6 Days - Gorilla Tracking Expedition
A unique experience, tracking the endangered Gorillas at the famous Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, with experienced guide/ rangers, get close contact with their intelligent creatures in their natural habitat. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle and endangered giants, our distant cousins, with lasting memories to be cherished.
Destination: Kampala Hotel 2 Nights / Mbarara Hotel 1 Night / Travellers Rest Hotel, Kisoro 2 Nights
DAY 1: AIRPORT – HOTEL
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, met and welcomed by our company representative, transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
>>All meals and overnight at Sheraton Hotel or similar - (Dinner)
DAY 2: HOTEL – MBARARA HOTEL
An early morning start from Kampala takes you southwest and across the Equator. You drive through savannah grasslands seeing banana plantations and herds of Ankole cattle with their incredibly long curving horns. You then ascend into the Kigezi highlands, known as the "Switzerland of Africa", with terraced farming and mountain scenery, arrive at the hotel for lunch, time is spent at leisure, dinner and overnight.
>>All meals and overnight at Acacia Hotel or similar - (Lunch/Dinner)
DAY 3: HOTEL – KISORO HOTEL
After breakfast, check-out and depart to Kisoro town, a small town 45 minutes drive to the Gorilla Park, marvel at the beautiful scenery, sightseeing, passing through local villages with men herding their cattle’s, women going about their daily lives, arrive for lunch, later sort out your permit papers among others, time is spent at leisure, dinner and overnight.
>>All meals and overnight at Travellers Rest Hotel - (Lunch/Dinner)
DAY 4: GORILLA TRACKING – MBARARA HOTEL
After an early breakfast, depart with your packed lunches to the forest for an informative briefing from the park rangers. Proceed for the memorable adventure in the forest. This activity may take 2-6 hours depending on the movement of the animals. Once you track down the Gorillas, you will be able to stay with the animals for a maximum of one hour. Packed lunch will be provided. Hike back to park headquarters and transfer back to your hotel, arrive late evening.
>>All meals and overnight at Acacia Hotel - (Lunch/Dinner)
DAY 5: MBARARA – KAMPALA HOTEL
Breakfast, depart from the hotel and visit a cultural village, chance to meet the famous Ndorobo people, known to be the shortest in the world, mingle with the locals as they go about their daily chores, marvel at their culture, tradition and way of life, later you will be transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
>>All meals and overnight at Sheraton Hotel - (Dinner)
DAY 6: HOTEL – ENTEBBE AIRPORT
Breakfast, then later you will be picked, time will be advised, and transferred to Entebbe Airport for your flight back home.
Entebbe International Airport Uganda
Entebbe International Airport Uganda
Warm jacket for highland weather
Long sleeved trousers or shirt to prevent scratches from trekking in thick forest
Sunscreen and mosquito repellent
Camera and binoculars
Comfortable hiking shoes
Loose change for buying souvenirs from locals
All accommodation based on 2 people sharing a double room and meals as indicated
Gorilla permit in Uganda at USD $ 600 per person (payable in advance)
Government taxes
All transfers
Professional English speaking driver/guide. Foreign language speaking, on request
Bottle mineral water while on safari
Items of personal nature
Tipping of your guide
Drinks taken during meals
Our travelling guest is required to have a gorilla permit handled by each of the national parks to trek Eastern mountain gorillas. Usually you have to obtain a gorilla permit several months in advance. We always advise at least 5 months in advance or prior to your visit. While booking a gorilla tour, always pay your gorilla permit fee in advance to enable us acquire it for you. Gorilla trekking is guaranteed when you acquire a permit. Uganda and Rwanda gorilla permits are very competitive and scarce, especially during peak seasons of June, July, August, September, December and February. Sometimes gorilla tracking permits are sold out 4 months in advance so need to book your gorilla permits 3-4 month in advance. A gorilla permit is a document/card issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda to enable you trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi, Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park (Uganda). A permit allows you to view gorillas for only one hour but the trekking itself can take a minimum of 30 minutes or up to 9 hours while looking for gorillas in the forest. In Uganda, a gorilla permit to trek gorillas in Bwindi National Park or Mgahinga National Park costs USD 600 per day per person for a gorilla permit. You can book your gorilla permits in Kampala (the capital of Uganda) at the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) headquarters by paying USD600.00 for high season and USD450.00 per permit in Low season months of April, May and November but these months represent the wet season in Uganda so trekking usually becomes a little bit hard and slippery. If trekking gorilla in Uganda, make sure of the details when you book your permit for gorilla trekking, as it will determine the Region in which you will trek gorillas and the lodge/accommodation. Unlike other mountain gorilla National Parks, Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park has several sections and thus each section/region has its own gorilla families and accommodation properties.
