Africa Photography Tours Uganda 2020 January 21-Feb 1

Africa Photography Tours Uganda 2020 January 21-Feb 1

Uganda If you only plan on going to Africa once in your life then this is the trip! We will be visiting one of Africa s wildlife hot zones Uganda! TOUR HIGHLIGHTS RHINO TRACKING EXCURSION IN ZIWA RHINO SANCTUARY GAME VIEWING MURCHISSON FALLS NATIONAL PARK PRIVATE BOAT CRUISE TO THE BASE OF THE MURCHISSON FALLS SHORT SCENIC HIKE TO THE TOP OF THE MURCHISON FALLS 2X CHIMPANZEE TRACKING KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK GAME VIEWING QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK (MWEYA-KASENYI) BOAT CRUISE ON KAZINGA CHANNEL OF QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK 2X GORILLA TRACKING BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST (Rushage & Magahinga) MOTORISED BOAT EXCUSION ON LAKE MUTANDA 1X GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK You will receive wildlife photography instructions, tips and tricks, before, during, and after your Africa Adventure. Whether you are new to photography or have been doing it for awhile I will help out with tips and tricks including editing and blog writing and set-up. And even contests to enter your photos! I created this tour based on all my favorite places to travel with in Uganda. I am excited that you will be taking this adventure with me and now you too will have the Africa bug!

January 21 Feb 1 January 21- Arrive in Entebbe Upon the groups arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be met and transferred to the Karibu Guesthouse in Entebbe where you will spend your first night. Tonight we will have dinner together and go over our schedule. There will be a brief photography class before the trip begins. Jan 22- Entebbe to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Murchisson Falls National Park DISTANCE: 380 KMS APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 6-7 HOURS: This morning, you will be met at the Karibu Guesthouse Entebbe at 06h30. We will depart by Private 4WD Vehicle with Driver-Guide for the most beautiful protected area in Uganda: Murchison Falls National Park. About 176 km North of Kampala on the Gulu Highway toward Murchison Falls, you will visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary - the home of the only wild rhinos in Uganda. One of the Ziwa Rangers will meet you upon arrival and give you an introduction to the sanctuary and some information about the rhinos. Depending on where the rhinos happen to be when you arrive, you will drive to the closest location and then approach the rhinos on foot. You will then have an opportunity to observe the rhinos in their habitat at a very close, and very safe, distance. The animals are magnificent and the opportunity to see them up close is truly one not to be missed! The Rhino Tracking Excursion lasts on average between 1-2 hours. After the visit to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary we will have lunch and then continue our journey towards the Murchison Falls National Park. We will arrive at the Fort Murchison Lodge by mid-afternoon. Late afternoon you will be able to undertake a (short) game-drive in the Murchison Falls National Park and return to the Fort Murchison Lodge as the sun sets. Spend 02 Nights at the Fort Murchison Lodge on a Full Board Basis.

January 23- Murchison Falls After an early breakfast you will enjoy a morning Game Drive on the Northern bank of the Nile, with chances of seeing elephants, giraffes, lions, hartebeests and a variety of birds. Mid-morning you will go on a Private Nile Cruise for game viewing at close quarters. After your Boat Cruise you will have your packed lunch with view on the Murchison Falls. Afternoon - enjoy another Game Drive on the Northern bank of the Nile and return to the Fort Murchison Lodge as the sun sets. Jan 24- Murchisson Falls National Park Hoima DISTANCE: 145 KMS APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 3-4 HOURS After breakfast, we will check out of the Fort Murchison Lodge and enjoy another morning Game Drive on the Northern bank of the Nile. We will have lunch at a scenic spot in the National Park and thereafter proceed to the town of Hoima where we will spend 01 Night at the Hoima Cultural Lodge on a Full Board Basis. Spend 02 Nights at the Fort Murchison Lodge on a Full Board Basis. Jan 25- Hoima Fort Portal- Kibale Forest National Park DISTANCE: 250 KMS APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 5-6 HOURS: After breakfast we depart (with packed lunch) the Hoima Cultural Lodge and head towards Fort Portal and further onto the Kibale Forest National Park. This full day journey through Uganda s rural areas will be rewarded with stunning views while you pass small villages and local markets. We will arrive at the Kibale Forest Camp by mid-afternoon. Time Permitting - you will have the opportunity to undertake a short self-guided forest walk on the Camp s grounds. Spend 02 Nights at the Kibale Forest Camp on a Full Board Basis.

