An Allen Bechky Safari

As featured in National Geographic Adventure's "The Best of Africa," September 2005, and Men's Journal's "World's Greatest Safaris." November 2006!

Here's the ultimate mountain gorilla safari for anyone who has ever wanted to have one of the world's most extraordinary travel experiences. The beautiful emerald-green Virunga Volcanoes straddling the Rwanda-Uganda border and Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest are the stronghold of the celebrated mountain gorilla. Together they form the setting for this extraordinary expedition. You'll have four opportunities to track gorillas in a variety of jungle habitats, from the jungles of Bwindi's Impenetrable Forest to the bamboo thickets of Sabinyo and the mist-clad heights of Karasimbi Volcano. Terrific gorilla observations and an in-depth exploration of their forest environment are joined with chimpanzee tracking in the Kibale Forest (the best in Africa), stunning Rift Valley scenery, and big game viewing at Queen Elizabeth National Park. Best of all, you'll see it with Allen Bechky, one of Africa's most experienced safari guides, who will help you understand and appreciate all aspects of these unique environments.

Activities

Moderate to strenuous hiking, game viewing by 4-wheel-drive vehicle

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel with safari legend Allen Bechky, one of Africa's most experienced safari guides
• Enjoy four opportunities for close encounters with mountain gorillas in two national parks, one of the rarest animals on earth!
• See bands of noisy chimpanzees and up to a dozen other primates
• Big game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, with its herds of antelope, thousands of hippos (up to 30,000!), and a growing population of elephants

2010 Prices
$8,995 (9-10 members)
$9,495 (7-8 members)
$10,095 (5-6 members)
$10,895 (4 members)
$2,150 gorilla & chimpanzee permits
$1,600 single supplement

Minimum age is 15.

Duration: 13 days Start Location: Entebbe, Uganda End Location: Kigali, Rwanda Best time to go: January, September, December

Itinerary

• Day 1 : Meet in Entebbe, Uganda.

  Meet in Entebbe, Uganda. (You can join us from home, or from our pre-trip extension in Budongo Forest & Murchison Falls.) Visit the nearby Entebbe Botanical Gardens, which harbor a multitude of interesting birds, or the Entebbe Wildlife Center.

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  Days 2 - 4 : Kibale Forest / Kibale National Park / Kibale National Park

  Drive through the lush green countryside to Kibale National Park and spend two days hiking through the forest in search of chimpanzees and other primates. Terrific birding, too!

• Day 5 : Queen Elizabeth National Park

  Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a scenic landscape of waterways, Rift Valley escarpments, and intermittent views of the glacier-clad peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains. Afternoon game drive.

• Day 6 : Queen Elizabeth National Park

  Morning to explore the bushlands of the Mweya Peninsula, excellent country for elephant, leopard, bushbuck, forest buffalo, and giant forest hog. Afternoon launch trip on the Kazinga Channel connecting Lake Edward with Lake George.

• Day 7 : Queen Elizabeth National Park – Bwindi National Park

  Explore the lovely game-rich area of the Ishasha Plain, inhabited by large herds of topi and Uganda kob. Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to more than 300 mountain gorillas.

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  Days 8 - 9 : Gorilla tracking in the Impenetrable Forest of Bwindi National Park

  Gorilla tracking in the Bwindi, one of the world's most incredible experiences! Once located, you'll stay with the gorillas and observe them closely for about an hour.

• Days 10 - 12 : Impenetrable Forest to the Virunga Volcanoes / Gorilla tracking in the Virunga Volcanoes

  Cross over into Rwanda and continue to Parc National des Volcans (Volcanoes National Park) for two more days of gorilla tracking in the Virunga Mountains.

• Day 13 : Kigali – Fly home

  Drive through the scenic countryside of Rwanda to the nation’s capital, Kigali. Depart Kigali, or join one of our post-trip extensions in East Africa.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Allen Bechky

  Allen is the ultimate safari guru - there's not much he doesn't know about Africa and its fascinating wildlife and habitats (Outside magazine called him "Mr. Migration"). In fact, he's written two comprehensive books on the subject: Adventuring in East Africa and Adventuring in Southern Africa. Allen headed up Mountain Travel Sobek's Africa Operations for some 20 years before organizing and guiding special Allen Bechky Safaris. Operated in association with Mountain Travel Sobek, Allen Bechky Safaris are geared for serious natural history enthusiasts who are passionate about wildlife observation and seek an intensive field experience. Allen is legendary for his encyclopedic knowledge and infectious enthusiasm for the bush. He is one of Africa's most experienced safari guides and a natural-born teacher; his boundless curiosity and irrepressible sense of humor make him a delightful traveling companion.

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