Detailed Trip Notes
Suitability
Suitability
We've given each of our tours a comfort rating and a tour pace, walking or cycling grade to give you a general idea about the level of activity on each tour and the standard of accommodation you will be staying in at the end of your day's adventure.
Often you'll stay in different styles of accommodation during your tour; so we make an average rating across the entire tour. For more information on where you'll stay each night, please refer to the day by day tour itinerary.
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Tour Itinerary
Local conditions in this part of Africa are often unpredictable and may dictate that it is necessary to gain or lose a day in a particular location – roads are sometimes blocked when vehicles get bogged down, ferries crossing rivers break down, trails are washed out; so you need a lot of patience and a friendly sense of humour. Take this in your stride and travel in Africa becomes one of the most memorable and rewarding of life’s experiences. There are some very long drives, but the variety of landscapes travelled through more than make up for it. The tents are the most suitable for the environment that this tour travels through. Laundry is usually available at most nightstops, except Mburo NP, although this cannot be guaranteed.
On this trip, the gorilla search is rated moderate, but its difficulty very much depends on the whereabouts of the gorillas, the thickness of the jungle,amount of rain that has fallen, steepness ofthe slopes and the time taken to trek to the gorillas. Some clients may thus find that theday spent gorilla tracking is very strenuous.
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Participation in canoeing, kayaking, or rafting (including white-water) requires that you are able to swim 25 metres unaided.
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Special Note: The permits allocated to us by the Ugandan Wildlife Authority to track gorillas in Bwindi may not always fall on days 7 to 9 of our itinerary. This applies to the chimp permits in Kibale on Day 3 as well. We may, therefore, have to alter the direction/order of our route for certain tours. Your tour leader will confirm the final direction of travel at the start of the tour.
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Budgeting for your Tour
Other Sightseeing & Activites
The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these trip notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations.
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Excursion Prices
Jinja - Village walk US$10; Sunset kayaks US$50pp.
Bwindi - Waterfall walk US$50.
Lake Bunyonyi - Island trip US$5; bird watching US$2 depending on numbers and time with guides.
Nile Rafting - A chance to spend a half day or full day rafting on the White Nile with experienced river guides, including lunch half day US$115, full day US$125. Please ensure your insurance policy covers grade 5 white water rafting. (There is a 5% charge if paying by credit card)
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Payment Method
The majority of optionals can be paid for by cash with the exception of white water rafting where a credit card may be used. Please check with your tour leader for the most up-to-date information in this regard. Please note that any credit card transactions may attract an approximate rate of 5% per transaction.
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Tipping
Accordingly, you should allow approx. US$60 for tipping.
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Tour Leader: At your discretion you might also consider tipping your Tour Leader in appreciation of the efficiency and service you receive.
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Foreign Exchange
Local Currency: Ugandan Shilling.
Recommended Currency for Exchange: You should take the majority of your spending money in US Dollars cash some of which to change into Ugandan Shillings. Please be aware that notes issued pre- 2002, or are not the “Big Face” kind, are not normally accepted in East Africa at all. Take mixed denomination bills in good condition and note that higher Ugandan Shilling rates are available for larger ($50- $100) US Dollar bills. Dirty and torn US Dollar notes are NOT accepted at all in Uganda. GBP Sterling is easily exchanged in Kampala only.
ATM Availability: Very limited and unreliable.
Credit Card Acceptance: Credit cards have limited use during this tour and are not recommended. Mastercard is not accepted.
Additional Information: You may wish to take extra funds to make contributions or donations to organisations. Donations and contributions are entirely voluntary.
Up-to-date information re:global exchange rates can be obtained at https://www.currency-express.com/explore/
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Local Costs
| |
UK |
Uganda |
| Tea/Coffee |
£1.50 |
$1.00 |
| Soft Drink |
£1.50 |
$0.75 |
| Bottled Water |
£1.50 |
$1.50 |
| Bottle of Beer |
£3.50 |
$2.00 |
| 2 Course Meal* |
£15.00 |
$9.00 |
| 3 Course Meal** |
£20.00 |
$18.00 |
| Bottle of Wine |
£14.50 |
$15.00 |
| Breakfast |
£5.00 |
|
*Cheap local fare in a small cafe or restaurant.
**Typical food in a simple, reasonably comfortable mid-range restaurant.
Important Information
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must have valid travel insurance. It must indicate that you have cover for (at least) medical expenses and emergency repatriation in the event of illness or injury. We also strongly recommend your policy includes cancellation protection as all deposit paid are non-refundable.
If you require travel insurance for your tour, Explore Worldwide is an appointed representative of Campbell Irvine Limited, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority. Our travel insurance policy is specially tailored to the needs of the adventure traveller and will cover you for any included activity on any Explore trip. You can either purchase this at the time of booking or call us 0844 499 0901 after you have booked.
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Visa Requirements
Ugandan entry visas are required by UK, AUS, NZ, CAN and USA citizens and should ideally be obtained before departure. Visas can be obtained on arrival for some nationalities, but this takes time as queues can be long and processing slow.
Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.
Please note that as of June 2011 you require one year remaining validity on your passport to enter Uganda.
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All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.
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Vaccinations & Protection
We recommend protection against malaria, tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis A, polio and yellow fever. Consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against malaria. There have been reported outbreaks of measles and cholera at the end of 2006. Please ensure you are vaccinated against measles. Following heavy rains, and subsequent flooding in Uganda, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised that you should only drink sealed bottle water and take care to practice good personal hygiene like handwashing before each meal.