These regions include Buhoma in the North, Ruhija in the East, Rushaga and Nkuring in the South. Each region has its own Gorilla groups or families and for those interested in trekking a specific region should let us (Wamala Safaris Ltd) know so that we may act accordingly when booking your gorilla permit. Please note that the gorilla family allocation happens on the day of trekking where tourists are grouped depending on their physical abilities and interest. You will need to express your interest so that they allocate you a gorilla group that will help you achieve it. Please contact us with date/month and year when you want to trek gorillas in Uganda after having a word with your regulars, we will check availability of gorilla permits and inform you. We will send you an invoice and once you have transferred you funds on to our account, we will pre purchase your permits and send you scanned copies. To help us do this, you need to send us the interested regular's passport details which are needed by Uganda Wildlife Authority in order to print and issue your gorilla permits.
Before departing on your gorilla tracking, a maximum number of 8 visitors may visit a group of habituated mountain gorillas in a day. This minimizes behavioral disturbance to the gorillas and the risk of their exposure to human-borne diseases.
Always wash your hands before you head out to the gorillas.
In the event of clients cancelling their reservations Xtreme Safari Africa shall have the right either to claim the total amount of any deposit paid by such client or to claim any damages suffered by the company. In accordance with the international policy adopted by tour operators Xtreme Safari Africa reserves the right to cancel any tour before departure in which event the entire payment will be refunded without any further obligation on the part of the Company. If you wish to cancel your booking you must advise us immediately. You will be liable to pay the following cancellation charges:
• When we have a signed booking form and the reservation is cancelled (even without a deposit received), Xtreme Safari Africa shall have the right to claim any damages suffered by the company due to this cancellation.
• Where your booking is for a package, you will be responsible for all cancellation charges, of whatsoever nature, imposed by the suppliers providing the component parts of such travel arrangements.
• Xtreme Safari Africa charges a cancellation fee equal to 40% of the package price on any finalized booking. However, Xtreme Safari Africa reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee of up to 100% of the total package, in its sole discretion, in particular circumstances. Any monies, which you have already paid to Xtreme Safari Africa, will be taken by us as payment or part payment of any cancellation charges.
Booking Conditions
Please read the following booking conditions carefully, as they set out the terms and conditions of the contract between you and Xtreme Safari Africa. Bookings for our services will form a direct contract between you and the Xtreme Safari Africa, and will be subject to our standard terms and conditions.
GENERAL CONDITIONS
Xtreme Safari Africa shall not be liable for injury, damage or loss including consequential loss to any person or their possessions how so ever caused, including personal injury, disease or death caused by or contributed to by negligence by the corporation, its employees or agents. Xtreme Safari Africa shall not be liable for any claims or if any additional expenses incurred through delays, accidents, or disruption of planned itineraries beyond the control of Xtreme Safari Africa (e.g.: flight delays, wars, strikes, weather, act of God, etc) or considered advisable by us, such expenses are to be borne by the client. If Xtreme Safari Africa considers any client as an unsuitable person for any tour, it may in its absolute discretion, cancel such client’s booking or decline to carry such person further. All baggage including personal items is at all times and in all circumstances at "owner’s risk". The information in the brochures, circular, leaflets and other advertisements issued by Xtreme Safari Africa is given in good faith and unless specifically stated shall not form part of any contract between the client and Xtreme Safari Africa. No agent, servant, representative or client of Xtreme Safari Africa has any right to alter, vary or waive any of these conditions. While every precaution is taken on the tour, Xtreme Safari Africa does not hold itself responsible for death or any injury or loss, which might occur to such persons sustained from any cause whatsoever. The client hereby indemnifies and holds Xtreme Safari Africa harmless against any and all claims in respect of personal injury or damages, either direct or consequential arising from any cause whatsoever as a result of the participation by the client and persons under his authority on the tour.
BOOKING CONDITIONS
A deposit of 25% (non-refundable) is required to secure a booking. The exchange rate on the date of final payment will be used as the basis to calculate the balance of your tour package. The balance of payment is due no later than 30 days prior to date of departure. Bookings shall be considered full and paid up once a final invoice has been issued and paid within 48 hours of the issuing of such an invoice. Should the invoice not be paid within this time, Xtreme Safari Africa reserves the right to re-issue the invoice if increases in foreign exchange rates or any other related costs occur. Booking confirmations are not released until Xtreme Safari Africa has received full payment & a complete signed booking form.
