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Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari Holidays and Primate Tours Chimpanzees

Murchison Falls Safari Vacation, Uganda + Gorillas + Tree Climbing Lions

Uganda Flying Safari: Murchison Falls + Chimps + Gorillas
Murchison Falls Safari Vacation Uganda Gorillas Tree Climbing Lions
14 NIGHTS FROM:
$7,062
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
UPC14E
• Murchison Falls, Safari Vacation
• Boat Ride on River Nile
• Chimps, Kibale Forest
• Queen Elizabeth Park
• Kazinga Channel Boat Ride
• Tree Climbing Lions
• Ishasha Plains
• Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
• Vacation, Uganda Gorillas
• Flying Safari Vacation Uganda

Fly to beautiful Murchisson Falls National Park, the country's premier wildlife reserve, on this flying safari vacation to Uganda. Trek to see endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Rainforest, tracking chimps in Kibale & search for tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth Park. All light aircraft flights, transfers, gorilla permits & game viewing included. Min age 15 yrs.

Day 1
You will be met at Entebbe Airport and transferred to your hotel.
 
Check in and relax in your warm East African surroundings.
Day 2
Transfer to Entebbe Airport for your light aircraft flight to Murchison Falls National Park.
 
You will be met at the airstrip and transferred to your game lodge. This wildlife-rich game sanctuary is situated on the banks of the River Nile, downstream from the famous waterfall after which it was named. This verdant reserve was favoured by Winston Churchill, who called Uganda the "Pearl of Africa". It is a relatively undiscovered gem and the premier game reserve in the country. It is one of the best wildlife conservation areas in the whole of Africa.
 
Note: As you will be flying in a light aircraft you must pack soft sports bags only, as rigid suitcases will not fit into the luggage pods. A baggage allowance of 15 kg (which includes your hand luggage) is strictly enforced for safety reasons. Excess baggage can be stored with our local representative in Entebbe.
Day 3
This morning enjoy a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park, a magnificent 3,893 square mile sanctuary that offers easy game viewing on its open plains.
 
This game reserve is famous for its huge herds of Ugandan kob (an antelope similar to the impala) as well as its buffalo, elephant, giraffe, baboon and monkeys. You may also see warthog, Jackson's hartebeest and hopefully lion.
 
In the afternoon enjoy a boat ride along the Nile River to the thundering Murchison Falls. Along the way you should see large pods of hippo, some crocodiles and abundant water birds - including pied kingfishers diving into the water. You may even be fortunate and see a Shoebill stork in the dense papyrus in search of frogs. When you reach the bottom of the Murchison Falls, you can leave the boat and hike up to the top of the waterfall, where you will be rewarded with amazing views.
 
Note: The national park opens at 6.30 am and closes at 7 pm. Vehicles are not allowed to drive off-road in any national park in Uganda.
Day 4
Today is devoted to exploring more of the wildlife of Murchison Falls National Park, with morning and afternoon game drives.
 
In addition to the abundant plains game, you should have excellent sightings of elephant and buffalo. Lions are also plentiful, but harder to spot due to their excellent camouflage. If you are fortunate, you may see hyena and leopard.
 
Uganda is also a birder's paradise, with numerous species including the shoebill stork, goliath heron, woodland kingfisher, African fish eagle, African darter, Abyssinian ground hornbill, red-throated bee eater and the impressive crested crane - the national bird of Uganda.
 
Note: The national park opens at 6.30 am and closes at 7 pm. Vehicles are not allowed to drive off-road in any national park in Uganda.
Day 5
Today enjoy some final early morning game viewing in Murchison Falls National Park.
 
Afterwards transfer to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Entebbe, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel conveniently situated near the airport.
Day 6
Transfer to Entebbe Airport for your light aircraft flight to Kasese, where you will be met and transferred 1-hour to the picturesque Crater Lakes region.
 
This is the gateway to Kibale National Park, a protected tropical rainforest that has the highest concentration and variety of primates in all of East Africa. The park is home to the bushpig, duiker, otter, leopard and large herds of elephants that migrate between Kibale and Queen Elizabeth National Park. The bird life is also outstanding.
 
We drive through tea plantations to your lodge and relax in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains (the 'Mountains of the Moon').
 
Note: As you will be flying in a light aircraft you must pack soft sports bags only, as rigid suitcases will not fit into the luggage pods. A baggage allowance of 15 kg (which includes your hand luggage) is strictly enforced for safety reasons. Excess baggage can be stored with our local representative in Entebbe.
Day 7
This morning enjoy the amazing experience of Chimp Tracking, as you walk through the Kibale Rainforest with a guide, searching in the high rainforest canopy for these intelligent primates that are our closest relatives.
 
Kibale is home to 14 different primate species including the chimpanzee, black-and-white colobus, red colobus, red tailed monkey, blue monkey, olive baboon, grey-cheeked mangabey, bush baby, vervet and L’ Hoest’s monkey. Tracking a noisy chimp family is a thrilling experience and is best in the morning, when they come down to the forest floor to forage. The chimps are very mobile, so viewing can be quite unpredictable, but the walk itself is enchanting.
 
