mountain gorillas to the mara photography tour (15mgm18)...

October 2014 for 2015 Departures

Mountain Gorillas To The Mara Photography Tour (15MGM18) – Tour Dossier

Acacia Africa - Cape Town Office Acacia Africa – London Office PO Box 27632 23A Craven Terrace Rhine Road, Cape Town 8005 London W2 3QH Tel: +27 (021) 556 1157 | Fax: +27 (021) 557 5983 Tel: +44 (020) 7706 4700 | Fax: +44 (020) 7706 4686

Email : [email protected] |Web: www.acacia-africa.com

Introduction This exciting holiday offers you a comprehensive insight into some of Eastern Africa’s best adventure attractions. Our unique itinerary has been carefully designed to maximise your experience on safari. From Kenya’s ‘Great Rift Valley’ to flamingo enriched ‘Lake Nukuru’, crossing the Equator for game viewing at Queen Elizabeth National Park including chimpanzee trekking at Kyambura Gorge, the serenity of Lake Bunyonyi to adrenalin pumping activities at Jinja – the source of the Nile. The highlight of the tour being a very special wildlife encounter with the magnificent mountain gorillas, a truly unforgettable experience! Don’t forget Kenya’s most visited park, the Masai Mara, with its picture perfect rolling hills dotted with Acacia trees. This packed tour allows you to touch and embrace magical Africa leaving you with an everlasting desire to discover more of this dynamic and diverse continent. Our 2015 brochure cover was captured by freelance photographer Adam Lukaszewics. He and his wife Hannah are travel writers and editors of Getting Stamped travel blog. They are joining this departure to give first hand ‘snapping’ lessons and to offer you the opportunity to learn how to capture excellent safari photographs. Earlier this year (2014) they travelled with us on our 43-day Kenya to Cape Town itinerary and those on the expedition getting an insider take on the world of travel blogging. After the success of their first trip, and seeing Adam’s incredible photography skills, we invited them back to share their knowledge and expertise behind the lens with you. Mirroring the relaxed nature of overland travel there will be no set photography program, but there will be opportunity to pick up handy hints along the way from operating manual controls to using optional gear including filters and tripods. Photography is central to the safari experience and this will be a great opportunity if you want to build on your skills while here in Africa. There is a wealth of wildlife encountered on this particular itinerary with the Gorilla & Chimp trekking in Uganda and Big Five Safari in the Maasai Mara. This tour will follow the same route and itinerary, but what sets it apart is that you will have a photography guide travelling with you who has created a custom photo workshop that incorporates photography skills and directly applies them to the day’s activities. This photo tour activities outlined below are a guideline only and will be modified to fit the individual group of travelers.

Included Highlights The Great Rift Valley Lake Nakuru NP, Game Drive Queen Elizabeth NP, Chimpanzee Trekking

Mountain Gorilla Trekking Maasai Mara National Reserve, Game Drives

Intended Itinerary It is our intention to adhere to the route described below but a certain amount of flexibility is built into the tour and on occasion it may be necessary or desirable to make alterations to the published itinerary. Please therefore treat the following as a guide only. Duration: 18 Days Countries visited: Kenya, Uganda

Day 1: Nairobi – Lake Nakuru National Park Distance travelled: +/-190kms Approx driving day: Half day Kenya is East Africa’s most popular safari destination and has a long tradition of tourism and of welcoming visitors. Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, has seen rapid growth in recent years but still has a comparatively small city centre and interesting city market, numerous craft shops, book shops and plenty of cafes and restaurants. We recommend you arrive at least the day before the tour departure in order to relax, check out the city and overcome any jetlag.

We depart Nairobi early on Day One and descend into the ‘Great Rift Valley’, an enormous cleft in the Earth’s surface stretching from the Red Sea to Madagascar but with particularly marked escarpments here in Kenya. We stop at a lookout point to take in the magnificent views. Our overnight stop is near Lake Nakuru National Park, a relatively small park (by African standards) however prolific in wildlife, sited on the Great Rift Valley floor. The shallow soda lake attracts a huge variety of birdlife – especially flamingos, which may gather in such numbers that (when viewed from above) they form a strikingly pink ‘fringe’ around the lake-

