Vagabond Travel | UGANDA WILDLIFE EXPLORER

UGANDA WILDLIFE EXPLORER

$4210 per person

Uganda: “The Pearl of Africa”, offers a unique diversity of wildlife, natural beauty, and friendly inhabitants that all combine to make this country one of Africa’s hidden gems. This tour includes the obvious attractions of trekking in indigenous forests to see wild gorillas and chimpanzees, as well as exploring vast water-ways, mystical villages hidden in mist, and the lesser known sights of Tree Climbing Lions, huge pods of hippopotamus, and of course, the endless variety of plains animals. This tour endeavours to explore the scenic beauty of Uganda, its people, and its wildlife.

We will cover approximately 2000km, some of it on extremely bad roads, but the rewards are unequalled. Weather, roads, and other local conditions will influence the route chosen on each tour and we may run the tour in reverse if required, clients should be flexible in this regard. Clients should be equipped with an open mind and a spontaneous disposition in order to best enjoy the superb offerings of Uganda.

Clients fly into / out of Entebbe airport. Transfers and pre / post tour nights can be booked through Drifters for the Lake Heights Hotel near Entebbe or Adrift Camp in Jinja. Meals are available.

Vehicle Used :

Custom 17-seater Adventure truck

INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS:

Kampala
Equator
Lake Mburo National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and surrounding villages
Gorilla trek
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Tree Climbing Lions – Ishasha
Village walks
Birding walks
Chimpanzee trek (permit included)
Kazinga channel
Rwenzori (Mountains of the Moon)
Kaniyo-Pabidi
Murchison Falls and Murchison Falls National Park
Victoria Nile boat trip
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

EXCLUDES:

- Gorilla Permit currently USD618 per person per trek
As of 1 July 2020 the Gorilla permit rate will increase to USD 725 per permit.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Rhino tracking on foot
“Source of the Nile”
Pygmy village visit
Nile white water rafting
Bungee jumping

Our price includes all transport, accommodation, entry fees and permits, one gorilla trek (local payment) and one chimpanzee trek, game drives, walks, group equipment, professional guides and most meals. Alcohol, soft drinks, bottled water, curios, tips, visas, taxes, and optional excursions are for the client’s own expense.

13 DAYS/ 12 NIGHTS (10 nights Camping, 2 nights Cabin)

15+ Age

Africa

Destination

Africa
Departure

ENTEBBE/ENTEBBE
Departure Time

These tours depart from ENTEBBE every second Sunday
Return Time

These tours conclude in ENTEBBE 12 nights after the second Sunday of the month at 1800+/-
Dress Code

Neat Casual
Included

Accommodation

All Transport

Entry Fees

Group Equipment

Most meals

Professional Guide
Not Included

Airfare/taxes

Alcohol & soft drinks

Arrival Transfer

Bottled water

Departure Transfer

Inclusions as per Itinerary

Items of a personal nature ie Laundry/telephone

Optional excursions

Permits

Taxes

Tips

Travel Insurance

Visas

Our gallery

Uganda Wildlife Explorer

DAY 1: ENTEBBE - LAKE MBURO NAT. PARK Distance: 230 km

Our Uganda adventure begins on departure from our hotel near Entebbe at 08h00 on Day 1 of the tour. We make our way through the outskirts of the vibrant capital city, Kampala, before starting our journey west. On our route today we visit a drum market and we will stop at the equator. This afternoon we enter the Lake Mburo National Park, known for its plains game and large hippo population. We camp the night on the lake shore. Meals: D (Lunch own expense). Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) Included Highlights/Activity: - Drum market, Equator, Lake Mburo National Park

DAY 2: BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST Distance: 250 km

We start the day with a game drive/walk and then exit the park to travel through a landscape of rolling hills alive with banana plantations and herds of impressive long-horned Ankole cattle. Though the roads are rough, this afternoon we travel on some of the most scenic roads in Uganda, passing remote villages often shrouded in mist, toward the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. We set up camp for the night at the edge of the forest and it is with great excitement that we prepare for the following day. Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) – Bwindi Forest Included Highlights/Activity: Game Drive on the way out of the Mburo Park, Scenic Drive to Bwindi

DAY 3 : BWINDI GORILLA TREK

Undoubtedly the highlight for all – trekking in a true wilderness to spend time with the majestic mountain gorilla. We split up into small groups and with local guides, trek up into this true jungle to locate and spend time with a family of the few remaining wild Mountain Gorillas. The hike in the jungle is a real adventure and forms part of the overall experience. Guests should come prepared for a hike through dense forest and uneven terrain. As the gorilla permits are limited, we will allow two days for trekking to insure everyone gets their chance. Should all permits be available on day 4 we will visit Lake Bunyoni on Day 3. Whilst not gorilla trekking, guests have the option to go on a local village walk led by a local guide. The forest offers fantastic birding and guest can also choose to spend time searching for the magnificent birds inhabiting the fringe of the forest. Meals: B L D; B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) – Bwindi Forest Included Highlights/Activity: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Gorilla Tracking, Bwindi Jungle Optional Activities: Forest Walks, Birding Walks, Pygmy Village Visits

DAY 4 : BWINDI NATIONAL PARK

AS Above Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) – Bwindi Forest

DAY 5 : QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK - ISHASHA Distance: 150 km

Leaving the mountains and forests behind us, we drop down to the grasslands of the Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here we will spend two nights camping at a remote location within the National Park. Besides abundant mammal, reptile and bird species, Ishasha is renowned for its huge Tree Climbing Lions. Fantastic bird life as well as numerous species of primates can be found in this area. We will game drive extensively searching the tall fig trees for lion and the savannah for other game. Our guide will take time to give us more information on the various wildlife encountered in the park that covers over 1900 km². Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) Included Highlights/Activity: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Camp on the Ishasha river, 2 Nights within the Park, Tree Climbing Lions, Massive Hippo Population

DAY 6: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK - ISHASHA

As Above Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent)

DAY 7: QUEEN ELIZABETH NAT. PARK – RWENZORI MOUNTAINS Distance: 120 km

Packing up camp, we travel the length of the park and through the Maramagambo Forest and make our way towards the Rwenzoris – “Mountains of the Moon”. Rising some 5000m above sea level, the slopes of these mountains are covered in tropical forest and yet the peaks are often snow-capped, a bewildering sight considering their proximity to the equator. Today we find a suitable place to enjoy our lunch while admiring these towering mountains over the surrounding landscape. After lunch our guide will find a suitable place for guests to enjoy a walk as we proceed towards the outskirts of Fort Portal. Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) Included Highlights/Activity: Drive through Maramogambo Forest, Outskirts of Lake Edward, Ruwenzori Mountains, Village Walk

DAY 8: MURCHISON FALLS NAT. PARK Distance: 300 km

An early start, we leave the mountains behind us and travel through the luminous green tea plantations surrounding Fort Portal. We cover vast distance today and mostly on rough roads towards the town of Masindi. From here we will enter the renowned Murchison Falls National Park. Tonight we spend in accommodation and enjoy a catered meal after the long day. Meals: B L D Accommodation: Accommodation Included Highlights/Activity: Scenic drive, Masindi

DAY 9 : MURCHISON FALLS / VICTORIA NILE Distance: Roughly 50 km per day

Early this morning we enter the Murchison Falls Park and set off on a guided walk in search of a group of habituated chimpanzees. We hope to spend an hour with the group before returning to our vehicle. Depending on where these chimps were last seen, we may have to drive a short distance where we can then start our chimpanzee track. Then it’s off to Murchison Falls, a narrow gap though which the Nile River falling 40m into the Rift Valley. We will spend some time here exploring the falls. Next, we travel downstream to cross the Nile in order to enjoy two nights in the park. In this section, the park opens up to wide open spaces, rolling hills, scenery of a different kind and also gives you an opportunity to see a different species of giraffe known as the Rothschild Giraffe. We will camp two nights in a big game area. Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) Included Highlights/Activity: Chimpanzee Trek with included permit, Murchison Falls, Northern Part of Murchison Falls National Park, Wild Camping in big game area

DAY 10 : VICTORIA NILE

As above Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent)

DAY 11: ZIWA RHINO SANCTUARY Distance: 204 km

Rising early, we board a boat that will then take us on a leisurely cruise slowly down the Nile River. Along the way, we hope to catch a glimpse of the rare Shoebill Stork, as well as a multitude of other animals. At times it may not be possible to travel by boat, we will then drive by road. Reunited with our vehicle, we exit the park and travel to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary; a project established to reintroduce rhino into their original habitat in protected areas. Camp the night. Meals: B L D Accommodation: Camping (2 Man Dome Tent) Included Highlights/Activity: Victoria Nile Boat Cruise, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Scenic Drive

DAY 12: JINJA Distance: 226 km

This morning, clients who wish to, may partake in tracking rhino on foot through the thick bush (own expense). After packing up camp for the last time, we set off for Jinja where we spend our last night in relative comfort at Adrift camp. Tonight we enjoy an own expense dinner at the restaurant to celebrate our adventures. Meals: B L Accommodation: Adrift Camp Included Highlights/Activity: Drive through many villages, Jinja (adventure Capital of Uganda)

DAY 13: JINJA to ENTEBBE Distance: 116 km

The tour ends after breakfast this morning. The truck will head back to Entebbe this morning to miss the peak hour of Kampala traffic. Clients are welcome to jump on this transfer at no additional cost, however, we cannot adjust this time as the guide has post-tour responsibilities to attend to. Alternatively, the Nile River offers some of the wildest one day white water rafting in the world; a day’s adventure not to be missed. From the Adrift camp clients are also able to spend a day exploring a local community project. Both of these activities are optional and own expense. We advise those that would like to catch our 14:00 transfer back to Entebbe to organise HALFDAY TRIPS on this day. If you wish to wish to simply relax at the “Source of the Nile” or spend an extra night at the camp, you are more than welcome to book a post night in Jinja. Meals: B

When required to we will run this itinerary in reverse. For this tour, an open and flexible mind is essential to deal with the detours, delays and other inconveniences encountered in Africa. A sleeping bag, towel and pillow are required for this tour. A valid passport is required by everyone. The tour will visit Uganda. It is the client’s responsibility to insure they have the appropriate visas required for this trip to all the country we visit. Some nationalities might need to obtain visas before departure as they cannot be obtained at the border. Precautions against malaria are advisable and Yellow Fever inoculations are required. A small daypack is advisable for the treks. The recommended currency for this tour is the US Dollar, all currency notes should be dated 2006 or later. Our price includes all transport, accommodation, entry fees and permits, one gorilla trek and one chimpanzee trek, game drives and walks, group equipment, professional guides and most meals. Alcohol, soft drinks, bottled water, curios, tips, visas, taxes, and optional excursions are for the client’s own expense. Before departure, clients will be required to enter into an agreement pertaining to our booking conditions and general information. Clients are required to have their own comprehensive personal travel insurance.