We don't use it as a way of offsetting, but we do donate to a carbon removal company for every customer that travels with Explore. The amount is based on the duration of the tour and the region you are travelling to. The Explore Foundation is a great way of giving back though, as the positive impacts of travel are wonderful. So, by supporting the communities you visit on your adventures you are empowering them and many of our projects are also helping to build climate resilience.
Absolutely, you can choose to book flights with us or make your own arrangements. One thing we will say is if we book them for you, you are protected if there are any issues with delays/cancellations etc as we'll take care of that for you. If you make your own arrangements just let us know your details so we can let your tour leader know when you are arriving.
This is a concern we share. All the places we visit have been reviewed by Wild Welfare, an independent charity that supports us when we're trying to ensure we pick the right places to visit and support. We also have our wonderful tour leaders who visit regularly so they can let us know if things change over time. We aim to support sanctuaries that are looking after wildlife that genuinely cannot survive in the wild, and we avoid places that breed animals and use them for commercial gains.
There are two seasons that we recommend, travelling in January and February or from July through to October.
We grade the pace for the Rwanda trip as moderate - which means it's a busy itinerary and we'll cover a lot of ground to see all the highlights, so expect some longer journeys. Tracking gorillas is undoubtedly the highlight of the tour, however depending on where the gorillas are you may have to walk a long distance, in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. This varies for every trip depending on where the gorillas are choosing to spend their time. Often, the trek itself is undertaken at a very leisurely pace. There’s
no summit to reach, no camps to set up, and absolutely no rush. All participants will have the option to hire a porter to carry their day pack (around USD $10), and a hiking pole will also be provided to help support you on your journey.
We’re fortunate to have secured all our gorilla permits in advance, which means we’re able to guarantee our trips with confidence. Generally, permits tend to sell out many months ahead of time — especially considering there are only between 136 and 152 available each day. The exact number varies depending on how many habituated gorilla families are in the area, as some groups often cross the border into Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
As much of our route in Uganda and Rwanda is driving across high country or at a reasonable altitude, warm clothing is needed particularly at night and in the early morning. It's important not to bring green fatigues or camouflage jackets/trousers that might be considered of military origin. Lightweight, hard-wearing gloves are useful for protecting hands during the gorilla search and helping grip vegetation. Long sleeved shirts and long trousers are recommended for protecting arms and legs against the forest and avoiding insects such as ants biting legs. Lightweight long wool socks which are comfortable for a mountain tropical forest are also recommended. And for footwear, we recommend strong waterproof walking boots due to the nature and altitude of the forest. It’s essential to have shoes that have good ankle support (the ones that come above the ankle bone).
Due to the rotation of gorilla families, you won’t know which group you’ll be visiting until the morning of your trek. However, after your experience, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about the specific family you encountered, including their background and social ties.
Yes, a yellow fever jab is required, but best place to get any changes to current requirements can be found on the FCDO’s webpage as that is updated in real time.
Both Kenya and Tanzania are good places to go during that time, as it’s in-between the rains.
I would pay particular attention to Kenya, which is a classic safari experience and might suit you. In the past few years, road conditions in Kenya have improved, so travel on the main roads will be comfortable. Once we're in the national parks, we'll be driving on gravel and dirt tracks which can be dusty and bumpy. You should expect some early starts on any safari though.
We will be based in Tsavo West and will very likely explore Tsavo East on a game drive too and on clear days Kili can be seen from Tsavo East.
Yes, we do! We generally head to the Mara River on the trip. It’s a must see!
Absolutely - we've had so many of the team here do this trip so if you have any specific concerns, please do give us a call and you can talk to someone who's been there.
Yes, there is - there are opportunities to dive both in Placencia and Cay Caulker.
Our customer service team are always happy to help you combine a couple of trips to help you make the most of your time away. We don't offer any trips just to Guatemala though. There are variations of trips though that go to Belize, Guatemala and Mexico - you can
see them all here.