PRIMATE and WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITION

Uganda, East Africa
JUNE 8 - 16, 2024
(9 day Expedition / 7 Days Wildlife Safari )
Uganda, East Africa
TWO SPOTS AVAILABLE

THE ADVENTURE

Join us for this off-the-beaten-path adventure that will take you on an EPIC journey to encounter two of Uganda's most iconic primates – the African Chimpanzee and the Mountain Gorilla.

Both of these primates are endangered, with the mountain gorilla population dwindling to only 1,000 remaining in the world.

This adventure is as real as it gets…The animals are habituated to seeing people, but they are 100% wild.

“There is no greater feeling in the world than sitting a few feet away from a mountain gorilla… it will be etched in your heart forever.”

Our journey doesn’t end with the primates…

You will also experience traditional African wildlife safaris on this adventure; African Lions, Elephants, Giraffes, Cape Buffalos, the infamous Hippos…and so much more.

We will take you to the top eco-systems that make Uganda one of the greatest wildlife destinations on earth.

Trip cost is $5,980 per person (Dbl. occ.)

with a $1500 deposit required to hold your space.

    • 7 Days of wildlife viewing

    • Airport pick up

    • 8 Days Lodging - Hotel / Cottages (Dbl. Occ.)
      Add $1500 for Single Occupancy

    • Bi-lingual Tour guide

    • All meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

    • All Wildlife Park Fees (including taxes)

    • River Tour for Hippos and Crocodiles

    • One Gorilla tracking permit

    • Two Chimpanzee tracking permit

    • Photo Coaching during the trip

    • Airfare

    • Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages

    • Trip and Flight Insurance

    • Hotel on departure day

    • Gratuities for ( local guides, trek porters, and drivers ).

🔥 YOUR NEXT MOVE
- You can book your trip now - Or request more information on the trip.

TRIP ITINERARY

Day 1
Travel Day.
 You Fly into Entebbe International Airport (EBB). Our host and guide for the trip will pick you up and drive us to the hotel where we will spend our first night, to rest up from the long journey to get here.

Depending on what time you arrive, we will try to get together for an early dinner and discuss the itinerary for your week of wildlife viewing in Uganda. After dinner we return to our rooms to rest, and prep gear for the morning drive.

Day 2
Transfer to Kibale National Park.
6AM breakfast at the hotel, then we depart the hotel at 6:30am. Your driver/guide will brief you on the day's program shortly before the start of a 6 hour drive to Kibale.

After we arrive we will rest up, we will prep for a night walk to look for nocturnal primates; ganets, bush babies, and potos.

Day 3
Chimpanzee Encounter, in Kibale National Park
 You will visit the Kanyankyu River camp at 7:30am to hike up the mountain to encounter habituated Chimpanzees.

After your safety briefing, you begin your guided trek up the mountain to search for the chimpanzees. Typically, the chimps are located by listening for their pant-hooting calls, then hustle to the area from which they are calling.

You will get to observe them (close up), as they feed in fruiting trees, lounge, and/or socialize with each other.

You will do both a morning and an afternoon session with the chimpanzees, maximizing our time with these amazing primates.

In the forest you may also encounter more primates species; Black and white Columbus monkeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, Grey cheeked Mangabey, and Red tailed monkeys.

Day 4
Bigoti Swamp and Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After breakfast, you will visit the Bigoti Swamp, to seek out primates to observe and photograph.

This is a walking safari seeking out monkeys that live in the area.

There are several primate species that live here including; red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, red colubus monkeys, grey cheeked monkeys, black and white colubus monkeys and baboons.

After your walk, you will return to the hotel for a quick lunch. Check out and begin our journey to Queen Elizabeth Park.

Once you arrive we will enter the park for a dusk game drive in search of wildlife, en route to your hotel.

Day 5
Early Morning Game Drive, and afternoon game drive
You are up for an early breakfast at 6:00am. After breakfast we visit Queen Elizabeth NP, to search for wildlife. We will leave at 7:00am.

Early morning is a great time to catch the early risers, as well as a chance to see some nocturnal species and hunters before they return to their hideouts.

