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Mountain Gorillas & Primates of Africa

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Uganda & Rwanda: Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, Volcanoes - 11 night safari

Join Chase on the ultimate African primate and wildlife safari! Experience the rainforests and mountains of both Uganda and Rwanda like never before. On this tour, you will spend more time with gorillas and other primates than any other itinerary that is offered, giving you an unmatched wildlife trip that will you speechless. Chase has frequently said that the mountain gorillas are the single best wildlife experience on the planet, so come see if that's the case for yourself!

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Late winter is an excellent time to visit the heart of Africa as the rains are at a minimum, the weather is comfortable, and the crowds are light. Most importantly of all though, the gorillas will be deep inside their primeval jungle waiting for us. Only 1,000 mountain gorillas remain in the wild and none exist in captivity, making them one of the rarest animals on the planet. Hiking through the steep and rugged terrain and then inevitably laying eyes on a gorilla camouflaged in the thick vegetation is unlike anything else in the natural world. With one hour to spend among the gorilla families per day, you will be clamoring for more, which is why we made sure to include multiple treks during this safari including a special full-day of gorilla habituation where you will have 5-6 hours with the gorillas. As you sit among the gorilla families and feel them make eye contact (or physical contact if you're lucky!), you will have chills unlike ever before.

 

Beyond the mountain gorillas, you will also have the chance to see a variety of other East African wildlife, ensuring you will go home with an array of animal and environmental diversity. To get us warmed up, we will begin our trip with a full day of wild chimpanzee habituation in the forests of Kibale National Park before spending time with some classic Africa safari animals such as elephants and lions. Throughout our adventure, we will also be afforded some chances to see smaller rainforest primates such as colobus monkeys and the rare golden monkeys, who live within the thick bamboo forests. So whether you are a seasoned wildlife traveler or this is your first entry into the African continent, you will not be disappointed with the encounters that await you. If any trip were ever to be described as "life changing", this would be it. 

IMAGES TAKEN WHILE ON 
MOUNTAIN GORILLA TOUR

Price Includes + 

Price Does Not Include - 

  • 11 nights accommodation

  • 11 days of safari

  • All primate permits

  • All food and some drinks

  • Some alcoholic beverages

  • Photography and post-processing instruction

  • Transportation to and from EBB & KGL Int'l Airports

  • International flights to & from EBB & KGL airports

  • Gratuities for guides & lodge/camp staff

  • Vaccines (e.g. Yellow Fever)

  • Some beverages

  • Uganda/Rwanda Visas 

  • Trip Insurance (highly recommended)

SUGGESTED CAMERA GEAR:

  • DSLR or Mirrorless camera body (highly recommended to bring at least 2 camera bodies)

  • Wide angle lens (e.g. 16-35,mm 24-70mm, etc. Mostly used for up-close shots of wildlife and landscape/environmental)

  • Mid range lens (70-200mm)

  • Telephoto lens (300mm-500mm+)

  • 512GB - 2 TB worth of memory cards

  • Tablet or Laptop for backing up images and Photoshop lessons

  • GoPro

  • Tripod (if you plan on shooting stars at night)

  • Polarizing filter

  • UV filter (if you worry about sea spray on your lens)

  • Camera bag capable of carrying gear and daily necessities

POSSIBLE WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS:

  • Mountain gorilla

  • Chimpanzee

  • Golden monkey

  • Zebra

  • Hippo

  • Hyena

  • Crocodile

  • Cape buffalo

  • Leopard

  • Lion

  • Waterbuck

  • Bushbuck

  • Dik-dik

  • Wildebeest

  • Gazelle

  • Ugandan kob

  • L'Hoest Monkey

  • Red Colobus Monkey

  • Baboon

  • B&W Colobus Monkey

  • Eland

  • Jackal

  • Bat-eared fox

  • Mongoose

  • Warthog

  • Porcupine

  • Serval

  • Caracal

  • Waterbuck

  • Grey crowned crane

  • Starling

  • Kingfishers

  • Marabou Stork

  • Owls

  • Eagles

  • Hornbills

  • Ostrich

  • Bee-eaters

  • White pelican

  • Python

  • Monitor lizard

HIGHLIGHTS: 

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  • 5 treks with mountain gorillas including 1 full-day of gorilla habituation in both Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park

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  • 1 full-day of wild chimpanzee habituation in Kibale National Park

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  • Trek with the rare golden monkeys in a bamboo forest

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  • Afternoon boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park with elephants and other wildlife

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  • Looking for the famous tree-climbing lions of Isasha

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  • Staying in an array of luxurious lodges and camps deep within Africa's wilderness and rainforests

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TOUR DETAILS:

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Dates: January 24-February 5th, 2024

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Group Size: Up to 7 participants spread out across 2 vehicles to ensure everyone gets plenty of space

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Cost: $15,980 per person. Single supplement of $1,440 

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Payment: $3,200 deposit to hold and confirm spot. Remaining balance due 120 days prior to departure. Can be split up into multiple payments over 12 months. Please inquire when booking.

