WHY IT RATES: This itinerary takes travelers to Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places in the world to visit mountain gorillas. -Mia Taylor, TravelPulse Senior Writer.
With the DRC's Virunga National Park closing for the remainder of 2018, there is perhaps no better place to visit the impressive mountain gorillas than Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the richest ecosystems in Africa, with at least 120 mammal species making their home here.
Classic Escapes, a family-owned boutique travel company specializing in nature and cultural journeys, is offering a 10-Day* Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Itinerary through their Great Escapes program, with ample opportunities to spot majestic gorillas, chimpanzees, the elusive tree-climbing lions, hippo, leopard, elephant, buffalo, hundreds of bird species and unique endemic animals such as the Ugandan kob.
The itinerary, which visits Entebbe, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, has a guaranteed departure date of November 1-10, 2018, though additional departure dates can be added upon request, and there are more departures coming for 2019.
This competitively priced trip begins at $4,495 per person, double, and includes superior accommodations throughout, all meals on safari, wildlife open-roof viewing in 4-wheel drive safari vehicles, national park and reserves entry fees, gratuities for baggage handling and hotel/lodge taxes, and complimentary emergency evacuation insurance.
Permits to trek for mountain gorillas and chimpanzees is an additional fee currently estimated at $750 per person for both activities. International airfare, meals not specified in the itinerary and personal expenses are not included in the pricing.
Highlights of the Uganda itinerary include:
-Two nights at the charming Primate Lodge based in the heart of Kibale Forest National Park, a great base to view the impressive range of wildlife such as the 325 bird species (including Uganda's National bird, the Crowned Crane) and Kibale's star primates - the chimpanzees;
-Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda's second largest park and a UNESCO world biosphere since 1979), with 66 mammal species furnishing an exceptionally high biomass - the park is home to hippopotamus, lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, topi, bushbuck, warthog, hyena, civet and more, as well as over 1/4th of Africa's bird species;
-Search for the Ugandan kob, a mammal similar in appearance to the Impala that travels in small herds and establishes permanent breeding grounds;
-Embark on a two-hour launch trip on the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward to view the large concentration of hippo elephant, and buffalo, along with Nile crocodile, African rock python, monitor lizard, and many bird species;
-Look for the famous tree-climbing lions in the plains of Ishasha en route to Bwindi.
-Visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and true African "jungle" due to its dense vegetation and undergrowth), home to at least 120 species of mammals, and trek to see the endangered, habituated mountain gorilla families;
-Wander through a Buhoma village to learn more about the traditional African way of life, support the local community by participating in cultural activities and chat with a traditional healer.
*Option to extend with a visit to Murchison Falls National Park in Northwest Uganda, for an additional fee.
For more information and to view the full itinerary, please visit: http://www.classicescapes.com/content/classic-escapes-presents-great-escape-uganda
SOURCE: Classic Escapes press release
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