TWO COUNTY SAFARI
The best of the best!!
Mountain Gorillas, Golden Monkeys, Chimpanzees
September 2024
Set against the backdrop of endless green hills and soaring mountainsides, Rwanda is the premier destination for trekking with the highly endangered exotic Mountain Gorillas. The terrain in the Virunga Mountains is more open and less surrounded by thick jungle vegetation, which hugely increases your chance for incredible photographic opportunities of these magnificent Creatures. The trekking is also less difficult than the steep and extremely thick vegetation you must go through in Uganda where the gorilla family’s also cover much larger territories, inevitably increasing the time trekking.
Home to over 5,000 chimpanzee individuals, Uganda is not only the best place to experience them, but it is one of the wildest wildlife experiences ever!
For most photographers this is a one-time experience of a lifetime and there are no do overs. Therefore, we are taking you to the best of the best, Rwanda for the Mountain Gorillas and Uganda for the Chimpanzees.
We have also arranged for two charter flights to cut down on the extra days of long drives.
Limited to 7 participants!
MOUNTAIN GORILLAS – Rwanda
Walking alongside these gentle giants is exhilarating and unlike any other experience in the world. The mountain gorillas are rare, critically endangered, and found only in a few small areas of protected forest. Approximately only 800 mountain gorillas survive in the wild. In Rwanda there only 8 groups of 8 people allowed to trek per-day; another reason photographing them is incredibley special!
GOLDEN MONKEYS – Uganda
Found in the Mgahinga national park, the rare and highly endangered Golden Monkeys live in a beautiful bamboo forest. The forest comes to life with the noise and activity that the monkeys exhibit while they jump from one bamboo tree to anther as they play and eat. They have a number neutral covers throughout their fur with a beautiful shade of orange gold giving them the name golden monkeys. There are less than 4,000 remaining in the world
CHIMPANZEE – Uganda
One of the wildest experiences to be had in nature is the exclusive half-day Chimp habituation; these special permits are very limited! You will have the unique opportunity to accompany the Kibale reserve researchers on your trek. Early in the morning you will watch the chimps wake-up, search for their breakfast, call through the forest at each other, search for females, and photograph throughout the day until they build a new nest for the evening. Your efforts will help the Uganda wildlife authority initiative to habituate chimps to human presences without changing their natural environments. You will also have two regular mornings treks, but if that is not enough you will have the option to visit them again in the afternoon.
Itinerary
Day 1 – September 6, 2024
Upon your arrival at the Entebbe international airport in Uganda, you will be met by a member of our ground team and transferred to the Protea by private vehicle. After your long flight/s you will enjoy a relaxing evening on the shores of Lake Victoria– the perfect way to rest up for the amazing journey that lies ahead. (hotel check in time is 14:00)
Accommodation: Radisson Blu
Day 2 – September 7, 2024
After an early breakfast, we will catch our charter flight to Kasepe where our guides will meet us as we continue our journey up to the beautiful Kibale Forest. In the afternoon you will have the option to rest up for your chimpanzee trek in the morning or take a walk to Muhoma Falls, visit lake Nkuruba, or hike to the top of the world.
BLD – included
Day 3 &4 – September 8&9, 2024
During the next two days you will be trekking with the chimpanzees; one day will be a normal chimpanzee trek and one will be the all-day Habituation experience.
BLD – included
Day 5– September 10, 2024
After breakfast you will be transferred to the park office for one last morning group chimp trek and then transferred to the airstrip for a charter flight to the boarder of Uganda. We will clear immigration and then drive to our lodge in Rwanda.
BLD – included
Day 6 – September 11, 2024
Early breakfast at the lodge. Transfer to the volcanoes National Park HQs for a briefing and then proceed to the forest for our exclusive Golden monkey trek. Return to the lodge for lunch and enjoy a special afternoon with the local community.
BLD – included
Day 7 & 8 – September 12 & 13, 2024
Early breakfast at the lodge. Transfer to the volcanoes National Park HQs for a briefing and then proceed to the forest for our Trek with the mountain gorillas.
Day 9 September 14, 2024
After breakfast we will depart for Kigali. Depending on the time of your outbound flight there are several wonderful activities to suggest including the Genocide Museum.
B included
Important Details
Included:
- ALL airport transfers
- ALL accommodation listed on the itinerary, based on double occupancyAll meals as listed on the itinerary. B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, beginning with Breakfast on Sept 7, 2024 through breakfast on September 14, 2021
- Entrance fees to all national reserves, forest, and parks.
- 2 in-country charter flights
- 2 Normal Chimp treks in Uganda
- Chimp habituation experience in Uganda
- Golden monkey permits in Rwanda
- Two Gorilla trek permits in Rwanda
- Transportation and exclusive use of custom safari built 4-wheel drive Landcruiser vehicles
- Unlimited bottled water in the transportation vehicles
What’s Not Included:
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Personal purchases (such as curios, spirit liquors, telephone calls, internet, laundry…)
- Gratuities for the main driver/guides
- Optional extra activities and photo excursions
- Pre- and post-safari tours
- Meals or accommodation before or after the safari
- International flights to and from the African Continent and the flight between Ethiopia and Uganda*
The Price
The price of this two-country signature primate safari, based on double occupancy (two people sharing one room) is $16,995.00.
The price of this primate safari based on a private room (single occupancy) is $19,590.00
If a solo guest request to share a room, we will do our best to match them with another guest of the same gender. If we are unable to match a solo guest with another guest of the same gender, then the additional private room cost of USD$2,595.00 will be added to your invoice.
***The cost of this safari is based on 7 participants. If there are less than 7 participants a small supplement fee of $995.00 will apply.
A USD $3,000.00 Non-refundable deposit + 4,400.00 trekking permits for a total of $7,4000.00 is due at the time of registration to secure your spot. The gorilla, chimp, and golden monkey permits are NON-TRANSFERABLE OR REFUNDABLE. Therefore, we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance that will refund your deposit if have to cancel your trip.
- USD $7,400.00 non-refundable deposit to confirm your place on this safari
- 2nd payment of USD $5,000.00 (+private room fee) is due October 1, 2023
- Final payment/Balance is due March 1, 2024
We highly recommend trip cancellation insurance to protect your investment should you need to cancel your travel.
