14-DAY PRIMATE and PLAINS SAFARI TO UGANDA AND RWANDA

Transcription

1 14-DAY PRIMATE and PLAINS SAFARI TO UGANDA AND RWANDA Kibale Forest/Queen Elizabeth Park/Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda 2018 DEPARTURES: JAN 20 (Saturday) JUN 30 (Saturday) SEP 01 (Saturday) Program highlights: On these special AAC Signature departures experience the thrill of two gorilla treks, one in Bwindi, Uganda & one in Volcanoes, Rwanda. You travel as a small group (6 persons maximum) driving from park to park with your driver/guides. Vehicles are 4x4 s with seven seats. Begin your primate experience with chimp trekking in Kibale Forest. Game viewing is a hidden delight with game drive opportunities looking for wildlife at Queen Elizabeth in the open plains. Uganda, "The Pearl of Africa", is situated astride the Equator and boasts a wide and diverse landscape - from rugged, snow-capped mountains to the vast flat lands. After the release of the feature film, Gorillas in the Mist, about the late Dian Fossey s pioneering work habituating the gorillas, interest in gorilla trekking reached new heights in Rwanda. We have negotiated Special AAC Pricing!! 2601 East Oakland Park Boulevard, Suite 600 Fort Lauderdale, Florida U.S.A Tel: Tel: Fax: safari@africanadventure.com

2 ITINERARY SUMMARY Day Destination Accommodation Fly USA-Europe-Entebbe Protea Hotel Entebbe 03 Drive Entebbe to Kibale Kyaninga Lodge 04 2 Chimp Treks Kibale Kyaninga Lodge 05 Game drive to Queen Elizabeth N.P. Mweya Lodge 06 Private boat ride on Kazinga Channel Queen Elizabeth 07 Game drives Ishasha region Queen Elizabeth Mweya Lodge Ishasha Wilderness Camp 08 Drive to Bwindi Gorilla Forest Camp 09 1 st Gorilla Trek Bwindi Gorilla Forest Camp 10 (optional trek) Bwindi Gorilla Forest Camp 11 Drive Bwindi Volcanoes N.P Mountain Gorilla View Lodge 12 2 nd Gorilla Trek - Volcanoes Drive to Kigali Kigali Serena Hotel 13 Fly Kigali-Europe-USA 14 Fly Europe-USA Our Guides in Uganda/Rwanda: are carefully selected to bring an excellent knowledge of the areas you will visit and have built up an excellent camaraderie with our clients over the years. As you spend your time on safari with the same guide you maximize seeing and doing everything and coming away at the end of a trip with a friend for life.

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4 GORILLA TREKKING - Each hike to visit the chimpanzees or gorillas can take anywhere from 4 hours to about 8 hours depending where you find the primates. Some of the hikes can be strenuous so a HIGH level of fitness is required at altitudes of over 5000ft. Each gorilla group may be visited by up to eight tourists per day. - The climb begins through the lower slopes. As the slopes become steeper and rockier, the vegetation becomes thick and tangled; the guides must use their machetes to help clear a path. Huge trees, clinging vines and undergrowth add to the challenge of swift streams and slippery mud underfoot. Usually at around 8,000 foot signs of the huge animals become apparent. Once you find them you will have an hour of viewing. - There are approximately 800 mountain gorillas left in the world today and an estimated 340 of them reside in Uganda s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Currently there are twelve gorilla families that are habituated and able to be visited on a daily basis. - Appropriately called The Country of a Thousand Hills, Rwanda is predominantly grassy uplands and hills, with altitudes above sea level varying from a low of 3,960 feet (1,207 m) to Mt. Karisimbi, the highest of a range of extinct volcanoes in the northwest, which reach 14,786 feet (4,507 m). There are twelve gorilla groups currently acclimated for tourist visits in Volcanoes. Based on the Buhoma/Ruhijha side of Bwindi there are 6 families: Habinyanja 16 members one silverback, three black-back, three adult females, one sub-adult, two juveniles & six infants. Mubare 15 members - one silverback, seven adult females, two juveniles and five infants. Rushegura 12 members - one silverback, two black-backs, three adult females, one sub-adults, three juveniles and two infants. Bitukura Oruzogo Kyaguriro 14 members - four silverbacks, two black-back, three adult females, one sub-adult, two juveniles and two infants. (Based near Ruhijha) 16 members two silverbacks, two black-backs, five adult females, two juveniles and five infants. (Based near Ruhijha) 19 members one silverback, two black-backs, seven adult females, one sub-adult, one juvenile and seven infants. (Based near Ruhijha) Based on the Nkuringo/Rushaga side (Kisoro region south), of Bwindi there are 6 gorilla families: Nkuringo Nshongi Mishaya Kahungye Busingye Bweza 12 members - two silverbacks, two adult females, two sub-adults, four juveniles, two infants. 6 members - one silverback, three adult females, one juvenile and one infant. 9 members one silverback, two black-back, three adult females, two juveniles and one infant. 24 members three silverbacks, three black-backs, five adult females, four sub-adults, five juveniles and four infants. 8 members one silverback, three adult females, one juvenile and three infants. 10 members one silverback, four black-backs, two adult females, one sub-adults, one juvenile and one infant.

