African Safari and Primate Tracking Experience

Welcome to Africa. Holden Safaris invites you on an unforgettable travel experience - from the magnificent natural beauty and wildlife of  Kenya, the unforgettable Gorillas and Chimpanzees in Uganda. Your itinerary gives you details of all the arrangements and what to expect, what you will experience, travel details and also provides you with travel information about your accommodation.  Holden Safaris works closely with our partners in East and Southern Africa to optimize your travel experience and execute operational health and safety protocols based on the World Travel and Tourism Council international best practice, mitigating risk associated with  Covid-19.   We wish you an unforgettable journey!

PLEASE FIND BELOW;

• Emergency Contact Details
• Passport and Visa Requirements
• Health Precautions
• Itinerary Summary
• Tipping Guidelines
• Baggage Restrictions
• TravelApp mobile device code                                                       

EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS

• Jim Holden - President - Holden Safaris - Newport Beach CA USA + 1 949-500-0094
• Vivienne Holden - Holden Safaris Africa Office - Durban South Africa - +27 (0) 82 882 5056
• Peter Karanja - Managing Director - Maniago Safaris - Nairobi +254-722-509-883
• Daniel Gatumbo - Tours Director - Maniago Safaris - Nairobi+254-722-509-260
• Note:  Easy way to communicate with family back home besides email is to use Whatsapp. WhatsApp is free to download messenger app for smartphones. WhatsApp uses the internet to send messages, images, audio or video. All contact numbers above are WhatsApp enabled.  

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS

• Passports are required to enter Kenya and Uganda
• The passport must be valid for at least six months after the intended date of departure from these countries and it is recommend to have at least two blank pages to ensure that you have the required number of unused pages for endorsements.

VISA REQUIREMENTS : KENYA 

• Kenya: Single entry visa US$ 50 (Please note: A traveler to Kenya, departing Kenya into Tanzania and returning to Kenya can re-enter Kenya a second time without the need to obtain another single entry visa.)
• Uganda : Single entry visa US$50

• The East Africa Travel Visa : US$ 100 : is a joint tourist visa that entitles holders travel to and within Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. This visa can be used if visiting only two of the three countries ie Kenya and Uganda

  • Visitors must obtain their visa from the issuing authority of the country in which they will first arrive.

  • This means if you are arriving in Kenya first, and then travelling to Uganda,  you obtain the visa from the Kenyan online portal -   http://evisa/go.ke/east-african-tourist-visa.html 

  Kenya:  Visa Application 

• Note:  As of 1st January 2021 only online visa applications will be processed - no visas processed on arrival in Kenya :  
  • Website:  www.evisa.go.ke 
• Online visa application : On opening the eVisa page and before going on to any tabs on the page, you need to “Sign in :  a small box at the top right hand corner saying : Create an Account”.
  • Four boxes come up and you need to click on the eVisa Visitors box (click on create an account) and follow the prompts to make the application
  • For all online visa applications: once approved, a visa approval letter will be emailed to the applicant and this letter must be printed out and presented on arrival. Please note: Once approval has been received, the eVisa will be made available on your eVisa account. Login in to your secure eVisa account (which is created when applying for the visa) and print a copy of the eVisa to carry with the passport. On arrival in Kenya present the printed eVisa (which has the bar code) and passport to the Immigration Officer.

VISA REQUIREMENTS: UGANDA

• Visa application can be made either online or at port of entry to Uganda  (encourage clients to apply online to avoid any delays and inconveniences)
• Visa Application at port of entry to Uganda requires the following:
  • Passport copy (bio-data page)
  • Vaccination Certificate (Yellow Fever)
  • Recent Passport-size Photograph
• Visa Application Online for Uganda single entry visas should be made:  https://visas.immigration.go.ug/  
• Online process:
  • Step 1 : Visit website as indicated above
  • Step 2: Click on Visa/Permit tab at top
  • Step 3: Fill in the necessary forms
  • Step 4: Add required documents
  • Step 5: Submit all required documents with personal, passport and other data required

HEALTH, INOCULATIONS AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Malaria is prevalent in parts of Kenya and Uganda, and all visitors should also consult their doctor and take one of the prophylactics prescribed.
• Yellow Fever: Because Yellow Fever is endemic in Uganda, all visitors to Uganda must present a valid Yellow Fever Certificate on arrival.
• For further information:  https://www.passporthealthusa.com/
• Carry prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription is required on entry into the Seychelles.

