5-DAY FLY- IN UGANDA GORILLA TRACKING CULTURE SAFARI

Welcome to the Pearl of Africa! Arrival at Entebbe Airport where you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel (5-10 minutes). Overnight at The Boma Guest House (B&B) For upgrade you can stay at Lake Victoria Serena hotel Note: the airport pick- up will be arranged by Eccentric Africa & Adventures.

The Boma Guest House is a welcoming guesthouse situated on the outskirts of Entebbe and only 5 to 10 minutes from Entebbe Airport. It is a tastefully restored colonial homestead consisting of comfortable bedrooms. Each of them is decorated along African themes and has their own private bathroom. A diners’ bar is set in a landscaped garden with lake views. The main house includes a private dining veranda and living room for overnight guests.

Entebbe – Bwindi Forest NP (Fly Ebb to Kihihi Approx. 1h 30 Minutes) After an early breakfast transfer to Entebbe International Airport for a domestic flight to Western Uganda, departing at 07.00 or 07.45 hr. From Kihihi Airstrip (expected arrival at 08.45/09.30 hr) you will be transferred by road in about one hour to the home of the endangered mountain gorillas. Check in at the lodge and enjoy a delicious lunch. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to relax and prepare yourself for the next day.

Choose to visit the Ride 4 a Woman community, a locally founded women’s empowerment initiative, offers you a truly authentic East African cultural experience. Join us and learn to weave baskets, cook local dishes and watch the women of the community showcase their culture through traditional dance — or even better, you can learn to dance with them

Or go for an optional (guided) forest walk for a first introduction with Uganda`s unique flora and fauna. Dinner and overnight at Haven Lodge Buhoma (B-L-D) Note: due to the early departure it is possible to request packed breakfast in advance for upgrade you can stay at Mahogany Springs Lodge

Gorilla tracking: Arise early today and prepare for the highlight of your safari, an unforgettable encounter with the Gentle Giants!

Following breakfast, transfer to the national park offices where you will be allocated a gorilla family in groups of 8 as well as a gorilla tracking guide. After a pre-tracking briefing by your guide touching on the gorillas generally, your assigned gorilla family as well as appropriate safety precautions, you drive to the trailhead for the start of a thrilling adventure. Expect to walk between 2 and 8 hours in steep and sometimes muddy conditions with rain overhead, which can be tough and require a degree of (average) fitness. However the thrill of coming face to face with a giant Mountain Gorilla silverback completely makes up for the effort!

Please remember to bring your passport for registration, appropriate, water proof hiking boots and a light rain coat. To protect from stinging nettles, we recommend long pants and long sleeved tops. A pair of old gardening gloves can help grabbing onto the vegetation while most hotels/lodges provide a walking stick that comes in very handy especially when hiking downhill.

A small waterproof backpack is an excellent idea to carry a light snack, bottled water as well as protection for your camera.
Upon sighting the gorillas, you spend the allowed one hour with them as they go about their daily life; feeding, moving, playing, raising their young and sometimes wrestling by the juveniles – it is a totally unique and unforgettable experience! Dinner and overnight at Haven Lodge Buhoma (B-L-D)

Bwindi NP-Entebbe-Kampala-Ndere Cultural Centre (Only on Wednesday, Friday & Sunday) Today, we will depart the impenetrable forest of Bwindi and with the morning flight to Entebbe International Airport where you will be picked up and transferred to Kampala. Depending on the day either Wednesday, Friday or Sunday, visit the Ndere cultural centre
(Wednesday, Friday or Sunday night) enjoy traditional authentic cultural performances and enjoy dinner served with local food. Humura Resort – BB For upgrade you can stay at Kampala Serena hotel * Timings may vary depending on aircraft routing.

