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Paramount Gorilla Expeditions guide team on safari in East Africa Who We Are · Since 2016
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Who We Are

About Paramount Gorilla Expeditions

A locally guided, locally owned tour operator across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar and the Seychelles — built by the specialists who plan and lead the trips themselves, since 2016.

10Years On the Ground
6,400+Journeys Planned
4.9/5SafariBookings Rating
61%Guests Who Return
Who We AreAbout UsMeet the TeamOur Awards & RecognitionsClient FeedbackDoing GoodSustainable TourismPrivacy PolicyCareersBook With UsWhy Book With Us?What Are Tailor-Made Tours?Travel with ConfidenceFully Refundable DepositTravel InsuranceBest Price GuaranteeWhen to Travel to Africa?
Our Story

Built by guides, not a booking platform

Paramount Gorilla Expeditions started in 2016 with two guides, one battered Land Cruiser, and a conviction that the best safaris are built by people who actually live where they guide. Amara Wanjiru was leading migration drives out of Nairobi; Daniel Tumusiime was tracking gorilla family movements in the hills above Bwindi. They'd met on a cross-border trip a mutual client had cobbled together from three separate agencies, watched it nearly fall apart at every border crossing, and decided the region deserved one operator who understood all of it — not three who each understood a third.

A decade later, that's still the whole idea. We work across exactly five destinations — Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar and the Seychelles — because depth beats breadth every time a guest asks a question only someone who's actually been there can answer. Our specialists are based in the region, not routing your enquiry through a call centre on another continent, and every camp in our library has been slept in by someone on our own team before it's offered to a guest.

We're a tour operator, not a booking platform. That distinction shapes everything below — from how our itineraries are priced to how our team is structured to what our permit and lodge relationships actually let us do when a flight is delayed or a plan changes mid-trip. What follows is the fuller picture: who we are, how we work, and exactly what booking with us means for you.

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Paramount Gorilla Expeditions founding guides in the field On the Ground Since 2016
What we hold ourselves to

The six things that don't get compromised

01

First-Hand, Not Resold

Every park, permit relationship and camp in our library has been walked, negotiated or slept in by someone on our own team — not sourced from a wholesaler's catalogue we've never seen ourselves.

02

Honest Over Impressive

We'll tell you when a season is quieter than advertised, when a budget camp is genuinely fine, or when a bucket-list moment isn't guaranteed. Trust compounds faster than any single sale.

03

The Region, Not Just the Route

We work exclusively across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar and the Seychelles so our knowledge stays deep rather than spread thin across a continent we'd only know from brochures.

04

Conservation Pays Its Way

Park fees, conservancy leases and permit revenue from every trip we book fund real anti-poaching and habitat work — we treat that link as a responsibility, not a marketing line.

05

Community Before Commission

Local guides, local suppliers and local ownership come first in how we build an itinerary, even when a foreign-run alternative would be simpler to sell.

06

Available When It Matters

A missed flight or a change of plan doesn't wait for office hours. Our in-country desks are reachable 24/7 for any guest currently traveling with us.

Who We Are

Meet the Team

Eight of the specialists behind our five destination desks — the people you'll actually speak to, not a support queue.

TK

Tumwine Kenneth

Founder & Tourguide & Destination Specialist Nairobi, Kenya

Born and raised on the outskirts of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kenneth brings more than nine years of hands-on experience guiding migration and gorilla trekking safaris across the region. In 2016, He founded Paramount Gorilla Expeditions with a commitment to creating well-planned, authentic East African safari experiences. Today, He remains personally involved in selecting and evaluating every east african camp we add to our portfolio, ensuring that each meets our standards for quality, service, location, and guest experience. .

KA

Kesande Anitah

Operations manager & Destinations Specialist Kampala, Uganda

Anitah grew up in the hills bordering Bwindi and trained as a ranger before moving into guiding. she built our gorilla permit relationships from scratch and still handles every sector allocation personally.

RJ

Regan Jacob

Head safari guide Arusha, Tanzania

Jacob is an experienced safari guide in Northern Tanzania with extensive knowledge of wildlife, animal behaviour, and the Serengeti ecosystem. He has a strong understanding of seasonal wildlife movements and the Great Wildebeest Migration, along with a keen background in ornithology and bird identification. His expertise, observation skills, and passion for natural history allow him to provide insightful, engaging, and memorable safari experiences. .

