ET03

12 days Uganda Grand Primate Safari: Gorillas, Chimps, Monkeys

DAY 1

Arrive Entebbe You are met by a local Edsa Safari guide for transfer to your hotel in Kampala. You will remember that it was at Entebbe where the Israelis heroically released hostages that was on a hijacked Air France Airbus in 1976. Enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (DINNER INCLUDED) UPMARKET: IMPERIAL BOTANICAL BEACH HOTEL MODERATE: THE BOMA GUESTHOUSE ENTEBBE BUDGET TOURIST: CAMP ENTEBBE

DAY 2

Ngamba Island departing from Entebbe After breakfast we walk down the pier for our boat ride on Lake Victoria to Ngamba Island (45 minutes by motorised boat). On arrival at the Island, home to 39 chimpanzees, you will be given a short introduction and briefing on the sanctuary like why it was established and the back ground as well. After which, its feeding time! It is interesting to watch the chimps interact with each other and with their keepers. In the relatively short amount of time you are there you will be able to see such different personalities amongst the group, with some whistling for food and others clapping. Obviously the ideal option would be to re-introduce these orphaned chimpanzees to the wild however this is not possible for a number of different reasons and the sanctuary is not bad for second best. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (DINNER INCLUDED) UPMARKET: IMPERIAL BOTANICAL BEACH HOTEL MODERATE: THE BOMA GUESTHOUSE ENTEBBE BUDGET TOURIST: CAMP ENTEBBE

DAY 3

Transfer to Murchison Falls Leave Kampala at 0800hrs. Drive through the famous Luwero triangle. Take a stop over at Masindi hotel for lunch. We will continue through the park stopping at the top of the falls which is a fantastic sight. Here the Nile, the longest river in the world, is forced through a narrow gap in the rock (only 7 meters wide), before ferociously plunging down 43 meters. Stay on the southern sector of the park at Sambiya River Lodge. Full Board ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET: PARAA SAFARI LODGE MODERATE: SAMBIYA RIVER LODGE BUDGET TOURIST: RED CHILLI RESTCAMP

DAY 4

Budongo Chimpanzees, Murchison Falls Rise with the sun and drive to Budongo Forest Budongo for nature walk in search for the chimpanzee and other primates. Budongo forest is an isolated area, characterized by its huge Mahogany and Iron wood trees-this block of the forest has never been logged. Chances of sighting some endemic birds plus seven species of primates are quite high. From here we will continue on, taking a ferry across the river to Paraa. Game viewing on the way is very good; look out for hippos, elephants, buffalos and many other animals, seen grazing on the banks of the river. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET: PARAA SAFARI LODGE MODERATE: SAMBIYA RIVER LODGE BUDGET TOURIST: RED CHILLI RESTCAMP

DAY 5

Murchison Falls National Park After break fast head to the Delta in search for bird life and enjoy the game drive to look for lions, giraffes, herds of elephants, buffaloes and many more. We will drive back to the lodge for lunch before taking an afternoon boat cruise to the foot of Murchison Falls. This boat trip along the Nile is often cited as being the highlight of a trip to Murchison since it allows you to get up-close and personal with the animals. Along this stretch of the river, there are reported to be around 4,000 hippos in addition to some enormous Nile crocodiles. The bird life is stunning with brightly colored kingfishers and bee-eaters darting along the riverbanks. If lucky, you may see the rare and prehistoric looking shoebill, which is a cross between the dodo and a dinosaur. The boat takes you to the base of the falls which only adds to their impressiveness. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET: PARAA SAFARI LODGE MODERATE: SAMBIYA RIVER LODGE BUDGET TOURIST: RED CHILLI RESTCAMP

