Rare Primates of Africa Safari, Uganda

Description

Rare Primates of Africa Safari, 12 Days Uganda tour

Day one: Meet and greet at the airport by a Travelust African Safaris representative and start your Primates of Africa Safari. The 5 hours or so journey traverses through the Lake Victoria Marshland and sections of virgin forest all the way through Mityana and Mubende. A lunch break and a comfort stop at Fort portal before heading into the Kibale Forest. Arriving for some self guided walks along the forest margins to See the red tailed monkeys and possibly the Baboons. Later on, spend some time at the fire place at your accommodations in Kibale. Proceed to have dinner and overnight at the Kibale Primate Lodge.

Day Two: Morning wakeup call and have breakfast. You will then have the appropriate wear for the day’s chimpanzee trekking by having long pants, make sure to tuck them into your heavy duty socks for the ease of avoiding the safari ants, good trekking shoes, long sleeved shirt, a sun hat or cap, a day pack for your camera and picnic lunch.

After the briefing on the Chimpanzee trekking etiquette, the walk in the forest will commence with a ranger guide who will be stopping along the way to point out very interesting information about black and white colubus, red tailed monkeys, Olive baboon, the endemic red colubus, grey cheeked mangabeys and the occasional forest duikers. On the walk, you may also encounter large snails, butterflies, beautiful forest birds and also learn about rare trees and vegetation which forms part of the chimp diet. Track the troop of chimpanzees to a distance of about 10 meters and view chimps for about an hour. Later, returning to the base for lunch or have the picnic lunch in the forest subject to the length of the safari. Dinner and overnight at the Kibale primate Lodge.

Day Three: Magombe Swamp walk

Morning breakfast at the Lodge and take a half day walk in the Bigodi wetland swamp. The forest walk is on a board walkway and the guides spot other primates that use this swamp for a drink in the high temperatures. Species usually seen on the trip include the red colubus and red tailed monkeys. You may also see some swamp species of birds which include the warblers and the colorful Great Blue Turaco. After the morning walk, take a leisurely drive through Fort Portal through the scenic route and see views of river Semuliki which marks the boundary between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo before heading to your accommodations for dinner and overnight at the Ntoroko Tented Camp.

Day Four: Morning breakfast and transfer to the Semuliki national park at the floor of the East African Albertine rift Valley. You will be guided into the forest by the ranger guides to find the Primates of Africa Safari animals which feature rare De Brazza Monkeys and the Mona Monkeys. These are endemic to this region in East Africa. On the trail, you may also see other wildlife and birds. You may visit the hot springs of Semuliki where steaming water spews out of the ground to form beautiful geysers over the old world forest. Later, return to your accommodations for meals and overnight at the Ntoroko Tented Camp.

Day Five: Karinzu Forest trekking

Morning breakfast and depart towards Queen Elizabeth National park. At the opposite side of the Rwenzori Mountains, Lies the massive Karinzu forest where we will be doing an afternoon Chimpanzee trekking. After taking a picnic lunch at one of the view points of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Drive to the Tourist office for guide allocation and briefing before starting the afternoon primate walk. Search for red tailed monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, Black and white colubus. Lookout for the forest guinea fowls and the forest duikers on the forest floor. In the evening, transfer to your overnight accommodations at the Katara Lodge.

Day Six: After a morning breakfast, drive to the Chambura gorge and after a briefing by the forest guides; begin the half day descent into the walls of this depression looking through the tree canopies for colonies of monkeys and birds. See another habituated troop of chimpanzees on the day trekking trips in the forest. Hippos too are resident in some sections of the river at the bottom of the gorge. In the early afternoon after the trek, proceed to the Katara lodge and spend the afternoon looking at wildlife from your room or at the swimming pool before dinner and overnight.

Day Seven: Breakfast in the morning and proceed through the Ishasha sector where black faced vervets and Baboons are usually seen along the main road. You may also spot elephants, Uganda Kob, Topi or the tree climbing lions before heading to Bwindi arriving in the early afternoon. Spend the rest of the afternoon on a self guided walk along the river Munyaga. Meals and overnight at The Gorilla Resort.

Day Eight: Mountain gorilla trekking

After breakfast, your guide will drive you to the starting point where the briefings together with other gorilla trackers will be taking place. In the briefing, you are advised on how to behave whilst in the presence of the gorillas. While viewing these animals on the Primates of Africa Safari, don’t to use flash during photography and gorilla filming. Keeping a distance and not eating or making unnecessary noise during the gorilla watching. You will also be advised on other tips by the guide.

From here, the trek begins with each group of people being allocated a guide and a gorilla group.Then commence the arduous walk to find the Mountain gorillas. Only an hour of viewing the gorillas, and you have a success chance of around 99% of seeing the gorillas! Later, have lunch and get on your way back. You may see other primates like the blue monkey, l’hoest monkeys and red tails. At your lodge, you will freshen up and enjoy the beautiful vistas of the impenetrable forest before candle light dinner. Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner and overnight at The Gorilla Resort Camp.

Day Nine: L ‘Hoest Monkey trekking and birding

This morning, we will have breakfast and drive to the research station in Ruhija. See colonies of habituated L’hoest monkey colonies by the road or at the park. Spend the day in the forest looking at these white bearded primates as well as other forest dwelling monkeys. At times, you may stumble upon the forest elephants or the rare golden cat hunting for monkeys. Rare bird species in East Africa like the dusky twin spot and the African Broadbill inhabit this part of Bwindi. In the evening, return to your accommodations at The Gorilla Resort Bwindi arriving in time dinner.

Day Ten: Morning breakfast and transfer through the escarpment of the river Birira through the Kigezi Mountains before heading to Rukungiri. Drive through an area of grassy plains and mountains with the long horned Ankole cows before heading to Mbarara. After a lunch break, proceed through the savannah into the park. In the evening, have a short game drive through the Lake Mburo National park for Zebra. Also Giraffe and possibly the shy Eland before dinner and overnight at Lake Mburo Safari Lodge.

Day Eleven: Morning breakfast and end the Primates of Africa Safari by taking a 4 hour road transfer to Entebbe.