TheExplorerfor2020

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

Day Location Accommodation Board Activity
1 Entebbe Hotel No 5 BB Arrival Trsf
2 Bwindi NP Chameleon Hill Lodge LDBB Trsf
3 Bwindi NP Chameleon Hill Lodge LDBB GT
4 Queen Elizabeth NP Katara Lodge LDBB Trsf,BT,P
5 Queen Elizabeth National Park Katara Lodge LDBB A,P
6 Kibale Forest NP Primate Lodge LDBB Trsf,CT
7 Murchison Falls NP Kabalega Wilderness Lodge LDBB Trsf
8 Murchison Falls NP Kabalega Wilderness Lodge LDBB A,BT,P
9 Entebbe Hotel No 5 dayroom LDBB Trsf, Departure Transfer

EXTENSION TO KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

9 Kidepo Valley NP Apoka Safari Lodge or Kidepo Savannah lodge LDBB Trsf, P
10 Kidepo Valley NP Apoka Safari Lodge or Kidepo Savannah lodge LDBB A,CV,P
11 Entebbe Hotel No 5 dayroom BB Arrival Trsf

Glossary

L-Lunch, D-Dinner, BB-Bed and breakfast, LDBB-Lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast, Trsf-Transfer, E-Early morning game drive, A-Morning game drive, P-Afternoon game drive, HDS-Half Day sightseeing, FDS-Full Day Sightseeing, GT-Gorilla tracking, CT-Chimpanzee tracking, BT-Boat trip, CV-Community village visit.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS;

  • Only 600 gorillas remain in the world and half of them are found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park.
  • Bwindi National Park offers some of the best montane- forest bird watching in Africa with about 350 recorded different species including rare ones.
  • Enjoy tracking playful chimpanzees through the dense Kibale forest, the Park with 13 different primate species is one of the best in Africa
  • In Kibale Forest, marvel at the various forest, woodland birds including the Prigogine ground thrush endemic only to Uganda
  • Embarking on an early morning game drive in hopes of spotting The Big Five in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National parks, indeed the former park is “Queen of parks” in Uganda.
  • For those taking the extension, Kidepo Valley ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses (also voted 3rd best National park in Africa by CNN Traveller in 2013). Enjoy a truly African safari of yesteryear in Kidepo National park, a park with a profusion of game and ornitho-life.

Day 1 Entebbe

Arrival at Entebbe International Airport. Met and assisted by a SAFARI CHAPTER UGANDA representative. Transfer to Entebbe for overnight at Hotel No 5 (BB) Hotel NO 5 is a stylish boutique hotel located in Entebbe with luxurious rooms opening onto the garden and swimming pool. Hotel No 5 Entebbe rooms are air-conditioned, with a small outside sitting area facing the gardens and a swimming pool.

Day 2 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Your guide will pick you up at 0630hrs and drive to the Airport for your 0745hrs flight out to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. You will land at Kisoro airstrip at 0855hrs and transfer for about 2 hrs to Chameleon Hill Lodge, your base for Gorilla tracking for the next 2 nights. This rainforest is located in south-western Uganda, at the junction of the plain and mountain forests. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park covers 32,000 ha and is known for its exceptional biodiversity, with more than 160 species of trees and over 100 species of ferns. Many types of birds and butterflies can also be found there, as well as many endangered species, including the mountain gorilla. There are 23 of the 24 Albertine rift endemics including the African green broadbill, bar tailed trogon and other beautiful forest species.

Chameleon Hill is a peaceful and exclusive retreat on the shores of Lake Mutanda, adjacent to Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks. It features ten luxury en-suite Chalets, each one individually decorated with that “arty touch”, painted in bright and happy colors – just like a chameleon. Each Chalet promises stunning views across the lake and the Virunga Volcanoes mountain range and the modern bathroom offers hot and cold running water. All Chalets are equipped with mosquito nets (although due to the altitude we actually do not have any bugs at all), private safe, umbrella, torches, fire extinguisher and extra blankets for those chilly nights.

  • Cozy yet modern lounge with fireplace and book exchange
  • Wooden deck with picturesque views across the lake with its islands and Virunga Volcanoes in the distance

Overnight Chameleon Hill Lodge (LDBB)

Day 3 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Today after an energizing breakfast, you will embark on your gorilla trek. Before 8 am report to the ranger station for registration and briefing by one of the rangers; the guides will then lead you through the undergrowth, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas. The trek can take anywhere from half an hour to 7 hours – a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking boots. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas – sadly enough there are only about 650 of these beautiful creatures left. You are allowed exactly one hour with the gorillas before returning to the base station.

Day 4 Queen Elizabeth National Park

This morning we Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (about 4-5 hrs drive).The drive takes us past Volcanic crater lakes, with breathtaking game and some of the best bird watching in East Africa (about 500 different bird species).Late afternoon we take a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, 32 kms long. This water system has the highest concentration of Hippo in the world and we will get quite close to them. See also crocodile, buffalo and other game that drink from the channel, also marvel at the abundant ornitho-life that is supported here.

O/n Katara lodge (LDBB)

Day 5 Queen Elizabeth National Park

Morning gamedrives in the park as well as evening gamedrives.

O/n Katara lodge (LDBB)

Day 6 Queen Elizabeth National Park-Kibale NP

We drive for about 2 hours to Kibale Forest Park. Primate Lodge Kibale’s principal edge is their location, tucked deep in the forest and right next door to the starting point for Chimpanzee tracking excursions. This afternoon we will go chimp tracking in Kibale Forest National Park. After our briefing, we embark on the chimp tracking which takes about 2-3 hours depending on where the chimps are. On the trek you can see other primates such as grey-cheeked mangabeys along with red tailed and blue monkeys. Your expert guide will share the secrets of the forest' flora and fauna, ensuring that the trail is both informative and enjoyable.

