Deeper Uganda DAY BY DAY ITINERARY gorilla and chimpanzee safaris 888.658.7102 info@deeperafrica.com www.deeperafrica.com Heather Cunningham OVERVIEW: DEEPER UGANDA For those who wish to experience the wondrous discovery of gorilla trekking in the mountains of Uganda, enjoy plenty of quality time with the cheeky chimps of Kibale Forest, and experience traditional safari wildlife viewing in Uganda s most beautiful natural parks Deeper Uganda is the safari that does it all and more. Start your journey along the Nile River in the majestic Murchison Falls National Park before spending a full day immersed with chimpanzees under the watchful eye of a habituation researcher in Kibale National Forest. Explore the stunning beauty of Queen Elizabeth National Park s crater lakes and spot tree-climbing lions. Complete your journey in the misty hills of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest where you will observe the complex behavior of gorilla families. While on safari you ll engage with Ugandan communities and learn about how organizations like the Bigodi Project and Bwindi Hospitale are making an impact. Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safaris with Deeper Africa Gorilla and chimpanzee safaris are for those who understand that interacting with local communities is not just about interacting with other humans. Stand within feet of mountain gorillas and be accepted into their community without a sideways glance. Trek with confidence, knowing you ll have success watching these gentle creatures. With chimpanzees, you ll hear the rustle of leaves and breaking of branches. You may even hear loud hooting calls bouncing through the trees as the chimps call out to family members. It starts with these sounds and then suddenly you are among them.
DAY 1 KARIBU GUEST HOUSE ENTEBBE Karibu Guest House Arrive at Entebbe Airport. A Deeper Africa guide will be waiting for you once you clear customs. Look for them holding a sign with your name on it. They will welcome you to Uganda and transfer you to Karibu Guest House just minutes away from the airport. The Karibu Guest House is a former presidential home situated on the leafy hillside of Entebbe. Due to its tranquil location outside the city, Karibu Guest house has some spectacular bird-life on the premises. Walk through the lush gardens on the lodge grounds to spot 36 species of birds in all sizes and colors. Wifi
DAY 2 BAKER S SAFARI LODGE MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK Your Deeper Africa safari guide will meet up with you in the morning. Get ready to get your adventures in Uganda underway as you drive to Murchison Falls. Murchison Falls is Uganda s largest and oldest national park. The park is an amazing mix of spectacular wildlife, the longest river in the world, and dramatic geological wonders. This remote wilderness is home to the confluence of the Upper Nile River (also known as the Victoria or White Nile) and Lake Albert. From Murchison, the Nile continues north to Khartoum and eventually into Egypt. Here you will find the serenity and peace of the forest, contrasted with the raging waters of the Nile, as they cascade over the Rift Valley escarpment. Baker s Lodge is located on the banks of the Nile with each tented room overlooking the river. The bar and restaurant also overlook the river with beautiful views of the sunset. Relax, put your feet up, and watch the White Nile flowing by your cottage. Baker s Lodge
DAY 3 BAKER S SAFARI LODGE MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK After breakfast at the lodge, board a boat for a three-hour cruise on the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls. Enjoy the view of the roaring waters in this section of the river, known as Devil s Cauldron for it s tumultuous appearance. There will be plenty of wildlife and birds to view on this cruise. The Nile River is the lifeblood of Murchison Falls National Park, sustaining large numbers of hippo, crocodile, and water birds The many different habitats in Murchison provide a home to over 451 recorded bird species. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the elusive Shoebill stork. After the boat trip, you ll drive to the top of Murchison Falls for lunch with time for a walk and photos. You ll have impressive views of the falls at the spot where the Nile is forced through a 23-foot wide gap in the rocks and drops 145 feet over the escarpment. Feel the energy in the air as mist spews forth as the water thunders loudly through the narrow chasm. African Bush Camps Foundation Marasa
DAY 4 BAKER S SAFARI LODGE MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK Matthias Mugisha Morning drive to the Paara Ferry which will take you across the Nile River and into the northern sector of the park. After you disembark, you ll be heading for the Buligi Tracks. These game tracks take you on a journey through open savanna grasslands, woodlands, acacia trees, and riverine vegetation. Most of the wildlife in the park is found in this area north of the Nile and east of Lake Albert. The park is home to 76 species of mammals including four of the Big Five. Here you will find abundant herds of buffaloes and elephants as you drive along in your Land Cruiser. There is a healthy population of lions along with a few wellcamouflaged leopards who like to prey on the Uganda kob. Large herds of Rothschild giraffes can be seen in abundance; this park is one of only two places in Uganda where they are found. Look out for other common species including waterbuck, hartebeest, topi, sitatunga, bushbuck, warthog, bush pig, and hyena.
