Compare Antarctic Explorer by Exodus Travels vs Gorillas of Uganda by Swain Destinations
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
|
5 | Excellent
|
| Duration | 11 days | 6 days |
| Price From | $ 7,976 | $ 4,120 |
| Price Per Day | $ 725 | $ 687 |
| Highlights |
|
N/A
|
| Trip Style | Small group tour | N/A |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
|
|
| Travel Themes |
|
N/A |
| Countries Visited | N/A | |
| Cities and Attractions |
|
N/A |
| Flights & Transport | No | No |
| Activities |
|
N/A |
| Meals Included | All meals while on the ship included. Typical Meals The ships galley offers good quality service and cuisine throughout, with excellent chefs preparing international menus including vegetarian dishes, accompanied by a wide variety of drinks from around the world on sale. Breakfast: Buffet style – unlimited tea and coffee, a selection of fruit juices, hot options including bacon and eggs or omelettes, a selection of bread and toast and jam/honey/marmalade, fruit and cereal. Lunch: Three course set meal or buffet, or the occasional BBQ. Dinner: Three or four courses with a starter of soup and/or salad, a choice of mains with at least one vegetarian option and a dessert, with tea and coffee. Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this holiday - please do inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so that our local team can be well prepared. | N/A |
| Description |
Towering blue icebergs, vast penguin colonies, whales, seals and glaciers, right in the heart of the Western Peninsula |
This incredible itinerary leads you on a journey tracking these peaceful primates in their natural habitats as you discover the Gorillas of Uganda . Spend days trekking and spotting these massive animals in their natural habitat. The perfect itinerary for any animal lover, this trek deep into Uganda brings you to the animals; and action! |
Day 1 Start Ushuaia, Argentina
Begin your journey in Ushuaia, a small but bustling port town at the tip of South America. This Argentine town is an ideal gateway for you to explore the southern extent of Patagonia while preparing for your adventure ahead. Get active in the mountains or enjoy handcrafted chocolate at a café in town.
Day 2 Board ship and sail along the Beagle Channel
The morning is free to explore Ushuaia and the surrounding area, to do some last minute shopping, stroll around Ushuaia and down to the port or maybe go for a walk in the nearby National Park. The transfer to the ship takes place in the afternoon. Once on board there is a get together for introductions to the expedition team, to learn about the ship and its layout, talk about the itinerary for the next 10 days and participate in the obligatory lifeboat drill. Departure from Ushuaia is normally around 6:00 p.m, and we set sail through the Beagle Channel in the early evening. The long days mean plenty of evening light in which to experience the beauty of the channel, and to perhaps enjoy your first wildlife sightings.
Day 3 - 4 Cross the Drake Passage
Sea conditions in the Drake Passage can vary from dead calm (known as 'Drake Lake'), to rough and stormy (known as 'Drake Shake'). As you cross the Drake Passage our team of experts is out on deck to help you spot whales and identify seabirds. There is also a programme of talks, covering the wildlife, the ice, and polar history to prepare you for your adventure to the 'White Continent'. The excitement intensifies as you cross the Antarctic Convergence, where the cold waters of the Antarctic Ocean meet the warmer waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. You feel the change as the air gets cooler. Huge icebergs loom up against the horizon in increasing numbers, and Wandering albatrosses, petrels and other birds which thrive in this cold, remote ocean are frequently seen.
Day 5 - 8 South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula
The most common reaction upon reaching the White Continent is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is beyond words, since few places are as untouched and enduring as Antarctica. You will begin to appreciate why this region has long captivated the attention of explorers and travellers alike. Every time we visit Antarctica, we witness something new or unexpected, which means that your expedition will be unlike any other - creating a unique, personal experience. Each day, you will take Zodiac excursions from the ship to explore local bays, channels and landing sites. Your Expedition Team will take care of you at each landing, whether you are hiking the Antarctic landscape, visiting a research station or consorting with Chinstrap, Adélie and Gentoo penguins, all of which can be found here. Keep an eye out for Weddell, Fur, Crabeater and Leopard seals as well as curious whales, such as Humpbacks, Fins, or perhaps Orcas while on a Zodiac cruise. Each excursion will present a new collection of creatures to delight you and keep your camera busy. Amid the serene silence of Antarctica, noisy interludes become indelible memories, such as penguins squabbling over prized pebbles, or the boom and crack of a calving glacier. Every day will be different, having been carefully crafted by your Expedition Team to inspire and educate you about this wonderful part of the world.
Day 9 - 10 Sail back through the Drake Passage
Leaving the Antarctic Peninsula behind, our ship heads back across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage. The crossing is completed with the rounding of Cape Horn, weather permitting.
Day 11 Disembark and end in Ushuaia
In the early morning we arrive back in Ushuaia where your voyage ends. You will be transferred either to town on to the airport for your onward flight to Buenos Aires.
Day 1 : Entebbe
Today you will begin your Swain Destinations customized itinerary. Please note, international air has not been included in this package price.
Day 2 : Entebbe
Today you arrive at Entebbe International Airport, where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your accommodation for overnight. Uganda is saturated in color; the outstanding natural beauty of its people and its landscapes have always stirred inspiration in travelers and residents. Ecologically, Uganda is where the East African Savannah meets the West African jungle. Where else but in this impossibly lush country can one observe lions prowling the open plains in the morning and track chimpanzees through the rainforest undergrowth the same afternoon, then the next day navigate tropical channels teeming with hippo and crocs before setting off into the misty mountains to stare deep into the eyes of a mountain gorilla?
Day 3 : Bwindi impenetrable forest
Transfer from your accommodation to the airport for your charter flight to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Upon arrival into Bwindi, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation for overnight. In the jungles of this forest lives half the world's population of highly endangered Mountain Gorillas. This pocket of huge primeval forest in the Virunga Mountain range is one of the most biologically diverse areas on Earth and has therefore been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The forest floor is damp and laden with leaf mold, matted vegetation and fallen vines. Clamber up and down the slippery slopes in search of a glimpse of the elusive gorillas.
Day 4 : Bwindi impenetrable forest
You depart this morning for a trek into the depths of Bwindi National Park. You will be led by experienced trackers who will bring you amongst a family of mountain gorillas. The incredible primates are extremely rare; with only 700 remaining in the wild very few people in the world are lucky enough to see them in their natural habitat.
Day 5 : Bwindi impenetrable forest
The day begins with an early breakfast and after breakfast head out for another day of tracking these peaceful giants.
Day 6 : Entebbe
This morning you will fly back to Entebbe where you will be met and transferred to your accommodation for the night.
Day 7 : Entebbe
Today you will depart Uganda. You will be collected from your accommodation and transferred to Entebbe Airport to connect with your departure back to the USA. Call today and complete this itinerary with Swain Destinations’ exclusive international airfares.