5 Based at Volcanoes in Rwanda there are 12 families: Susa Igisha Isimbi Sabyinyo Amahoro Umubano Agashya Hirwa Kwitonda Muhoza Isabukuru Mafunzo 18 members including 3 silverbacks and 6 juveniles and infants. 25 members including 4 silverbacks and 10 juveniles and infants. 16 members including 1 silverback and 8 juveniles and infants. 16 members including 3 silverbacks and 6 juveniles and infants. 18 members including 4 silverbacks and 7 juveniles and infants. 12 members including 4 silverbacks and 4 juveniles and infants. 21 members including 1 silverback and 7 juveniles and infants. 18 members including 1 silverback and 10 juveniles and infants. 29 members including 2 silverbacks and 12 juveniles and infants. 7 members including 1 silverback and 2 juveniles and infants. 14 members including 1 silverback and 5 juveniles and infants. 12 members including 1 silverback and 3 juveniles and infants. GORILLA FAMILIES Gorillas are very sociable animals, living in groups of three to thirty. Being sedentary, they are continually looking for food in a living space that is comparatively restricted. They are active only during the daytime and build nests in which they pass the night. The nests built in trees are occupied by the females and young ones, while the males seem to prefer nests on the ground. Their food consists mainly of leaves, buds, tubers and sorts of wild celery from the umbelliferous family. Damage to the vegetation is an obvious sign as the gorillas relish the young tender shoots and break older stems to suck the sap. The smell of gorilla may waft by in the stray breeze or, if one is really near, it is strong and unmistakable. Sounds, which can be remarkably loud crashes or dull reverberating growls of contentment, tell the visitor that the troop is nearby. The troop consists usually of a dominant male and up to five or more females and their young. It is basically a stable family with the young only leaving after they reach sexual maturity. Females join another group while young males remain solitary until they have an opportunity of forming their own troop.

6 Their great size, extraordinary strength and the fact that they live in mysterious forests of luxuriant vegetation, have contributed to the mystique. This primate is of impressive dimensions; some silverback males attain over six feet in height and weigh more than 440 pounds. The head is massive and the huge jaws are equipped with powerful teeth. Far from being an aggressive animal, as the legends claim, the gorilla is gentle and peaceful in its habits. It is only when threatened that he adopts an intimidating attitude in which he howls in a most frightful way and beats his chest with his fists. Should you find yourself in his presence when he feels threatened, you will be advised to assume a submissive, non-threatening attitude. Once his confidence has been restored, the gorilla goes on about his business accepting you. There are few animals in Africa about which so many legends circulate. His enormous size, his extraordinary strength and the fact that he lives in mysterious forests of luxuriant vegetation, have contributed to his mystique. This primate is of impressive dimensions; some silverback males attain over six feet in height and weigh more than 440 pounds. The head is massive and the huge jaws are equipped with powerful teeth. Far from being an aggressive animal, as the legends claim, the gorilla is gentle and peaceful in its habits. It is only when threatened that he adopts an intimidating attitude in which he howls in a most frightful way and beats his chest with his fists.