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shore. However Lake Nakuru is not simply a bird sanctuary, it is also home to buffalo, lion, rhino (black and white), leopard, warthog, baboon, antelope, and a variety of smaller animals. A delightful introduction to East Africa’s wildlife diversity that we search for in an afternoon game drive making use of local guides and smaller safari vehicles for a more intimate experience. Photo Tour Activities: Our first photographic experience of this tour will be starting the day with a basic composition before reaching the ‘Great Rift Valley’. Here you will have a short demonstration learning specific techniques about landscape photography. Time is at leisure to soak in the beauty of the area and try out your cameras. The next photo opportunity is capturing your first game drive shots in Lake Nakuru National Park on our afternoon game drive. Here we will discuss camera settings, shooting wildlife, and what makes a strong game drive photo. Returning to camp, we will settle in and discuss the images of the day and any questions you may have.

Accommodation: Punda Milias - Camping in twin share tents with shared facilities Meals included: Lunch, Dinner WIFI: No

Day 2: Lake Nakuru - Eldoret Distance travelled: +/-150kms Approx driving day: Half day From Nakuru we continue northwest and climb in altitude towards the town of Eldoret en route to the Ugandan frontier. We cross from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere today over the Equator, enjoy some time here learning a little about its significance and taking photos before moving onwards to Eldoret. The name ‘Eldoret’ is based on the Maasai word ‘Eldore’ meaning stony river due to the stony bed of the nearby Sosiani River. The town is the 5th largest in Kenya and is the fastest growing with a population of approx 194,000. We camp outside of the town in a unique campsite. It is created on a hilly forest tribal land, which was once home to members of the ancient Sirikwa tribe. Preserved on the site are excavations with stone sides, commonly called Sirikwa holes, which are believed to have been roofed and occupied by the

inhabitants of a bygone age.

Photo Tour Activities: Today, on our drive to Eldoret, we will focus specifically on how to make a great photo book of your

African Adventure. This will be based around how to take group shots (we will stop at the Equator crossing sign) together with a deeper understanding of how to use your camera settings, exposure elements, equipment and posing technique; bringing a deeper knowledge of your camera and how it works.

Accommodation: Naiberi Overland camp- Camping in twin share tents with shared facilities Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner WIFI: No

Day 3: Eldoret - Kampala Distance travelled: +/-380kms Approx driving day: Full day We cross into Uganda, Winston Churchill’s ‘Pearl of Africa’, a country with beautiful natural scenery and a rich mosaic of tribes and cultures. Travelling through Uganda you will be captivated by its sheer overwhelming beauty and friendly people. Our first night we camp at the capital, Kampala which is an attractive hilly city, bustling with roadside traders, markets and busy matatu (mini-bus taxi) stands. Photo Tour Activities: Today we have a long drive day on the truck and a border crossing into Uganda, which allows some time to discuss Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO and how they play a role in your pictures. We will also take a look over all the images taken and run through exposure settings. If time allows in Kampala, we may take an optional walk tour through parts of this city

sights and colourful markets. Accommodation: Red Chilli Camp - Camping in twin share tents with shared facilities Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner WIFI: Yes

Day 4: Kampala – Queen Elizabeth National Park Distance travelled +/-400kms Approx driving day: Full day From Kampala, we travel west towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, through the Equator again, through fertile green terraced hillsides, lush banana plantations, steep mountains and tangled forests with herds of Ankole cattle with their incredible long curving horns roaming the roads and paddocks. We camp a short distance from the Queen Elizabeth National







Park. Here you will have the opportunity to relax and unwind, take a walk in the surrounding areas and mingle with the local community. Photo Tour Activities: Departing Kampala, we will discuss aperture shutter speed, one of the three main components of photography. We will stop at the Equator for a group shot opportunity. If we are lucky en-route we may encounter the unique Ugandan long horned cattle - Ankole and the men that herd them. At the end of our drive there may be an opportunity to meet with local people and the chance try out some of the techniques of portrait photography. Evening session is optional finishing the day with questions, photo review, and our friendly photo contest.

