A Safari of a Life Time!

Transcription

1 A Safari of a Life Time! Kenya Uganda Rwanda (Hiking, People & Wildlife) Dates ex Nairobi: 19/02/ /03/2017 This is a unique expeditious safari in. In 3 weeks, you discover the spectacular beauty of East Africa through Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda by car, on foot and by boat. Pall Forloney, renowned Trek guide, in Cinque Terre area in Italy leads the Safari which takes you through the Rift Valley to the source of the Nile and through Uganda s Wildlife Parks to the Gorilla in the Virunga Mountains in the border area of Uganda, Congo and Rwanda. This is followed by a few days of relaxation on scenic and historical trails in Rwanda, where tremendous development has been made after the 1994 Genocide. Services included: Transport in 4x4 extended Land cruiser with guaranteed window seat and pop-up roof for game viewing Park, conservancy and Community fee s as per 01/01/16 ( subject to changes) 5 x Overnights in town hotels 12 x Overnights in lodges and luxury Camps Full board except in Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, Gisenyi English speaking local guides on the hikes All mentioned activities Gorilla and Chimpanzee permit All transfers inclusive airport transfers English speaking tour guiding Per Person in double / twin room US$ 5.790,- 1 Surcharges: Single room / tent supplement: US$ 720/- Min No of participants: 6 Participants Max. No of participants: 12 Participants Not included: Expenses of personal nature, travel insurance, drinks and extras in hotels, all not mentioned services, Visa ( US$ 100/- for East African Tourist Visa at the airport in Kenya Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory! Information Reservation: At Kibo Slopes Safaris Ltd sales@kiboslopessafaris.com Tel.: , (Teresa), (Toni)

2 Day 1: Arrival Nairobi Arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi (JKIA). Our guide is already waiting for us to take us to the Silversprings Hotel to check in. After an optional lunch, we visit the Karen Blixen Museum and go back in history to the beginning of the colonial period at the turn of the 20 th century. We can opt to visit the Kazuri Jewellery shop nearby and have an early optional dinner at the Karen Blixen Coffee Garden before getting back to our hotel. Day 2: Nairobi - Naivasha After breakfast, we drive to Naivasha (100km) for a game drive at the scenic Hell s Gate National Park followed by a walk through the incredible Oljorwa gorge, which formed the backdrop for the film Sheena, Queen of the Jungle. At about 1.00 pm we check in at the Elsamere Conservation Centre for a delicious British buffet lunch. The centre is the former residence of the renowned Joy and George Adamson, Kenya s pioneers in conservation work. In the afternoon, we explore the lake which is rich in birdlife by taking a boat ride to Crescent Island where we take a guided game walk back to the mainland. A 1.5 hour drive takes us to the rim of the Menengai crater for dinner and overnight at the Maili Saba camp. Day 3: Nakuru National Park Today we take our leisurely breakfast overlooking the Menengai Crater before we drive with packed lunch to Lake Nakuru National park for game drives. Lake Nakuru is known for thousands of flamingos, pelicans, black and white rhinos, reticulated giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, warthogs and baboons and monkeys just next to a bustling town. At the baboon cliff we open our lunchboxes and enjoy the magnificent view over the area. Later in the afternoon, we return to our camp for dinner and overnight stay. Day 4: Nakuru- Bogoria Today we will have an early breakfast at 6.30 a.m and drive to the Hannington View Point overlooking Lake Bogoria on the Rift Valley floor. With packed lunch in our day bag, plenty of water and a local guide we descend the steep escarpment. The rather strenuous 4-hour hike takes us to the fig tree campsite at the shores of the lake where we rest and have our lunch. Our car will have arrived and will take us for a game drive along the lake shores where thousands of flamingos reside and geysers bear evidence of the volcanic activities in the Rift valley. Besides the flamingos, we encounter an array of plains game such as zebras, Impalas, Dik Diks and maybe greater kudus. In the late afternoon, we leave the park and drive to Lake Baringo for dinner and overnight stay at the scenic Tumbili Cliff Lodge. Day 5: Kerio Valley 2