7 ITINERARY DAY 01 USA/EUROPE Depart this evening on an overnight flight to Europe. DAY 02 EUROPE/ENTEBBE Arrive in Europe this morning. Connect with your international flight to Entebbe. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Entebbe sits on the northern shores of Lake Victoria and features Uganda s international airport. The city is 23 miles southwest from Kampala, the largest city and capital. Entebbe is the jumping off point for many safaris. Protea Hotel Entebbe is a brand new property located on the shores of Lake Victoria and a five minute drive from the international airport. The hotel features 73 rooms with en suite modern bathrooms, inroom safes, individual air-conditioning and satellite television. Deluxe rooms have views of the beach and lake. Guests enjoy a restaurant serving meals throughout the day, a swimming pool, expansive gardens and a palm tree lined beach. Accommodation: Protea Hotel Entebbe (B) DAY 03 ENTEBBE/KIBALE This morning you will be met by your guide and vehicle and drive to your lodge in Kibale Forest (7 hours) with lunch en-route. You will pass through Fort Portal, forest and tea plantations. Kibale Forest is approximately 296 square miles of lowland tropical rain forest, tropical deciduous forest, marshes, grasslands and crater lakes, and is the best place in Uganda for chimpanzee trekking. Kibale is also home to ten other species of primates, including black-and-white colobus monkey, red colobus, graycheeked mangabey and red-tailed monkey. Other wildlife includes blue duiker, Harvey s red duiker, bushbuck, bushpig and over 100 species of butterflies. This park is also excellent for birding.

8 Kyaninga Lodge is set against a stunning backdrop of Lake Kyaninga near Kibale Forest National Park. Perched atop a hill overlooking a crater lake, the lodge enjoys panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The lodge features eight cottages built on platforms with beautiful appointments of Egyptian cotton bed linen, soft feather pillows, indoor sitting area with a private deck, en suite bathroom with a claw footed freestanding bath and glass walled shower. Hot water and lighting in the cottages are solar powered. The main lodge is a spectacular wood structure with comfortable seating areas around the double-sided fire place. Enjoy delicious local cuisine in the dining room and meet other guests over a sunset cocktail in the lounge. There is a large swimming pool with chaise lounges and expansive decking to soak up the African rays between activities. Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge (Full Board) DAY 04 KIBALE FOREST An early start to meet your guide and enter the forest in search of chimpanzees and ten other primate species including red colobus monkey, blues, red tails and grey-cheeked mangabey. CHIMP WALK IN KIBALE FOREST: Kibale National Park has over 1500 Chimpanzees. Each chimp family is meant to be visited by maximum 8 people with 36 permits available in the morning and afternoon. Upon arrival and check-in, Park Rangers advise guests which trek they will take based on where the chimps previously nested. This is an easy walk on well-marked trails in this beautiful rain forest, there is very little undergrowth due to the full canopy overhead. Even though considered easy, it is advisable to wear trekking boots and have rain gear available. Lasting for 3 to 5 hours the main objective is to see chimps in their natural habitat. Often in the tree tops feeding, and if you are lucky, on the ground or even a chance to observe the chimps hunting colobus. These are 100% wild chimps that are now habituated and tolerate humans in their territory. In the dry season when there is scarcity of the preferred food for chimps, they will move longer distances to find their food. There is one Habituated family with over 120 individuals which due to its size and spreading out when searching for food, is rare to see this family all at once. Please note that if the chimpanzee group is too far to reach within the normal walking time, the Ranger guides tend to reroute visitors to an already sighted group. It is under these circumstances that you may meet up with other visitors. Occasionally, guests doing the chimp trekking (for only an hour) might end up joining those doing the Habituation experience. The guests doing Chimp Trekking then will move on and leave the others trekkers doing the Habituation. Continue on a second chimp walk this afternoon

9 In addition to escorted morning and afternoon walks, the park offers a full-day Chimpanzee Experience. Depart from camp early in the morning and join up with the research team who are involved with the habituation and research of a separate chimp group. The program starts at 6:00am, spending the entire day with the family group of chimpanzees, observing them waking up, feeding, playing, resting up and even building their nests allowing guests to observe the chimps. This program needs to be booked in advance and is not always available. Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge (Full Board) DAY 05 KIBALE FOREST/QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (3-4 hours) following the Ruwenzori Mountain Range. Enjoy game viewing enroute. This evening you will have a night game drive. The park contains about 770 square miles of tremendous scenic variety, including volcanic craters and crater lakes, grassy plains, swamps, rivers, lakes and tropical forest. The snowcapped Ruwenzori Mountains lie to the north and are not part of the park itself. The park is home to large herds of hippo and various waterfowl often seen while boating through Kazinga Channel. There is also a population of chimpanzees and other primate species often found in the Chambura Gorge area. The Ishasha region to the south of the park is home to the famous tree-climbing lions. Other game present in the park include, elephant, buffalo, leopard, sitatunga, giant forest hog, Uganda kob, and Defassa waterbuck. Queen Elizabeth National Park is excellent for birding.

10 Mweya Lodge is positioned on a bluff with stunning views overlooking the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward and the Ruwenzori Mountains in the background. The lodge has been completely renovated to a high standard with lovely rooms, en suite facilities, restaurant, bar, outside dining area and swimming pool. Accommodation: Mweya Lodge (Full Board) 2x Standard Tents and 2x Deluxe Rooms DAY 06 QUEEN ELIZABETH Early morning game drive and then a mid- morning board the launch for a cruise on Kazinga Channel. This afternoon you will have a game drive. Accommodation: Mweya Lodge (Full Board) 2x Standard Tents and 2x Deluxe Rooms DAY 07 QUEEN ELIZABETH - ISHASHA REGION Following breakfast, depart to your camp in the Ishasha Region, enjoying a game drive enroute. This afternoon you will have an afternoon game drive. Ishasha Wilderness Camp is located in the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth National Park on the Ntungwe River. This exclusive tented camp offers 10 spacious Meru tents with en suite bathrooms and dressing area with a hot water bush shower and eco-friendly toilet. The central lounge area features the dining room and bar under canvas as well an outdoor dining area and evening fire pit next to the river. The camp has been designed to be as low impact as possible with minimal usage of water and solar power. Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp (Full Board)

11 DAY 08 QUEEN ELIZABETH -ISHASHA REGION/BWINDI Enjoy an early morning game drive and then continue by road to your camp in Bwindi (approx. 5-6 hour drive, not including game viewing). You will pass through tea plantations and road side markets along the way. The major attraction of the 127-square-mile (330-km 2 ) Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is the population of over 300 gorillas known to inhabit the park, that are in fact a different sub-species (yet to be named) from the mountain gorillas of Rwanda. Bwindi is a forest of enormous hardwood trees, giant ferns, tangled undergrowth and hanging vines - the quintessential equatorial jungle. The size and altitudinal range of montane and lowland forests at Bwindi support more species of trees, ferns, birds and butterflies than any other forest in East Africa. It is also the only one which contains both chimpanzees and gorillas. Gorilla Forest Camp is a luxury permanent tented camp within the Bwindi National Park. There are eight spacious tents with verandah and en suite facilities. There is a separate bar and dining cottage that overlooks the lush rain forest. Accommodation: Gorilla Forest Camp (Full Board) DAY 09 BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST This morning you will depart on your first gorilla trek taking a picnic lunch with you. The hike usually begins at 8:00am where you depart with 6 trekkers total plus your guides, park trackers, armed rangers and any porters that you hire to carry your backpacks. Your trek begins as your guide looks for nests used by the gorillas the night before and then follow their signs (usually 1-2 hours). Once you find them you strictly spend one hour watching and photographing. After lunch you walk back down to Park base (2-3 hours). You should be back at camp by 3:00-4:00pm. However there are days when the trek can be longer! Accommodation: Gorilla Forest Camp (Full Board)

12 DAY 10 BWINDI Today you can participate in an additional gorilla trek or enjoy one of the activities below (additional costs apply): 1) Forest Walks - a. The Muyanga River Trail lies outside the national park and so no guide is required. It takes roughly 30 minutes, starting at the end of Buhoma Road, from where it follows the Bizenga River to its confluence with the Muyanga, before returning to Buhoma Road. Birding can be good in the early morning and late afternoon. This is a non-guided trail and is therefore free of charge. b. The Waterfall Trail is best for primate species and general scenery. It takes about 3 hours and leads for 2km along an abandoned road before crossing the Muyanga River several times on the ascent to the 33m-high waterfall. Bathing is permitted at the bottom of the waterfall and often required after the relatively tough hiking. c. Mazubijiro Loop Trail and Rushara Hill Trail, both take about 3 hours and offer good views across to the Virunga Mountains. d. The Ivy River Walk is the longest, with duration of 8 hours. This walk leads to the Ivy River on the southern boundary of the park and offers good opportunity for seeing monkeys, duikers and a variety of birds. 2) Cultural Walk - A chance to have a taste of the Ugandan lifestyle. You will meet with locals of many different generations and see the way of life in this developing country. One of the highlights of this cultural visit is a visit to a traditional healer or medicine man from the DRC. You will also get the chance to interact with the local Batwa community; they will show you how they incorporate every day activities into dance. 3) Bwindi Community Health Center Visit the health care and medical center that provides different levels of health care to different patients. 4) Craft Shopping - Buhoma village has many craft shops and stalls that clients can visit. They are just a short walk away. Please be expected to haggle as it is more or less customary in Uganda and can be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. 5) Batwa Cultural Experience - You will trek into the forest to a Batwa village and meet the community. Here you will learn about their lifestyle, past and present. They will invite you into their homes and show you their traditional hunting techniques and craft making skills. Accommodation: Gorilla Forest Camp (Full Board)