DAY 6

Fort Portal - Kibale Forest Leave Murchison falls N.P for Kibale Forest N.P via the Lake Albert escarpment, having a good view of the lake. Stopover at Kolping Hotel in Hoima for lunch and after drive across the interesting river Nkusi (flowing from the southern end of L. Albert, through the villages of Kagadi, joining Victoria Nile). Both rivers join L.Kyoga and flow through the Murchison Falls continue to L. Albert and north to the Mediterranean sea. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET: NDALI LODGE MODERATE: MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON HOTEL BUDGET TOURIST: RWENZORO VEIW TRAVELLERS HOTEL

DAY 7

Chimps and primate search – Kibale After breakfast we take a 45-minute drive takes us to Kibale National Park, where we spend the day hiking through the Kibale Forest in search of chimpanzees and other primates. This park, which averages about 3,300 feet in elevation, is an extension of the great rainforests of central Africa. Kibale is inhabited by three large “communities” of chimps, each numbering more than 100 individuals. Each community has a complicated social structure. The big adult males dominate the group and defend the community territory against incursions by male outsiders; the females usually wander in small family groups. Chimps tend to forage in small parties, or even as individuals. They usually travel on the ground, but being primarily fruit eaters, they mostly feed in trees. They coalesce into larger groups when they find an abundant source of food, such as a fruiting fig tree. Typically, we locate the chimps by listening for their pant-hooting calls, then hustle to the area from which they are calling. We get to observe them as they feed in fruiting trees, lounge, and socialize with each other, or even, occasionally, hunt. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (FULL BOARD) UPMARKET: NDALI LODGE MODERATE: MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON HOTEL BUDGET TOURIST: RWENZORO VEIW TRAVELLERS HOTEL

DAY 8

Queen Elizabeth National Park We arise early for a transfer to Queen Elizabeth National PArk. We do a morning game drive in the northern part of the park on the Kasenyi Track in search of lions, elephants, solitary buffaloes. This is the best time for opportunities of viewing the cats in action owing to the vast population of Uganda Kobs. We have an excellent chance to view just about every animal here at very close range. Midmorning relax by the pool at the lodge. PM go for a launch trip along the Kazinga Channel. This gives you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippo’s huff and spray mere feet away from the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others. After this wonderful afternoon, enjoy a slow drive to relaxation at our lodge (Full board). ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (ALL ON FULL BOARD BASIS) UPMARKET: MWEYA SAFARI LODGE (IN DELUXE ROOMS) MODERATE: KATARA LODGE BUDGET TOURIST: QUEEN ELIZABETH BUSH LODGE

DAY 9

Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Mid-morning after breakfast we drive further south through stunning savannah grasslands as we head towards the breathtaking adventures of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Either (roads permitting) we will pass the southern sector of the park – Ishasha, a remote and beautiful extension of Queen Elizabeth National Park that is host to a large variety and volume of wildlife. (It is a fabulous site to see the lions draped from the trees and nowhere in Africa do you stand a better chance of seeing this than in the large low limbed fig tree of Ishasha). Or take the alternative route through cultivated expanses. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (ALL ON FULL BOARD BASIS) UPMARKET: GORILLA FOREST CAMP MODERATE: ENGAGI LODGE BUDGET TOURIST: BUHOMA COMMUNITY CAMP OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

DAY 10

Gorilla Tracking After a full briefing, we head off with native trackers, to spend the day in the park. No more than eight per day can visit any one habituated family and visits are strictly controlled to minimize the possibility of disturbance or transmission of disease to the animals. Tracking gorillas in the dense forest can be wet, muddy and uncomfortable; the terrain is by no means easy either, so it can be pretty strenuous- but he sheer thrill is coming across a habituated group of gorillas, dominated by a great male silverback, more than outweighs any difficulty! You start where the group was last contacted the previous day, then follow a rough trail through the forest to discover the nests where they slept overnight. From here a fresh trail should lead you to the group – hopefully by the middle of the day. On locating them, you approach discretely and respectfully, then spend as long as you are able (maximum 1hr) in close proximity to observe their behaviour and social interaction. The experience of watching an extended family group feeding and grooming, or the youngsters playing – from a distance a few meters away – is just unforgettable! Their daily routine revolves around foraging for food, resting and grooming – or playing for the young - before building nests for the night; any unweaned young sleep wit their mothers. After this highly privileged insight into the way of life of these huge primates, you make your way back to the camp – tired but elated. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (ALL ON FULL BOARD BASIS) UPMARKET: GORILLA FOREST CAMP MODERATE: ENGAGI LODGE BUDGET TOURIST: BUHOMA COMMUNITY CAMP OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

