gorilla and chimpanzee safari

Transcription

1 Chimps of Tanzania DAY BY DAY ITINERARY gorilla and chimpanzee safari OVERVIEW: CHIMPS OF TANZANIA In the remote Mahale National Park, 80 miles south of where explorers Stanley and Linvingstone first met, wild chimpanzees have made the mountain forests near Lake Tanganyika their home. There are no roads in this park: humans enter only on foot or travel along the coast by boat. The chimpanzee have been habituated by a group of researchers from Kyoto University. Their efforts offer you excellent rewards: close encounters with chimps and the opportunity to sit quietly and observe chimpanzee family life as it unfolds around you. Spend time in close proximity as you watch playful primates interact, eat, and move through the wilderness. Beyond the chimpanzees, Mahale is also home to gorgeous butterfly and bird life as well as other smaller primates. Relax on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and enjoy kayaking, fishing, and other water activities in this piece of paradise. Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safaris with Deeper Africa Gorilla and chimpanzee safaris are for those who understand that interacting with local communities is not just about interacting with other humans. Stand within feet of mountain gorillas and be accepted into their community without a sideways glance. Trek with confidence, knowing you ll have success watching these gentle creatures. With chimpanzees, you ll hear the rustle of leaves and breaking of branches. You may even hear loud hooting calls bouncing through the trees as the chimps call out to family members. It starts with these sounds and then suddenly you are among them.

2 DAY 1 KUNGWE BEACH LODGE MAHALE NATIONAL PARK Depart on a bush flight from the Arusha airport to the Mahale National Park Airstrip. Staff from Kungwe Beach Lodge, your home for the next three nights, will be waiting to greet you. From there you will board a traditional dhow boat which will take you along the coastline of Lake Tanganyika and deep into the wilderness to your camp on the edge of the Mahale Forest. There are no roads in this park. Humans enter only on foot or travel along the coastline by boat. Enjoy the tranquility of an environment where you will trade the busy roar of traffic for the songs of the forest birds and the sound of the breeze blowing across the water. Lunch Dinner Wifi After you arrive, check in to your cottage, and enjoy lunch. You ll have the afternoon to enjoy one of the many activities available to you at Kungwe: Hippo viewing on Lake Tanganyika s coastline Relaxing or reading on the beach Swimming or snorkeling in Lake Tanganyika Afternoon on the water for kayaking, boating, or traditional fishing, and Hiking in the forest to observe birds and local primates.

3 DAY 2 KUNGWE BEACH LODGE MAHALE NATIONAL PARK Rise early for breakfast at camp while you wait for word from the park rangers. The rangers communicate daily with the forest trackers who let them know when they have spotted the chimps. Once their location is know, you will begin your trek alongside your guide into the forests of Mahale. Expect to walk between 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on your destination. First, you ll hear the rustle of leaves and breaking of branches. You may even hear loud hooting cries bouncing through the trees as the chimps call out to family members. Then suddenly, you are among them. Take a seat on the forest floor. You ll likely get the best view of their unique behavior from this vantage point. Breakfast Lunch Dinner Wifi The chimps of Mahale have been observed by researchers from Kyoto University since They are among the most habituated chimps in the world, meaning they do not fear humans and are comfortable getting close to you. The rangers will let you stay with the chimps for 1 to 2 hours at a time depending on the number of visitors in the park that day. Be prepared to follow the chimps if they decide to move on.

4 DAY 3 KUNGWE BEACH LODGE MAHALE NATIONAL PARK Spend another day amongst the mischievous primates in Mahale National Park. If the chimps are not enough, this park is also home to other tree-dwelling wildlife including the Angola colobus, red colobus, red-tailed monkeys, and blue monkeys. Hike through the trees to get a view of the robust bird life and look for butterflies fluttering by. Lake Tanganyika offers some of the best fresh water fishing in Tanzania. Here you can catch Sangara (Nile Perch), as well as Kuhe (Yellow Belly), to name just a few. Breakfast Lunch Dinner Wifi African Bush Camps Foundation

5 DAY 4 INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL Mbali Mbali Enjoy one last beautiful morning on the shores of Lake Tanganika. Savor the feel of sand beneath your toes before departing as you arrived, via dhow. You ll then board a bush flight back to Arusha. Depending on the time of your international flight, you may have the afternoon to explore Tanzania s safari capital and shop for locally made crafts. A Deeper Africa driver will transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home. Breakfast International Flight #1 Departs: Kilimanjaro International Airport Arrives: TBD DAY 5 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT International Flight #2 Departs: TBD Arrives: TBD

6 ADDITIONAL SAFARI INFORMATION IN YOUR SAFARI Full board accommodations in all lodges and tented camps All meals All park and entrance fees Experienced and professional safari naturalist guides All in-country transportation Laundry available at some lodges and camps Bottled water available at all times Extensive pre-departure briefing and materials including health information, reading list, and map EXCLUDED IN YOUR SAFARI Gratuities Alcohol and some beverages in some camps and lodges We plan your wildlife adventures in areas where wildlife habitats are known to exist for the season and time you are traveling. Still, animals in the areas you are viewing are not in a zoo. They run freely, and we cannot always anticipate their movements. Also, Deeper Africa uses best efforts to provide the lodging set out in this itinerary, but occasionally there are circumstances that occur in Africa that require lodging substitutions. We reserve the right to make comparable lodging substitutions whenever necessary pricing $4,299 - $6, CUSTOM DEPARTURE DATES & PRICING Kungwe Beach Lodge Option: Best Value January 1 - February 25, May 16-31, November - December, 2017: $4,299 USD per person June - October, 2017: $4,699 USD per person Single Supplement: $699 USD per person Greystoke Mahale Upscale Option: January 5 - March 15, November 1 - December 21, 2017 $4,599 USD per person Single Supplement: $699 USD per person January 1-4, June - October, December 22-31, 2017 $6,599 USD per person Single Supplement: $1,299 USD per person All pricing is in US dollars. International arrivals and departures are through Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Prices do not include international airfare. Prices do include in-country flights. All itineraries and prices are subject to change. Chimpanzee permit prices fluctuate; pricing subject to Tanzania park fees Manhattan Circle, Suite 202 Boulder, Colorado fx gorilla and chimpanzee safaris