13 DAY 11 BWINDI/KISORO/VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK This morning depart Bwindi, drive via Kisoro (2 hours), clear immigration at Cyanika border (1 hour), change vehicles and meet your Rwanda guide. Continue to your lodge situated adjacent to Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda (2 hours). Volcanoes National Park is home to the mountain gorilla. The 48-square-mile (125-km2) park supports several vegetation zones, from lush bamboo stands to luxuriant mountain forest to Afro-alpine. From 8,500 to 11,000 feet (2,590 to 3,350 m), primary forest is dominated by hagenia trees growing feet (9-18 m) in height. Hagenia have twisted trunks and low branches covered with lichen, out of which epiphytic orchids, moss and ferns often grow. Volcanoes National Park borders both Virunga National Park in the Congo and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. Other wildlife in the park includes the golden monkey (a rare subspecies of blue monkey), black-fronted duiker (very common), bushbuck and buffalo. Over 90 species of birds have been recorded, including spectacular mountain turacos (the Rwenzori turaco is the most common) and forest francolin. Mountain Gorilla View Lodge is located about 10 minutes from the Park Headquarters, making it an ideal base for gorilla trekking. The lodge features 30 spacious chalets each with en suite bathroom, fireplace and tea-coffee making machine. The central lounge area includes a bar and dining room, which serves dishes highlighting the farm-fresh produce purchased from the local community. Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Full Board) DAY 12 VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK/KIGALI This morning you will be transferred to the park gate at Kinigi for your second gorilla visit (6:45am). Here you will meet your tracker and the day will be spent tracking the mountain gorillas. Your viewing of the gorillas will be limited to a maximum of only one hour. One must be prepared for a strenuous hike of four to six hours. A small water bottle is a good idea, especially if the trek turns out to be strenuous. There will be some bottles of mineral water in your vehicle for you to take with you.

14 Following your trek you will be transferred to Kigali. Enjoy the evening at leisure. The Kigali Serena Hotel is the premiere hotel in Kigali a few miles outside the city center, the ambassadorial and commercial heart of Rwanda and the city s pre-eminent meeting place for diplomats and business people. Accommodations are comprised of 104 air conditioned rooms with both luxury suites and deluxe rooms. The elegant Diplomat Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while The Lounge Bar encompasses the bar, the lounge and the terrace. The hotel also has a gym, swimming pool and wifi internet access. Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel (B, L, D) DAY 13 KIGALI/AMSTERDAM This morning you will have a tour of Genocide Museum and local craft market. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. This evening you will be transferred to the airport for your departing overnight flight to Amsterdam. DAY 14 AMSTERDAM/USA Morning arrival in Amsterdam. Onward connecting flight to USA. WELCOME HOME!

