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Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trek (27 July – 2 August 2023)

From $5,200.00

Gorilla Permits are restricted in number and first-come, first-served. Your deposit secures your permit.

 

Pay a deposit of $1,200.00 per item
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Imagine sitting face-to-face with endangered Mountain Gorillas. The Silverback looks at you, and you feel the thrill as your eyes meet. He’s huge…but gentle. A young gorilla scurries up a tree, and swings from a low branch, while his mother nurses an infant. A black-back gorilla beats his chest, practicing for the day when he’s old enough and big enough and gains the distinctive silver hairs of the patriarch. We share 98 -99 % of our DNA with primates. We are one family on this planet of ours….

Eagle Eye Safaris is going to Uganda for a 7-day tour of the Pearl of Africa. We’ll meet in Entebbe, then traverse the entire country with stops in Kibale National Forest to meet wild chimpanzees, then a trip through Queen Elizabeth National Park to look for huge elephants and tree-climbing lions, cruise the Kazinga Channel between Lakes Edward and George while we watch hippos and kingfishers at sunset, then climb the winding mountain roads up to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to trek the secret hideaways of Dian Fossey’s Gorillas in the Mist. We’ll meet the kind and friendly people of Uganda as we travel through villages along the way. We’re ending in Kigali, Rwanda, with a tour of the city before we fly home. This trip combines nature and culture and is filled with photographic opportunities. Karen Blackwood or Ernest Porter will be by your side, coaching your photography skills to be sure you bring home photos that will look great on your walls.

itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival and transfer to your Hotel
Upon arrival in Entebbe, you’ll have time to get cash from the ATM, and our driver will transport you to our Kampala Hotel (approximately 45-60 minutes travel). We will have dinner at the hotel as a group around 7pm, so we can meet each other and talk about our trip. Get plenty of rest—we’ve got a big trip with lots of fun coming up!

(Overnight at Cassia Lodge Bed & Breakfast; dinner not included on Day 1)

Day 2 - Transfer to Kibale, Guided walk through Bigodi Wetlands
After breakfast, we will transfer to Crater Safari Lodge, our stunning Eco-Accommodations in Kibale, set next to a crater lake high in the mountains. After a late lunch, we will take guided nature walk at the Bigodi Wetlands, learning about the ecology of the area and looking for the 8 species of monkeys that reside in the forest: baboons, Red Colobus Monkeys, Blue Hoest Monkeys, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, and more. We will have dinner after the walk.

(Meals and overnight at Crater Safari Lodge)

Day 3 - Kibale Chimpanzee Tracking; free time
After breakfast, we will set off to the Kibale Forest Park Headquarters to meet our Rangers and for a briefing before Chimpanzee tracking. During our hike through the forest, we may encounter other wildlife such as Vervet Monkeys, Blue Hoest Monkeys, Black and white Colobus Monkeys, and more. We’ll spend about an hour with wild chimpanzees, watching their social interactions and photographing them in the dappled forest light. Once we return to the Lodge, we’ll eat lunch and have a relaxing afternoon. You may want to paddle a canoe around the lake, sit by the pool, or go for another walk in the Bigodi Wetlands. Our previous clients wanted extra time at this stunning Lodge, so this is your chance to enjoy it.

(Meals and overnight at Crater Safari Lodge)

Day 3 - Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth Park, Sunset Boat Cruise
After breakfast, we will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving in time for a brief game drive in the Kasenyi area. We’ll be looking for the iconic tree-climbing lions of Uganda in this part of the Park. After lunch, we’ll enjoy a 2-hour sunset boat cruise along the Kazinga channel for the best cross-section for wildlife viewing in the National Park. We expect to see elephants, hippos, buffalo, crocodiles and some of the best bird viewing in Uganda. Part of the cruise takes us by a traditional fishing village. If we are lucky, there will be people tending the nets, and preparing the boats for launch. There’s lots of photographic opportunities on the water! Our exquisite lodge is lakeside, so plan to wake up early tomorrow morning to catch the sunrise over the water with a hot cup of coffee or tea.

(Meals and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge –Deluxe Rooms)

Day 5 - Ishasha Sector Game Drives and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable NP

After a nice breakfast, we will set out on a morning game drive through the Ishasha sector, where we will photograph topi, kob, elephants, and other African wildlife species. We’ll stop at Savanna Hotel for a lunch break, then climb the winding roads into the mountains, past tea and coffee farms, as we proceed to Bwindi. We’ll arrive at our beautiful Eco-Lodge, overlooking the valley below, in time for dinner and cocktails. It’s going to be an early night to bed, because tomorrow…it’s time to track Gorillas!

