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crystal safaris ltd, KAMPALA, Uganda	Tour Operators in Uganda

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8 DAYS PRIMATES AND WILDLIFE SAFARI

Overview:

This days Uganda Adventure Safari starts and ends in Entebbe International Airport. Meet eye to eye with the amazing gorillas and chimpanzees of Uganda in their natural habitat, one of Africa's major highlights. This close encounter with these amazing apes is simply breathtaking. Also get a close encounter with other diverse African wildlife, beautiful landscapes, and amazing culture and if you are a keen Birder, this is the place to be.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival early morning and check in at Boma Guest house which is a few minutes from the airport. After breakfast transfer Kibale National Park

Day 2: Morning Chimpanzee Tracking and Afternoon Bigodi Swamp Walk

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth Park

Day 4: Morning game drive or Baloon Safari and afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Chanel

Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Afternoon visit the batwa

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking

Day 7: Early morning transfer to Kisoro Airstrip to catch flight to Entebbe, have s city tour, day room at Boma Guest house and later transfer to Airport.

Detailed Itinerary:

DAY 1: ENTEBBE – KIBALE NATIONAL PARK (358 KMS) (DRIVE TIME: APPROX. 5-6 HOURS)

Arrival early morning with Turkish Airlines and transfer to Protea Hotel just a few Minutes from the airport. After your morning breakfast, begin your journey to Kibale Forest National Park. Drive to Fort Portal through verdant countryside passing through traditional homesteads, farms and Tea Estates. You will arrive at you lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon you may relax at the lodge or explore the crater lakes region.

Accommodation: Crater Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 2: CHIMP TRACKING IN KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast at your lodge, transfer to the starting point of your Chimpanzee tracking experience in Kibale Forest National Park which is reputed to have the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. The most famous of its 13 species is the Chimpanzee, man’s closest relative. Kibale’s 1450 Chimpanzee represent Uganda’s largest population of this endangered primate. Kibale is also a home to the rare I’Hoest’s monkey. Other primates include the black and white Colobus, Blue monkey, Grey cheeked mangabey, Red tailed monkey, Olive baboon to mention but a few. So you will enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the wild chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and many others. Although chimp sightings are not guaranteed, visitors stand a good chance of hearing and seeing our distant cousins as they gloom and bond with one another.

Alternatively you may opt to do chimpanzee habituation experience by paying a supplement of $70, this exercise takes the whole entire day. Only 6 people are allowed per day and you will be sure to come face to face with these closest cousins of man. Advance booking is necessary for this option.

After lunch, head to Bigodi for an afternoon swamp walk. Bigodi was established by a local development organization to protect the 4sq-km Magombe Swamp that's home to around 200 species of birds (highlights include papyrus gonolek, white-winged warbler and great blue turaco). The highlight of this tour is catching a glimpse of the great blue turaco. The swamp is also good for spotting butterflies and primates, with 8 different species here, including grey-cheeked mangabey. The 2-3 hour guided walk is led by experienced local guides who interact with the guests and make the trip both enjoyable and exciting.

Accommodation: Crater Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 3: KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK - QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONALPARK (157 KMS APPROX DRIVE TIME: 2 HOURS

After breakfast at your lodge before you proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain Range. Your expert driver guide will take you through the game park where you might spot some animals.

Accommodation: Mweya Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 4: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK – GAME DRIVE AND BOAT SAFARI

Queen Elizabeth National Park’s diverse eco-system of grassy plains, tropical forest, rivers, swamps, lakes and volcanic craters is home to an incredible abundance of wildlife. Have an early morning game drive where you have an opportunity to view the massive Rwenzori as backdrop, which provides excellent opportunities to spot lion, leopard, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo, elephant, defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kob, topi and bushbuck.

Alternatively you may opt to go for a balloon safari on payment of a supplement of $380. Arise early in the morning and proceed to the starting point of your balloon safari at the Kasenyi gate of Queen Elizabeth NP at 5:30am. This early drive in the dark is a chance to see nocturnal animals that live in and around the park. You will meet your pilot and be given a safety briefing and instructions for boarding the balloon as well as landing procedures.

The flight gives you great photo opportunities that are different from an ordinary safari on the ground. As you gently drift over the park, you can watch the sun rise as savannah below come to life with birds and animals. After landing, celebrate the flight with a glass of sparkling wine. After the toast, passengers sit down to a delectable bush breakfast prepared by Mweya Safari Lodge. The bush breakfast makes for a memorable ending to your ballooning adventure in Queen Elizabeth NP.

Enjoy a hot lunch and later in the afternoon take a unique 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel into Lake Edward. This trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos and this launch/cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous, with well over 550 resident species.

Accommodation: Mweya Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 5: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK - BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONALPARK (150KMS)

After your breakfast, pack-up your bags and take a morning game drive through the Ishasha plains for your final visit with the lions and other wildlife before heading out of the Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Bwindi. The drive takes you through the Switzerland of Africa area known as the Kigezi Highlands with its terraced hillside and winding roads to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, arriving in the evening. Check into the lodge for dinner and your overnight stay.

Accommodation: Gorilla Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 6: GORILLA TRACKING IN BWINDI FOREST

After an early breakfast depart to the starting point for briefing about your gorilla trekking adventure after which you will be led by experienced gorilla trackers on the slopes of the volcanoes. You will start from the site where the gorillas were encountered the day before and from here the gorilla tracking begins. Although the hike can be physically demanding, the anticipation of the exciting experience ahead is amazing, and the beauty of the gorilla forest and its inhabitants are fascinating. One of Africa’s major highlights is when you encounter these gentle apes. It is a humbling experience to stand just meters from man’s distant cousins as they eat rest, play and bond with their young ones. Follow the mountain gorillas as they range freely in the impenetrable forest, and discover their gorgeous natural habitual and the many species they share it with. You are allowed an hour with the gorillas before finally sloping down back to your lodge. If your trek was relatively short, you may have a guided nature walk around the lodge and the surrounding communities in the evening. Return to the lodge where you will enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers before getting a good night’s rest for tomorrow's safari adventure.

Don’t forget to carry your rain gear, packed lunch, plenty of water, gloves, hat, and water proof bag for protection of your camera in case of rain

Accommodation: Gorilla Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 8: DEPARTURE

After Early morning breakfast transfer to Kisoro Airstrip to catch your flight to Entebbe at 8.25. Check in at Boma Guest House in Entebbe and later in the afternoon go for a city tour in Kampala. Depending on your flight time transfer to the airport.

END OF SERVICE

TOUR COST:

$3567 per person sharing inclusive of gorilla permit (if the trip is in April, May and November, you get a discount of $200 per person)

$180 Single room supplement

Tour leader pays for Gorilla permit and flight only $900

INCLUSIVE:

All ground transportation in A 4x4 safari vehicle with all fuel

Full time driver/guide with all his associated expenses

Full board accommodation as per above itinerary a part from Protea Hotel where it is Bed and breakfast only.

All Park Entrance Fees

1 Chimpanzee permit per person

Bigodi Swamp Walk

Boat cruise

Game drive

1 Gorilla permit per person

one way flight from kisoro to Entebbe

Any other items included in the above itinerary

EXCLUSIVE:

International Air tickets

Visas

Personal insurance

Personal expenses such as drinks, tips, telephone calls, etc

Any other items which are not included in the above itinerary