DAY 5 NDALI LODGE KIBALE NATIONAL PARK at Baker s before beginning your drive to Ndali Lodge near Kibale National Park and the Bunyaruguru Crater Lake region. This is one of the most beautiful parts of Uganda, dotted with ancient volcanic craters that have become serene lakes. The landscape is verdant green and beautiful to behold. In the distance you ll have stunning views of the snowcapped peaks of the Rwenzoris Mountains. Ndali Lodge is set just above Lake Nyinambuga and has sweeping views of the scenery below. Once a colonial tea plantation, the lodge now serves as the perfect gateway to Kibale Forest and it is an advocate for responsible tourism. Ndali provides employment opportunities while funding a local nursery school and school fees for numerous students. There is no traditional electricity at this lodge, so dinners are served in a romantic, candlelit atmosphere. Guest rooms do have lights powered with solar energy. Laundry Ndali Lodge
DAY 6 NDALI LODGE KIBALE NATIONAL PARK Chimps of Uganda Uganda is home to over 5,000 chimpanzees, making it one of the most important countries in Africa for conservation of these captivating creatures. The majority of chimps live within Uganda s National Parks. Kibale Forest is considered the premiere destination to view chimps in East Africa due to the accessibility and habituation by researchers. Bundongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park is the largest Mahogany forest in all of East Africa as well as the home of the largest number of chimps in Uganda. In Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura Gorge is a remote, hidden gem for chimpanzee trekking. Tom Dietrich Rise early to begin your travel into the wilds of Kibale National Park. Kibale has the highest concentration of chimpanzees of any forest in Uganda. You ll be in the forest for the full day, accompanying Kibale s researchers in their habituation activities. While most chimpanzee treks have you spending only an hour with the chimpanzees, on this trek, your experience will be particularly meaningful as you will be spending the full day in their midst. You ll begin the day by trekking to the most recent nesting area the chimps were seen the night before. You ll observe and follow the chimpanzees as they go about their daily activities including feeding and grooming. They definitely don t stay in one place, so be ready to move through the underbrush of the forest to stay with them. Part of the adventure is walking through the brush, taking in the vibrant scenery and sounds of birds, insects, monkeys, and the other inhabitants of the forest. It can take up to an hour to get close to these extremely mobile primates, but once you do, you can stop to watch. The thrill of the connection between human and primate is something you will never forget. Laundry The researchers accompanying your trek will teach you about each of the chimpanzees and how to identify them by their distinct markings. You ll learn who is who and which chimps are in charge. Your researcher knows these primates well, and their familiarity will give you unparalleled access.
DAY 7 NDALI LODGE KIBALE NATIONAL PARK Spend the morning relaxing, with your choice of activities near Ndali Lodge. Options include birdwatching, a walk around Lake Nyinambuga, or a hike to Mahoma Waterfall. You can also tour the nearby organic farm or the fields of tea and vanilla. Ndali is a working farm, and they organically grow much of the fruits and vegetables served at the lodge. For lunch, you ll be driving to the home of John Tinka, a local leader of the Bigodi Community Project. You ll join Tinka for a traditional lunch served in typical Ugandan fashion. Tinka will tell you about his work in the local community, which involves fostering tourism projects that share profits with the local farming people in the area. The fruits of these ecotourism efforts have led to the creation of a local library and a new secondary school. Laundry After lunch, you ll hike around the Bigodi Wetlands with one of the community guides. You ll walk through local crop lands at the edge of the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary. The Sanctuary trails are considered some of the finest birding trails in Uganda. With luck, you will see one of the forest s great blue touraco. The wetlands also support many small primates, including vervets, colubus, and blue monkeys. Nature Uganda
DAY 8 KYAMBURA GAME LODGE QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK Kyambura Game Lodge Depart Ndali for the famous savannas and lakes of Queen Elizabeth National Park home to famous herds of the Ugandan national animal the Ugandan kob. You ll arrive in time for lunch at Kyambura Game Lodge, which sits above the Kyambura Gorge and overlooks Lake Edward in the central area of the park. You ll simultaneously be on top of the equator and at the foot of the snowcapped Rwenzoris the Mountains of the Moon once thought to be the source of the Nile. Queen Elizabeth National Park is split into distinct sectors by water, the most important features being the Kazinga Channel, Lake Edward, and Lake George. Today you will be exploring the savanna and wetlands ecosystems in the northern sector of the park. Populations of Ugandan kob, buffalo, bushbuck, waterbuck, elephant, giant forest hogs and warthog were hit hard by poaching in Uganda, but wildlife populations are rapidly increasing here. Laundry
DAY 9 KYAMBURA GAME LODGE QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK Set your wildlife viewing schedule in Queen Elizabeth National Park with your guide. You ll return for lunch at Kyambura Game Lodge, before spending the afternoon aboard a boat for a trip down the Kazinga Channel. The Kazinga Channel is a 20 mile (32 kms) natural waterway that links Lake Edward and Lake George. On this two hour cruise, you ll have unparalleled viewing of some of the largest concentration of hippo in the world, along with good sightings of waterbuck, buffalo, and other game that come to the water to drink. Laundry Jane Fettig
DAY 10 GORILLA FOREST CAMP BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST Vicky Brown Today you ll travel south into the remote and open Ishasha plains in the southwest of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Famous for tree-climbing lions in fig trees, the Ishasha plains are also home to elephants, Ugandan kob, topi, eland, buffalo, wart hogs, and other savanna wildlife. The Ishasha River runs through this part of the park and it supports a healthy hippo population. Spend the morning wildlife viewing and enjoy a picnic lunch. After lunch, you will continue your drive south and into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Bwindi Forest is a World Heritage Site. This ancient rain forest one of the few in Africa to have flourished throughout the last Ice Age is one of the most biologically diverse in Africa. Bwindi has at least 90 mammal species, including 11 different primates. You ll arrive in the late afternoon at Gorilla Forest Camp. Nestled just outside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, this luxurious camp is one of the most remote in Africa. All around you is a dramatic landscape of volcanoes, jagged valleys, waterfalls, lakes, and a dramatic misty mountain range.