CANCELLATIONS
In the event of clients cancelling their reservations Xtreme Safari Africa shall have the right either to claim the total amount of any deposit paid by such client or to claim any damages suffered by the company. In accordance with the international policy adopted by tour operators Xtreme Safari Africa reserves the right to cancel any tour before departure in which event the entire payment will be refunded without any further obligation on the part of the Company. If you wish to cancel your booking you must advise us immediately. You will be liable to pay the following cancellation charges:
• When we have a signed booking form and the reservation is cancelled (even without a deposit received), Xtreme Safari Africa shall have the right to claim any damages suffered by the company due to this cancellation.
• Where your booking is for a package, you will be responsible for all cancellation charges, of whatsoever nature, imposed by the suppliers providing the component parts of such travel arrangements.
• Xtreme Safari Africa charges a cancellation fee equal to 40% of the package price on any finalized booking. However, Xtreme Safari Africa reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee of up to 100% of the total package, in its sole discretion, in particular circumstances. Any monies, which you have already paid to Xtreme Safari Africa, will be taken by us as payment or part payment of any cancellation charges.
TOUR LEADER RESPONSIBILITY
The traveler who signs the booking form for and on behalf of all travelers will be responsible for passing on all information, vouchers, schedule changes or any other information forwarded by Xtreme Safari Africa to him/her/them. Xtreme Safari Africa does not take any responsibility for failure to do so.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is strongly advised that all clients take out adequate insurance cover such as cancellation due to illness, accident or injury, personal accident and personal liability, loss of or damage to baggage and sports equipment. Xtreme Safari Africa will not be responsible or liable if the client fails to take adequate insurance cover or at all. Kindly check with the respective credit card companies in order to obtain specific details for the cover of your credit cards as well.
PASSPORTS, VACCINATIONS, VISAS & INOCULATIOINS
It is entirely the clients duty to ensure that all passports & visas are current, valid, obtained on time and that any vaccinations, inoculations, prophylactics (e.g. for malaria) and the like, where required, have been obtained. Xtreme Safari Africa and their staff cannot be held liable for any required travel documents such as visas, etc. not held by the guests, nor can it be held liable for the cost of obtaining visas and other required documents. Passports must be valid for 6 months after return to South Africa.
UNSCEDULED EXTENSIONS / CHANGES In the unlikely event of there being an unscheduled extension to the holiday caused by flight delays, bad weather, strikes or any other cause which is beyond the control of Xtreme Safari Africa, it is understood that expenses relating to those unscheduled extensions will be for the passenger’s account. Whilst Xtreme Safari Africa uses its best endeavors to ensure that all anticipated accommodation is available as planned, there shall be no claim of any nature whatsoever against Xtreme Safari Africa for a refund either in the whole or part, if any accommodation or excursion is unavailable and a reasonable alternative is found. If the guest is unable to use any of the services provided in the amended itinerary, no refunds will be due. In the event when the itinerary must be re-route by our service providers Xtreme Safari Africa cannot be held responsible.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Documents (vouchers, itineraries, etc.) are only prepared on receipt of full payment of the package price, and signed & completed Booking Form, and will be ready 48 hours after payment has been received. It is important that you check all details of your travel documents (including your itinerary) before leaving. If there are any inaccuracies on any of your travel documents, or should you have any further queries, you should contact your travel agent immediately. Xtreme Safari Africa will not be liable for any delay and/or loss occasioned as a result of any inaccuracies on any travel documents once you are in receipt thereof and you have left.
BREAK-AWAYS, CLAIMS & REFUNDS
Except for verifiable extenuating circumstances, refunds are not made for any missed tour services. Whilst it is possible to break away from the planned holiday itineraries, it is understood that such break-aways will be for the passenger’s account and there will be no refunds under any circumstances for unused services unless prior arrangements have been made with Xtreme Safari Africa prior to the issue of documentation. Refunds will not be made for unused sightseeing trips or meals. Xtreme Safari Africa will not accept any liability for any claims that are not received within 7 days of the termination of your tour.
COMPLAINTS
In the event that you have any reason to complain, or experience any problems with your holiday whilst away, you must immediately inform the supplier of the services in question. If you are still dissatisfied, you must notify Xtreme Safari Africa immediately to enable us to resolve the problem. Failure to give us the opportunity to resolve any problem at the time it occurs may result in either a reduction, or complete extinction, of any rights which you may have to claim compensation. If you remain dissatisfied, contact your booking consultant with full details of your complaint.