Jan 26- Kibale Forest National Park Chimpanzee Trek Morning-Chimpanzee Track. The Kibale Forest is reputable of having the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. A community of chimpanzees has been habituated since 1991 and the chances of locating them are over 90%. Spending 01 Hour with the chimps will enable you to learn about their lifestyle and to discover the mysteries of their existence. The behavior of the babies will be adorable while the older males do their very best to impress. Experience how they feed themselves and play with each other. Listen to their chatter, see how they quarrel and make up again. You will be amazed by their human features, as they share over 98% of our DNA. By late morning you will get back out of the forest and return to the Kibale Forest Camp for lunch. After lunch - you will go on another Chimpanzee Trek for 1 Hour. Trekking to the Chimps can sometimes last up to 2+ hours. Night at Kibale Forest Camp Jan 27- Kibale Forest National Park Queen Elizabeth National Park Depart the Kibale Forest at a leisurely pace via the Crater Lakes Area to Kasese Town, the second most populous center in Western Uganda. The road passes through fertile agricultural land and follows the lower slopes of one of Africa s largest mountain ranges namely the famous Ruwenzori Mountains. On the way to Kasese Town you will pass through the little road-side town of Hima, famed throughout Uganda for its Cement Factory. From Kasese, you will cross the Equator as the road passes though the Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda Cobs are abundant, and you may be able to observe elephants or buffaloes in the distance. Today we will have the opportunity to join the Carnivore Research Project on their daily Lion Tracking Activity. On this activity, one the Lion Research Vehicle that goes out daily to follow up on Queen s Lion Population. They track the collared lions and one is allowed to follow their vehicle off-road up to the lions. Spend 02 Nights at the Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge in a Self-Contained Banda on a Full Board Basis.

Jan 28- Queen Elizabeth National Park (Mweya/Kasenyi) A network of tracks enables you to find elephants, buffalo and other animals in the grassland thickets that cover the North Kazinga area near the Mweya Peninsula. This area is known as the main breeding ground of the Uganda Kobs on which the prides of lion prey. Game drives in this area are most rewarding in early morning and late afternoons. Besides Game-Driving the other main attraction of the Northern Sector is the Kazinga Channel. The 32 Km long Kazinga Channel is a dominant feature of the Queen Elizabeth National Park and links Lake George with Lake Edward. The channel attracts a varied range of animals and birds and one of the world s largest concentrations of hippos year-round. These can be observed from two covered boat launches lasting for about two hours. You will undertake the Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise running at 14h30. After the boat cruise you will undertake another Game Drive before returning to the Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge. Jan 29- Queen Elizabeth National Park to Lake Mutanda DISTANCE: 255 KMS APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 7-8 HOURS After a brief Morning Game Drive we depart (with packed lunch) Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi / Buhoma. On the way to Bwindi we will visit an Ishasha Community Uplift Group which has been set up as an organization committed to conserving the bio-diversity of the area by reducing threats to the eco systems through increased economic opportunities for local community members. The Community is situated in the area bordering the Southern Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. These communities fight a continual battle between growing their crops and the game incursions which raid them as an easy source of food. We will go on a guided tour with some of the community members of this agricultural area. This incorporates different areas of interest including: visit to a local homestead and learn about what the community farms and how they provide for their families, visit to the elephant trench which is a means to reducing animal crop raiding, visit a local home to see how grains and millet are processed etc. After your visit you will continue your journey towards Buhoma and from there continue via a scenic rural back-road with magnificent views on the rolling hills and terraced fields characteristic of Central Africa towards the border town of Kisoro. Upon arrival in Kisoro we will proceed to Lake Mutanda. Lake Mutanda is only 15 Kms away from Kisoro however this drive takes approximately 1 Hour (or slightly more). You will arrive at the Chameleon Hill Lodge by late afternoon / early evening. Chameleon Hill Lodge has one of the most scenic locations in Western Uganda and is perched on a narrow ridge overlooking Lake Mutanda and the Virunga Mountain Range. Lake Mutanda is one of the few lakes in Uganda that is bilharzias-free and therefore safe for swimming or to experience a ride in a traditional dug-out canoe (just like the local fishermen). Spend 03 Nights at the Chameleon Hill Lodge on a Full Board Basis.

