Price: $TBA shortly
Quite simply, this shoot may be the most exciting and exhilerating wildlife experience of your lifetime. Less than 400 mountain gorillas survive in the wild and our photo tour will visit all of Rwanda's habituated troops open to tourism. You'll be seeing silverbacks face-to-face and eye-to-eye, an incredible, humbling, yet up-lifting encounter you'll never forget.
There are several reasons! Perhaps most importantly,
most groups only do one or two visits to the Gorillas. Very few
do three. So, why do we do FIVE days of gorilla trekking? First,
there are four different groups, ranging in size from around 9
individuals to one group of over thirty gorillas! Each group is
different, in terms of group composition (the number of impressive
silverbacks, the number of babies, the number of playful juveniles)
and the physical conditions of the shoots may vary greatly --
from open clearings to bamboo forests (but more on that, below).
Tourist groups are limited to no more than 8 visitors, in addition
to the trackers, gorilla guide, park rangers, and porters that
accompany you up the mountain.
By having five days of trekking, we'll have the chance to visit
our favorite group (which might be the biggest, or the closest,
or the one with the best baby!) twice, as we'll be doing one group
twice. Further, the weather can be quite varied, and having multiple
chances to photograph gorillas gives you the best chance of shooting
in great light. And what is 'great light?' Cloudy bright skies!
Gorillas are dark gray or black, and when there is sunlight the
contrast can be very taxing. Ideally, the best conditions are
light clouds that create bright, soft light. Mist, or light rain
is fine, too, and on our 2003 and most recent, January 2005 trips
we did our best work during a downpour. At any rate, you don't
want to spend two days with gorillas and have bright sunlight
one day and heavy rains the next. Of course, you could have five
days of either, but the chances are that the weather will be quite
varied during our stay, insuring that you'll get great images
during our expedition. This pattern -- rain, sun, ideal shooting
conditions -- has been the norm for all of our trips, and we'd
expect that to continue.
Further, we've added another day to our Rwanda trip to capitalize
on the incredible landscape and people photography. Rwanda is
beautiful, certainly the most photogenic landscapes we've seen
in Africa and, perhaps, in most of the locations we've visited
worldwide. The people are friendly and photogenic, and the interactions
we've had with the Rwandan people, both photographically and just
through social interactions, has been a true highlight of the
trips. Every group we've had had lamented the fact that they didn't
have enough time for devoting some shooting of the landscapes
and people, but with the addition of another day we've addressed
that!
Gorillas
live in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park,
a forested region of the northwestern section of Rwanda. Unlike
most African game viewing, Mountain Gorillas are visited on-foot
by trekking to their mid-morning resting and feeding locations.
We're led by a Rwandan guide and accompanied by Park staff --
guards employed to protect the gorillas, and your gear is carried
by a porter. That's right -- your gear is carried for you!
All that is required of you is to get to the gorillas, which may
involve a half hour hike but more typically requires a 'trek'
of one or two hours one-way. The trekking is not difficult if
you are in-shape and relatively fit, but we would not recommend
this trip for anyone who is truly over-weight and out-of-shape.
Hiking to the gorillas generally requires at least one-half hour
of uphill hiking, and it may involve one or two hours (or more)
of steady uphill hiking. The pace is slow, and your porter and
the guides and rangers will help you with steep steps or muddy
spots but, bottom-line, you have to be able to do the hike. Most
treks begin around 7,500 feet (I'm giving figures based upon our
scouting trip, which are typical hikes and distances) and involved
a vertical gain of 800 to 1,000 feet over a one or two hour period.
Expect to be at 8,500 feet, or higher, while photographing the
gorillas.
When we find the gorillas, they may be feeding or lounging or
resting or playing in an open clearing, in a forest, or in a bamboo
thicket. Incredibly, almost every opportunity is a good one for
shooting, as the guides actually clear vegetation that separates
you from the animals. Sure sometimes an errant vine or leaf blocks
a view, but it is almost unbelievable how the trackers and guide
clear viewing windows to provide easy shooting access.
As stated above, we'll also be spending time with the people and the landscapes. Terraced hillsides, mountain landscapes, and just loads and loads of people photographs will occupy the last full day of our Photo Tour. Please see our 2005 January trip report for a sampling of some of our people shots.
