UGANDA & RWANDA PRIVATE EXCLUSIVE SAFARI

Welcome to the Pearl of Africa! Arrival – Entebbe (10mins drive)
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Entebbe.
Midrange: The Boma (B&B)
High end: Protea Hotel Entebbe (B&B)

Entebbe Murchison Falls National Park (Approx. 353kms/6-7hrs): Today we will depart for the most beautiful protected area in Uganda: Murchison Falls National Park. En-route we will make a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, home to the only wild rhinos in Uganda. The reserve was created to reintroduce rhinos to the country which had been extinct since 1982. Together with a guide you will track the rhinos and observe them in their habitat at a very close and safe distance. Have lunch at the Rhino sanctuary and thereafter we will drive to Murchison Falls National Park and drive for an hour deeper into the National Park to the site of Murchison Falls after which the park is named– one of Uganda most beautiful sights. If time allows, you will be able to visit to Top of the falls for a first view of the magnificent waterfalls.
Overnight- Twiga Safari Lodge – (B, L, D) Upgrade option to Bakers Lodge

Murchison Falls National Park is the largest protected area in Uganda. The waterfall for which the park is named is the most electrifying sight of its type in East Africa. The southern part is mostly covered by dense woodlands and harbors one of the most varied forest faunas in East Africa, and is a premier sight for bird watchers, as well as one of the best- and most affordable – places to track chimpanzees. The northern part is mostly covered by green grasslands with scattered acacia trees, borassus palms and riverine woodlands. The world’s longest River Nile is thronged with hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks and buffaloes. Wildlife includes lions, Leopards, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hartebeests, oribis, Uganda kob and so much more.

Murchison Falls National Park Game drives & Boat Trip : After an early breakfast we start the day with a game drive on the northern bank of the Nile, with chances of seeing Rothschild Giraffe, elephants, lions, Jackson Hartebeest, Oribis, Waterbucks, different species of the savannah woodland birds, and if lucky even the elusive leopard to top the Africa’s “The Big 5” amongst a multitude of African plains game before returning to Baker’s Lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, enjoy a Nile launch cruise to the bottom of the water falls for game viewing at close quarters, after the launch cruise, get off from the bottom of the falls and hike up to the top of the falls where you will be rewarded with amazing views of the Nile. Overnight- Twiga Safari Lodge – (B, L, D)

Budongo Forest- CHIMP Trekking Budongo.: After breakfast, you will head on to Budongo Forest, head into the forest with packed lunch and witness chimps leaving their overnight nests between before feeding, copulating, hunting, breastfeeding, resting, patrolling and displaying.

With an early start, you get to watch the chimps waking up and de-nest, search for food, rest, play and start making new nests in the evening to go to sleep again. After spending the morning and early afternoon with the chimps, slowly head back to the lodge for Dinner and overnight at Budongo Eco Lodge. (B-L-D) Upgrade option to Bakers Lodge

Murchison Falls – Kibale National Park (Approx. 400km/8-9 hrs): We depart Murchison Falls and head towards Fort Portal. This long journey will be rewarded with stunning views while you pass small villages and local markets. Fort Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled “Mountains of the Moon” and is famous for the many tea plantations. From this lovely town we will continue to the dense forest of Kibale National Park. Dinner and overnight at Primate Lodge – Standard cottages (B-L-D)
Upgrade option to Primate Lodge Luxury cottage

Kibale Forest National Park is an extensive Biodiversity National Park in South Uganda and also known as the “Primate Paradise” has one of the greatest variety and concentration of primates in Africa including our famous cousins the Chimpanzee, Red Colobus Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, L’Hoest’s, Black-and- White Colobus and the Olive Baboons. There is also a wide array of unique birds, forest elephants (smaller and hairier than the more familiar savannah elephant) and much more.