(Meals and overnight at Bakiga Lodge)

Day 6 – Gorilla trekking adventure; Batwa Community Visit
We’ll be up early for a quick breakfast, the head to the park headquarters. We’ll be greeted with song, be briefed about the do’s and don’ts while with the gorillas and meet our Rangers and porters. Then, it’s into the mountains as we track the gorillas! We’ll spot the Silverback, hope to see infants and juveniles, and watch them as they nap and eat. After our exhilarating hour with this endangered species, we’ll return to the Lodge to refresh. We’ll head back out for a short walk for a community visit where you will discover more about the local people’s culture, especially the Batwa, who were the original forest dwellers. We’ll stop at the local school and meet some of the children, and if we are very lucky, they will sing and dance with us! We’ll stop at a few craft shops, where everything is handmade by the owner. We might even get to watch them weave the basket you’ll buy or bead the necklace you’ll wear home.

(Meals and overnight at Bakiga Lodge)

Day 7 – Transfer to Kigali and Kigali City Tour
After a leisurely breakfast, we will say goodbye to the kind staff at Bakiga Lodge and transfer to Kigali, Rwanda. The drive is only about 3 hours through incredibly beautiful countryside, but the border crossing into Rwanda can take some time, so we plan 4-6 hours for this travel. If we arrive in Kigali early enough, we will enjoy a Kigali city tour, visit the Genocide Museum, and stop at a couple of local markets before either going to the airport, or a hotel if you would like to refresh before flying out. We can organize a reservation at a nearby hotel should you request it. Most international flights leave after 7pm.

*END OF TOUR*

PRICES:

Price to be determined, $1500 non-refundable deposit required at booking 

This safari tags perfectly with our Magical Mara Safari in Kenya, and our trip to Tanzania for the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater 11 – 17 July 2023. Ask about our double-booking discount!

Included

  • Photography Guide services with Eagle Eye Safaris
  • Ground Transportation on Safari with professional drivers
  • Gorilla and Chimpanzee permits
  • Personal porter during the Gorilla Trek
  • Park Entrance fees
  • Kazinga Channel Boat cruise
  • Game drives
  • One Bigodi Nature walk (second walk is optional at your own expense)
  • Kigali City Tour (destinations depending on arrival time in Kigali)
  • Batwa Community Visit
  • 6 nights’ accommodation
  • Meals as noted
  • Relevant government taxes
  • Bottled drinking water while on tour

Excluded

  • Meals in Kampala/Kigali Hotels (before and after safari)
  • Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda after safari
  • Airfare
  • Visas (separate for each country, or 3-country Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya $100)
  • Gratuities
  • Trip/Travel Insurance
  • Activities not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Drinks other than bottled water
  • Personal Purchases
  • Anything not specifically mentioned as “included”

Gratuity Guidelines (in USD–please check the exchange rate and plan enough cash):

  • Chimpanzee guide/tracker- $5-10
  • Bigodi Wetlands Guide – $3-5
  • Boat Captain- $3-5
  • Gorilla Rangers (3) -$5-10/each
  • Safari driver- $5-10/day
  • Staff tip box at Lodges- $3-5/night (depending on quality of service)
  • Also plan to have enough cash for personal purchases such as alcohol, sodas, crafts, etc

Addional Information

Photographic Skills Level:

Beginner to Pro. Because this trip doesn’t include time for a full photography class, you’ll need to be familiar with changing settings on your camera. Ernest and Karen will offer personal attention and suggest settings in each situation. Non-photographers are always welcome!

Fitness Level:

Average to fit. This trip includes easy to moderate to strenuous hikes to get to the monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas. A porter is available to carry your belongings on the Gorilla Trek. A sedan chair can be arranged for an additional cost of approximately $300 for those who are unable to hike to the Gorillas; please inquire.

Expected Weather/Temperatures:

We’ve curated this trek during Uganda’s dry season. We’ll range in altitude from sea level to mountains, so please pack layers suitable for crisp mountain air and warm valley temperatures.

Health Considerations:

Uganda is a Yellow Fever and Malaria country. You may need Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination to enter the country. Please consult with your doctor about malaria prevention. Please check your country’s requirements for entry; if you are traveling from any country with Yellow Fever, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination. You can also see more information HERE.

Note

Yellow fever vaccine availability in the United States is currently limited. If you need to be vaccinated before your trip, you may need to travel some distance and schedule your appointment well in advance.

Typhoid and Hepatitis A vaccinations are also recommended. You should also have an up to date Tetanus shot before any travel.

Electric Adapter:

Uganda uses Type G plugs. You may be able to use an adapter instead of a converter. To be sure, check the label on the appliance. Some appliances never need a converter. If the label states ‘INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz’ the appliance can be used in all countries in the world. Devices like this include most laptops and phones, most recently produced battery chargers, and many small, electrical gadgets, especially those designed for world travel. Here is an example of an international converter for Uganda: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Plug-Adapter-International-SublimeWare/dp/B01N59M473