Can you do the trip? If you're in shape, or if you can get into shape,
there's no question you can do this trip. One of our scouting
trip participants, who lives at sea-level and was bed-ridden with
a serious illness for weeks a few months before the trip, made
four of the five treks, taking one rest day on Day 5 just to 'not
push it' after the illness. If you can climb five flights of steps
non-stop without risking death, or if you could work out on a
step-master or climb 5-10 flights of steps once a day for a few
weeks to get your legs in shape, you can do this trip. But the
fact is, you'll be hiking, uphill, at some elevation, and we don't
want to mislead anyone who has health issues or fitness concerns
-- it's too great a trip for that! Once a trek begins, the group
will continue on to the gorillas. Anyone unable to complete a
trek will be left behind, with his or her porter, until our return
from the trek. The 'show will go on' even if you cannot, so please
don't expect the group to be compromised if your fitness level
precludes your completing a trek. Fair warning, and we're serious
about this. We really think anyone doing this should walk, and
walk uphill, for a half-hour or more a day in preparation for
the trip. If you are overweight, you could have problems, or if
you have a bad back -- sometimes we're duck-walking or crawling
short distances through bamboo tunnels, at any rate, it can be
strenuous if you are not in shape.
We do not advise this trip for anyone with heart problems or any
other physical concern that might pose a health risk. Quite frankly,
we are out in a fairly remote area and any health emergency could
be life threatening. If you have any concerns about your health,
please consult your physician. We cannot accept any responsibility
or assume any liability for any health risks or results.
Our Time Frame: The trek begins on the first night with the group meeting in Nairobi. Some of the group may be coming from Tanzania, after completing our safari to the Serengeti, while others may just be arriving into Kenya. On the morning of Day 2 we'll fly from Nairobi to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Upon our arrival in Rwanda we'll be heading directly to the Mountain Gorilla's Nest Lodge, right outside Volcanoes National Park, literally a few minutes drive from headquarters and some of the departure points for our treks. On the following day, Day 3, and continuing through Day 7, we'll be doing a morning trek for the mountain gorillas. On the afternoon of our last gorilla trek, Day 7, we'll head back to Kigali where we'll overnight. On Day 8 participants will return to Kenya for connecting flights or to join us on our Kenya safari.
As
you may know, gorilla trekking involves a one-hour visit with
the gorillas. That may seem like an extremely short period of
time for a visit to Rwanda, but I can assure you that your days,
and your time with the gorillas, will be extremely well spent.
Here are the facts:
After a breakfast at approximately 6:15-6:30AM, we'll drive to
the Park Headquarters where we'll register for our day's trek.
Usually we're driving to our point of departure and beginning
our trek by about 8AM or so. Trekking may involve a hike of an
hour or more, so generally we're with the gorillas by 9:30-10AM
or so, although that varies according to where the gorillas are.
The HOUR with the gorillas is unbelievably intense, and is timed
by when the group actually starts working with the gorillas. I
can tell you that after 30 minutes of great shooting you'll be
wondering if there's any time left -- the hour goes slowly, not
because you're bored but because you just can't imagine the activity
and action continuing any longer. Everyone after their hour's
visit felt drained, happy, and satisfied. But the day's not done...
After
the gorilla visit we'll return to our vehicle, generally arriving
no earlier than 11AM but perhaps as late as 1 or 2PM or later
-- depending upon the length of the trek. We'll have lunch and
then head out for an excursion into the Rwandan countryside. Rwanda
is incredibly beautiful and offers some wonderful shooting opportunities
-- with landscapes, farmscapes, and mountain scenes, and with
the people, who are friendly and accommodating. While some treks
simply return to the lodge and rest until the next day's trek,
we won't be doing that as a group. Of course, if you'd like to
stay behind and rest, or relax, or catch up on sleep or reading,
you're welcome to do so, but we'll be offering a full day's worth
of activity.
Below:
An active volcano in the congo; the edge of the bamboo forest
and the 'mists' of the Virunga volcanos; kids running down a road,
repeatedly, for our cameras; a crop terrace, a familiar feature
of the Rwanda landscape.
Gorilla in the bamboo; Tutsi ceremonial dancers; and two habital
shots - an easy thing to forget to do when you're so close to
such a charismatic animal!
The Physical Conditions: We'll be hiking through jungle in an environment
that's often damp or wet. The Volcanoes mountain chain receive
a good amount of rain, so it's possible you'll be hiking in a
mist or light rain, and perhaps even shooting in these conditions.
Most of the hiking is on established trails that lead to the general
gorilla area, but once we're near the gorillas we will be traveling
over or under brush and trees -- not especially strenuous but
not a stroll in the park, either. Trails can be muddy and slippery.
Raingear is highly advised to keep dry, and we'll provide all
participants with a complete gear list with our recommendations.
Unlike any other trip we've done, this trek is exceptional in
that you don't have to carry your gear! Porters are available
to carry your pack, tripod, extra clothes, etc. for a modest tip
per day, and this is a real luxury that should not be passed up!