Today the forest opens its doors for a sensational chimpanzee tracking experience.
Following the pre-tracking briefing, you will walk or drive to the trailhead for the start of an unforgettable adventure – hiking in the footsteps of the habituated family of chimpanzees. En-route, your guide will enthral you with stories and facts about the forest and her other inhabitants including other species of primates and birds and other big mammals.

Upon sighting the chimpanzees, you will spend an unforgettable one hour with them as they go about their daily life – feeding, playing, grooming, taking care of their young, howling and screeching, in their natural habitat. Return back to the lodge for lunch then in the afternoon enjoy a guided nature walk through the Bigodi wetland.

Bigodi Swamp Walk is an initiative of the local community and is known for its rich diversity of birds and primates. The path and board walk maybe flooded and muddy after heavy rainfall and gumboots are recommended. The walk is about 4km in length taking 3-4 hours at birding pace with local community guides. All proceeds from eco- tourism go back to into the community, a conservation project well worth supporting. Later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Dinner and overnight at Primate Lodge – Standard cottages (B-L-D)

Queen Elizabeth NP (Approx. 185km/3hrs) Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After checking out, visit and enjoy sight-seeing around the scenic crater lakes that surrounds the dense forest of Kibale National Park. Afterwards, you will proceed south alongside the majestic Rwenzori ‘Mountains of the Moon’ to Queen Elizabeth National park.
Dinner and overnight at Elephant Plains Lodge (B-L-D)
Upgrade option to Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Queen Elizabeth NP (AM Game drive & Kyambura Gorge Walk Chimps): After your breakfast, you will go in search of game through both the Mweya and Kasenyi Plains areas known for Lions and the elusive leopard.

In the afternoon, we will head on to the Kyambura Gorge home of a few remnant chimps. You will walk or drive to the trailhead for the start of an unforgettable adventure – hiking in the footsteps of the habituated family of chimpanzees. En-route, your guide will enthral you with stories and facts about the forest and her other inhabitants including other species of primates and birds and other big mammals. Dinner and overnight at Elephant Plains Lodge (B-L-D)

Queen Elizabeth NP (Maramagambo Walk with the chimps & Boat Trip- Afternoon) Spend the morning trekking in the maramagambo forest home of some remnant chimps and the blue lake- it is a memorable experience bring you close to nature. You will get the chance to have a close look at the bats and maybe even the rock python and forest cobras that feed on the bats. The same walk will provide you with views of primates, different bird species and beautiful flora. Spend the afternoon on game drive for much more that Uganda has to offer.

In the afternoon we take on a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural channel between Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel is 33 km long and 2-3 km at its widest points. The scheduled 2-hour boat ride (beverages and snacks included!) will cover a 12-14 km stretch of the channel, with almost guaranteed excellent wildlife sightings including multitudes of hippopotamus – possibly the world’s highest concentration – Nile crocodiles, wallowing buffaloes on its reedy banks, elephants, and many birds. Dinner and overnight at Elephant Plains Lodge (B-L-D)

Drive from Queen Elizabeth – Volcanoes National Park – Approx. 250km/5-6hours
After breakfast, drive through the beautiful rolling hills of Kabale and Kisoro with stops at places of interest, cross the Uganda and Rwanda boarder, drive to Ruhengeri the base for Gorilla trekking at the Parc National des Volcans. Ruhengeri town itself, located only 25km from Uganda border, is relatively a small city. The constant flow of humanity is quite remarkable. The Town has great views of the surrounding volcanoes. People are very friendly here and although a former Belgian colony (and thus French-speaking), many people speak English here. Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. (B-L-D)
Upgrade option to Virunga Lodge

Volcanoes National Park – Gorilla Trekking
Early breakfast at your lodge;
0600 hrs: transfer to the Volcanoes National Park HQs.
0700 hrs: Registration, where the park staff determines which group of gorillas you will visit. The park staff discusses your fitness level and advises you of the trekking times and conditions to the various groups based upon their location in the park the previous evening. There are a total of 80 gorilla permits available each day with a maximum of eight trekkers visiting any one group. Once the trekkers are put into groups, each group’s Lead Guide briefs the trekkers of the trekking procedures as well as the “do’s and don’ts” while in the presence of gorillas. After the briefing, trekkers return to their respective vehicles for the drive up the mountain to the starting point. Porters may be hired for the trek to carry your backpack and gear. The cost, US$15 per person/per day. We advise that you utilize this service.