15 2018 LAND ARRANGEMENTS: 1 Vehicle / 3-5 passengers on departure Group Departure $9, per person sharing Single Supplement $1, Optional additional activities Chimp Habituation (Kibale) Extra gorilla trek (Bwindi) Golden Monkey trek in Volcanoes $ per person $ per person $ per person ~ Rates reflect specially negotiated AAC pricing! ~ 2018 DEPARTURES: JAN 20 (Saturday) JUN 30 (Saturday) SEP 01 (Saturday) AIR ARRANGEMENTS: (subject to change until ticketed) Please note the following sample airfares. Lower promotional airfares are offered throughout the year so please take a moment to contact our in house air department for even better pricing options! INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY from $1, $2, per person (low-high season) BUSINESS from $5, $5, per person (low-high season) New York/Entebbe - Kigali/New York (via Europe) LAND ARRANGEMENT COSTS INCLUDE: All accommodations as stated All meals and game activities (Full Board) on safari Breakfast (B), lunch (L) and dinner (D) where stated Airport, road and charter flight transfers where stated Park fees and guiding fees Flying doctor service Laundry at Kyaninga Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp and Gorilla Forest Camp 2 chimpanzee visits 2 gorilla permits (Uganda and Rwanda) NOT INCLUDED: Tips to staff and driver/guides 3 rd gorilla permit/chimp habituation/golden monkey trek All drinks Other laundry not included above Airport departure taxes Rwanda and Uganda visas Day spent with chimpanzee researcher Optional touring in Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Park (Request our exciting touring options) International scheduled airfares Items of a personal nature Travel insurance Increases in park fees or gorilla permits

16 NOTES: 1) The chimp habituation day at Kibale is a different experience to the morning and afternoon chimp treks as you are visiting a chimp family that is being habituated by National Park researchers. 2) If you want to do a Golden Monkey trek in Rwanda, you will need to book this early as we will have to change out your accommodations from Kigali Serena to an additional night at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Day 12). On Day 13 you will drive through to Kigali straight from the trek and have a dayroom at the Kigali Serena before a late evening flight departure. Please request as there will be additional expenses. 3) Rate is based on sharing the arrival and departure transfer. If you arrive solo or on different international flights, additional transfer supplement may apply. Trip Report: Greetings, This primate tour has been on my bucket list the longest, and was probably the most expensive trip I ve taken - and it was totally worth it!!! Throughout it our guide, Male was extremely prompt, very helpful and informative, handled the varying roads well, got us through all the security checks and took very good care of us. Even when he was sometimes told he didn t have to come back to check on us after dinner, or pick me up after a theatre performance within walking distance of the lodge, or wait around for us to do something or just drop me at the airport, he always showed up and insisted on this personal door to door service! My flight from Entebbe to Kasese left awfully early and I avoided a really long drive, got to spend some time with the host of the Ndali Lodge on the transfer and had time for a lovely walk around their Crater lake. Ndali Lodge was a cute, scenic lodge, with daily happy hour & a variety of other guests and expat friends of the hosts who seemed to be around a lot. There were lots of opportunities for good conversations. The meals here were superb, and they paid attention to our food preferences. They also packed the best box lunch I ve ever had!! They seem very supportive and interested in their community and are to be commended on their plan to start an International school, with lots of scholarship local students expected to attend. Queen Elizabeth National Park was an opportunity to have the more traditional game drives, and it was fun to see what wildlife you might encounter as you drove around, even to and from the lodges. Mweya Lodge had a great setting above the Channel, a nice outdoor dining deck, banded mongoose wandering around in the morning. The Kazinga Channel boat trip was amazing - so much wildlife to see, and such great close-up viewing. The bonus was our private boat so we had every angle covered on all sides - a very nice touch! Ishasha Wilderness Camp was a more rustic, natural experience During our later afternoon game drive, we had a wonderful encounter by the river of a huge group off hippos & baboons - definitely my highlight that day. We d not seen the tree climbing lions on our previous drives, but our last morning, with little expectations cause they didn t climb in the early morning, we went over to take photos of the lion trees and to our amazement found a few on 2 different trees so felt majorly lucky. Seemed like our wildlife viewing was super successful

17 Gorilla Forest Camp Came with high expectations on my part, having seen a Sanctuary Lodges presentation at a travel show before. It met those, and I loved having 3 days here. It was not busy, so we had very personalized service, lots of chats with the staff who seemed interested in our excitement after our gorilla trek and looked at more photos we shared. I think we really lucked out on especially our 2 gorilla treks. I m sure it helped that Male passed on our wishes to visit the closest group, with the easiest trek expected, but considering they continually move, it was fortuitous that they didn t stray too far. In addition, both groups ended up in nice open areas that made viewing very easy, relaxed & incredibly close for photos. Even the morning rain in Rwanda didn t spoil things &made their hair fluffy. Bwindi was definitely more difficult trekking, but not the super challenging, long struggle it could have been, for which we were very grateful. I certainly wanted you to know how much I enjoyed these experiences. Cheers! Jane Craig