In early 2011 there were reports of an outbreak of Yellow Fever in Northern Uganda
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The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.
Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.
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Know before you go
We strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs, including advice re: the legality of and local attitudes towards same-sex relationships. For UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice follow the link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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Preparing for your tour
Climate
Although conditions are tropical, hot and humid in the centre and west, the rest of Uganda has a pleasant and comfortable climate. The dry season is generally from December to early March and June to the end of August/early September. Temperature can vary from around 28°C during the day to 12°C in the evening. High mountain areas become much cooler at night. Most of Uganda experiences a double rainy season. Rainfall is moderate, only exceeding 1250mm a year in the higher areas. But it may rain at any time of the year, particularly in equatorial rainforest such as Bwindi. Lake Victoria influences the local weather patterns considerably and ensures the surrounding region is wetter than elsewhere.
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Seasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable. For up-to-date information on the weather worldwide please visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather.
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Packing for your tour
To assist with packing for your tour, we have detailed some of the essential items you should take with you.
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Luggage
Unfortunately it does occasionally happen that luggage does not always reach its destination on the same flight as its owner, or possibly it may be damaged in transit. If you are unlucky enough for this to occur, it is important that you file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) with the airline before leaving the airport. This is essential when you come to make a claim either against the airline or from your travel insurance company
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One main piece of baggage (a soft bag or holdall for ease of loading onto vehicles) plus a daysac. Total allowance: 20kgs Maximum (due to weight restrictions on our vehicle). This weight does not include your camera equipment.
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Clothing
Pack essentially for 'All Tours' plus 'Hot Conditions'. Temperatures are warm and humidity is high all year round. But as much of our route in Uganda is driving across high country or at a reasonable altitude, warm clothing is needed. Particularly at night and in the early morning. Do not bring green fatigues, camouflage jackets/trousers. Gloves are useful for protecting hands during the gorilla search. While long sleeved shirts and long trousers are recommended for protecting arms and legs. Good waterproofs are recommended
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Footwear
Sturdy walking boots for the tracking and sandals or trainers/light shoes for travelling/camp use.
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Equipment
Bring a 3-season (temperature –5°C to 0°C) sleeping bag. Also a torch (ideally a head torch), insect repellent and a personal water bottle. Binoculars will be useful for game viewing as is a telephoto lens for close-up wildlife shots. Tents have sewn-in mosquito screening so nets are not required. Foam sleeping mats are provided, though you may wish to bring your own thermarest/inflatable for added comfort. A towel for personal washing. Ear plugs can be useful and walking poles are recommended.
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Need help on Clothing or Equipment?
Then we suggest you contact Nomad Travel, our equipment partner, who specialise in kitting people out for adventurous travel. You receive a special 10% discount in-store or online. Visit one of their stores, phone 0845 260 0044, or visit their website www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore for further information.
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General Information
Trip Summary
Travelling by rugged 4WD safari truck, our focus on this overland-style camping safari is to experience the very best scenery and wildlife that Uganda has to offer. First we head to Kibale Forest in search of chimpanzees and monkeys, we head south passing beneath the mighty Rwenzori Mountains and into the gamelands of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here, we watch out for big game and birds on the savannah plains and take a memorable boat safari along the Kazinga Channel. Bwindi National Park is home to approximately half of the world’s 700 or so surviving mountain gorillas and is one of the few places in Africa where you can track these rare and magnificent creatures. One of our main objectives on this journey of contrasts is to view a gorilla family in their natural rainforest habitat. Our final days are spent exploring the islands of tranquil Lake Bunyonyi in a truly stunning setting with a backdrop of steep-sided terraced hills. Then we drive to the camp at the Bujagali Falls near Jinja to see the mighty Victoria Nile plunge over a series of rapids. We shall also visit the reputed source of the Nile itself nearby. Those who dare can attempt to shoot some of the Grade 5 rapids of the White Nile in inflatable rafts. A memorable experience to say the least! Although a crew of three (driver, cook and Explore tour leader) is provided, everyone is expected to put up and take down their own tent and assist with some basic preparation of camp meals and camp chores. Like many adventures of this type, much of the team spirit, fun and camaraderie is developed through mucking in and helping out around camp. Many of the campsites we stay on during this trip are set in lovely locations, and all but one have ablution blocks, a bar and a covered eating area.
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Please note:
Please note that on some departures, there may be the possibility of some of our unsold gorilla permits becoming available locally for purchase which would allow a second day tracking gorillas. Cost is US$500 per permit, payable in cash only. Additional permits may also be available at the park gates and these are also payable in cash only.
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Bwindi National Park Rules and Regulations
Due to regulations laid down by the Uganda Wildlife Service:
1) Age Limit: The minimum age permitted to travel on this tour is 15.
2) Illness: Bwindi National Park rangers have the authority to refuse permission to undertake a gorilla search to anyone with an obvious infectious illness, as gorillas have little resistance to human diseases and are therefore very susceptible to infection.
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Please note The optional visit to Kasubi Tombs on Day 1 is no longer available due to a fire damaging the site in March 2010.
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Electric Supply & Plugs
For comprehensive information regarding voltages and plug types in use in the countries visited, follow the relevant link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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