P.O. Box 655, Vashon Island, Washington USA 98070
Phone: (206) 463-5383   Fax: (206) 463-5484    Email: info@photosafaris.com
Copyright © 2008, Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc.