Pearl of Africa Tours & Safaris, Uganda: Gorilla tracking

Uganda tour, Uganda safari to include Pearl of Africa Tours travel & Safaris, Uganda Gorilla tracking, Uganda safaris & tours, Uganda gorilla Safari to Uganda Guide

CSU 010: 10 days Safari to Uganda: Discover The Pearl Of Uganda
Day 1: Entebbe – Kampala (37 km, 1 Hrs Drive)
On arrival at Entebbe Airport, met and assisted.
Transfer to Speke Resort Munyonyo or Serena Hotel on bed and breakfast.

Day 2: Kampala - Bunyonyi Island (425 Km, 6 Hrs drive)
After breakfast and a briefing, your guide will collect you from the hotel and set off on the southbound road, have a stop over to look at the Royal Drum makers, stand on the Equator and be in both hemispheres at once and there after proceed to Kabale the Switzerland of Uganda with beautiful scenery and terraced farming arriving in the afternoon. You will have lunch at Bunyonyi Overland Camp and later go for an afternoon boat trip to Bushara Island arriving at the White Horse Inn in the evening for the dinner and the over night. B,L,D

Day 3: Bunyonyi Island - Bwindi Impenetrable (110 Km, 4 Hrs drive)
After breakfast, you will then proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest arriving in the afternoon. Best known for its Mountain Gorillas, the Montane Forest also attracts spectacular birds. There are 23 of the 24 Albertine Rift endemics including the African Green Broadbill, Bar Tailed Trogon and other beautiful forest species. You may decide to relax in the afternoon or take a nature walk which will lead you to the Munyaga Waterfall and a chance to see Primates such as the Grey Cheeked Mangabey Blue monkeys and others species. Spend the night at either the Luxurious Gorilla Forest Camp or the Uganda Wildlife Authority Park Bandas. You will need to have a good night’s rest to get ready for the following day’s gorilla tracking. B,L,D

Day 4 & 5: Bwindi Impenetrable
These two mornings you will have to wake up very early to get ready for Gorilla tracking. Do not forget to take your lunch boxes and all the necessary gear to track the rare Mountain Gorilla, perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth. There are now only 650 left in the world! The tracking may take between 2 and 6 hours but its well worth the effort. There are always Park Guides with you who interpret the flora and fauna and the lifestyle of the Gorillas. In the afternoon relax at the camp or take a forest walk. Overnight at Bwindi Tented Camp or Lake Kitandara Luxury Camp. B,L,D

Day 6: Bwindi - Queen Elizabeth National Park (150 Km, 5 Hrs drive)
After breakfast, you will depart the Impenetrable Forest for Queen Elizabeth National Park arriving in the afternoon. Relax around the pool after lunch and later go for an early evening game drive. Its little wonder that Queen Elizabeth boasts one of the highest bio diversity ratings of any game park or reserve in the world, - from the open Savannah to Rain Forest, dense Papyrus Swamps and brooding Crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward. Almost 100 mammal species that include Lions, Hippos, Buffaloes, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Elephants and the elusive Giant Forest Hog plus remarkable 606 bird species that include the Black Chested Eagle, the Swallow Tailed Bee Eaters, to mention but a few. The Primates include Chimps, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Blue, Black Faced Red Colobus, and Red Tailed monkeys and Olive Baboons. Reptiles include the amazing huge Rock-Python, Puffadders, Spitting Cobras, Gabon Rippers, Green Mambas, Turtles etc. All these are regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula and all this makes a superb safari territory. Birding is also wonderful. Queen Elizabeth Park has the highest recorded number of over 600 species of birds including the Shoebill Stork, Black Bee-Eater, Chappirs Fly Catcher, Bustards, and craters full of Lesser Flamingos etc. Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge. B,L,D

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Early morning drive to the crater lakes in Katwe to see thousands of colorful Lesser Flamingoes, as they feed in these soda lakes. Then go for the afternoon boat trip along the Kazinga Channel. Hippos huff and spray mere feet away from the boat, Buffalo linger in the shallows, a tremendous variety of birds grace the grasses on the shores. Great White and Pink-Backed Pelicans, Great and Long-tailed Cormorants, Open-billed Stork, African Jacana, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers are commonly seen. February and March offer spectacular sightings of some of the bird migrants. Spend the night at Mweya Lodge. B,L,D

Day 8 & 9: Queen Elizabeth National Park - Lake Mburo National Park (135 Km, 3 Hrs drive)
Depart after breakfast for the Lake Mburo. Lake Mburo National Park, the home of over 68 different mammals and a variety of bird species and reptiles; the natural habitat of the impala, zebra, eland, warthogs, a variety of monkeys, buffaloes, Roan antelope, hyenas, jackals, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, sitatunga antelopes, black and yellow papyrus gonalek, topis and the adjacent majestic long-horned cattle linked to the mysterious Chwezi dynasties. Enjoy a game drive up to Lake Mburo where nature is shared with the native monkeys, while they entertain you, free of charge, with their acrobatic skills! Enjoy a boat trip on one of the various lakes to view more wildlife. Dinner and overnight at Mihingo Safari Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 10: Lake Mburo - Kampala (283 Km, 4 Hrs drive)
Departure This morning, we will have a game drive to the Kisenyi area to look for Lion prides and other wildlife like the Uganda Kob that mate around this area before you head back to Kampala arriving at Entebbe in the afternoon for lunch and to catch your flight back home depending on the International departure times. B,L

Tour price: US$ 3445 per person sharing. Single room supplement: US$ 720

Services includes:
-Ground transport in a 4x4WD safari vehicle with sliding roof
-All accommodation in sharing twin/double rooms
-All park related fees
-Boat cruises and guided walks
-Meals - B=breakfast, L=lunch and D=dinner
-Government taxes
-Bottled water on safari
-2 Gorilla permits per person (Two days of gorilla tracking)

Excluded in the gorilla tour price:
-Tips
-Travel insurance, baggage loss and any medical evacuation fees
-Personal expenses, laundry, telephone bills, airfares and visas

Please bring the following for tracking gorillas:
-Hiking boots- ankle level boots are ok but make sure it is something handy.
-Gloves
-A warm cardigan
-Thick trousers and a long sleeved top are ideal for tracking.
-Rain Coat
-Video- filming is allowed in the parks though not outside the park
-Water proof container for their cameras
-A pair of binoculars if you are a keen bird watcher.
-If you prefer wearing a hat, a baseball cap is recommended.

African Sermon Safaris 2005 - 2008. All rights reserved © Copyright. Kenya House, Koinange Street,
P.O. Box 51322 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya. Website: www.continentalsafaris.com tours@continentalsafaris.com Tel: +254 20 244 068; Fax: +254 20 317 656; Mobile: +254 722 884 748

Uganda tour, Uganda safari to include Pearl of Africa Tours travel & Safaris, Uganda Gorilla tracking, Uganda safaris & tours, Uganda gorilla Safari to Uganda Guide

BWINDI INPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK:
In the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest live half the world's population of highly endangered Mountain Gorillas. Visiting them is one of the most emotional wildlife encounters you will ever experience.

This pocket of huge primeval forest in the Virunga Mountain range is one of the most biologically diverse areas on earth. It has an eco-system that defines the very essence of the continent and has therefore been designated as a World Heritage Site.

The forest floor is damp and laden with leaf mould, matted vegetation and fallen vines, which serve to trip you up as you clamber up and down the slippery slopes in search of a glimpse of the elusive gorillas.

Searching up to altitudes of 6,500 feet (1,982 metres) can be exhausting but the rewards are worth it. Of course it may not be as difficult as that, but when visiting the Bwindi gorillas you should be prepared to unleash the explorer in you.

VISITING THE GORILLA'S:
You will be told that if the big male silverback charges at you, you should look down and remain exactly where you are in a submissive pose. These words of wisdom are directly opposite to your natural instincts, but luckily a ranger is there to grab you should your feet disobey the instructions. The noise of the silverback pounding his chest during this mock charge, is akin to overhead thunder and more than enough to make your knees knock and heart miss a beat. As the gorillas grow more accustomed to human presence, the charges do not happen so often. Each gorilla group is only visited for one hour a day by a limited number of people who have normally purchased permits months in advance.

OTHER ANIMALS:
There are many other primates in the park including chimpanzees, black and white colobus, red colobus and blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey and L'Hoest's monkey.

Wildlife inhabiting the forest floor includes elephants, giant forest hogs and small antelopes, few of which are encountered.

SEASONS:
Dry Season: January and February plus June to September are the driest months and are the best time for gorilla trekking. Even in the dry season you should be prepared to get wet in the occasional afternoon thunderstorm.
Rainy Season: many roads are impassable after the long rains of March to May and it becomes hot and humid with a very slippery forest floor. It also usually rains in October and November.
Temperatures: a pleasantly hot temperature of 80°F (25°C) can be expected from June to September, rising to 85°F (27°C) in January and February.

BWINDI SPECIALITIES:
• Close encounters with mountain gorillas
• Hiking the Virunga Mountains
• Unique flora

FACTS:
The park covers an area of 127 miles² (330km²).
It is located in the far south-west of the country where Uganda, Rwanda and DRC (Congo) meet.
Getting to Bwindi is an adventure in itself as you have to cross much of Uganda by road to get there.
Permits are limited to 12 per day, many of which are purchased by through operators.

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