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 come 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.

After the trek, join your driver guide for a transfer back to your lodge.

OR Golden Monkeys.
Early breakfast at your hotel;
0630 hrs: transfer to the Volcanoes National Park HQs
0700 hrs: Registration at the Volcanoes National Park Offices followed by a transfer to your Trail head. Golden Monkeys are among the most endangered primates in Africa and is believed the only viable population of these monkeys is in the Virunga Volcanoes. The golden monkey is a distinct species of guenon – Cercopithecus Kandti and is endemic to the Albertine Rift. Two groups each with over 100 individuals are being habituated for visitors in the Virungas.

The Kabatwa group, found in the east of the park on the flanks of the Sabyinyo volcano and the Musongo group higher up on the flanks of the Karisimbi volcano at an altitude of about 2800-3000 meters.

After the trek, join your driver guide for a transfer back to your lodge. Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. (B-L-D)

Volcanoes National Park – Kigali: Today you will enjoy the scenic drive back to Kigali, then take up a city tour of Kigali including a visit to the Genocide Memorial site, a grim reminder of a senseless massacre of innocent’s lives in 1994. Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to the 1994 genocide; learn about other genocides in the world and how this country has dealt with that past. Tour more and see the new developments in Rwanda; the recovery has been incredible, a testament to humankind’s resilience.
Overnight: Flame Tree Village. (B-L-)
Upgrade option to Kigali Serena Hotel

Departure: After breakfast, in case you dint do city tour yesterday, enjoy it today and later proceed to the airport for your departure flight.

*** 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 and December.
• Low Season- March, April, May, October & November.

INCLUSIONS:
• Airport transfers
• Ground Transportation in a safari customized 4WD Toyota Land Cruiser, with fuel
• Accommodation as shown
• Meals where mentioned as included in the itinerary.
• All park entrance fees
• English speaking Guide / driver
• Mineral water in the vehicle ; 2 liters per person daily on safari
• Medical emergency evacuation cover

EXCLUSIONS:
• International Airfares
• Optional activities unless specified as included
• Gorilla permits and Chimp permits.
• Excessive baggage charges
• Entry Visa Fees; fees for International travel Vaccinations and Inoculations
• Items of personal nature such us Room service, Beverage, Communication charges (telephone, fax, and internet). Laundry
• Postage fees
• Porterage fees
• Tips and gratuities for Guide/driver. and hotel staff
• Shopping Charges for Curios and Crafts

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.
The chimp tracking may take place either in the morning or afternoon, depending on the availability of chimp permits. The estimated travelling hours are based on the actual hours of driving, stops for lunch or photos not included.

Booking of permits and payment

• All tours will be booked and confirmed only after receiving a 30% deposit of the confirmed safari. In case of gorilla permits a full advance payment of the permit fee is required.
• Gorilla and chimp permits will be bought in advance after receiving a full deposit of the permit fee.
• The payment for the safari is due no later than 45 days prior to the safari, unless agreed differently.
• Bookings made within 45 days before arrival must be fully paid at the time of confirmation.

If payment is not received in accordance with the above, Inquisitive Africa has the right to cancel the booking.

Payment can be made by VISA credit card, bank transfer, in any way before the start of the safari. Note that payments by VISA credit card involve a 5% service charge and transactions have to be made at least two months prior to the start of your safari. Regretfully, traveller Cheques are not accepted as of now.

The costs of international transactions (or 5% service charge in case of credit card payment) are to be fully paid by the travel agency/wholesaler.
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.