The birdlife is also outstanding, although the dense forest canopy does mean patience is needed. You can hope to see the huge crowned eagle, the black-and-white flycatcher, African grey parrot, black-necked and yellow-mantled weavers, the beautiful blue turaco and maybe the secretive black bee-eater.
 
In the afternoon enjoy a 2.5-hour guided nature walk in the Bigodi Wetlands sanctuary, a local community initiative that is home to 8 different primate species, including black-and-white colobus and red colobus, over 200 bird species and numerous other small mammals and reptiles.
 
Note: Chimp tracking is limited to small groups of up to 8 people, with a minimum age of 12 years. Please note the chimpanzees move a lot - sometimes far into the dense forest - so wear good walking shoes and expect to walk a lot today (up to 3 hours). Don’t forget your binoculars, as if the chimps don't come down from the trees you will need these.
Day 8
This morning we travel 3.5-hours through the scenic Crater Lakes region to our next lodge - stopping for a photo opportunity as we cross the equator.
 
On arrival we check in to our lodge and enjoy the surrounding scenery.
Day 9
At leisure to relax at your lodge or explore more of the Crater Lakes region with your guide.
Day 10
After a morning at leisure in the Crater Lakes region, we drive 3.5-hours towards Kihihi.
 
On arrival relax and enjoy the surrounding scenery.
Day 11
Today we travel 4-hours to our lodge situated near the entrance to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - home to over 50% of the world's population of critically endangered mountain gorillas, and also a sanctuary for colobus monkeys and chimpanzees.
 
This dense equatorial jungle is accessible only on foot and features one of the richest ecosystems in Africa, including 120 species of mammals, 350 bird species including hornbills and turacos, 220 butterfly species, 27 frog species as well as chameleons, geckos and many other endangered species. It also boasts over 1,000 different flowering plants, ferns & trees.
 
Check into your lodge and enjoy the beautiful scenery of your remote forest surroundings.
Day 12
This morning we enter Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park - home to half the world's population of critically endangered mountain gorillas, and also a sanctuary for colobus monkeys and chimpanzees.
 
This dense equatorial rainforest is accessible only on foot and features one of the richest ecosystems in Africa, including 120 species of mammals, 350 bird species including hornbills and turacos, 220 butterfly species, 27 frog species as well as chameleons, geckos and many other endangered species. It also boasts over 1,000 different floral species.
 
After walking (or driving up to 1.5-hours) to your specified gate, rangers will allocate you to a small group of up to 8 people - with each gorilla family graded as a short, medium or long hike, based on their location the previous day. We recommend you ask your guide to request the appropriate category for you, although this cannot be guaranteed as the gorillas may have moved significantly overnight.
 
After a briefing, you will then track a family of endangered Mountain Gorillas, accompanied by two rangers - one at the front and one at the back. The group will walk at the speed of the slowest member, so it is important to proceed at your own pace and enjoy the experience. We strongly recommend hiring a local porter at a cost of around $15 per person, as not only is this an important source of local employment, but they will carry your backpacks and give you a hand up (or a push) where necessary. Expect to walk 1 to 4-hours each way in steep, sometimes muddy and dense tropical jungle conditions to view a family of these enormous primates and observe their behaviour up close - a rare privilege indeed.
 
Note: You must take a copy of your passport with you today, as this will be required to trek. You must be over the age of 15 years to track gorillas and be sufficiently fit to walk for the period indicated. Ensure you arrange a packed lunch with your lodge and carry sufficient water in your backpack (at least 2 litres). You should wear long trousers, long sleeved top, long socks (tucked into your trousers to keep out biting ants), proper walking boots and gardening gloves to protect your hands from nettles and undergrowth. Start off wearing a light fleece, as it is cold in the forest in the morning and pack proper rain gear, including a rain jacket and waterproof trousers, as it can rain at any time. A walking stick to help with the steep ascents will be provided if you don’t have your own.
 
You cannot be sick or have any infectious disease and no eating or drinking is permitted in the vicinity of the gorillas. Only one hour is allowed with the gorillas and you have to keep a distance of at least 7 metres. No flash photography is allowed and no touching the gorillas (although they may decide to touch you)!
Day 13
At leisure to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
 
It is possible to participate in another optional gorilla trek today, but this must be booked in advance as gorilla permits are strictly limited.
 
Other optional activities include a Community Village Walk where you can learn more about the local inhabitants, as well as meet the forest-dwelling Batwa pygmies. You can also enjoy a guided walk to a waterfall in the rainforest, where you can see endemic birds, butterflies and plants.
Day 14
Transfer 1-hour to Kihihi airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Entebbe Airport.
 
Here you will be met and transferred to your hotel conveniently situated near Entebbe Airport.
Day 15
Transfer to Entebbe Airport for your flight home.