The Great Gorilla Cycling Challenge

Uganda | Friday 12th - Friday 19th February 2021

Overview
Itinerary
Charity Project
Challengers

An incredible journey cycling through the stunning rolling hills and rainforests of Uganda. The adventure offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to encounter the Great Mountain Gorillas of Uganda in their natural habitat. *Gorilla viewing optional extra subject to permit availability and additional cost of USD$ 1750.

FUNDRAISING: This charity challenge is empowering you to cycle through the stunning green hills of Uganda while fundraising for our charity projects in Uganda: Kisoro Children's Foundation and SoftPower Education. Together, our goal is to raise USD 14,000 (AED 50,000) to support school renovations.

We advise each individual to fundraise USD $1,370 (AED 5,000) so that together, we can succeed with this incredible educational project and support over 200 children in need attending the school.

FITNESS LEVEL:
This challenge is rated as demanding which requires a good level of health and fitness, comfort riding a bike off-road on varying terrain including steep inclines for up to several hours per day. Click here to read more about the challenge fitness ratings.

TRAINING:
We run a variety of free, weekly training sessions that we encourage you to join before the challenge. Registering for this challenge grants you unlimited membership to Gulf for Good's soulFIT fitness and hiking community. Click here to read more about soulFIT.

COST INCLUDES:

A challenge, adventure and charity experience of a lifetime!
In-country charity visit
soulFIT training membership
Unlimited access to all Gulf for Good fitness & training activities and hikes in UAE mountains
Fundraising approval + support with fundraising events
Pre-challenge briefing & get togethers
Discount with partner outdoor outfitters
Safety, medical & equipment advice
Internal transfers
Accommodation, food & water
Experienced Outdoor First Aid certified Gulf for Good support team
In-country medical & vehicle back up
Ethical, global standards for in-country guides and porters

Either pay at once or opt for our easy installment plan below.

PAYMENT DEADLINES:
1. AED 1,000 (USD 275) - Deposit toward Challenge Expenses (non-refundable and non-transferable) due to G4G to reserve your space on the challenge
2. AED 3,300 (USD 900) - 50% remaining balance towards Challenge Expenses due to G4G Thursday 31st December 2020
3. AED 3,300 (USD 900) - 50% final balance towards Challenge Expenses due to G4G Thursday 4th February 2021
4. AED 5,000 (USD 1,360) - Minimum Charity Donation due to International Humanitarian City Thursday 19th February 2021

(USD 1 = AED 3.67)

EXCLUDES:
International flights
Visas
Gorilla viewing permit ($1750)
Tips and spending money
Vaccinations
Insurance
Kit items
Drinks (other than water)

This event is under process for approval by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department.

Day1

Friday 3rd July - Arrival in Entebbe

On arrival in Entebbe, we will be met by the guiding company and transferred to the guesthouse in Kampala. Time permitting, after a quick freshen up, we will be able to explore the city by foot.

Our welcome dinner will be followed by a challenge briefing.

Overnight in Red Chilli Guesthouse

Day2

Saturday 4th July : Entebbe to – Mabira Forest: 55km cycle

We start after breakfast with bike fitting and our mechanics will be available to help you setup the bike properly. We then start cycle around 4km through town to Port Bell from where we will take a boat to cross part of Lake Victoria (30 minutes).

We will cycle through a beautiful green environment with small villages. Halfway our trip we will pass the famous Ssezibwa Fall. The waterfall is truly beautiful but has a dark past in the history of the Buganda Kingdom.

After a picnic lunch at the waterfalls, there will be time to make the short hike to the top of the falls, we will continue our tour and cycle into Mabira Forest. Mabira Forest is one of the few indigenous forests close to Kampala, but both sugar and tea plantation winding terrain over the jungle. We will sleep in tents at Griffin Fall Camp in the heart of the rainforest.

Dinner and a night under canvas.

Overnight in tents at Griffin Fall Camp

Day3

Sunday 5th July : Mabira Forest to Jinja and the Nile: 75km cycle

Today’s ride will be through tea plantations and sugar cane fields. The tracks can be challenging due to short climbs

here and there. Today we will reach the source of the Nile in Jinja. The Nile is the longest river of the world. Before it ends its long journey at the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt is passes through South Sudan. A short boat trip will show us the official source after which we will be transported to the other bank of the mighty river where we will have lunch at Deli, the best sandwich lunchroom of town. After lunch we will cycle through Jinja, use the newly constructed bridge and cycle along the Nile towards our accommodation for the night. We will camp at Nile it!

Overnight in tents at Nile it! campsite

Day4

Monday 6th July : From Jinja to Father Joe’s Estate: 60 km cycle

A full day cycling along the mighty river. This relatively easy ride on the banks of the river will bring us to Father Joe’s estate.

