Compare Uganda: Gorilla Conservation Adventure by Discover Corps vs Gorilla & Zanzibar Adventure by Audley Travel
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 10 days | 14 days |
| Price From | $ 5,895 | $ 6,661 |
| Price Per Day | $ 590 | $ 476 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Journey into the heart of the East African wilderness by exploring three of Uganda’s famed national parks. Not only will we experience a series of captivating wildlife encounters, but we’ll also make an invaluable contribution to the protection of these animals. Discover Corps offers this completely unique experience where you trek with a veterinarian and assist in the collection and lab analysis of gorilla data from stool samples, and learn more about the vital preservation work being done by the Gorilla Conservation Camp. |
Uganda is a welcome splash of green in a predominantly arid continent. Its dense forests give shelter to some of the last remaining mountain gorillas on Earth. People travel from far and wide to spend an hour in their presence, watching them graze, groom, sleep and play. Our safari specialists, having experienced the country beyond its prized wildlife attraction, will arrange your gorilla encounter and recommend how to spend your holiday in Uganda before or after. |
Day 1: Arriving in Entebbe
Arrive in Entebbe International Airport, about 45 minutes outside the capital Kampala, and transfer to our accommodation. Once a colonial estate and now a luxury B&B, the Boma Hotel boasts a swimming pool, restaurant and bar. After a delicious welcome dinner, you can spend your first evening relaxing before the adventure begins tomorrow.
Day 2: Entering Kibale National Park
After breakfast, we’ll travel to Kibale National Park and check into Ndali Lodge, the stunning hilltop boutique hotel we will call home for the next three nights. The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy as you wish – relax on your mountain-view veranda, take a walk around the lake or cool off in the swimming pool - before we gather for a homecooked, candlelit dinner.
Day 3: Tracking Chimps in Kibale
It’s an early start as we head into the park for a day of chimp tracking. There are more than 1,200 chimpanzees in the park, and an expert guide will lead you to a chimp family, whom you can observe up close. See them forage on the ground for food, swing across the trees and call out across the canopy. Afterwards, it’s back to the hotel for lunch and a free afternoon.
Day 4: A Visit to Kibale Village
Today’s all about getting to know the locals. In the morning, we will visit a local community school to see how Ndali Lodge is supporting local children’s education, and in the afternoon, we’ll explore the surrounding coffee plantations and meet the farmers who grow the crop.
Day 5: Driving to Queen Elizabeth National Park
We say goodbye to Ndali Lodge this morning and take a drive south alongside the stunning Rwenzori Mountains . We’ll arrive at the Mazike Valley Lodge just in time for lunch, then head into Queen Elizabeth National Park for a game drive. It is Uganda’s largest safari park, home to lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and hyena, so there is sure to be plenty to see.
Day 6: Tracking and Spending Time with Rare Tree-Climbing Lions
You won’t believe your eyes this morning as we track tree-climbing lions and cubs. See them lounging lazily on tree branches high above the ground. With sophisticated tracking devices, you’re all-but-guaranteed to see a pride of these majestic animals in the wild. Later, we take an openair boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel to spot crocodiles, hippos and birds along the shoreline.
Day 7: Driving to Bwindi National Park
After breakfast at Mazike Valley Lodge, we’re back on the road. In the afternoon, we arrive at Mahogany Springs Lodge, a luxury hillside complex of thatched bungalows that sits just inside Bwindi National Park. After dinner, it’s early to bed in preparation for the big day tomorrow.
Day 8: Bwindi Gorilla Tracking Day
It’s the big one: gorilla day! We’ll start early and set off on a (moderate) hiking trail to track down some of the gorillas living in these forests - home to nearly half of the world's mountain gorillas. Along with a guide, we will be joined by a vet, who will collect stool samples as we’re getting up close and personal with the gorillas. That evening, we’ll help analyze these in the lab to check on the troop’s health. See next page for more details!