ITINERARY SUMMARY

Day 1– Arrive Nairobi

• Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
• You will be met inside the airport and assisted through the immigration & customs formalities,
• After the formalities, you will meet a representative of Holden Safaris and transferred to Hemingway's Nairobi.
• Dinner will be served at the hotel.
• Overnight at Hemingways Nairobi – 1 x Double Deluxe room (Half Board)

Day 2 - Nairobi

• 08:00am:  Breakfast at the hotel.
• Depart for a full day of excursions in the Karen area.
• 11:00am: Visit The Giraffe Centre
• 12:00pm: Visit Karen Blixen Museum
• 1:00pm:  Lunch at Tamambo Karen Blixen Coffee Garden
• 2:30pm:  Visit Utamaduni Craft Centre and Kazuri Beads Factory for shopping
• 5:00pm:  Visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for the adoption visit
• After your visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust , return back to the hotel
• Dinner on will be served at the hotel
• Overnight at Hemingway's Nairobi – 1 x Double Deluxe room (Half Board)

Day 3 :Nairobi/Naboisho Conservancy, Masai Mara National Reserve

• Breakfast at the hotel
• At a time advised, transfer to Wilson Airport
• 10:30am: Depart scheduled flight to Masai Mara National Reserve 
• 11:10am:  Arrive at Ol Seki Airstrip and met by a Holden Safaris professional driver guide and transferred to Ol Seki Hemingway's Mara with a short game viewing drive en-route
• Lunch at the camp
• Afternoon game drive in the conservancy
• Return to the camp for dinner
• Overnight at Ol Seki Hemingways Mara - 1 x Double Room– Nina Tent (Full board)
• *Note:   Today is an opportunity for a night game drive. Return from the afternoon game drive for dinner around 7:15pm, and after dinner head out again for the night drive from 8:15pm returning between 9:30pm - 10:00pm at the latest. 

Day 4 – Naboisho Conservancy, Masai Mara National Reserve

• Morning and afternoon game drives in the reserve and the conservancy.
• You can also opt for a full day game viewing in the reserve with picnic lunches
• All meals at the camp
• Overnight at Ol Seki Hemingways Mara – 1 x Double Room– Nina Tent (Full board)

Day 5 – Naboisho Conservancy, Masai Mara National Reserve

• Morning and afternoon game drives or a full day game viewing enjoying your picnic lunches admiring the incredible wildlife.
• Today you will also enjoy a guided bush walk in Naibosho Conservancy.
• All meals at the camp
• Overnight at Ol Seki Hemingways Mara – 1x Double Room– Nina Tent (Full board)

Day 6 – Masai Mara National Reserve/Entebbe/Bwindi Forest National Park

• Early breakfast at the camp
• Transfer to Ol Seki airstrip 
• 08:45am: Depart scheduled Airkenya Express flight to Entebbe via Kisumu
• 09:50am: Arrive at Kisumu where you will need to clear customs and immigration formalities.
• 10:30am:  Depart on a scheduled flight to Entebbe
• 11:30am:  Arrive at Entebbe International Airport
• 12:00pm:  Depart Entebbe Airport on your connecting scheduled flight to Kihihi Airstrip
• 2: 40pm:  On arrival at Kihihi Airstrip you will be met by a representative of Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp and transferred to the camp. 
• You will arrive at the camp in time for a late lunch
• Afternoon at leisure
• Dinner at the camp
• Overnight at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp – 1 x  Luxury Double Tent (Full board)

Day 7– Bwindi Forest National Park

• 06:15am:  Breakfast at the lodge
• 06:45am: You will be driven to the Bwindi Forest National Park  main gate where you will be assigned a gorilla tracking group
• 07:00am:  Briefing by the trackers then drive to the trail head and begin your adventure
• Upon sighting the gorillas, spend a magical hour with them before returning to the lodge for lunch
• Afternoon is at leisure
• Overnight at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp – 1 x  Luxury Double Tent (Full board)

Day 8 – Bwindi Forest National Park

• 06:15am:  Breakfast at the lodge
• 06:45am: You will be driven to the Bwindi Forest National Park  main gate where you will be assigned a gorilla tracking group
• 07:00am:  Briefing by the trackers then drive to the trail head and begin your adventure
• Upon sighting the gorillas, you will spend a magical hour observing their social behavior - an unforgettable experience.
• Return to the lodge for lunch
• Afternoon will be at leisure
• Overnight at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp – 1  x Luxury Double Tent (Full board)

Day 9 – Bwindi Forest National Park/Entebbe/Kibale

• Breakfast at the Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge
• 08h00: Depart from the lodge with your driver/guide and travel to Kibale National Park
• Picnic Lunch will be provided.
• 2:30pm: Arrive Kyaninga Lodge 
• Afternoon at leisure
• Dinner will be served at the lodge.
• Overnight: Kyaninga Lodge (1 x Double Room) (Full board)