DAY 11 GORILLA FOREST CAMP BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST Start your day with an introductory session at the Bwindi Park headquarters to learn about forest and gorilla trekking etiquette. Ugandan park rangers will be leading you into the rain forest. These rangers work daily with the gorillas in Bwindi. You ll hike to the point where the gorillas were last seen the day before and track from that point. Trekking can range from 1 to 5 hours as you move across the gorilla s home range. The terrain is rough and sometimes muddy, so be sure to prepare. Picnic lunches are provided. Close to half of the world s mountain gorilla populations (approximately 320) reside in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The mountain gorilla s larger size and thicker fur coats distinguish them from their lowland counterparts. Seeing mountain gorillas is considered to be one of the most profound wildlife viewing experiences in the world. You will be able to stop within eight feet of these habituated gorillas, but the gorillas can come even closer if they choose. Notice the way mothers cradle their children, while male silverbacks stand guard for their families. As you come face to face with these primates, you cannot help but see sentience reflected back at you. Gorilla Doctors Gorilla Doctors is a real conservation success story. The organization proves that our presence and your visits can change the future of an endangered species. Gorilla Doctors provides veterinary treatment to gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda), Parc Nationales des Volcans (Rwanda), and Virunga National Park (DR Congo). Vets, rangers, guides, and other wildlife conservationists monitor the health of each gorilla. They intervene in emergency situations, observe daily interactions, and note health problems as they develop. Gorilla Forest Camp
DAY 12 GORILLA FOREST CAMP BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST Jane Fettig Today is open for exploring the Bwindi area as you choose. Options for activities include hiking on the Waterfall Trail, which follows the Munyaga River or a visit to the Bwindi Hospital to learn more about their community programs that benefit this rural region of Uganda. Also available is the Community Village Cultural Walk through the local Buhoma Village. This walk is led by a community guide who will take you through the Buhoma market area and out on the local trails to meet the village banana brewer and a traditional medicinal healer. Along the way, notice the traditional farms and homes. Villagers may come out to greet you. For an even more in-depth cultural experience, Deeper Africa can arrange for you to visit the people of the local Batwa tribe. These people were displaced out of their traditional forest habitat by the Ugandan government in 1991 when Bwindi Forest was declared a World Heritage site.
DAY 13 INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL Sabinyo You ll have time for a morning activity before you leave for the airport. Take your last lunch at Gorilla Forest Camp and then depart for a bush flight back to Entebbe. Enjoy the views below on the way back to civilization. A Deeper Africa driver will pick you up at the bush airport and take you to a good local Entebbe restaurant for dinner. After dinner, you ll head to Entebbe Airport for your international flight. International Flight #1 Departs: Entebbe, Uganda Arrives: TBD DAY 14 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT International Flight #2 Departs: TBD Arrives: TBD
ADDITIONAL SAFARI INFORMATION IN YOUR SAFARI Full board accommodations in all lodges and tented camps All meals All park and entrance fees Experienced and professional safari naturalist guides All in-country transportation Laundry available at some lodges and camps Bottled water available at all times Extensive pre-departure briefing and materials including health information, reading list, and map EXCLUDED IN YOUR SAFARI Gratuities Alcohol and certain beverages in some camps and lodges We plan your wildlife adventures in areas where wildlife habitats are known to exist for the season and time you are traveling. Still, animals in the areas you are viewing are not in a zoo. They run freely, and we cannot always anticipate their movements. Also, Deeper Africa uses best efforts to provide the lodging set out in this itinerary, but occasionally there are circumstances that occur in Africa that require lodging substitutions. We reserve the right to make comparable lodging substitutions whenever necessary. 2017 pricing $8,399 - $11,199 2017 CUSTOM PRICING & DEPARTURE DATES April, May, & November, 2017 6 guests: $8,399 USD per person 4 guests: $8,899 USD per person 2 guests: $9,999 USD per person Single supplement: $1,499 USD Best Value January - March, June - October, December, 2017 6 guests: $8,899 USD per person 4 guests: $9,499 USD per person 2 guests: $11,199 USD per person Single supplement: $1,599 USD All pricing is in US dollars. Arrivals and departures through Entebbe Airport, Uganda. Prices do not include international airfare. All itineraries and prices are subject to change. Gorilla permit prices fluctuate; pricing subject to park fees. 5353 Manhattan Circle, Suite 202 Boulder, Colorado 80303 888.658.7102 303.415.2574 720.565.0512 fx www.deeperafrica.com gorilla and chimpanzee safaris