Accommodation: Simba Camp - Camping in twin share tents with shared facilities Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner WIFI: Yes

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Lake Bunyonyi Distance travelled +/- 240km Approx driving day: Half Day This morning we enter the Queen Elizabeth National Park and take in the magnificent views of the mountains that separate Uganda from central Africa as well as Lake Edwards and Lake George. In fact Queen Elizabeth National park has over 500 species of bird and 100 species of mammals making it one of the most bio diverse national parks in the world and if we are lucky, we may get to spot these animals en route to Kyambura Gorge for the trek to see the chimpanzees. Unlike their larger cousins the mountain gorilla, chimps live mostly in the trees and so our viewing is usually peering high into the forest canopy. However the experience of seeing man’s closest relative in the wild is a memorable one. We leave the national park and make our way to the lush and stunning ‘Lake Bunyonyi’ (‘Place of many little birds’). This lake is 27km long, 7km wide and at an elevation of 1950 metres above sea level is surrounded by undulating hills between 2200m to 2478m high. With a depth of nearly 900m in parts this lake is the second deepest lake in Africa (the deepest being Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania). With twenty nine islands that can be visited by local boats, the lake is a great place to unwind, relax and explore on the days that we don’t trek to see the mountain gorillas.

Photo Tour Activities: Today we start to get a little muddy searching the hills and valleys for the primates of Uganda! So it is a fitting start to the photography discussion to talk about keeping your gear clean and safe. Simple tricks and tips will help keep you taking great shots and save costly repairs. Before we start on our trek searching for the chimpanzee we will talk about how to take a good photograph in the field. The most striking feature of the chimps is their faces and the similarities to ours. We will likely get to see them in the trees, requiring us to use longer lens and zoom so, before we hit the trail, we will review how best to use our cameras and have them properly set. After a busy day the highlight of the night session will be the group judged best chimp shot.

Accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Overland Stop - Camping in twin share tents with shared facilities Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner WIFI: Yes

Day 6-8: Lake Bunyonyi rest days or Gorilla trek day Distance travelled +/- 0kms Approx driving day: Trekking for gorillas or rest days

Over the next three days the group will be split with one group trekking to the mountain gorillas while the others relax at Lake Bunyonyi to enjoy the many activities on offer. Lake Bunyoni There are many activities to do here such as hiring canoes to visit some of the lake’s islands, visit local tribes and villages, visit the local orphanage, bird watching and nature walks. Alternatively just relax around camp, catch up on the diary or postcards to home. Mountain Gorilla Trekking This region of Africa is home to the world’s remaining 700 mountain gorillas, many of which inhabit the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. [Occasionally we may travel into neighbouring Rwanda to trek for the gorillas.] On the day of our trek we gather in the early morning to meet our local guide and tracker. Walking in small groups we trek into the thick rainforest. The trek can be demanding at times with uneven terrain and hilly rainforest but the privilege of spending time with a family of these gentle primates makes the effort well worthwhile. To many people the day’s trek and time







with the gorillas remains their most exciting wildlife encounter in Africa. The usual procedure, once we have located the gorilla ‘family’, is to squat or sit down and simply observe them for around an hour – the time set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (the national body charged with controlling and maintaining the gorillas in Uganda). Gorillas are sociable creatures, living in groups between 12 and 20 individuals, usually led by an ‘alpha male’ (the ‘silverback’ - so called because of the silver hair on his back which grows once the male gorilla attains maturity). Most people find that the gorillas are remarkably human-like at close quarters – particularly in the social interaction between family members and in ‘play’ activity in which the young engage. Photography is permitted (although not with a flash and there are restrictions for those who wish to use a video camera.) Your permit allows you one trek and gorilla viewing (time limited to one hour). However because the authorities maintain strict limits on the number of visitors allowed to view the gorillas each day we may spend several days in the area while all passengers in our group complete the trek and viewing. NB: Depending on the availability of the chimpanzee and gorilla permits the tour itinerary may vary in day to day running order which is based on the brochure itinerary. From time to time we may have to trek on different days. If at any chance our Gorilla trek should be in another neighbouring country, eg Rwanda (instead of Uganda) this may entail extra visa fees although we shall endeavour to advise you before departure of any significant changes to the tour itinerary. Please take the above itinerary as a guide line only. This applies to day 5 – 8 of this tour. Photo Tour Activities: Before setting off to find the mountain gorillas we will brush up our skills to prepare for our encounter with the primates. We may run into them in a variety of situations, including low light. In order to respect the gorillas and the efforts of conservation we will take the time to stop our cameras from beeping, and lock our flashes off. This will allow us to enjoy our rare encounter in peace and get some nice photos.

