Murchison Falls/ Kibale Forest/ Queen Elizabeth/ Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

11 Days Murchison Falls/ Kibale Forest/ Queen Elizabeth/ Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

On this exciting budget accomodation option, we shall visit and enjoy some of Uganda’s gems. These include Jinja – the source of the majestic Nile, the towering Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest with its abundance of primate species, and Queen Elizabeth National Park with its resident bird population of over 500 species, the highest density of hippos and diverse ecosystems. Bwindi offers the chance of spending time with the ‘gentle giants’ of Africa – the Mountain Gorilla’s.

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Day 1: Saturday

Meet and greet at Entebbe International Airport. Transfer to Kampala and check into Tourist Hotel (Budget). Dinner at your discretion.

Day 2: Sunday

After breakfast transfer to Jinja. Jinja was previously the industrial capital of Uganda. It is best known for the source of the River Nile at the now submerged Rippon Falls. Owen Falls Dam, located just downstream from the source of the Nile, provides power for Uganda and parts of Kenya. The Nile starts its 4000-mile journey to the Mediterranean from Lake Victoria. Join us to see the source of the Nile and the surrounding environs.

Depart from Kampala, heading east to Jinja passing coffee, tea and sugar plantations and colourful roadside fruit/vegetable markets. First stop is at Mabira Forest to see primates, birds and butterflies and on to the Owen Falls Dam and the submerged source of the Nile. Lunch at the Black Lantern or Nile Rivers Explorers Camp for you to enjoy a variety of sumptuous dishes on offer. This is the place to be! Spend the afternoon relaxing at Bujagali Falls where several rapids are situated close together. Return to Kampala, arriving early evening. Return to Kampala and overnight at Tourist Hotel with dinner at your discretion.

Day 3: Monday

Begin the panoramic drive north-west through the famous Luwero Triangle and Masindi Town to Murchison Falls National Park arriving in time for a picnic lunch at the spectacularly situated site at the top of the Falls where you can see the Nile's beauty perfected! ! Marvel at the Nile, compressing from up to 1 km squeeze through a 7 metre canyon dropping 150 metres with a thunderous roar creating a beautiful rainbow, a plume of spray and the best thing that happened to the Nile..."the Murchison Falls". Enjoy the sunset as you return to the lodge. Enjoy the comfort of the Red Chilli Camp.

Day 5: Tuesday

Cross the placid Victoria Nile to the northern Bank. Your guide will help you spot Elephant, Lion, Cape buffalo, Rothschild's giraffe, hartebeest, Waterbuck, Oribi, Bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, hyena and if you are lucky, the leopard. After a packed lunch picnic, go for a boat safari upstream the calm Victoria Nile to the base of the falls stopping just tens of metres from the "Devil's Cauldron". En-route, marvel at the toothsome hippos, crocodiles and over this 17 km stretch you may see elephant, waterbuck and Uganda Kob. This is also a zone of many bird species like Goliath heron, Egyptian goose, pelican bee-eater, kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant and the rare shoebill stork. Over night at the Red Chilli Camp.

Day 5: Wednesday

All day drive south via Hoima to Fort Portal through verdant countryside and past traditional homesteads and farms. Fort-Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled Mountains of the Moon. Dinner and overnight at Kibale Bandas.

Day 6: Thursday

Full day search of chimpanzee and 10 other primate including phoestes, red colobus, blues, red tailed and grey cheeked mangabey. The guide will provide detailed explanations, not only on primates, but also on all the forest fauna and flora and will ensure that your walk is both informative and enjoyable. This walk is excellent for viewing bird life and seeing primates at close quarters. Dinner and overnight at Kibale Bandas.

Day 7: Friday

Proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park following the mystical Ruwenzori Mt. Range. A game drive en route to view lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, hyena and a variety of antelope species. Enjoy the unique 2 hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel into lake Edward. This trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colourful and stupendous with well over 550 resident species. Dinner and overnight at the Community Bandas.

Day 8: Saturday

Two game drives today. 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. Game drives in this park, with the massive Rwenzoris as a backdrop provides excellent opportunities to see lion, leopard, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo, elephants, defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kob, Topi and bush buck. These two game drives and the boat trip (taken prior) are a memorable method of discovering a vast array of wildlife.

Day 9: Sunday

Early morning departure to Maramagambo Forest, visitors can climb through tropical forest and catch a glimpse of a variety of primates, including chimpanzee. Visit the Bat Caves and the “Blue Lake”. Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest located in south western Uganda on the edge of the western rift valley covering 331 sq kms. It is one of the largest natural forests in East Africa, supporting a large number of plants and animals not found elsewhere. About half the world's population of 700 mountain gorillas reside in Bwindi.

The vegetation, as the park's name implies, is composed of tropical rainforest with dense undergrowth. This rugged terrain makes hiking in search of gorilla strenuous work. Visitors who trek should be prepared for up to 8 hours of hiking. Good physical condition is required. A maximum of only 24 permits per day are available for advance booking, so confirmation 2-12 months in advance is required to avoid disappointment.

Along with the gorillas, there are nine other species of primates including chimpanzee, blue monkey, redtail monkey, L'hoest's monkey, black and white colobus, potto, Demidoff's and needle-clawed galago. Three hundred forty-seven species of birds have been recorded in Bwindi; seven species are listed as endangered. Species of particular interest include the Kivu ground thrush, white-bellied robin chat, red-throated alethe, collared apallis, short-tailed warbler, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Rwenzori batis, blue-headed sunbird, strange weaver and the Shelley's crimsonwing. Over 200 species of butterflies have also been recorded here. Check into Buhoma Community Bandas.

Day 10: Monday
After an early breakfast and a briefing by a ranger guide, enter the gorilla sanctuary for your adventure. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular. The area offers dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, but criss-crossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle and endangered giants is an awesome, exciting experience to be long savoured. Many find it to be a rare and moving opportunity.

Day 11: Tuesday
Sadly return to

N.B: PRICE DEPENDENT ON NUMBER OF PERSONS (MINIMUM 2 PAX)

Kampala with great memories and moments spent with the fascinating Mountain Gorillas. You will have a stopover in Mbarara for lunch. Drop-off at your hotel. END OF SERVICES.

Price: Please Enquire
Local Payment: Please Enquire

RESERVATIONS:
Payment for the total price is due in advance; 50% deposit on booking and the balance not later than 42 days before arrival. Unless otherwise agreed in advance, the right is reserved not to execute any services if payment has not been received accordingly.

CANCELLATION FEES:
This will depend on when we receive the cancellation notice (in writing); earlier than 42 days to arrival 25% between 41 and 22 days prior to arrival - 35% between 21 and 8 days prior to arrival - 50% between 7 and 3 days prior to arrival - 75%; less than 72 hours prior to arrival (and no-show-up) - 100% of PRICE

LIABILITIES:
Gametrackers and its agents, act only as the agent of the passenger in all matters relating to accommodation, meals, tours and transportation of any type, and shall not be liable for inconvenience, omission for service, injury, delay, loss or damage from any cause and in any matter howsoever, including weather, machinery breakdown labour disputes, civil disturbances and Government orders. Gametrackers is insured against legal liabilities arising from injuries which may be incurred by passengers in its own vehicles, in which case all claims are subject only to the jurisdiction of the Courts of Kenya. Gametrackers reserves the right to employ sub-contractors to carry out all or any part of the services agreed to be supplied and in the exercise of such right, the clause relating to liability as an agent shall apply. Gametrackers reserves the right to employ sub-contracts to carry out all or any part of the services agreed to be supplied, and in the exercise of such right, the clause relating to liability as an agent shall apply. Gametrackers reserves the right, should conditions necessitate and without notice, to change any route or arrangement, to offer substitutes of equal value, to cancel the operation of any tour, to refuse to accept or retain any person as a tour member at any time, in which case an equitable amount may be refunded.

INSURANCE:
Clients are required to take out adequate personal insurance to cover death, injury, medical expenses, damage to or loss of baggage and consequential loss arising from any eventuality. It is mandatory that each client obtains adequate personal travel insurance to cover such personal risks as illness, personal injury or death, loss of baggage and compensation or refund for discontinuation of safari due to circumstances beyond the control of the Company, though not limited to force majeure circumstances only, during the period of their safari otherwise the Company does not accept liability. Flying Doctors Service cover is also mandatory for rapid evacuation from the scene of an accident or emergency to a hospital otherwise the client is responsible for his evacuation by air or otherwise.

N.B.
1. We do International/Domestic air-ticketing and train bookings.
2. Reconfirmation of flights
3. Aircraft Charters
4. We book balloon safaris [US$385 per person].