Overnight in tents at Father Joes Estate

Day5

Tuesday 7th July : Eastern Bank to Kamuli, 70km Cycle

The first thing we will do today after a hearty breakfast is crossing the Nile so that we can spend the day cycling on the Eastern side of the Nile. The tracks will be relatively flat. We will pass through many small villages until we will reach Kamuli.

Overnight in tents at Busoga High School, bush camping (only pit latrines available, but bush toilet and shower will be provided)

Day6

Wednesday 8th July : Kamuli to Namaganga 43km Cycle

Today we ride through beautiful scenery. Undulations will start again today. Overnight

Overnight camping in tents at in the grounds of one of the schools built/renovated by the charity.

Day7

Thursday 9th July: Namaganga to Bujagali Falls, 40km Cycle

Today we cycle largely through sugar cane fields enjoying amazing views, to Bugembe view point, where we will visit the King of Busoga palace at a high view point enjoying great views of Lake Victoria, Jinja town and the surrounding areas. From here, it is a nice downhill ride cycling the final stretch through local villages. Arrive at Explorers River camp after navigating through small roads among villages along the Nile, formally known as Bujagali Falls, which marks the end of our cycling.

Enjoy the stunning views of the Nile during our farewell diner.

Overnight in Safari tents

Day8

Friday 10th July: Bujagali - Entebbe

After breakfast we will travel back to Entebbe, you are free to visit the conservation center or the botanical garden before catching your international flight back.

Optional Gorilla Add-on $1750

Days 8-10 – Friday 10^th July - Sunday 12th July 2020: Bujagali -Entebbe -Gorilla Tracking

We travel to Entebbe as soon as 4am to be able to make the 7am flight to Kisoro. In Kisoro we transfer to Mutanda Lake resort where we can spend the day relaxing and enjoying the view of the volcanoes that form the border with Rwanda. Or perhaps go for a refreshing dip in the lake (it’s safe: no parasites, hippos or crocodiles), take a boat trip to one of the islands or go out on a hike.

The following day you will have to get up early to drive to the gorilla tracking gathering point. A beautiful experience awaits you. After the tracking we transfer back to the lodge for overnight.

On the next day we fly back to Entebbe at 8:25am to Entebbe airport.

Note: This is an optional extension package with the following inclusions:

Roundtrip flights from Entebbe to Kisoro
2 overnights at Lake Mutanda Resort with meals (B,L,D)
Transfers to/from Kisoro
Gorilla permits

Notes: This itinerary may change due to border regulation changes, unusual weather patterns, wildlife movements, group strength, etc. We will endeavour to keep to the planned itinerary, but cannot be held responsible for last minute changes that might occur. In all such circumstances, the lead guide will have the final say.

Soft Power Education

Soft Power Education (SPE) has a mission to “Improve the quality of life through education”. Since 1999 we have been working in the Jinja District of Uganda, where the source of the Nile begins its journey towards the Mediterranean Sea.

We work in three key areas:

Alternative Education, School Infrastructure Development and Livelihoods

Our core programmes include two pre-schools for 180 of the most disadvantaged children from the communities of Buwenda and Kyabirwa, a Special Needs Programme working with over 130 children with disabilities, the Amagezi Education Centre through which we partner with over 1000 P6 pupils from 12 partner schools and the Earth Power Project under which we focus on protecting the environment in the Busedde and Buyengo sub counties.

In 2015, Gulf for Good fundraised to renovate and paint 9 classrooms at Namaganga Primary School under our School Infrastructure Development Programme. In 2020 we are fundraising to completely renovate seven classrooms at Nkondo Primary School where 605 pupils attend school. This renovation will ensure that the children are learning in safe and inspiring classrooms.

Please visit www.softpowereducation.com to learn more about our organisation.

Kisoro Children's Foundation

Kisoro Children's Foundation exists to support the education, health, and welfare of children and families in Kisoro, Uganda. They support the Ineza Center and School on the same compound, providing needed quality education and healthcare for children. The construction of this new center and school was completed in May 2018.

We are raising AED100,000 to tile the classrooms, purchase a playground and to furnish the new school. The impact of this fund will reach 830 students (232 directly and 598 indirectly).

According to the 2014 census in Kisoro, Uganda, 86% of households have subsistence farming as their main source of income. 60% of the population is under 19 years of age. Only 25% of girls aged 13-18 are in secondary school. 39% of children aged 10-15 are working. Among households in Kisoro District, less than 8% have access to electricity and about a third have access to piped water, but this water is untreated. Public schools are crowded, often include physical abuse of children, and generally have no food or clean water for children.

Kisoro Children's Foundation was founded to address such inequities and open the door to new opportunities for the inhabitants of Kisoro. Gulf for Good is proud to be a partner on this project.

www.kisorochildren.org

Rita Gallagher

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