11 Day Kidepo valley, Murchison and budongo chimp safari

OVERVIEW

11 Days / 10 Nights

Our 11 day Kidepo Valley, Murchison and Budongo chimp safari combines two of the great national parks to give you the best safari experience. You will visit Kidepo valley National Park for game viewing, scenery and culture and then Murchison Falls National Park for boat cruises, hikes to the top of the falls and chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest. As a bonus, you will also visit Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for Rhino trekking. This is a road trip and is aimed at those that want to visit Uganda and its country side as they explore both wildlife and communities.

ITINERARY

Upon arrival, you will be met, greeted and transferred to a Guest House in Entebbe for overnight. Entebbe is a small town located closer to Entebbe international Airport and is one of the best places to stay on your 11 Day Kidepo Valley, Murchison and Budongo chimp safari mostly on the first and last day. This helps you to acclimatize and avoid long distances of driving to Kampala City.

Drive time: Approximately 10 minutes

Lodging: Papyrus Guest House

Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast
After breakfast, you will start your 11 Day KidepoVallay , Murchison and Budongo chimp safari by driving north wards to Gulu town. We stop at a Gulu town in order to break the lond drive from Entebbe to Kidepo Valley National Park. On your way to Gulu, you will have an opportunity to see Karuma Falls, small community villages and if time allows, you will explore Gulu town.

Drive time: Approximately 5-6 hours

Lodging: Boma Hotel Gulu

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After an early morning cup of tea, you will drive back to Narus valley to enjoy a morning game drive. Try to look out for the same animals and may be others like cheaters if luck strikes. Kidepo game drives are so unique that you may find yourself and guide in a vast and un spoilt national park. The valley is surrounded by hills which makes the scenery very stunning. Return to Apoka Safari Lodge for lunch, relaxation as you prepare to visit the Karamajogo people. The Karamajongo are very famous as cattel keepers who love their cattle. Visit their home steads known as the Manyatas, they will dance for you and explain their culture to you before retiring to Apoka Safari Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Lodging: Apoka Safari Lodge/NgaMoru Wilderness Camp/Apoka Rest Camp
After breakfast you will enjoy an en route game drive through Narus Valley as you drive to Kidepo Valley. This drive will take you to the area where you are likely to sport many birds included the endangered ostriches. You will also visit the hot springs and the guide will be delighted to explain to you the cultural attachments to these hot springs and the indigenous people. You may also view or visit the Uganda-South Sudan boarder before returning to the Lodge for Lunch, Dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Lodging: Apoka Safari Lodge
After an early cup of tea, you will head for a morning game drive in Paraa. Murchison Falls National Park is gifted by many wild animals that may include elephants, buffaloes, several antelopes, many bird species, lions, giraffes and leopards. There is much more to see and this will depend on your luck of the day. Lunch break and then go for the boat cruise to the base of the mighty Victoria Falls. This boat cruise takes you up stream to see how Nile water passes through a narrow gorge to explode into what has been termed as the strongest waterfall on planet earth. On your way to the falls, you will have an opportunity to spot many water birds, hippos, crocodiles and other animals that come to drink water. Retire to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Lodging: Paraa Safari Lodge/Bakuba Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, you will take a boat cruise to the Delta region. Enjoy to see how water slows down as it gets closer to Lake Albert. This is at a point where it starts dropping most of the load that was being carried from up stream. This side of the river has many animals that include Elephants, Hippos, crocodiles and if lucky, you may spot the rare and elusive shoebill stock. After your boat cruise, you will proceed with a game drive to your Lodge for Lunch and a short relaxation. In the afternoon, prepare for some hiking as we will drive to the top of the falls to enable you see the falls from the top and then hike up and down to view the falls from up to down and then up again.

Lodging: Paraa Safari Lodge/Bakuba Safari Lodge
After breakfast, you will drive to Budongo Forest located in Murchison Falls Conservation Area for chimpanzee trekking. Budongo Forest has the highest number of wild chimps in Uganda and is one of the best places to trek habituated chimpanzees in the wild. You will be met by your guide who will brief you and lead you to the forest for chimpanzee trekking. On the walk, you will benefit from the informative talk of your guide will spotting some other primates, birds and trees in the forest. Once you find the chimps, you will be allowed to spend one hour of observation and photography and then return back. You will proceed with your drive to Amuka Lodge for overnight.

Drive time: Approximately 3-5 hours

Lodging: Amuka Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Gorilla permits: We encourage you to book gorilla permits in advance so that we secure your trekking spot. Gorilla permits are served on first come first serve at Uganda wildlife Authority. Please contact us so that we book them for you.

Cost of the gorilla permit: The gorilla permits in Uganda cost USD800 for Non-Foreign residents, USD700 for East African Foreign Residents, USD500 for Rest of Africa Residents and UGX300,000 for East African Citizens, cost applies for trekking in Both Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park

Gorilla trekking Regions: Bwindi has 4 gorilla trekking sectors namely Buhoma, Ruhaga, Nkuringo and Ruhija. We shall book for you accommodation in respect to the permits location.

Physical Fitness: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi can be physically demanding, a certain level of fitness will be required, please ensure you are in good health and have a certain level of fitness before you leave your country.

Packing List: Please ensure you have comfortable walking/ hiking shoes that can handle the terrain in Bwindi, a rain Jacket, gloves, Camera, Binoculars,

Age Limit: The Minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years and above, please ensure all travelers are aged 15years and above.

Accommodation Options: Please choose the accommodation that suits your budget, Bwindi has all options of Budget, Midrange and Luxury.

Means of Transport: You can opt to fly or drive to Bwindi, Flights take 1-2 hours, and driving takes 8-9 hours drive to Bwindi. For budget clients, we recommend use of safari vans, then others can opt for Safari Land Cruisers. All vehicles are comfortable with enough leg room, AC and are driven by our professional driver guides.

Best time to visit: Bwindi can be visited all year round for gorilla trekking, The most prefered time is June to September, December to February because they are the drier months of the year.

Gorilla trekking Regulations: Uganda Wildlife Authority has rules and regulations to adhere while on your gorilla trek.

Chances of Seeing the Gorillas: The chances of seeing gorillas are 98% because there are trackers who follow the movement of gorillas on a daily basis, they communicate to the Park guides and you walk in the direction they are.

Choose a gorilla family: You can choose your preferred gorilla family of the day of the trek, if you prefer a close/ easy trek due to your fitness level, please request it and communicate to your guide.

Gorilla Habituation experience: Bwindi has an option of spending 4 hours with the gorillas called gorillas habituation, the is only possible when you book a gorilla permit that costs USD1500 for Non- foreign residents, USD1000 for East African Residents, and UGX750,000 for East African Citizens

Other activities: There are several activities you can do in Bwindi namely Birding, Batwa cultural experience, Nature walks, Community visits. All these can supplement your gorilla trek in Bwindi.

Trip cost estimate: The cost of the 3day gorilla tour ranges from USD1300 to USD2860 per person, based on your travel style which is Budget to Luxury. The cost Includes gorilla permit, accommodation, Meals, transport, and all services.

About Bwindi: Bwindi impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site, with half of the worlds gorilla population, it has more than 20 Habituated gorilla families in regions of Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo.

PRICING PER PERSON

This safari is available on a private basis, so you can contact us for a quote. Provides us with details of how many people you will be in a group, when you intend to travel, and one of our specialists will reply to you as soon as we receive your email.