AL

Abaasa Lorand

Uganda and Kenya & Senior Safari guide Uganda, Kenya

Abasa Lorand is a senior English-speaking driver-guide and experienced nature interpreter with extensive knowledge of Uganda and Kenya’s wildlife, ecosystems, and cultural heritage. His guiding approach combines strong field knowledge with careful observation and thoughtful interpretation, helping guests understand not only the animals they encounter but also the landscapes, communities, and traditions that shape East Africa. With experience leading safaris across Uganda and Kenya, Abasa is known for his professionalism, reliability, and attentive approach to guests, creating well-organized and informative journeys while sharing genuine insight into the region’s remarkable natural and cultural diversity. .

NJD

Natuhwera John Decus

German speaking Guide safari Specialist , Uganda

Natuhwera John is an experienced German-speaking safari guide who was professionally trained and mentored by the Paramount Gorilla Expeditions team. With three years of experience leading safaris, he has developed strong expertise in wildlife interpretation, helping guests understand animal behaviour, ecosystems, and the natural environment they encounter. Fluent in German and committed to attentive, informative guiding, John combines his field experience with a genuine passion for Uganda's wildlife and landscapes, ensuring that each journey is well organized, engaging, and enriching for international travelers. .

JO

Joshua Omonyi

Tourguide, Botanist and Ornithologist Guide & Safari Guide East africa

Joshua is a knowledgeable tour guide, botanist, ornithologist, and safari guide with a strong understanding of Uganda’s diverse wildlife, plant life, bird species, and natural ecosystems. His combined expertise in botany and ornithology allows him to offer guests a deeper appreciation of the environment, from identifying unique plant species and birdlife to interpreting the wider ecological relationships within each destination. As a safari guide, Joshua brings this naturalist perspective into the field, creating informative, engaging, and enriching experiences for travelers interested in wildlife, nature, and the remarkable biodiversity of East Africa. .

AB

Arshley Brian

Senior ornithologist, wildlife tour driver gudie & nature interpreter and botanist Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania

Brian is a senior ornithologist, wildlife tour driver, nature interpreter, and botanist with broad knowledge of East Africa’s birds, wildlife, plant species, and natural ecosystems. His multidisciplinary expertise allows him to interpret the natural environment from several perspectives, helping guests understand the behaviour of wildlife, identify bird species, appreciate diverse plant life, and discover the ecological connections that sustain each habitat. As a skilled wildlife tour driver and guide, Brian combines field experience with careful observation, professionalism, and a genuine passion for nature, creating informative, engaging, and rewarding safari experiences for travelers. .

BB

Brian Batsurana

Senior TourGuide & Botanist and Ornithologist East africa

Brian Batsurana is a Senior Tour Guide with strong expertise in botany and ornithology, bringing a well-rounded understanding of East Africa’s wildlife, plant life, bird species, and natural ecosystems. His knowledge of the natural environment enables him to provide insightful interpretation throughout each safari, helping guests recognize and understand the diverse species, habitats, and ecological relationships they encounter. Combining experienced guiding with a genuine passion for nature and conservation, Brian creates informative, engaging, and rewarding safari experiences for travelers seeking a deeper connection with East Africa’s remarkable biodiversity. .

Who We Are

Client Feedback

★★★★★
4.9/5318 verified reviews
★★★★★
4.8/5294 traveler reviews
61%Guests who return or refer
★★★★★
SafariBookings

"From the first email to the airport pickup home, nothing was left to chance. Our Uganda-Kenya combination worked like one continuous trip, not two bookings stitched together."

PN
Priya N.Uganda & Kenya, 11 days
★★★★★
Tripadvisor

"They talked us out of a camp we'd picked from a magazine because the season was wrong for it, and steered us somewhere better. That kind of honesty is rare in this industry."

RF
Robert F.Tanzania Grand Migration, 9 days
★★★★★
SafariBookings

"Our Seychelles finale after two weeks of safari was exactly the reset we needed. Every transfer was arranged before we even landed."

CB
Chloe & Ben T.Kenya & Seychelles Honeymoon, 14 days
★★★★★
Tripadvisor

"JOHN DECUS personally walked us through what to expect on gorilla trekking day, sector by sector, before we ever left home. Nothing about the day surprised us, and it was still the highlight of our year."

MD
Marcus D.Uganda Gorilla Trek, 7 days
★★★★★
SafariBookings

"Traveling with three generations of our family sounded like a logistics nightmare until Paramount Gorilla Expeditions built the itinerary. Every pace and comfort level was accounted for."

