Gorilla Forest Safaris
Gorilla Forest Safaris is an indigenous and locally-owned eco-inclusive African safari company operating in Uganda. It offers nature, wildlife, and cultural experiences and products to tourists. The enterprise is eco-inclusive at its core, focusing on environmental protection, a positive transformation of the local economy, and the preservation of the cultural heritage of the local people.
Gorilla Forest Safaris is a green and carbon neutral enterprise committed to reducing gas emissions to zero. The enterprise has an inclusive employment policy whereby women, youth and the marginalised Batwa pygmies are employed both directly and indirectly as local site guides, artisans, and traditional dancers. Locals are also educated on composting methods, the use of renewable energy technologies, and rainwater harvesting techniques.
- Promoting tree planting programmes.
- Conducting low-waste operations by upcycling plastic.
- Encouraging sustainable farming practices through skills training.
- Enabling access to energy-saving cookstoves.
- Providing user training for renewable energy technologies.
- Alleviating poverty through the gainful employment of women, youth and the Batwa minority.
- Strengthening social cohesion through the creation of women-led smallholder farmer groups.
- Preserving local cultural values through traditional dance performances.
- Improving public health locally.
- Supporting SMEs and providing farmer groups with access to markets and microcredit.
- Enabling local artisans and craftsmen by creating markets around their products.
- Strengthening the local economy through value addition to agricultural products.
Partners
Enterprise Uganda provides entrepreneurial and business support to the enterprise.
Finding XY provided insights and training on business replication.
The Uganda Tourism Board provides training and regulatory support.