Travel to Uganda and Rwanda in October With the African Wildlife Foundation

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT CRAIG SHOLLEY AT CSHOLLEY@AWF.ORG or 1-888-4WILDLIFE

ITINERARY:

Wednesday, October 15

ALOFT

This evening board your international overnight flight to London. (1 night, meals aloft)

JFK - LHR BA116 11:00PM 11:00AM + 1

Thursday, October 16

ALOFT

On arrival in London you may wish to check into a day room at an airport hotel or head to London for a bit of sightseeing before checking in for your international flight to Entebbe, Uganda. (1 night, meals aloft)

LHR-ENT BA63 7:35PM 5:50AM + 1

Friday, October 17

ENTEBBE, UGANDA

Upon arrival this morning at Entebbe airport, you are met and transferred to the Lake Victoria Hotel. The Lake Victoria is a newly renovated colonial hotel with beautiful gardens and a swimming pool. After lunch, you'll depart on an afternoon excursion to Ngamba Island Chimp Sanctuary. Located offshore in Lake Victoria , the sanctuary is 100 acres of forest where 35 orphaned chimpanzees are given a secure home. You travel by boat from Entebbe and view the chimps from an observation platform. Here, you'll be introduced to some of the critical issues facing great apes throughout Africa. Later this evening during dinner, you are further briefed by AWF Uganda staff on the intricacies of the AWF Virunga Heartland. Lake Victoria Hotel (1 night, L,D)

Saturday, October 18

KIBALE FOREST / UGANDA

Today, you drive to the Kibale Forest. The drive is a full day taking approximately 6-1/2 hours. Leaving the Lake Victoria Basin, you pass through Ugandan villages and beautiful agricultural countryside where you see people tending their traditional crops of millet, sorghum , beans, and maize. Upon reaching Kyanjojo, in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains (Mountains of the Moon), you drive through a sea of green tea plantations and into Kibale Forest, one of the eastern most extensions of West Africa's unique forest habitats. Your destination this evening is Ndali Lodge, situated on a high saddle between two crater lakes. The breathtaking views and cooler climate at Ndali are just two of its best features. The lodge was built by the late Captain Mark Price, a British tea farmer. Today, it is managed as a working farm by his family. The rooms are decorated in local crafts and materials, and feature high ceilings and four-poster beds with mosquito netting. The en suite baths have hot and cold running water and flush toilets. There is no electricity at the lodge, but ample candle and oil lamps are provided in the evening, creating a romantic feel of "old Africa". Ndali Lodge (1 night, B,L,D)

Sunday, October 19

KIBALE FOREST / UGANDA

The Kibale Forest is one of central Africa's most researched and best-known regions; scientists have investigated the flora and fauna of the forest, and ecological relationships are well documented. Of the eleven primate species of Kibale, most have been well studied and are therefore accustomed to human observation. Well-marked trails make the forest easily accessible. Today's explorations include walks into the rainforest in search of primates. Commonly seen species include Red-tailed Monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, and both Red Colobus and Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys. As you walk the trails, it is important to remain alert, listening for the distinctive pant-grunts that signal the presence of chimpanzees. Chimps are abundant here, and there is a high likelihood of observing them as they make their nomadic treks along forest trails and forage for fruit in the canopy above. Your day in the forest is conducted at a leisurely pace. Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill, Great Blue Turaco, Grey Parrot and Narina's Trogon are just a few of the many colorful central African birds you hope to find here. After lunch you'll explore a nearby-forested swamp that is excellent for viewing birds, primates and magnificent butterflies. This evening, you dine and fall asleep to the nocturnal sounds of the African forest. Ndali Lodge (1 night, B,L,D)

Monday, October 20

QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK / UGANDA

After breakfast, you depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive passes through Fort Portal and then south along the eastern length of the Rwenzori Mountains, with opportunities of viewing the glaciated peaks. Descending into the Great Rift Valley, you enter Queen Elizabeth National Park and arrive at Mweya Lodge, situated on a peninsula overlooking Lake Edward and the Kasinga Channel. This location offers beautiful views of the park with the Rwenzori Mountains in the background. Mweya has been recently renovated to a high standard with excellent rooms, en suite facilities, restaurant, bar area, outside dining and a swimming pool. The drive today takes about 3 1/2 hours. Mweya Lodge (1 night, B,L,D)