TO
The Osei FamilyKenya Multigenerational Safari, 10 days
★★★★★
Tripadvisor

"We asked a lot of questions before booking and never once got a generic answer. It was clear the person answering had actually been to the camps we were asking about."

EV
Elena V.Tanzania & Zanzibar, 12 days
Who We Are

Doing Good

Community-facing commitments funded by the trips we run — tracked, not just claimed.

Doing Good

Ranger & Guide Scholarship Fund

Since 2011 we've funded professional guide and ranger training for candidates from communities bordering Bwindi, the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara — 47 scholarships awarded to date, with the large majority of graduates now working across our own guide network or directly for park authorities.

Doing Good

Community School Partnerships

A fixed portion of revenue from every itinerary that visits a Maasai cultural site or a community-run conservancy is routed directly into partner schools near that specific community — covering everything from classroom construction to teacher salaries, tracked and reported back to guests who ask.

Doing Good

Local-First Hiring Commitment

Over 90 percent of our guiding, camp and office staff across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar and the Seychelles are hired from the communities our itineraries operate in, not relocated from elsewhere or contracted through foreign agencies.

Doing Good

Anti-Poaching Support

Beyond the standard park and conservancy fees already built into every safari, we contribute an additional annual grant to ranger patrol equipment and canine anti-poaching units across three of our core conservancy partners.

Who We Are

Sustainable Tourism

The environmental standards every camp and route in our library is measured against.

Sustainable Tourism

Camp Vetting on Environmental Practice

Every lodge and camp in our portfolio is assessed on water use, waste management and energy sourcing before it's added — solar-powered and off-grid-conscious properties are prioritized wherever an equivalent standard option exists.

Sustainable Tourism

Low-Impact Routing

We deliberately cap vehicle numbers per sighting where a property allows it, favor conservancies with strict game-drive vehicle limits over crowded public reserves, and route multi-park itineraries to minimize unnecessary backtracking flights.

Sustainable Tourism

Plastic-Reduction Standard

Every itinerary we book defaults to refillable water bottles and plastic-free camp operations wherever the property supports it, and we actively steer bookings away from the small number of operators in our network still relying on single-use plastic.

Sustainable Tourism

Transparent Conservation Fee Reporting

Park entrance fees, conservancy levies and gorilla permit revenue are itemized separately on every quote, not folded into a single opaque price — so guests can see exactly how much of their trip directly funds conservation.

Data privacy and booking protection at Paramount Gorilla Expeditions Legal
Who We Are

Privacy Policy & Terms

How we collect, use, share and protect your personal information, and the full legal terms covering our website, bookings and on-trip safety — plain language, in full, on their own pages.

Read the Privacy Policy Read the Terms & Conditions
Who We Are

Careers

We hire slowly and locally. If one of these roles sounds like you, reach out — we don't always have an open seat, but we keep every strong introduction on file.

Careers

Destination Specialists

Deep, first-hand knowledge of one of our five destinations, usually built from years of guiding before moving into itinerary design.

Careers

Safari Guides & Trekking Leaders

Licensed guiding experience across our national parks, gorilla or chimpanzee trekking sectors, or marine and island guiding in Zanzibar and the Seychelles.

Careers

Guest Experience Coordinators

The team behind every trip's day-to-day logistics — flights, transfers, permits and the small details that keep an itinerary running smoothly.

Careers

Conservation & Community Partnerships

Managing our conservancy agreements, guide scholarship fund and community partnerships across the region.

Introduce Yourself: info@paramountgorilla.com
Book With Us

Everything you need to know before you book

Pricing, protection, and the policies behind every quote we send.

Trust

Why Book With Us?

Because the person answering your questions has actually been to the camp, walked the trail, or booked the permit themselves. We're not a booking platform reselling third-party inventory — every itinerary in our library is built and maintained by specialists who live and work across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar and the Seychelles. That means honest availability, accurate seasonal guidance, and a single point of contact from your first enquiry through to your airport pickup home. It also means accountability: when something needs to change mid-trip, you're calling a team that personally holds the relationships with every lodge and operator on your route, not submitting a support ticket into a queue.

Start Planning With a Specialist →
How We Build Your Trip

What Are Tailor-Made Tours?