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ITINERARY:

Day 1: Arrive in Kampala, Uganda through Entebbe Int'l Airport. Overnight at our 5-star hotel on the edge of the city.

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Day 2: Enjoy a morning breakfast before heading to Kibale National Park.

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Day 3: Spend a full day in Kibale National Park with wild chimpanzees.

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Days 4: Drive to Queen Elizabeth for an afternoon boat cruise with elephants, hippos, and other wildlife down the Kazinga Channel. 

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Day 5: Search for the tree-climbing lions of Isasha en-route to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

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Days 6 & 7: Spend these days trekking with mountain gorillas in Bwind I.N.P. Transfer to other side of Bwindi in the evening of second day.

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Day 8: Spend a full day with the mountain gorillas during a special habituation trek.

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Day 9: Go on another gorilla trek in south Bwindi I.N.P

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Day 10: Take a break from gorilla trekking for the day and transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

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Day 11: Go on our final gorilla trek on the slopes of Rwanda's volcanoes.

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Day 12: Take a morning golden monkey trek before heading to Kigali for your outbound flight or a night in the city.

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Physical Requirement: Gorilla treks can last anywhere from 15-minutes to 4-hours one way, generally on steep and uneven slopes. Hiking is slow and not very fast paced, but this trip is not recommended for anyone who isn't physically capable of moving in jungle like terrain. Most treks are between 5,000-10,000 feet in elevation and require vertical gains of 400-1,500 feet. Porters can be hired before treks to assist with cameras/bags.

  • How do I use Zoom or Skype? Where do I get it?
    Both Zoom and Skype are free to download and run on a variety of OS versions (both Windows and Mac). It is very easy to install the client. Do this before our meeting. A short time before our session, I will email a meeting link to you. Click on the link and you’ll join right in.
  • Should I do an in-person or online photography lesson?
    I always like to talk with whomever wants a lesson in advance to make sure I understand everything possible about what it is you are looking to learn. During our emails or phone calls before the lesson, we will decide what is best for you!
  • Can I get in person coaching?
    Yes, certainly, provided you (and I!) are in the Monterey Bay, California area. This is a good option if you want advice on using your camera, reading a location and choosing a composition. I recommend at least a 2-hour block of time for an in person lesson. Lessons can be given in other locations, but additional fees apply for travel. Please inquire for more details!
  • What can we photograph in-person around Monterey Bay?
    Monterey Bay has a plethora of wildlife and shooting locations as its one of North America's top wildlife and nature photography destinations (one reason I live here!). We can photograph wildlife from otters, sea lions, birds, whales, bobcats, and more or focus on landscape photography around Big Sur or the rocky shoreline of the peninsula. If you choose you would like a lesson in nearby Yosemite, Point Reyes, or somewhere further, we can set that up too! Longer trips are usually done over 1-3 nights.
  • Do I need to use my entire lesson time in a single sitting?
    It depends on what you are looking to learn! Some subjects can be taught rather easily within 1-2 hours, but many students prefer to have ongoing lessons. Maybe you want to schedule 1 lesson every week or every month or maybe you want to start with an in-person lesson and then follow-up with an online lesson where to post process some of the photos we have taken. We can decide all of this as we go along as flexibility is key!
  • My schedule changed last minute. What do I do?
    Hey, life happens. Contact me and we'll work out a new schedule. If the worst happens and we can't reschedule, you'll get a full refund.

REGISTRATION

When I receive your registration information, I will respond within 24 hours with a registration packet and more information. The remaining amount for the safari must be paid in full 90 days prior to your departure. Tour fees can be paid through Zelle (easiest and preferred), check, PayPal (2.95% processing fee), and credit/debit card (2.95% processing fee).

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If you wish to speak to me directly, feel free to call: (425) 301-1757, or email: chasedekker@ymail.com

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