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Alpha adventure safaris
- 1. Welcome to Alpha Adventure Safaris • Name: Albert Peter Ssemakula • Title: Owner/Managing Director • Experience: Ten years • -Tour consultant -Tour Leader -Conference Management www.alphatouring.com [email protected]
- 2. About Us Alpha Adventure Safaris • Alpha Adventure Safaris is an inbound Tour Operator, established in 2004 and based in Kampala, Uganda. • Our forte is Custom Designing versatile itineraries for individuals and small groups with specific needs and particular interests. • Our programmes are tailored made to suit individual requirements, aiming to delight even the discerning traveller with our insight into little known tour and safari destinations throughout the region; which we tender at the best possible price. • We orchestrate Leisure and Business Travel and expertly facilitate the full range of tourism services throughout East Africa • OUR SERVICES • -Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking • -Domestic flight chartering • -Wild life safaris / game parks adventuring • -White water rafting, Bungee jumping and canoeing on the Source of the Nile. • -Mountaineering • -Fishing Safaris • -Cultural experience and city tours • -Bird watching safaris • -Car hire and rental services. 4WD safari vans, salon cars • -Bicycle Adventure • -Quad riding, kayaking and horse riding safaris • -Guided packages for documentary markers, photographers and researchers. • -Honey moon packages • -Hotel and Safari lodge bookings • -Tour packages to Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda ,Burundi and Tanzania • -Airport Pick up and Transfer
- 3. We are selective in our trade partnerships, only committing to tourism partners who share our values, whose service and conduct reflects our commitment to service and those who are consistent and transparent in their decisions and actions to fulfill our commitments with integrity. • Alpha Adventures is a dynamic and resourceful company with accrued multi facet tourism experience in excess of 15 years throughout East Africa. • Our vivacious team comprises of young, ardent professionals focused unequivocally on our customers, imbued with an attitude of care and a determination to guarantee our clients the ultimate East African experience. • Our Mission is to share our own passion for East Africa and its people with others and to inspire an equal awareness of the fragile raw beauty and irreplaceable heritage Africa has to offer all those who tread her earth. • Our Passion for travel goes beyond the yearning for discovery— Ours’ is a reasoned, tried and tested approach to the enjoyment of a truly amazing continent... • Ecotourism is what makes Alpha Adventures different…
- 4. About Uganda the Pearl of Africa • Uganda As A Destination The country’s charm lies in an astonishing diversity – of wildlife, vegetation, landscapes and cultures – within an area no larger than the United Kingdom. East Africa meets west within its borders; Congo-style rainforests bristling with central African birds and primates adjoin expansive, east African savannas inhabited by healthy populations of big game. Uganda’s 240,000 sq km area is also inhabited by the subjects of traditional kingdoms and tribes, each with its own history and cultures. Add the fact that these people are widely held to be the most friendly and hospitable hosts in Africa, and we can claim to be the continent’s most welcoming and varied safari destination. • The appeal of Uganda is due in no small part to its remarkably long list of wildlife species. Despite its relatively small size, it boasts Africa’s longest bird list (over 1,040 species, with several new species discovered just in the last year) as well as more primate species (eighteen in total) than any other country on the continent. This includes 13 diurnal monkeys and two great apes, chimpanzees and the endangered mountain • Uganda the Pearl of Africa • gorilla of which Uganda is home to over half of the worlds population. • In addition to Lake Victoria and the river Nile, Uganda is dotted with hundreds of other lakes. Some fill extinct volcanic craters, flood river valleys dammed by lava or simply inundate large tracts of the rift valley’s huge trough. • The Ugandan theme of variety extends to its climate. In Kidepo Valley, in the arid extreme north-east, daytime temperatures regularly exceed 30°C (85°F) while at night on the high Rwenzori, just miles from the equator, they fall below freezing. In general, however, the effect of altitude means that Uganda enjoys a singularly pleasant tropical climate with temperatures averaging 21 to 25°C (70-77°F). • It has always been easy to describe Uganda’s natural attractions, but attracting visitors has not always been so simple. Although the country was Africa’s foremost safari destination in 1968, it dropped off the tourist map during difficult years in the 1970s and 1980s. By the time stability was restored in 1986.