Although the main focus is the gorillas, there is always opportunities to keep busy and learn whilst we trek to see them. On the days when we will not be trekking we will continue shooting around the lake and the surrounding area. We will keep an eye out for the makings of a good sunset to

practice our skills of capturing the amazing African sunset. As the sun heads over the horizon it is almost always a spectacular event in Africa. We will balance exposure and saturation to learn how to get the perfect shot. This is a perfect time for those interested in time-lapse photography to practice this technique.

At night around the lake there should be minimal light pollution, and when the moon is in a phase where it will be waining it makes it possible to see many stars. If weather permits, we can therefore try our hand at star photography.

Accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Overland Stop/ Gorilla Trek area - Camping in twin share tents with shared facilities Meals included: Breakfast x 3, Lunch x 3 & Dinner x 3 WIFI: Yes

Day 9: Lake Bunyonyi - Kampala Distance travelled +/- 550kms Approx driving day: Full day Leaving Lake Bunyonyi we make our way back across the Equator (stopping for a photo opportunity if we did not stop on route to Queen Elizabeth National Park) through lush pasture lands and the northern reaches of Lake Victoria (largest lake in Africa) to Kampala where we will overnight. Kampala is a hotspot for great food and entertainment. If time allows, take the night out and try the local cuisines and enjoy the hospitality and friendliness of the local Ugandan’s. Photo Tour Activities: On the drive to Kampala we will leverage our time in the truck to further our skills diving into intermediate techniques. We will work toward getting the right exposure all the time by combining Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. In addition to the technical aspect of photography we will look at what makes a photo appealing to the eye. We will take our composition to the next level by looking through what we have shot so far and examples from the pros.

Accommodation: Red Chilli Camp - Camping in twin share tents with shared facilities Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner WIFI: Yes

Day 10-12: Kampala - Jinja Distance travelled +/- 80kms







Approx driving day: Short day Leaving the capital we drive a short distance to Jinja. It was in 1862 that the British explorer John Hanning Speke recognised Lake Victoria as the ‘source of the Nile’ settling a long running dispute about Africa’s (and the world’s) longest river. From this modest monument the Nile begins its 4132 mile course through Uganda, Sudan and eventually Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. Our camp is situated on the grassy banks overlooking the Nile River. It is here that we usually have the option to try rafting - an exciting day out for those enjoying the thrill of ‘white water’. There is also the opportunity to make some difference to local children at a local school project: ‘Softpower’ is a locally run voluntary programme aimed at building and improving schools in the Jinja area to which your contribution of a few hours of painting or plastering is always most welcome. Other activities at Jinja include mountain biking, quad biking, village walks and even bungy jumping! Photo Tour Activities: During our time in Jinja there may be an opportunity for group walking tours to capture the area. This will depend on the ability to make local arrangements, and when photographing people a small donation may be required.

For those taking part in adventure sports we will have a short lesson on getting the most out of an action camera like a GoPro. We will go over settings, positioning the camera, and tips specific to this style of camera.

In the down time between activities we will discuss how to polish your photos using computer software. We will take photos from the first half of the trip and take a look at how to take them to the next level using programs like Adobe’s Lightroom. In addition to editing photos it is a good time to organize what you have shot while you have a sharp memory of the events. We will review good practices on file organization and take an inventory of what has been shot to start to build your photo book from the safari.

Daily photo workshops will be held around times suitable for the group. Optional night sessions will continue with friendly photo competitions.

Accommodation: Nile River Explorers - Camping in twin share tents with shared facilities Meals included: Breakfast x 3, Lunch x 3 & Dinner x 3 WIFI: No

Day 13:

Jinja – Eldoret Distance travelled: +/- 300kms Approx driving day: Full day After our refreshing stop at Jinja, we retrace our steps across the border to the Kenya’s frontier and onwards to Eldoret, where we will camp for the evening. Tonight you can celebrate your evening with your fellow travellers and exchange stories, emails and laughter around the camp fire. Photo Tour Activities: With a long day of driving we will use our time on the truck to build on our previous photo knowledge. We will bring in intermediate to advanced topics depending on the pace of the group. Individual practice will always be available should you find yourself ahead or behind the group, or for any other questions.

As the new moon approaches it gives us extra opportunity to see the stars and try to photograph them. Depending on weather conditions around this time of the month we will attempt some long exposure photography to catch some stars. If conditions are right we will also be able to attempt some star trail photography. A technique of taking a time lapse of the stars as they move across the sky, the result can be swirls of light in the night sky.