Overnight at Primate Lodge standard cottages (LDBB)

Day 7 Kibale Forest National Park –Murchison Falls Park

After breakfast we drive to Murchison Falls National Park (about 6-7 hrs drive).

Overnight Kabalega Wilderness Lodge (LDBB)

Day 8 Murchison Falls National Park

Gamedrives in the park in the morning. After lunch we take a boat trip on the Nile. Further evening gamedrives in the park.

Overnight Kabalega Wilderness Lodge (LDBB)

Day 9 Entebbe Departure

We will drive to Entebbe for about 6 hours, Freshen up in dayrooms reserved for your convenience at Hotel No.5 then transfer to the Airport in time to check in for your onwards flight connections.

Dayrooms Hotel No.5 (BB)

OR

Day 9 Kidepo Valley National Park Extension (Operates on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays)

We will drive to Kidepo Valley National Park. Kidepo Valley National Park lies in the rugged, semi arid valleys between Uganda’s borders with Sudan and Kenya, some 700km from Kampala. Gazetted as a national park in 1962, it has a profusion of big game and hosts over 77 mammal species as well as around 475 bird species. The park boasts an extensive bird list of around 475 species, making it second only in Uganda to Queen Elizabeth National Park. A few species of note are the Ostrich, Kori Bustard and Karamoja Apalis. Kidepo is notable for its birds of prey. Of the 56 species recorded, 14 – including Verreaux’s Eagle, Egyptian Vulture and Pygmy Falcon – are believed to be endemic to the Kidepo and Karamoja region. Kidepo is Uganda’s most isolated national park, but the few who make the long journey north through the wild frontier region of Karamoja would agree that it is also the most magnificent, for Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses (also voted 3rd best National park in Africa by CNN Traveller in 2013). From Apoka, in the heart of the park, a savannah landscape extends far beyond the gazetted area, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges.

Overnight at Apoka Safari Lodge/Kidepo Savannah Lodge (LDBB)

Day 10 Kidepo Valley National Park

We will take morning game drives, Visit the Lorikul Village to see how the locals live and sundowners in the park.

Overnight at Apoka Safari Lodge/Kidepo Savannah Lodge (LDBB)

Day 11 Entebbe-Departure

Morning Gamedrives. We will fly by scheduled flight to Entebbe at (1500hrs /1630hrs).Transfer to the Airport for your onward night departure flight back home. (BB)

IMPORTANT NOTE

Uganda is a developing country while The Uganda Safari Company endeavors to make the itinerary as accurate as possible, it should be considered as an approximate schedule of activities rather than a rigid schedule of events. Trip itineraries are subject to revision due to weather, trail conditions, government and local restrictions, animal movement and other reasons beyond our control. In addition, frequent reconnaissances of routes sometimes determine a better routing. We do our best to ascertain the most beautiful and best route possible throughout your safari with us.

Safari Price

Our prices vary depending on the itinerary and the number of people on the trip. We try to make our prices all-inclusive so that our clients are not reaching for their wallets all the time. The 4x4 Land Cruiser and safari guide will be at your exclusive use throughout the safari which provides you with great flexibility. Your guide will accompany you throughout your safari, assist you with check-in at your accommodation and share his knowledge with you on flora and fauna of Uganda. The only things currently not included are guest drinks and items of a personal nature (souvenirs, tips, etc).

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Included In Land Cost

  • All ground transportation and fuel and transfers as per itinerary
  • All meals as specified in this itinerary
  • Accommodations as noted in this itinerary
  • 1 litre bottle of mineral water per person per day while on a road safari in a SAFARI CHAPTER UGANDA vehicle
  • Activities as indicated in the itinerary
  • All game drives in 4 wheel drive vehicles
  • Ranger guide fees
  • 1 nights’ accommodation at Hotel No 5 on bed and breakfast basis
  • 2 Nights’ accommodation at Chameleon Hill Lodge on fullboard basis
  • 1 Nights’ accommodation at Primate Lodge tents on fullboard basis
  • 2 nights’ accommodation at Kabalega Wilderness Lodge on fullboard basis
  • 2 nights’ accommodation at Katara Lodge on fullboard basis
  • 2 nights at Apoka Safari lodge or midrange Kidepo Savannah Lodge for extension only
  • Park & conservation fees
  • All applicable taxes, administration and banking fees
  • 1 Gorilla permit per person.Gorilla viewing is subject to availability of permits, which are limited; any additional gorilla permits required should be purchased when booking. Gorilla permit prices are subject to change without warning.
  • charter flights

 

Excluded In Land Cost

  • International flights
  • All airport departure taxes
  • All passport and visa fees (USD50 )
  • All meals not specified on this itinerary
  • Specialty wines, spirits and champagne throughout this itinerary
  • Items of a personal nature: fax, telephone, etc.
  • Any extras and additional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Travel / medical insurance
  • Laundry in Entebbe/Kampala
  • Gratuities for Guide/driver / hotel staff
  • Trip cancellation, travel delay or baggage insurance.
  • Charges incurred as a result of delays beyond our control.

Refunds for Unused Portions of Trip

No refunds can be made for any accommodations, services, or features not taken. If cancellation occurs while the trip is in progress, there will be no refund for any unused portion.

Payment and Cancellation Policy

Payment Schedule:

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