Every itinerary in our 46-route library is a starting point, not a fixed package. A tailor-made tour means we take one of those routes — or build entirely from scratch — and adjust every variable around you: pace, camp tier, specific parks, the exact week you travel, and which countries you combine. Two travelers booking the same named itinerary rarely end up with an identical trip once we're done adjusting it. This is different from a standardized group tour, where the route, dates and camps are fixed for everyone on the departure. Tailor-made costs more than a fixed group departure precisely because the vehicle, guide and schedule are yours alone — see our private-versus-group comparison in the Journal for the full cost breakdown.

Browse Our Itinerary Library →
Booking Protection

Travel with Confidence

Every quote we send itemizes exactly what's included — park fees, permits, accommodation, guiding and transfers — with nothing folded into a vague lump sum you have to take on faith. Payments are processed through secure, PCI-compliant channels, and we never ask for full payment before a deposit has confirmed your booking. Our in-country teams are reachable 24/7 for any guest currently traveling, not just during office hours, and every itinerary includes a direct mobile line for your lead guide once you're in-region. If a flight is delayed or a plan needs to shift mid-trip, the same specialist who built your itinerary is the one who resolves it.

Talk to a Specialist Before You Book →
Booking Policy

Fully Refundable Deposit

A booking is confirmed with a deposit of 20 percent of the total trip cost. That deposit remains fully refundable for 14 days after payment, giving you a genuine window to finalize flights, confirm leave from work, or simply sit with the decision before it becomes final. After the 14-day window, standard cancellation terms apply and vary by how far out from travel a cancellation occurs, since many of our camps and gorilla permits carry their own non-refundable supplier deadlines further out — we detail supplier-specific deadlines clearly on every itinerary quote before you pay a deposit, not after.

Read the Full Cancellation Terms →
Required, Not Optional

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance, including medical evacuation cover, is a requirement for every trip we book, not a suggestion — many of our camps sit hours from the nearest hospital equipped for a serious injury, and evacuation there happens by light aircraft arranged through dedicated flying-doctor membership services. We can recommend providers on request, but the policy itself must be arranged independently through a licensed insurer, since we are a tour operator and not a licensed insurance broker. For the full breakdown of what standard travel insurance covers versus what dedicated medical evacuation membership adds, see our Journal guide below.

Read the Full Insurance Guide →
Pricing Policy

Best Price Guarantee

If you find an identical itinerary — same camps, same room category, same dates, same inclusions — genuinely quoted lower by another licensed operator within 48 hours of receiving our quote, we will match it or explain in specific, itemized terms exactly what the difference in the two quotes actually covers. In our experience it is almost always the inclusions, not the base rate, that differ between two quotes that look similar on the surface — a park fee or a transfer quietly excluded from one and not the other. We itemize every line on our quotes specifically so that comparison is possible in the first place.

Talk to a Specialist →
Timing Overview

When to Travel to Africa?

The honest short answer: it depends entirely on what you want to see. July through October is peak dry season and the classic Great Migration river-crossing window in Kenya and Tanzania; December through March covers the Serengeti's calving season and Uganda's second dry trekking window; the green season (November, April-May) trades some rain for dramatically lower rates, richer birdlife and far fewer vehicles at every sighting. There is no single wrong month to travel across our five destinations — there is only a right month for your specific priorities. We've written a full month-by-month breakdown for every destination in the Journal, which is the right place to go deep rather than duplicating that detail here.

See Every Destination's Best-Time Guide →
Plan your East Africa safari with Paramount Gorilla Expeditions Ready When You Are
Now You Know Who We Are

Let's build your itinerary.

Tell a specialist your dates, destinations and priorities — we'll turn it into a costed, bookable route within 48 hours.

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Frequently asked

About Paramount Gorilla Expeditions

Is Paramount Gorilla Expeditions a tour operator or a booking agency?

We're a specialist tour operator — we design, cost and operate every itinerary ourselves through our own in-country teams, rather than reselling packages built by someone else.

Do you only operate in the five destinations you list?

Yes, deliberately. We chose to go deep across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar and the Seychelles rather than spread a generalist offering across the whole continent.

How is a tailor-made itinerary priced differently from a fixed package?

A fixed package is priced once for a set group departure. A tailor-made itinerary is quoted specifically for your dates, party size and choices, with every line itemized so you can see exactly what you're paying for.

Can I speak to the same specialist throughout my trip planning?

Yes — the destination specialist who builds your itinerary stays your point of contact from first enquiry through post-trip follow-up, and is reachable directly, not through a general support queue.

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