Accommodation: Naiberi Overland camp - Camping in twin share tents with shared facilities Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner WIFI: No

Day 14 - 15: Eldoret - Nairobi Distance travelled: +/- 250kms Approx driving day: Half day on day 14 This morning we make our way south to the capital ‘Nairobi’ to our base just outside the Kenyan capital. The following day is free to explore the city and surrounding area and our Tour Leader can help you arrange these optional excursions locally. Photo Tour Activities: In preparation for our trip to the Mara we will go over what to expect in the game park and how best to capture it. We will go in depth into the details that make great wildlife photos. From both a technical and a compositional aspect we will get ready to take some great photos in one of Africa’s top game parks.







Accommodation: Indaba Camp - Camping in twin share tents with shared facilities Meals included: Breakfast x 2, Lunch x 1 WIFI: Yes

Day 16 - 17: Nairobi – Masai Mara Reserve, Kenya Distance travelled: +/-300kms on days 16 Approx driving day: Full days including game drives We depart the city early and make our way across the Great Rift Valley to the Masai Mara National Reserve, enjoying views of the vast vista en route. We travel in small specialized safari vehicles that enable us to have a more intimate view of wildlife. We spend two nights camping on the edge of the Reserve with time to explore the park on morning and afternoon game drives. The sweeping plains, distant horizons, low slung acacia trees, occasional coppices of vegetation, and plentiful wildlife form a deeply evocative introduction to this wonderful continent. The ‘Mara’ is crossed every year between July and October by great herds of wildebeest, zebra and other grazing animals in their migration from the adjoining Serengeti plains to the south (in Tanzania). How long they stay is dependant of rainfall and subsequent grass growth in the rainy season. Predators (such as lion, cheetah, leopard) and scavengers (hyena, vultures) follow the grazing animals and this enormous congregation of wildlife forms a spectacular display of Africa’s natural resource. But the Mara is excellent for game viewing at any time of year and regardless of when you can visit we hope to see some, if not all, of Africa’s ‘Big Five’ (elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo and leopard) and an array of other wildlife. Photo Tour Activities: We will drive in smaller vehicles out to the park followed by an afternoon game drive where we will have an opportunity to put our wildlife photography to the test. We will have our cameras focused on finding the big 5 and other residence of the park until sundown. On the second day in the park we will get an early start to catch the animals when they are most active. We will spend the majority of the day in

the park filling our memory cards with the wonderful animals of the Mara. Adam, the photo tour leader, will divide time between the smaller vehicles to ensure everyone is taking the best photos they can.

After the game drive is finished there may be a chance to visit a Maasai village and watch the men of the village perform their traditional jumping dance. We will combine the techniques of portrait photography, with some of the fast action techniques of wildlife to capture the men as they leap high off the ground. There may be a chance to interact and take photos of other parts of village life as well. We must be respectful of the people in the village and make sure to have permission to photograph, in some cases this may require a small donation.

After dinner at the Chronicle Camp we will again hope for clear skies to catch the African night sky at its best. The moon, during the time we are in the Mara, will be at its smallest, which will darken the sky and make the stars even more visible.

On our last night together we will have our final night session with an overall photo competition with everyone’s best shots.

Accommodation: Masai Mara: Chronicle Tented Camp Meals included: Breakfast x 2, Lunch x 2, Dinner x 2 WIFI: Yes (Nairobi only)

Day 18: Masai Mara Reserve - Nairobi Distance travelled: +/-300kms Approx driving day: Half day From the Mara we cross the floor of the Great Rift Valley, climb out of the valley to Nairobi where our safari ends. Accommodation: None Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour Information TOUR STYLE: Acacia Overland Tour

Travelling on an overland is great fun, but it can also be challenging! This is a participation tour and your help will be needed in setting up the camp each night and assisting (usually on a rota basis) with the various day to day campsite duties, such as shopping, cooking and keeping the truck and camp tidy. But don’t worry it’s not all hard work and it’s a great way to meet the local people and get to know your fellow travellers. Your







contribution benefits the success of the tour - most people find the greater their involvement, the greater their enjoyment of the whole trip.