Day 9: A Community Visit in Bwindi
This morning, we visit a community-run charity project that supports women struggling with poverty, HIV and domestic violence. You’ll learn to weave baskets and pedal sew your own souvenirs – anything from a purse to a bandana – as well as enjoy a traditional dance (don’t worry, participation is optional!) We end today with a farewell dinner at Mahogany Springs.
Day 10: Flying to Entebbe and Home
After breakfast, hop on a flight back to Entebbe. For those with longer waits for their connecting flights home, we will head back to Boma Hotel to relax and enjoy a final dinner.
Day 1 : International outbound flight
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Entebbe.
Day 2 : Queen Elizabeth National Park
On arrival in Entebbe you will be met and driven to Queen Elizabeth National Park by your guide. You'll have a game drive this afternoon and settle in for the night.
Day 3 : Queen Elizabeth National Park
You'll have a full day of game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park today. The Kasenyi plains are where game viewing is best. These are the mating grounds of the famous Ugandan kob and there are plenty grazing on the plains along with buffalo, warthog and elephant. Lion are also very common here. Other predators include leopard, hyena and jackal and even if you're not lucky enough to spot any there is plenty of skeletal evidence scattered around the plains to prove their existence.
Day 4 : Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest today. You should get to Engagi Lodge in the mid/late afternoon and can relax here and enjoy the views over the beautiful Bwindi Forest.
Day 5 : Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla tracking day today! You will get up early and head to the park headquarters for your pre-trek briefing. You will then be driven by your guide to the start of your trek, which will take up to an hour and a half, depending on which gorilla group you are visiting. Start your trek from here, and then once you reach the gorillas, you can spend an hour watching them interact, play and eat. You will then trek back out of the forest to meet your guide who will drive you back to your lodge for a well-earned hot shower and dinner.
Day 6 : Zanzibar Island
You take a light aircraft from Bwindi to Entebbe today, where you can get some lunch (meal and drinks payable locally) before you take the afternoon flights to Nairobi and on to Zanzibar. Here you will be met and driven to your beach hotel.
Day 7 : Zanzibar Island
You can spend your time at the hotel doing as much or as little as you choose. The beach is a fantastic place to have a stroll or read a book under the shade of a palm tree, and the shady beach bar is a great spot for unwinding during the heat of the day. There isn't a dive centre on site, but if you want to arrange a dive or snorkelling trip, just ask the managers and they can point you towards the dive centre down the beach, or make the necessary arrangements for you. There are bicycles to hire, which are a fun way to explore under your own steam, too!
Day 8 : Zanzibar Island
We would highly recommend heading out on a snorkelling trip at some point during your stay - you will sail in a traditional dhow to one of the reefs, and can spend an hour or two watching the colourful marine life living in the corals off Zanzibar. This is a lovely way to spend a morning or afternoon and a good opportunity to sail on a dhow as well!
Day 9 : Zanzibar Island
One of our favourite things to do in Zanzibar is to visit one of the small-scale spice farms on the island - you get a really hands-on experience tasting and smelling the spices for which the island is famous, and children from nearby villages often run out to greet you. This can be easily arranged either in advance or when you're at the hotel, so you can see how you feel day by day.
Day 10 : Zanzibar Island
The dhow building sanctuary in the North of Zanzibar is a lovely place to visit if you want to see traditional craftsmanship at work.
Day 11 : Zanzibar Island
Another good way to spend a morning or afternoon if you're looking for a change of scene from the beach, is to visit the Jozani Forest in the centre of the island. It is home to the rare Kirk's red colobus monkeys endemic to the island, which are really entertaining to watch leap and play in the trees.
Day 12 : Zanzibar Island
For something completely different to the beach, you could head into Stone Town for a day trip - the town is located on the west coast, around an hour and a half away, and is a busy and fairly dusty town. However, it's full of shops and street stalls, so if you're looking to buy souvenirs this is the best place for it, and the narrow winding streets are reminiscent of Marrakech.
Day 13 : International return flight
You will check out of your room this morning but can store your bags and spend the day relaxing by the pool until you are picked up in the mid-afternoon and driven to the airport.
Day 14 : International return flight
Arrive home today to complete your journey.