Trekking suddenly becomes nothing more than a hike, as you are
not burdened by your gear.
Once we're near the gorillas you'll be asked to get the gear you'll
need, and you won't need much. You won't need to carry more than
two cameras -- perhaps with one mounted with a 70-200 2.8, 120-300
2.8, or 100-400, and another with a wide-angle lens or wide-angle
zoom. A tripod is especially handy for the lighting conditions,
but faster ISO films and fast lens may eliminate that need. Again,
we'll be offering full support regarding what equipment you'll
need to all our registered participants. For the hour with the
gorillas you'll be carrying the equipment you'll be using -- so
going light makes sense, but again, you simply won't need 'big
glass' or a lot of accessories.
Day 1, February 5. Arrive into Nairobi by evening. Overnight,
Boulevard Hotel.
Day 2, February 6. Arrive in Kigali in the AM, drive to
the Genocide Memorial (if time permits), continue to the Volcanoes
National Park. Overnight, Mountain Gorilla's Nest Lodge, Kinigi.
Day 3, February 7. Our first trek to one of the four tourist-accessible
groups. Afternoon, time permitting, road touring and photography
in the surrounding countryside. Overnight, Mountain Gorilla's
Nest Lodge.
Day 4, February 8. Our second trek followed by afternoon
touring. Overnight, Mountain Gorilla's Nest Lodge.
Day 5, February 9. Our third trek followed by afternoon
touring. Overnight, Mountain Gorilla's Nest Lodge.
Day 6, February 10. Our fourth trek followed by afternoon
touring. Overnight, Mountain Gorilla's Nest Lodge.
Day 7, February 11. Our fifth trek. Following our trek
we'll return to the Gorilla's Nest Lodge for lunch and to change
into 'travel clothes' for our drive back to Kigali. We'll be staying
in a 5-star hotel in Kigali. Overnight, Novotel Hotel.
Day 8, February 12. Departure day, flying from Kigali to
Nairobi. For those making connections back home a dayroom is provided.
For those staying on to join us on the Kenya safari your dayroom
will become your overnight room. Dayroom or overnight, Boulevard
Hotel.
What's Included
The Gorilla Trek price for our February
2005 trip is $5,995 and is based on land costs from Nairobi including
airfare from Nairobi to Kigali and back to Nairobi. It includes
all accommodations (double occupancy) in Nairobi and Kigali, airport
transfer, all land transport in Rwanda, all meals in Rwanda, gorilla
permits and park fees, all tips for guides and lodge staff and
temporary Flying Doctor membership while in Rwanda.
The price does not include lunch and dinner in Nairobi upon return,
tip for camera porters, tips for room stewards and luggage porters,
drinks at all meals, personal items or the single supplement if
private lodging is requested.
About Your Leaders
My wife Mary Ann and I strive to provide
the most comfortable and thorough safari you will experience.
Both Mary and I are photographers, and I'd hope you've seen our
credits. These included National Geographic, National Wildlife,
Ranger Rick, Natural History, Living Bird, Birder's World, and
most nature/wildlife calendars.
In 1994 Mary Ann won two first place awards in the prestigious
BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, in Endangered
Species and in Bird Behavior. In 1998 she had three highly commended
images published in the BBC competition, ALL THREE from Kenya!
She won first place in the Cemex/Nature's Best photo contest in
the Humor Division for Professional Photographers. In 2003 she
won first place in Mammal Behavior in the Agfa all Africa photo
competition with a dust bathing bull elephant from Samburu. Mary
has written a number of children's books, including Leopards,
Grizzly Bears, Woodpeckers, Flying Squirrels, Sunflowers, Cobras,
Jupiter, Boas, Garter Snakes, Pythons, Rattlesnakes, Ducks, Chickens,
Horses, and Cows, and a coffee table book, Out of the Past, Amish
Tradition and Faith.
I've written several how-to wildlife photography books -- A Practical
Guide to Photographing American Wildlife, The Wildlife Photographer's
Field Manual, The Complete Guide to Wildlife Photography, Designing
Wildlife Photographs, Photographing on Safari, A Field Guide to
Photographing in East Africa, and the New Complete Guide to Wildlife
Photography. In 1999 Todtri published my latest, African Wildlife,
and in 1999 we produced our first instructional video, A Video
Guide to Photographing on Safari with Joe and Mary Ann McDonald.
The video has received rave reviews, and it is the definitive
guide for preparing yourself for a safari. I've won several times
for highly commended images in both the Cemex/Nature's Best and
the Agfa all Africa photo competitions. In 2003 I won 2nd place
in the World in Our Hands category in the BBC competition with
an image from Africa.