Africa is an adventure destination and travelling here is not always predictable so be prepared to “expect the unexpected’ in difficulties or delays which might come our way! However, you’ll soon find that the diversity of the African landscape, the wildlife and the communities we pass on our way, make the sometimes rough travel and long driving days worthwhile. Come with a sense of adventure and a flexible attitude and you will be sure to enjoy your Acacia overland tour across this amazing continent. Africa provides an ever-changing environment, power failures, water and fuel shortages, temperature fluctuations, and other uncontrollable / unplanned situations do occur. You will need to remain flexible, understanding and good-humored. “African time” can be difficult and frustrating for those who are used to a very structured life, so this is something to keep in mind!

WHAT’S INCLUDED: All tour highlights and inclusions, 2- person dome tents, fully equipped safari vehicles, camping and cooking

equipment, sleeping mattresses, service of two crew, all road and vehicle taxes, all ground transportation, meals as indicated.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED: Local Payment, Activities and Excursions (optional), visa’s, travel insurance, flight departure taxes, airport

transfers, optional activities, tips, drinks, sleeping bag and items of personal nature. NB: 1 x Lunch and 2 x Dinners in Nairobi are not included in the Local Payment or in the tour price.

LOCAL PAYMENT: Every Overland tour has a Local Payment amount which must be paid to your tour leader in Africa at the

beginning of the tour. This is separate and in addition to the Tour Price which is paid before travel. Paid in the currency listed in the brochure or on the website (usually US dollars in clean un-torn post 2006 edition notes) that pays for food, park entries, activities and camping costs along the way with payment goes directly to the supplier. Please refer below to what is covered by the Local Payment.

ACTIVITIES & EXCURSIONS: These are optional activities that are paid directly to the provider while on tour and you are free to decide what activities you would like to do. Please see table below for prices.

GORILLA & CHIMPANZEE TREK Depending on the availability of the chimpanzee and gorilla permits the tour itinerary may vary in day to day

running order which is based on the brochure itinerary. From time to time we may have to trek on different days. If at any chance our Gorilla trek should be in another neighbouring country, eg Rwanda (instead of Uganda) this may entail extra visa fees although we shall endeavour to advise you before departure of any significant changes to the tour itinerary. Please take the above itinerary as a guide line only. This applies to day 5 – 8 of this tour.

ACCOMMODATION: We use 2-person dome tents with fly sheets, sewn-in ground sheets, zip-up insect screens and foam

mattresses. We mainly use campsites, which usually have reasonable wash and shower facilities, electricity points and sometimes even a small shop, bar or swimming pool.

TRANSPORT: 24-seater, self contained, custom-built safari truck with onboard tables, plug sockets, freezer, water tank,

library, i-pod jack, safety features and 70-litre individual lockers and pop top minivan GAME PARK VISITS In order to maximise the quality of game driving and to comply with local authority rulings, some of our

National Park visits and game viewing is carried out using services provided by local African ground handlers. As well as enhancing our experience using local guides and smaller vehicles it also allows us to contribute at a ‘grassroots’ level to local economies from which local people benefit.







Tour Preparation BOOKING INFORMATION When you make a confirmed booking you will be sent your tour booking documents and a pre-departure booklet with detailed information to help you prepare for your trip. Once you have paid in full you will receive a Travel Voucher giving details of your joining hotel and I your ‘ticket’ for the tour and must be given to the tour leader at the beginning of the tour. Nairobi is well served by a number of airlines and your travel agent can advise on flights to the start of the tour. GORILLA AND CHIMPANZEE PERMITS The Uganda Wildlife Authority imposes strict regulations regarding the gorilla trekking permits. One of these is that permits must be booked and paid in advance. In order for us to do this we must collect your permit money, in addition to your normal deposit, at the time of booking. Like your deposit, the permit money is not refundable if you cancel your tour. The Gorilla Permits currently (September 2014) cost US$610.00 per person and the Chimpanzee Permit at US50.00 per person. Please ask your agent or Acacia for the equivalent amount in your own currency. On rare occasions, subject to permit availability, we may purchase trekking permits to view the gorillas in neighbouring Rwanda.

JOINING INFORMATION This tour starts in Nairobi. The pre-departure meeting is held at 18:00 on the evening prior to departure. The tour departs at 08:00 on day 1 and ends in Nairobi on day 18.