Tuesday, October 21

QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK / UGANDA

Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park include a launch trip of about two hours on the Kasinga Channel to view one of the largest concentrations of Nile hippopotamus in the world. In addition to these giant semi-aquatic mammals, the launch affords unique opportunities to view a host of other mammals and birds as they come to the water's edge to drink or bathe. Birding from the launch is excellent as QENP is one of best birding parks in Africa, with 560 + recorded species and a record of 296 bird species seen in one 24 hour period. After the launch trip, you leave the water to explore the park in overland vehicles. Uganda kob occur in the thousands, and we expect to see Defassa waterbuck, bushbuck, African buffalo, topi, warthog, and herds of elephants. Giant forest hog are fairly common, and lion and leopard are by no means rare. You return to Mweya this evening for dinner and to overnight. Mweya Lodge (1 night, B,L,D)

Wednesday, October 22

QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK / UGANDA

This morning, you depart on an early morning game drive exploring new regions of the park. The scenic beauty of the park is a perfect backdrop for the wildlife drama that unfolds before you. This afternoon, you'll depart on a second launch trip on the Kasinga Channel floating quietly as the sun sets in the western sky. Mweya Lodge (1 night, B,L,D)

Thursday, October 23

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE / UGANDA

This morning, you depart for the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. En route, you'll stop at the Maramagambo Forest. On foot, you'll visit bat caves where one can see thousands of fruit bats and potential bat predators like reticulated pythons and monitor lizards. Afterwards, you'll wind up, down and over high-forested hills and through deep-farmed valleys. The drive is reminiscent of traveling through central Europe - the reason why this area of Uganda is often described as "Little Switzerland." The drive is only about sixty-three miles, but it may take seven hours because of the region's beauty and frequent stops along the way. Your destination and accommodation for the next two nights is the Gorilla Forest Camp. This permanent tented camp is located on the immediate edge of the Bwindi Forest. During your stay here, you'll be joined by AWF and International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP) staff who will fully brief you on the history of mountain gorilla conservation in this region, and discuss issues which continue to affect the fate of this critically endangered primate. Gorilla Forest Camp (1 night, B,L,D)

Friday, October 24

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST

The opportunity for gorilla trekking is the highlight of this safari. During your day here, you'll have the opportunity to enter the gorilla's domain. Your day spent gorilla trekking begins with an early breakfast before walking to the national park boundary to begin a hike into the forest. Well-trained guides lead you to the site where the gorillas were encountered the day before. They then track them to their current location. The gorillas, whose continuous search for food requires a nomadic lifestyle, determine the duration of the hike. The trek can take between one and six hours, sometimes more, at elevations in excess of 7,500 feet and over rough terrain. Although the hike can be physically demanding, the anticipation of the exciting experience ahead is invigorating, and the beauty of the forest and its inhabitants are fascinating. When the gorillas are encountered, any fatigue is quickly forgotten. Observing a wild gorilla family in its natural habitat and on its terms is considered by many naturalists to be the most profound natural history experience in the world. Few who have had this rare privilege would disagree. It is important to recognize that these gorillas have only recently been habituated to tourist visits; their curiosity is obvious, but they have only begun to grow accustomed to humans. Each strictly regulated 60-minute visit passes all too quickly, and you depart leaving the gorillas to their fragile existence. After time with the gorillas and a picnic lunch in the forest, you return to camp with unforgettable memories of a rare and wondrous experience. If the gorilla groups are relatively close, you'll also have the chance to hike nearby forest trails to obtain a better understanding of the forest and its other inhabitants. These hikes provide the opportunity to observe smaller primate species and regional, endemic birds. You return this afternoon to Gorilla Forest Camp to overnight.

Saturday, October 25

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE / UGANDA - VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK / RWANDA

Today the drive is on murram roads to Kisoro, passing through more picturesque Swiss-like countryside. Upon reaching the point where the road decends into the Kisoro valley, views of the Virunga Mountains ahead are breathtaking. Again, the drive requires many stops to view and photograph. From Kisoro, it is a short drive to the Uganda/Rwanda border post at Cyanika, where you enter Rwanda and proceed on an asphalt road to Ruhengeri. Views of the Virunga Volcanoes continue as the road passes from the north to the south side of these scenic mountains. From Ruhengeri, a 30 minute drive takes you to Volcano National Park headquarters located at Kinigi near the base of Mount Sabinyo. Your accommodation, Gorilla Nest Lodge, will be newly opened. The Lodge offers comfortable rooms with en suite bathrooms, hot and cold water and a friendly atmosphere. The dining and bar area is open sided with a fire on cool evenings. All rooms and the dining area have views of the volcanoes or overlook the beautiful valley and the hills beyond. This evening, there will again be opportunities to meet with Rwandan AWF/IGCP staff to further discuss the trans-frontier conservation program that protects the last remaining populations of mountain gorillas. Gorilla Nest Lodge (1 night, B,L,D)