Entertainment- Ndere Troupe: Ndere Troupe performs a repertoire of more than 40 authentic Ugandan dances and songs accompanied by various indigenous percussive, stringed and wind instruments. The Troupe engages in various projects aimed keeping African generations educated about traditional entertainment and also uses traditional entertainment to spread knowledge about such current issues as modern farming techniques and HIV/AIDS.
Dinner and overnight at Humura Resort (BB)

Entebbe – Departure: Enjoy Kampala city tour (visit the Buganda Kingdom palace and parliament, Uganda national Museum, Bahai temple, one of the crafts and local markets) in the morning and later in the afternoon you will be transferred to Entebbe where you will connect to your international flight. (B)

** END OF YOUR SAFARI WITH INQUISITIVE AFRICA & ADVENTURES **

Inquisitive Africa reserves the right to review published rates in the event of currency exchange rate fluctuations or increases in costs or taxes, which are beyond our control.
EXTENDING YOUR STAY WITH US: Inquisitive Africa has a variety of authentic experiences in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, Kenya and Dian or Mombasa, Uganda, Rwanda, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa. We would be happy to facilitate and plan any extended stay you might require in East and Southern Africa.

• High Season January, February, June, July August, September, December.
• Low Season March, April, May, October, November

Included in the price:
– Airport transfer to/from Entebbe Airport
– Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
– Meals as described in the itinerary
– Transport to/from the starting point for gorilla tracking
– AMREF Flying Doctors Insurance
– VAT for hotels and lodges outside Kampala

Exclusions:
– International flight
– Visa (USD $50, available upon arrival & online)
– Domestic flight by Aero link per 11-seater Caravan (max .weight allowed 15kg in soft luggage)
– Gorilla permit
– Optional activities
– Meals and drinks not mentioned above
– Items of personal nature
– Tips

TERMS & CONDITIONS: Prices are subject to change. Availability of accommodations and activities is not guaranteed; reservations will be made after receiving confirmation of the final itinerary and the requested deposit. Should any of the included accommodations not be available, we reserve the right to substitute it with an alternative suitable accommodation, which might affect the final quoted price. For more clarity please consult our website www.inquisitivesafari.com for the more detailed Terms & Conditions.

VISA FEES AND APPLICATIONS FOR EAST AFRICA
Uganda Visa: Single entry visa costs US $50 per person. Visas have to be applied and paid for online via the Uganda Immigration website,( https://visas.immigration.go.ug) A copy of the approved application has to be presented at the entry point where the visa will then be issued.

Rwanda Visa: Single entry visa costs US $50 per person. Visas have to be applied for online via the Rwanda Immigration website. ( https://www.migration.gov.rw/index.php?id=203) A copy of the approved application has to be presented at the entry point where the visa will then be issued and paid for. Kindly note that citizens from the following countries are required to pay visa fees but are allowed to obtain their visa upon arrival without prior online application: Australia, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, UK and USA.

Kenya Visa: Single entry visa costs US $50 per person. Visas have to be applied and paid for online via the eCitizen portal, ( https://www.ecitizen.go.ke) and present a copy of their E-Visa upon immigration. However, effective 1st September 2015 all visitors to Kenya will be required to apply and pay for the visa online. Please remember that the visa process may take one full week.

Tanzania visa: Single entry visa costs US $50 per person. Visas have to be applied and paid for online via the https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/ A copy of the approved application has to be presented at the entry point where the visa will then be issued.

East African Tourist Visa:
If you are planning to combine Uganda with a visit to Rwanda and/or Kenya it is recommendable to request for the East African Tourist Visa. This special tourist visa costs US $100 per person and allows 90 days multiple entry to Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. Unfortunately, Tanzania has not yet joined the East African community tourist visa, and therefore not part of this arrangement and to visit Tanzania you’ll need separate visa

How to obtain the East African Tourist Visa:
– Uganda: online via the Uganda Immigration website, (https://visas.immigration.go.ug)
– Rwanda: online via the Rwanda Immigration website. ( https://www.migration.gov.rw/index.php?id=203)
– Kenya: online via the eCitizen portal ( https://www.ecitizen.go.ke).

Similar to the application for the single entry visa but make sure to select the East African Tourist Visa.