Meeting and end point in Nairobi: Address: Boulevard Hotel Harry Thuku Rd PO Box 42831, Nairobi Contact details: Tel. +245 2 337221/ 227567/ 8/ 9

Fax: Fax: +245 2 334071 E-mail: [email protected] Pre Departure meeting: 18:00 prior to departure day 1 Tour start time: 08:00 on day 1 Tour end time: Mid/late afternoon on day 18

PRE TOUR ACCOMMODATION This tour departs Nairobi early on day 1; we strongly recommend therefore that you plan to arrive at least the day before departure to overcome any jet-lag and to acclimatise to Africa. We would be happy to book pre-tour accommodation for you – please call or email us (or speak to your agent) with your arrival details and accommodation requirements. However please book early to avoid disappointment and the risk of having to find more expensive (or less convenient) lodgings. If time allows, we also suggest planning a night or two extra (after your tour) to make the most of this part of Africa. Your Tour Leader can help with post tour accommodation if required and there are a variety of activities and excursions in the Nairobi Area that you can arrange locally. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can pre book your accommodation at the time of booking your tour.

See below for a guide to extra accommodation costs. These prices are a guide line only and are subject to change so please check with Acacia or your agent for current prices

Description Price ($) Description Price ($)

Nairobi Nairobi

Pre tour accommodation – Twin/ double pppn

$70 Post tour accommodation – Twin/ double pppn $70

Pre tour accommodation – Single pppn $110 Post tour accommodation – Single pppn $110

Pre tour accommodation – triple pppn $60 Pre tour accommodation – triple pppn $60








What to Bring LOCAL PAYMENT Paid in the currency listed in the brochure or on the website (usually US dollars in clean un-torn post 2006 edition notes) directly to your Tour Leader in Africa at the beginning of the tour, the Local Payment of this tour covers the following -

Food and Camping √

Lake Nakuru National Park √

Queen Elizabeth National Park √

Gorilla Trek Transfer √

Masai Mara √

We are under no doubt: the LOCAL PAYMENT system is best for Africa. As African Specialists we don’t have to worry about what might work better in Asia or South America where local transport, infrastructure and banking may be more efficient: we simply do what works best in Africa!

So what are the REAL advantages of a Local Payment (LP) system?

1. Nothing is lost on bank charges or currency fluctuations. The amount is clearly set out in the brochure (or website). You simply buy your USD$ cash before leaving home and hand it over to the tour guide at the pre-departure meeting. The amount you bring is used by the guide to pay your food, accommodation and park entries on tour.

2. You pay the LP here in Africa and every cent of it is spent here in Africa, where it’s needed. Typically the money goes to park fees, and selected local operators and suppliers for the services they render the group, and it is paid at the time or immediately following the service provided. The money you pay therefore stays in Africa with the people who have provided you the service.

3. The LP system option gives you the flexibility to save the money right up until the time you leave for Africa. No need to pre-pay eight weeks beforehand (the usual rule for pre-paid items) - and because of this, if you did have to cancel your tour for any reason the LP is not affected by cancellation fees.

4. The LP ensures the activities and excursions you do are paid at the lowest possible price because the money is paid direct to the service providers at the time they deliver. You pay the local price not one inflated for international exchanges or bank fees.

LUGGAGE Please try to keep your luggage to a minimum, bearing in mind that most airlines impose a 20kg limit. It should be brought in a soft backpack or rucksack along with a smaller day bag. You will need to bring a mixture of lightweight clothing and warm clothing for the evenings and early morning game drives. You also need a sleeping bag (and small pillow if preferred). We recommended you pack a small torch or headlamp, mosquito spray and a money pouch/ belt that can be easily hidden. Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables and use your hotel safe to store the bulk of your money, passport, and airline tickets. A full ‘What to Bring’ list is included in

our pre-departure booklet (online version), issued when you book.

VACCINATIONS/HEALTH The table below indicates the vaccinations suggested for travel on this tour but should be treated as a guide only. You should seek

professional medical advice from your GP or clinic at least six weeks prior to departure. Please be aware that some of the areas visited on this tour are malarial. We strongly recommend you seek professional medical advice for the appropriate anti-malarial tablets.







Country Tetanus Diphtheria Polio Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Typhoid Meningitis Rabies Yellow Fever Malaria

Kenya R R R R R R R R R* R

Uganda R R R R R R - R R R

R = Recommended, R* = If travelling from infected countries a certificate of proof may be required NB To be used as a guide only. Please see your GP or travel clinic for up-to-date medical advice.