Wildlife sightings we hope to see here; lions, elephants, hippos, spotted hyenas, warthogs, Uganda kobes, Jackson's Heart beasts, waterbucks, and leopards, among others.

After 11am, you return for lunch (12 noon), then rest until 2PM.

At 2PM you head back out for an afternoon game drive. We will stay until dusk, then return you to your lodge for dinner and rest.

Day 6
Early Morning Game Drive, and River Tour.
6AM Breakfast. We depart for the park at 7AM.

You will spend all morning at the park seeking out wildlife, then return for lunch.

At 2PM we will head out to the river for a private river tour along the Kazinga river channel to seek out wildlife; large schools of hippos, elephants, water bucks, monitor lizards, crocodiles, cape buffalos, and a wide variety of birds.

DAY 7
Drive to Bwindi to track gorillas and other primates
We will eat an early breakfast, and then check out of your lodge.

Today we drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

As we drive, we will look for wildlife along the way.

We will be going south through stunning savannah grasslands.

Roads permitting, we will travel through the southern sector of the park – Ishasha, which is a remote and beautiful extension of Queen Elizabeth NP, that is host to a large variety of wildlife.

Day 8
Gorilla trekking (Bwindi Impenetrable NP), Tracking the Mountain Gorillas and other primates
 After breakfast, we will have a morning briefing, before experiencing the highlight of your trip - Gorilla trekking.

The trek may last the entire day.

We trek up and down the mountain, through the rainforest and bamboo covered slopes, accompanied by a guide and trackers, in search of one of 22, of the habituated mountain gorilla families.

Please Note; We are only allowed to stay with the gorillas for an hour.

Day 9 - Departure Day, Drive to Entebbe
Early breakfast before embarking on our return to Entebbe, This is a full day of driving (9-10 hours). During the journey is the Equator line which we will cross, and stop for a quick photo opportunity. We will be in Kampala in the evening before for your flight back home.

You can book your return flights (airport code EBB), for after 9pm, or book an overnight stay at an airport hotel, for an early morning departure, (hotel not included in price).

TRIP REPORTS
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • This tour offers a diverse adventure, combining scenic drives through wildlife reserves, exhilarating boat tours for observing hippos, and immersive treks through dense rainforests.

    The treks on this tour vary in intensity, ranging from easy 2 hour hikes to challenging 4-5 hour hikes. The difficulty level depends on the location of the chimpanzees and gorilla families.

    Participants should be in good physical condition, capable of hiking for extended periods in steep terrain.

    Please note that hiking will take place at elevations around 6000 feet above sea level, adding an additional challenge.

    Preparedness for varying hiking conditions and elevation is crucial for an enjoyable and rewarding experience on this expedition.

  • The tour price is contingent on the current trekking permit prices set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

    In the event of a permit price increase before the start of the tour, adjustments to the tour price may be necessary to accommodate the change in permit costs.

    We are committed to transparency and will notify participants promptly in such a scenario, ensuring clarity and understanding regarding any adjustments to the tour price due to permit price changes.

  • Several airlines operate flights into Entebbe International Airport (EBB) in Uganda.

    Some common airlines serving Entebbe International Airport include:

    1. Ethiopian Airlines

    2. Kenya Airways

    3. Qatar Airways

    4. Emirates

    5. Turkish Airlines

    6. Brussels Airlines

    7. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

    8. EgyptAir

    9. Uganda Air

    10. Air France

    11. Air India

    This is not an exhaustive list, and there may be other airlines that operate flights to Entebbe. Additionally, new routes and airlines may have been introduced since my last update.

    AIRPORT HOTELS:
    Hotels near Entebbe International Airport (EBB) by distance:

    Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe: Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) from EBB.

    2 Friends Beach Hotel: Approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) from EBB.

    Best Western Premier Garden Hotel Entebbe: Approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from EBB.

    Karibu Guest House: Approximately 1.7 miles (2.7 km) from EBB.

    The Boma Entebbe: Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) from EBB.

    Lake Victoria Hotel: Approximately 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from EBB.

    Airport View Hotel: Approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from EBB.

    *Please note that these distances are approximate and may vary based on the specific location of each hotel. It's advisable to check the most recent information, reviews, and contact the hotels directly for accurate details and to ensure the most suitable choice based on your preferences.

  • ARRIVAL DAY:
    Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport (EBB), our dedicated host and guide for the trip will be there to pick you up.

    They will drive you to the hotel where you will spend your first night, allowing you to rest and recover from the long journey to this remarkable destination.

    This thoughtful arrangement ensures a comfortable and rejuvenating start to your adventure in Uganda.

    DEPARTURE DAY:
    Today we embark on a full day of driving back to Entebbe, a journey that spans approximately 9-10 hours.

    By evening, you'll find yourself back in Kampala, ready for your flight home from Entebbe International Airport (EBB).

    For your return flights, consider booking departures after 9 PM.

    Alternatively, if you prefer an early morning departure, you have the option to book an overnight stay at an airport hotel (please note that the hotel is not included in the tour price).

    This flexible arrangement allows you to choose the most convenient option for your travel plans.

  • Please be aware that our expeditions involve encounters with wild animals, and while we cannot guarantee wildlife sightings, we take every measure to maximize your chances of success.

    Our team includes experienced wildlife guides who are dedicated to finding and showcasing the incredible diversity of animals in their natural habitats.

    Prepare for an extraordinary trek through the forest as we embark on wild encounters with chimpanzees and mountain gorillas.

    These animals, demand the utmost respect and caution. To ensure both our safety and the well-being of the animals, armed wildlife rangers will accompany us on our journey. Our experienced guides will provide crucial instructions to ensure a safe and memorable encounter.

    We want to highlight that touching wildlife is strictly NOT permitted.

    Every encounter is unique, and the duration is solely at the discretion of the animals.

    Participants caught manhandling wildlife may be asked to leave the the area.

    It's essential to maintain a safe distance and show utmost respect towards wildlife.

    *PLEASE NOTE: if the animal is not interested in interacting with us or shows signs of stress, we will leave the animal alone and go find other wildlife to encounter.

    YOUR SAFETY AND THE WELL-BEING OF THE ANIMALS ARE OUR TOP PRIORITIES.

    Our team is committed to providing you with a respectful encounter and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation in preserving the beauty of the wildlife and their environment.

  • Solo Travelers signing up for land-based trips individually will be charged the single occupancy rate.

    To help keep costs down, you have the option to inform us if you would like to share a room with another solo guest of the same sex.

    We'll make every effort to find you a roommate. However, if no one else wishes to share, you will be charged for a single room.

  • A non-refundable deposit of $800 USD is required to reserve a space on SDM adventures.


    50% of the expedition cost (balance) is due 180 days prior to departure.


    100% of the expedition cost (balance) is due 90 days prior to departure.


    A 4% surcharge is applied to payments made via credit card.


    A 3% paypal surcharge is applied to payments made using paypal.


    Payments can also be made via wire transfer. Just let us know and we will send you the bank transfer info. 
Please add $40 to cover bank fees.


    Payments can be made by mailing a U.S. Check, or U.S. Money Order Payable to:


    SDM adventures:

    332 East 15th St.

    San Juan, Texas 78589

  • All cancellations made more than 120 days prior to departure will receive refund (less an administrative fee of $800 USD per person). This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. However, if we manage to fill the trip after you cancel, we will apply the deposit towards any of our trips that you sign up for, during the following 12 months. If you cancel again during that period, you will lose the deposit.


    Cancellations made (91 to 120), calendar days prior to departure, are assessed a cancellation fee of 50% of the entire trip price, (including extensions).


    Cancellations made within 90 days of departure date will not be refunded, therefore we strongly recommend all guest purchase travel insurance.


    All cancellations must be made in writing by mail or by email to sdm@sharkdivermag.com, - received and acknowledged by SDM Adventures.


    We are not responsible for cancellations due to medical or other reasons.


    No fees will be refunded if you withdraw after an expedition begins.


    We are not responsible for any fees associated with non-refundable air travel, we highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance.