Days 1 - 3: Kidepo National Park
Arrive at Entebbe and transfer with your driver to a boutique hotel for the night. The next day fly by light aircraft to Kidepo National Park in the far north of Uganda and stay in Apoka Lodge for three nights. The Lodge sits in the most idyllic African plains with abundant wildlife. Take twice daily game drives and walks to find elephant, buffalo, lion, Chadler’s reedbuck and patas, with a park virtually to yourself. Spend time around the rivers and wetlands to see cheetah and wonderful bird species. This remote park is bordered by dramatic jagged mountains on both sides.
Day 4: Cultural interaction with Karamajong Tribe
From your base at Apoka Lodge, go for a full day cultural interaction with the Karamajong tribes that live on the edge of the park. The proud ‘warriors of Uganda’ are pastoralists and have been known as cattle rustlers too, much like their neighbours the Turkana and Pokot. You will visit one of their small villages and meet the incredibly welcoming. On the whole they prefer to resist the modern world and still practise their traditional beliefs.
Days 5-6: Murchison Falls National Park
After a leisurely breakfast, fly by light aircraft to Murchison Falls National Park, an incredibly diverse area where you will stay for three nights. Take afternoon game drives to see a host of animals such as the endangered Rothschild giraffe, and an early drive the following morning to look for nocturnal species. Have a private boat cruise to Murchison waterfalls, where 300 cubic metres per second are squeezed through a seven metre gap in the rocks and fall 43 metres.
Day 7: Chimp tracking in Bugondo Forest
This morning go chimp tracking in Bugondo Forest, the largest surviving natural forest in Uganda with an incredible biodiversity including nine different primate species. The trekking is fairly easy, lasting 2-4 hours, and is led by knowledgeable guides. There are around 600 chimpanzees living in this forest with its trees that can be up to 80m high. Two families have been habituated by researchers from the world-famous Jane Goodall Institute, making them suitable for visitors to track. This is truly the most wonderful, memorable experience.
Days 8 - 9: Chimp tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Fly to Queen Elizabeth National Park, staying in your luxury lodge for 3 nights. Take a private boat cruise on Kazinga Channel linking lakes Edward and George. The shores abound with wildlife– hippos and buffalo often seen along with warthog, lion, elephant and some 614 species of bird. In the morning go chimp tracking in Kalinzu Forest, a birding paradise, which is also home to blue monkeys, colobus and around 220 chimps - about 70 have been habituated. In the afternoon one can go for a game drive and enjoy a sundowner over the plains.
Day 10: Carnivore Project and Community Experience
You will spend this morning with the Uganda Carnivore Project’s Lion researchers, who monitor, research, and run conservation projects for predators in Uganda. You will track between 2-3 groups of lions, learning about the Albertine Rift ecology, large carnivore ecology, and conservation efforts. They oversee rescue operations, human/ wildlife interventions, assist in wildlife welfare, protect biodiversity and encourage human cultural preservation. The afternoon is spent with a visit to partner-communities, including a cultural tour and performance, sampling local foods, meeting craft producers or meet local leaders in communities.
Days 11 - 12: Travel to Ishasha then Bwindi
Drive south to Ishasha, taking game drives along the way, perhaps finding the famous tree climbing lions. You will arrive at your traditional tented safari camp which overlooks the Ishasha River, where you will overnight. In the morning go for an early game drive and return to the lodge for breakfast before driving south through the plains. Visit Deo homestead for a conservation experience and Agatha's homestead for a cultural interaction before entering tea growing country and finally Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where the rainforest welcomes you.
Days 13 - 14: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi
Go for two mountain gorilla tracking experiences over two days. You are led by a guide to one of the habituated families in the forest. Once sighted you will spend up to one hour with them - a phenomenal experience. The hike involves steep slopes, dense vegetation, slippery ground and high altitude, but the reward of seeing the gorillas is worth every dollar. There are only around 980 mountain gorillas left in the world, spread across Bwindi and Virunga Mountains. You also have the opportunity to visit the gorilla doctors and learn about their work looking after this endangered species.
Day 15: Return Home
Leave behind the forest and Uganda’s wonderful wildlife and peoples and fly to Entebbe and then homeward bound.
The cost for this itinerary starts from USD $18,625.00 per person
(Prices subject to currency exchange rates and exclude international flights)
The cost does not include International flights, travel insurance, visas, personal expenses, meals and drinks, domestic and international departure tax, beverages other than mineral water in the vehicle, all expenses of a personal nature, Tips and gratuities to your driver/guide hotel/camp staff etc.
On this safari you would be contributing and donating to the Gorilla Doctors, Chimpanzee research in Budongo, lion research and protection in QENP and to local community projects involving both villagers and wildlife living together
But not only that, the people are kind and affable and the country has so much to offer. In the far north eastern corner of Uganda lies Kidepo Valley National Park where Uganda meets Sudan and Kenya, and the landscape and terrain are far different from that of the rest of the country. Here vast open landscapes are akin to those of Tanzania and Kenya’s open plains. The wildlife here is sensational and the best in Uganda, perfect for a luxury African safari.
Then, there is Murchison Falls, where the waters of the Nile are forced through a narrow gap in the rock. The park is also interesting, with topi and giraffe and lion sightings to spot on your luxury bespoke safari. Bwindi is an impenetrable ancient rainforest which spreads across the steep ridges of the Albertine Rift Valley and is home to roughly half of the world’s mountain gorillas, great for gorilla trekking. There is the last vestige of the pygmies who reside here and some truly fantastic African walking safaris for two days or more, walking through villages and banana and coffee plantations. Kyambura and Kibale offer superb sightings of habituated chimpanzees, whilst at Ishasha one can see the tree-climbing lions whilst on luxury safari.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is best for birdlife and the boat trips on the Kasinga channel and Lake Edward are so rewarding! Lake Mburo offers horse-riding, canoeing and fabulous walking safaris in Africa, whilst Bunyaruguru has some beautiful crater lakes. This is a country that offers wonderful, old-fashioned unique luxury safaris with a huge diversity of scenery that is awe-inspiring!
A Fixed Wing Flying Safari is a unique concept of travel in Africa. It introduces another dimension to a typical African safari, that of the beauty of the continent from the air. Accompanied and guided by experienced pilots who are also experienced safari guides a Fixed Wing Flying Safari is a truly memorable and exclusive experience.
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Epic helicopter journeys exploring corners of Africa that few have been to or even ever heard of. We specialise in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, the Congo and Namibia. Our tailor-made safaris cover wild and spectacular mountains, valleys, forests and deserts, with a focus on ‘remote and unknown, unexplored and unforgettable’.
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- Utterly designed and tailored around you and your requirements
- Totally unique every time you travel with us
- The very best hand picked guides which can make the difference between a good and an outstanding holiday
- Established over 30 years ago we have been around longer than most
- Our specialists come from, have lived in or travelled extensively in the regions we cover
- Unparalleled knowledge provides you with the best possible experience
- Philanthropy is our philosophy
- Our founding principle is to always ‘put something back’
- An amount from each holiday is donated to our selected conservation and humanitarian charities
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By Marcela Kunova - 20th April 2017
Nicola Shepherd, founder and CEO of The Exploration Company, organises unusual trips for HNW and UHNW clients ranging from birthday parties at an Indian Maharajah's palace to reliving Sir Vivian Fuchs's 1950s expedition to the South Pole. Citywealth caught ...
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