VISA REQUIREMENTS The table below indicates the visas required for travel to the countries on this tour but should be treated as a guide only. At least one month prior to travel seek confirmation from embassies or a visa specialist, that these requirements are still current. For UK citizens the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers free up-to-date travel info: www.fco.gov.uk For other nationalities a number of travel advice websites are listed on the Acacia website. NB: You do not need a double entry visa for Kenya for the tour as long as you remain in Uganda and do not cross over in Rwanda.

Nationality UK AUS NZ USA CAN BEL IRE NED DEN ITA GER AUT SWE FIN NOR MEX KOR

Kenya Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Uganda Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

INSURANCE It is a booking condition of Acacia that you have full travel insurance valid for the duration of your tour to cover you for medical emergency and repatriation to your home country. Your guide will ask you for a copy of this when you join the tour. It is also important that you leave a copy of your insurance with the person nominated as your emergency contact. We can recommend a respected, specialist travel insurance provider for this tour. Please refer to: http://www.acacia-africa.com/travel_info/travel_documents.php for more details.

Money Matters

PERSONAL EXPENSES Naturally you will require extra money for your own personal spending on the tour, for Activities and Excursions, snacks, drinks, souvenirs, tips and items of a personal nature. Everybody has different spending habits but as a guideline we suggest you budget US$15-20 per day. Also keep US$ cash for relevant airport taxes and visas needed, optional activities and any additional accommodation before or after your tour. - Spending money is best carried as cash in US dollars (US Dollars in clean, un-torn, post 2006 edition notes), Sterling or Euro

which you then exchange into local currency on arrival and as you go. Your guide can advise how and when you can change the rest of your money throughout the tour.

- Currencies are as follows: Kenya – Kenya Schilling; Uganda - Shilling. - ATM machines are found in Nairobi and Kampala. Please note they are sometimes unreliable (and therefore should not be

relied upon). - Credit cards can be used to pay for optional activities although charges may be may be high by western standards (+/- 5%).



http://www.fco.gov.uk/

http://www.acacia-africa.com/travel_info/travel_documents.php





We recommend you bring your spending money in several different ways (some cash and some cards); your guide can best advise on what to use where.

TIPPING This is always a matter for your own individual discretion but as in many areas where tourism is an important contributor to the economy, it has become customary to give a small gratuity to local staff, including your tour leader and driver, at the end of a tour if services rendered have been to your satisfaction.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITES AND EXCURSIONS In order to give you maximum flexibility on tour we offer a number of optional activities on the tour. To help budget, approximate prices are listed below (in US$ unless otherwise stated. All prices subject to change and availability).

Activity Price (USD) Activity Price (USD)

Uganda Uganda

Lake Bunyoni Jinja

Boating on the lake (Islands) $25 - $80 Kayak the Nile $75

Village Walk/ Nature Walk $5 Bungy Jumping $115

Traditional dance $30 Quad Biking $80

Bird Watching $5 White Water Rafting $130

Canoe hire $5 Community Schools Project $40

Responsible Travel We strongly believe that you get the most out of a journey by respecting the culture and people of the places you visit. On our tours we try to travel in a way that benefits the communities we pass through and minimises negative impact on the environment. This can be from ensuring the campsites we use are clean when we leave and dressing respectfully in conservative areas to getting involved with local charity projects. We ask that you are open to this when you travel with us. Being proactive in responsible travel helps develop cross-cultural understanding and friendships with the local people, and will greatly enhance your experience in Africa.

Get Connected WIFI on tour: While WIFI is becoming more and more common in some areas, and many clients can successfully access online services, we cannot guarantee the speed, cost or reliability on the day(s) you will be in the area.

Join our facebook group www.facebook.com/AcaciaAfrica and get connected with other Acacia travelers, check out the pictures, videos and feedback from their tours and meet up with other people booked on your tour

Find us on Instagram #acaciaafrica & #acaciaisafrica and tag us in your amazing travel photographs! Follow us on twitter @AcaciaAfrica and get the latest buzz. Got a question? Ask us on twitter! Follow our blog at http://acacia-africa.com/blog and get regular updates from our crew on the road as well as other Acacia Travellers



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http://acacia-africa.com/blog





Don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter to get regular updates and special offers www.acacia-africa.com For information on our Overland Safaris, Accommodated Overland safaris, Acacia Small Group Safaris, Short Safari’s & Treks, Short Breaks & City Stays and Voluntours, please visit www.acacia-africa.com




mountain gorillas to the mara photography tour (15mgm18)...

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