Jan 30- Lake Mutanda Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Rushaga) Lake Mutanda- DISTANCE: 15 KMS APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 1 HOUR: Gorilla Tracking is a captivation and unforgettable experience which more than repays the effort needed to reach Bwindi and to trek through the forest. Looking deep into the expressive brown eyes of the Gentle Giants of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park surely is the most exciting and poignant wildlife encounter that Africa has to offer. Jan 31-Lake Mutanda Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Nkuringo) Lake Mutanda- DISTANCE: 15 KMS APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 1 HOUR: Today we will visit a different part of the part and a whole different family! In the afternoon, Spend the day at leisure at the Chameleon Hill Lodge. In the course of the day - you will have the opportunity of undertaking a motorized boat excursion (2 Hrs) on the very scenic Lake Mutanda. Feb 1- Lake Mutanda- Kisoro- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park- Kisoro- Ruhengeri - Kigali DISTANCE: 35 KMS APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 1-2 HOURS DISTANCE: 155 KMS APPROXIMATE DRIVING TIME: 5-6 HOURS: After an early breakfast, you will be transferred (with packed lunch) to the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for your track to see the Golden Monkeys. This rare species is listed as endangered. The golden monkeys live in the bamboo vegetation towards the base of the volcanoes. They are very sprightly creatures, and leap from tree to tree which is really entertaining, if a little difficult to photograph. After your Golden Monkey Track, we will depart for the Uganda/Rwanda Border. After Immigration & Customs we will make our way to Ruhengeri (Musanze) and further onto Kigali. You will arrive in Kigali by evening time and dropped off at the Kigali International Airport for your International Flight. It is recommended to book a flight after 6pm.

January 21- Feb 1 Cost of the Tour - $6975 Tour Inclusions Airport Transfer (Guesthouse Shuttle) in Entebbe on Day of Arrival; Private 4WD Vehicle with Experienced Naturalist Guide throughout the entire Safari; Bottled Mineral Water in Vehicle throughout the entire Safari; Visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary; Private Cruise to the base of the Murchison Falls; Scenic Hike to Top of Murchison Falls; 2 Chimp Tracking Permit Per Person for Kibale Forest; Scheduled Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park; Visit to Ishasha Community Uplift Project; 2 Gorilla Tracking Permits for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (Rushaga); Motorised Boat Trip on Lake Mutanda; Golden Monkey Tracking Permit Per Person for Mgahinga Gorilla National Park; Accommodation & Meals mentioned in itinerary; Entrance Fees for National Parks; *** There is a possibility that Uganda may raise the price of the gorilla permits in 2020. If they do there will be an additional cost to cover the permit. Tour exclusions International Flights (Flights arrive in Entebbe/Depart Kibale Visa Fees for Uganda/Rwanda, Drinks (unless stated), Telephone Costs & Laundry (unless stated) Items of personal Nature Local Gratuities & Tips, Travel & Personal Insurance East Africa Visa Includes Uganda, Rwanda, & Kenya ($100)