Day 10 - Kibale National Park

• After breakfast you will depart the lodge and drive  to the Kibale National Park headquarter for your Chimpanzee Tracking briefing.
• The drive is approximately 1 hour.  
• 07:00am: After the briefing, you begin your walk through the forest with your guides and ranger following the well-marked trails in search of the chimpanzees. 
• Explore the wonders of this enchanted region - the Chimpanzee in Kibale National Park.
• Kibale Forest is the best place to see Chimpanzees in the wild. The forest is frequently used by documentary film-makers, including the great Attenborough. With the highest density of Chimpanzees in the world, and with 13 other rare primates, the enormous Kibale Forest is a world treasure. 
• On locating the chimpanzees, you will spend an hour with these incredible primates. Watch them interact with one another and get a better understanding of the social behavior.
• 1:00pm: Return to the lodge arriving in time for late lunch.
• Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
• Dinner will be served at the lodge.
• Overnight at Kyaninga Lodge – (1 Double Room) (Full board)

Day 11 – Kibale  

• Breakfast at the lodge
• 07:30am: Depart the lodge and transfer to Kasese Airstrip
• 09:30am: Depart scheduled Aerolink flight to Entebbe.
• 11:25am: On arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to No.5 Boutique Hotel where lunch and dayroom has been reserved.
• At a time advised, you will be collected from the hotel and transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your schedule departure flight.

KENYA TIPPING GUIDELINES

• Porters US$ 1 per person per day.
• Waiters US$ 2 per person per day
  • Note: This is assumed that the tips will be given to specific porters/waiters directly by the client)
• Driver guide US$ 10 per person per day
• Normally the guide/ranger is tipped separately in order to show your appreciation and the guide/ranger tip can be made at the end of your stay in each location.
• At many camps there will be a tipping box for collective tipping which covers all the staff in the lodge or camp.
  • Recommend  US $ 10 per guest per day.

UGANDA TIPPING GUIDELINES

• Tipping is entirely at your discretion with no obligation to pay a tip to either our staff or your guides. However, should you wish to tip, here are some guidelines:
• In Entebbe and Kampala
• Guest Relations Staff: US$5-10 per person per meeting depending on numbers
• Transfer Driver: US$5-10 per person per transfer depending on group size
•   Hotel Staff (Waiters): 10-15% service charge per meal, irrespective of group size, and if not  
•   already included in the bill.
• Lodges outside of Kampala/Entebbe
• Your lodge should have a staff tip box from which tips are distributed equitably.  A tip of  US$10 – US$20 per traveller for your entire stay should be adequate if service warrants it.

Gorilla tracking

• If you choose to take a porter (highly recommended), the minimum recommended payment is US$20 per traveller per track. Porters are drawn from local communities, and this payment serves as their wages.
•  Guides (1 per group), Trackers (2-3 per group) and Security personnel (2-4 per group) do earn salaries. A recommended tip is US$25 per day of tracking per traveller. This may be placed in the appropriate tip box for your gorilla group (found at Park Headquarters) for distribution amongst all the above staff.

Other park guides

• A tip of US$7-15 per traveller is appropriate each time you receive a guiding service from a park employed guide.

Driver guides

•  A tip of US$5 per traveller per day for larger groups to US$10 per traveller per day for singles and couples.

BAGGAGE RESTRICTIONS

• Kenya Airways: Economy :  2 PC 23kg/50lbs max each
• Only soft luggage bags are permissible on scheduled light aircraft flights with a weight limit of  33 lbs (15kgs) per person including hand luggage.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Plastic bags, among other plastic products such as straws and bottles, are causing major environmental issue globally, particularly posing a threat to both marine and land wildlife.
• In alleviating this environmental issue, the Governments of Kenya  has imposed  a ban on the use of plastic carrier bags and visitors are requested not to bring any  type of plastic bag into  these countries.

 PHOTOGRAPHY

• Flash photography is not permitted while gorilla tracking so visitors should familiarise themselves with how to alter their film speed setting to a high speed (800ASA equivalent or faster) before meeting with the gorillas – it also helps to be able to disable any sonic alerts or other noises where possible.

TRAVELKEY APP : Enjoy mobile access to your travel itinerary via your mobile device

• Download the TravelKey App from Google Play Store & the App Store
• Enter your itinerary mobile code (password) :UMZQA4 to complete the itinerary download and be able to access your itinerary on your mobile device during your travels.

IMAGES AND VIDEOS TAKEN ON SAFARI WITH HOLDEN SAFARIS

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       Please refer to the document links tab in your itinerary for further information.