3 Day 5: Kerio Valley After breakfast we drive with packed lunch through the scenic Kerio Valley, which stretches between the Tugen Hills and the Elgeyo Escarpment in the Rift Valley. The views here are breathtaking and we stop severally for photo shoots. At about noon we reach the Kerio Valley View Resort near Iten. After lunch we visit the St. Patricks School where many of the renowned Kenyan long distance runners originate. We might find some of the stars training in the area and even get to have a chat with them at the hotel bar and restaurant. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the hotel. Day 6: Iten - Jinja Today we leave early (6.30a.m) for a long drive to Jinja in Uganda. The drive takes us through the fertile highlands past the farming metropolis Eldoret, to Malaba where we cross the border to Uganda. In Tororo, at the Mount Elgon base, we stop for lunch and continue to Jinja for a sundowner cruise to the source of the White Nile on Lake Victoria. It is a long but eventful day. We get to share our experiences over drinks after dinner at the 2 Friends Hotel. Day 7: Jinja - Kampala After enjoying the great service at the hotel where we came as guests and leave as friends we depart for our next destination- Kampala. This city was originally build on seven Hills and was the seat of the Buganda Kingdom even before colonial time. After an optional lunch, we visit the ancient and modern Kabaka Palace and the Basilica Church of Uganda Matyrs where the first Christian converts were brutally executed. We can opt for dinner at a restaurant of our choice and spent the night at the Fairways Hotel. Day 8: Kampala - Fort Portal We have an early breakfast in order to leave the busy city at 7.00a.m before it is clogged up by the heavy morning traffic. Our destination today is the highlands on the slopes of Mt.Ruwenzori near the western border of Uganda. A 5- hour drive (300km) takes us to the tea growing town of Fort Portal. After lunch at the hotel, we visit a tea farm and hope to get a glance of the Ruwenzori Mountains. Dinner and overnight stay will be at Hotel Mountains of the Moon. Day 9: Queen Elisabeth Park 3

4 Day 9: Kibale National Park Today we leave early with packed lunch and head for the nearby Kibale National Park for another adventure. Under the guidance of an experienced guide we explore the park s fauna and flora. The diversity and density of primates here is the highest in Africa. The most famous of its 13 species is the chimpanzee, man s closest relative. Besides the 1,450 Chimpanzee s, the forest is also home to the black-and-white colobus, red-tailed and blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboon, bush baby and potto. After the 4-hour expedition on foot we drive to Queen Elisabeth Park for dinner and Overnight stay at the Ihamba Lodge. Day 9: Queen Elisabeth Park Day 10: Queen Elisabeth Park After breakfast we embark on game drives on our way to Mweya Safari Lodge where we have our lunch, followed by a 2-hour boat ride on Kazinga Channel. The Kazinga Channel is an oasis for many fascinating species. Hundreds of enormous hippos, buffalos and elephants linger on the shoreline. An average of 60 bird species can be spotted during the trip. The boats can carry up to 40 passengers with expert ranger guides narrating the habits and history of the creatures. A further 2 to 3 hour drive takes us to the Ishasha Jungle Lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Day 11: Queen Elisabeth Park Day 11: Queen Elizabeth-Ishasha The Ishasha section of Queen Elisabeth Park contrasts the Mweya peninsula, Kasenyi and the Crater Lake areas of the park. Ishasha is a vast low-lying savannah lying south of the equator in the Albertine Rift Valley. The Ishasha River separates the larger Parc National des Virunga in the Democratic Republic of Congo with which it shares an international boundary. Here, great herds of buffalos and Ugandan Kobs can be spotted. The star attraction is a pride of tree-climbing Lions regularly spotted. Sometimes Elephants cross from the DRC into the park. Dinner and overnight will once again be in the Ishasha Jungle Lodge. Day 10: Bwindi Forest 4

5 Day 12: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi After Breakfast, we leave Queen Elisabeth Park and drive south to Lake Bunyoni. This scenic lake is said to be 900m deep making it the second deepest lake in Africa and harbours 29 islands. We arrive for lunch at the Arcadia cottages. Located high up on a ridge overlooking Lake Bunyonyi, guests can enjoy truly breathtaking view while enjoying tasty meals. In the afternoon, we can opt to take a boat tour on the lake to the various islands. The management of the lodge is very willing to advice on this. Although the lake is said to be Bilharzia-free from recent and past diagnosed cases, we would rather abstain from a swim. Day 13: Bunyonyi Kisoro - Ruhengeri Today s program takes us through a very scenic area, sometimes referred to as Switzerland of Africa, to Kisoro on the foot of one of the volcanoes of the the Virunga Mountains - the Muhabura. After lunch we cross the border at Cyanika, and drive through Ruhengeri to the Volcano National Park in Rwanda. We arrive at the Gorilla View Lodge in the late afternoon. The scenery is magnificient. 5 of the Virunga volcanoes just surround us. After dinner we retire early to bed and enjoy the crackling fire from the fire place in our cottages. Day 14: Gorilla Tracking There are 18 Gorillas families in the Volcano National Park. 10 are visited under strict guidelines and with very knowledgeable guides from the park. We present ourselves for briefing at 7.00 a.m at the park headquarters and are divided into groups of park rangers constituting a maximum of 8 people. After the briefing, we drive to the edge of the forest where we follow the guides who will lead us to a Gorilla Nest (2 to 3 hours), headed by a Silverback. We are allowed to watch them for 1 hour while observing the strict park rules. By about 1.00 pm we are back at the lodge for lunch and relax for the rest of the afternoon. If interested, we can visit a village or watch Rwandan traditional dancers.. Day 15: Lake Kivu Today after breakfast we drive to Gisenyi on the shores of Lake Kivu for a relaxing day on the beach. At the Lake Kivu Serena Hotel we are booked on Bed & Breakfast basis. The numerous restaurants in the town and on the lake shores offer a wide choice. We can stroll through the safe and clean town and walk along the beach. There are also boats for hire if we want to use the time for an excursion on the lake otherwise we just relax on the swimming pool overlooking the lake. Day 16: Gisenyi - Kigali After breakfast we return via the tea growing region to Kigali for lunch. We and spend the afternoon on a city tour visiting the Genocide Museum and maybe one of the art galleries. We can opt for dinner in one of the city s popular rooftop restaurants. Overnight stay will be at the Collins de Milles Hotel which got international recognition through the film Hotel Rwanda based on the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who helped over a thousand Tutsi refugees during their struggle against the Hutu militia in Rwanda. 5