Sunday, October 26 & Monday, October 27

VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK / RWANDA

In Rwanda, you'll have the opportunity to trek gorillas twice. Rising early each morning, you'll proceed to nearby park headquarters to begin your gorilla trek. The protocol here is similar to that which you experienced in Uganda; however, your surroundings are very different. Gorillas here live on the slopes of ancient volcanoes. These higher elevation forests are quite different than those which you observed in Bwindi. Dense bamboo thickets give way to a combination of large meadows and dense herbaceous vegetational zones highlighted by moss-laden hagenia and hypericum trees. Each day you hike through a fairyland-like forest. Your hike culminates with opportunities to share time with some of the world's most threatened gentle giants. You return each afternoon to Gorilla Nest Lodge with chances to explore the community of Kinigi and the culture of Rwanda. Gorilla Nest Lodge (2 nights, B,L,D)

Tuesday, October 28

ENTEBBE, UGANDA

This morning, you depart for Kigali, Rwanda's capital. From Ruhengeri, the drive is on asphalt road and takes about 2 hours. A city tour, driving and on foot, is enjoyed. Kigali is an excellent place to purchase souvenirs. Masks, statues and lovely woven baskets are on display by street vendors. Later, a one hour drive takes you to the Nyamata Genocide Memorial. This trip is not for the faint hearted, but is a part of Rwanda's recent history. The site memorializes the hundreds of thousands of people who died during one of humankind's darkest hours. You return to Kigali airport to connect with a scheduled flight back to Entebbe.

KIGALI-ENTEBBE RWANDAIR EXPRESS 7:00PM 7:00PM (LOCAL TIMES)

In Entebbe, you transfer to the Lake Victoria Hotel for a farewell dinner and overnight. With luck, you'll again be joined by AWF Uganda staff who will be available to assist in digesting the magnitude of the complex and inter-related human, wildlife and conservation experience you've just completed. Lake Victoria Hotel (1 night, B,L,D)

Wednesday, October 29

ALOFT

This morning, you transfer to the Entebbe airport for your international flight to London. (1 night aloft, B, meals aloft)

ENT-LHR BA 62 10:25AM 4:40PM

Thursday, October 30

ALOFT

On arrival in London, you connect with your flight to New York, arriving the same day.

LHR-JFK BA113 5:30PM 8:15PM

SAFARI COSTING:

Land Arrangements:

Per person, double occupancy

Single supplement

Note: A minimum of six guests are required in order to operate this itinerary.

Land and International Air Package:

Per person, double occupancy

Note: Airfare costs are subject to change until confirmed. Airport taxes are not included.

Included in the cost of your land arrangements:

All hotels, camps and lodges as indicated in the itinerary

All meals as indicated in the itinerary, shown as (B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch and (D) Dinner

All game viewing activities, guide fees and park fees as indicated in the itinerary

All safari transportation and transfers as indicated in the itinerary

All Domestic African Airfare

All gorilla permits

Water and Soft Drinks

Flying Doctors Medical Air Evacuation

Tips and gratuities (except for CAS driver guides)

Not Included in the cost of your land arrangements:

International Airfare

Personal expenses such as curios; excess baggage fees; travel and personal insurance; phone calls; telexes; faxes; gratuities; costs of obtaining passport, visas (only a multiple for Uganda) or other travel documents; airport departure taxes; inoculation fees; drinks; laundry.

Additional benefits to you which are included in the safari costs:

A complete Bushtracks ticketing and travel service, as well as accurate information and local advice available at any time from Bushtracks African Expeditions' California office on 800-995-8689

Bushtracks Safari Planner

Luggage tags

Strong ground support throughout your itinerary in case of emergency

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT CRAIG SHOLLEY AT CSHOLLEY@AWF.ORG or 1-888-4WILDLIFE