DAY 11

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Munyanga waterfall, birding walks We set out early morning walk through beautiful forest grasslands as we head towards the breathtaking adventures of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. We relax mid-morning as we take in the majesty of our surroundings. Heading to Munyanga water falls, we go on a guided tour looking for the many bird species available here. More than 230 different species of birds have been sighted here. This is to allow another group to go tracking in case permits are not on the same day. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (ALL ON FULL BOARD BASIS) UPMARKET: GORILLA FOREST CAMP MODERATE: ENGAGI LODGE BUDGET TOURIST: BUHOMA COMMUNITY CAMP OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

DAY 12

Return to Kampala Early breakfast before embarking on our return to Kampala, driving down the grassed and terraced escarpments of southwestern Uganda while taking in the breathtaking sights of the hills of the region dubbed ‘the little Switzerland of Africa’. This area is a highly fertile, mountainous region with steep sided hills covered from top to bottom in neatly terraced cultivated rows. Not to miss as we traverse Mbarara are the impressing long horn Ankole cattle. A remarkable highlight of this journey is the Equator line and surely you will cross it as we have a brief sop here. Arrive Kampala in the evening before for your flight back home. ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (ALL ON BED BREAKFAST BASIS) UPMARKET: SHERATON KAMPALA HOTEL MODERATE: MOSA COURTS HOTEL BUDGET TOURIST: HOLIDAY EXPRESS HOTEL

DAY 13

Departure for Entebbe Airport for your flight back home. Any time of the day prepare to take your flight back home at Entebbe International Airport. Please note that check-in for international flights should be done 2 hours prior to departure of the flight. In the departure hall (after check-in) you will find a small restaurant, a sitting area and several duty-free shops for your convenience. --------------------- Tour price includes gorrilla permit ($500) 1) UPMARKET: US$8485 for 1 single traveller on tour only (staying in a single room) US$5370 per person for two persons only (sharing in 1 room) US$4572 per person for three persons only(1 Twin & 1single) US$4407 per person for four persons only (sharing in 2 rooms) US$4121 per person for five persons only (2 Twin $ 1 single) US$4123 per person for six persons only (3 twin rooms) US$1170 single room suppliment 2) MODERATE (MEDIUM PRICE): US$6930 for 1 single traveller on tour only (staying in a single room) US$4419 per person for two persons only (sharing in 1 room) US$3617 per person for three persons only(1 Twin & 1single) US$3441 per person for four persons only (sharing in 2 rooms) US$3168 per person for five persons only (2 Twin $ 1 single) US$3135 per person for six persons only (3 twin rooms) US$576 single room suppliment 3) BUDGET (LOWER PRICE): US$5716 for 1 single traveller on tour only (staying in a single room) US$3732 per person for two persons only (sharing in 1 room) US$3187 per person for three persons only(1 Twin & 1single) US$2770 per person for four persons only (sharing in 2 rooms) US$2649 per person for five persons only (2 Twin $ 1 single) US$2470 per person for six persons only (3 twin rooms) US$381 single room suppliment *Price includes meals indicated on programme, experienced driver/guide, accommodation as per programme, park fees for the various parks and activities, transport on tour as well as hotel transfers, entrance fees for tours mentioned in the programme. **Besides the dates availed below, you can book to join this tour anytime. Please contact us for more information.