6 Day 17: Excursion to the Butare Today after breakfast we explore the south of Rwanda. A 3-hour drive takes us to the Ethnographic Museum. The guided visit gives us an insight into the rich history of the Rwandan Kingdom and culture. After the visit, we have our lunch in one of the towns restaurants and drive back to Nyanza to visit the ancient King Palace as well as the newer version build by the Belgium colonialists. If there is enough time we pass by the oldest Catholic Church dating back to 1905 in Gitarama. Back in Kigali, we can have our dinner at the hotel or choose one of the roof top restaurants. Overnight stay will once again be at Collins de Milles Hotel. Day 18: Transfer to airport Depending on the time of our return flight we can spend some time at the hotel s swimming pool or use the time to shop for some souvenirs before we transfer to the airport for our international departure. 6

7 Planned Hotels, Camps und Lodges: Nairobi Silver Springs Hotel Nakuru Maili Saba Baringo Tumbili Cliff Iten Kerio View Hotel Jinja Two Friends Hotel Kampala Fairways Hotel Queen Elisabeth Park Ihamba Safari Lodge Ishasha Ishasha Jungle Lodge Volcano National Park Gorilla View Lodge Lake Bunyoni Lake Bunyoni Arcadia Gisenyi Lake Kivu Serena Kigali Hotel des Mille Collines Nature of the tour and requirements: The hiking parts require no technical skills, but because it usually leads through Roadless rough terrain, a good level of fitness is required. Walking periods range from 2 to 5 hours on a tracking mission or scenic hike. The luggage is transported by car and you just need your day bag containing sufficient water, some snacks, lunch, camera and a rain coat. The road transfers can be long and road conditions are often quite poor. You need to be patient and persistent. Accommodations are in selected 3 to 4 star hotels and lodges. Active and comradely cooperation should be obvious to all participants. Team spirit and personal engagement contribute significantly to the success of this trip. The tour is not suitable for children under 15 years. Climatic conditions and Equipment: The climate in the East African highlands is very well tolerated by Europeans and is one of the best climates in the world. Reference values for Arusha (1,400 m) are: Morning: 9 C to 12 C Midday: 23 C to 28 C Evenings: 9 C to 14 C Night temperature 9 C to 14 C The inland temperatures are between 20 to 28 C. Good months for travelling are June to October (this month are the cool dry season month) and December to March. Important Notes: Bad weather, organizational problems, unforeseen events or other factors may lead to program changes or modifications. It is our aim to achieve all program points. For the exact implementation of the program however we cannot guarantee and ask for your kind understanding. We also wish to mention that you participate at your own risk. Tour operator: KIBO SLOPES SAFARIS LTD. P. O. BOX 58064, NAIROBI, Kenya Terms & Conditions apply: Registration No: C /03/1996 Registrar of Companies Nairobi Member of Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) No.: FA / 253 Member of Eco Society of Kenya (ESOCK) No.: EK/CPR/059 Member of East African Wildlife Society 7

8 Choice of Law: For all questions of law connected to the tour and the tour operator and its pre and after effects only Kenyan law is to be applied. The place of jurisdiction is factually the responsible court having jurisdiction at the head office of Kibo Slopes Safaris Ltd in Nairobi. For this special tour, special cancelation conditions are applicable in % of the cost of the tour: From the date of confirmed booking to 60 days before the start of the tour 10% From 59 to 30 Days before start 20% From 29 to 15 Days before start 30% From 14 to 7 Days before start 50% 6 days and less before the start is treated as NO SHOW and attracts 100% If the minimum number of participants cannot be achieved, we have to recalculate the price and may have to cancel the date. Information and Reservation: Toni Tschank / Teresa Mungania Kibo Slopes Safaris Ltd Tel Mail: sales@kiboslopessafaris.com Web: Pall Forloney Tour Leader Tel Mail: pall@trekguyd.com Web. : 8