- 5. Most activities in the parks Uganda’s Ten National Parks
- 6. Uganda National Parks Rwenzori Mountains National Park • The Rwenzoris – the fabled Mountains of the Moon – lie in western Uganda along the Uganda-Congo border. The equatorial snow peaks include the third highest point in Africa, while the lower slopes are blanketed in moorland, bamboo and rich, moist montane forest. Huge tree-heathers and colorful mosses are draped across the mountainside with giant lobelias and “everlasting flowers”, creating an enchanting, fairytale scene. • Rwenzori Mountains National Park protects the highest parts of the 120km-long and 65km-wide Rwenzori mountain range. The national park hosts 70 mammals and 217 bird species including 19 Albertine Rift endemics, as well as some of the world’s rarest vegetation. • The Rwenzoris are a world- class hiking and mountaineering destination. A nine- to twelve-day trek will get skilled climbers to the summit of Margherita – the highest peak – though shorter, non- technical treks are possible to scale the surrounding peaks. Mountain Climbing
- 7. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Gorilla Safaris • Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda's oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, which dates back over 25,000 years and contains almost 400 species of plants. More famously, this “impenetrable forest” also protects an estimated 320 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population, including several habituated groups, which can be tracked. • This biologically diverse region also provides shelter to a further 120 mammals, including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes. There are around 350 species of birds hosted in this forest, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics. • The neighboring towns of Buhoma and Nkuringo both have an impressive array of luxury lodges, rustic bandas and budget campsites, as well as restaurants, craft stalls and guiding services. Opportunities abound to discover the local Bakiga and Batwa Pygmy cultures through performances, workshops and village walks. Gorilla Trekking & Bicycling
- 8. Kibale National Park Chimpanzee Safaris • Kibale National Park contains one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. Forest cover, interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp, dominates the northern and central parts of the park on an elevated plateau. • The park is home to a total of 70 mammal species, most famously 13 species of primate including the chimpanzee. It also contains over 375 species of birds. Kibale adjoins Queen Elizabeth National Park to the south to create a 180km-long corridor for wildlife between Ishasha, the remote southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Sebitoli in the north of Kibale National Park. Chimpanzee Trek & Bicycling in Tea
- 9. Kidepo Valley National Park Wildlife Safari • Kidepo Valley National Park lies in the rugged, semi arid valleys between Uganda’s borders with Sudan and Kenya, some 700km from Kampala. Gazetted as a national park in 1962, it has a profusion of big game and hosts over 77 mammal species as well as around 475 bird species. • Kidepo is Uganda’s most isolated national park, but the few who make the long journey north through the wild frontier region of Karamoja would agree that it is also the most magnificent, for Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses. From Apoka, in the heart of the park, a savannah landscape extends far beyond the gazetted area, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges. • During the dry season, the only permanent water in the park is found in wetlands and remnant pools in the broad Narus Valley near Apoka. These seasonal oases, combined with the open, savannah terrain, make the Narus Valley the park’s prime game viewing location. Game drive
- 10. Lake Mburo National Park Nature Safari & WildLife • Lake Mburo National Park is a compact gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks and underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks which date back more than 500 million years. It is home to 350 bird species as well as zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, leopard, hippo, hyena, topi and reedbuck. • Together with 13 other lakes in the area, Lake Mburo forms part of a 50km-long wetland system linked by a swamp. Five of these lakes lie within the park’s borders. Once covered by open savanna, Lake Mburo National Park now contains much woodland as there are no elephants to tame the vegetation. In the western part of the park, the savanna is interspersed with rocky ridges and forested gorges while patches of papyrus swamp and narrow bands of lush riparian woodland line many lakes. Game drive, Boat, Natural walk and Bicycle adventure
- 11. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Gorilla Safari • Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits high in the clouds, at an altitude of between 2,227m and 4,127m. As its name suggests, it was created to protect the rare mountain gorillas that inhabit its dense forests, and it is also an important habitat for the endangered golden monkey. • As well as being important for wildlife, the park also has a huge cultural significance, in particular for the indigenous Batwa pygmies. This tribe of hunter- gatherers was the forest’s “first people”, and their ancient knowledge of its secrets remains unrivalled. • Mgahinga’s most striking features are its three conical, extinct volcanoes, part of the spectacular Virunga Range that lies along the border region of Uganda, Congo and Rwanda. Mgahinga forms part of the much larger Virunga Conservation Area which includes adjacent parks in these countries. The volcanoes’ slopes contain various ecosystems and are biologically diverse, and their peaks provide a striking backdrop to this gorgeous scenery. Uganda with half of world gorillas
- 12. Mount Elgon National Park Mountain Climbing • At 4,000km² Mt. Elgon has the largest volcanic base in the world. Located on the Uganda-Kenya border it is also the oldest and largest solitary, volcanic mountain in East Africa. Its vast form, 80km in diameter, rises more than 3,000m above the surrounding plains. The mountain’s cool heights offer respite from the hot plains below, with the higher altitudes providing a refuge for flora and fauna. • Mount Elgon National Park is home to over 300 species of birds, including the endangered Lammergeyer. Small antelopes, forest monkeys, elephants and buffalos also live on the mountainside. The higher slopes are protected by national parks in Uganda and Kenya, creating an extensive trans-boundary conservation area which has been declared a UNESCO Man & Biosphere Reserve. • A climb on Mt. Elgon’s deserted moorlands unveils a magnificent and uncluttered wilderness without the summit-oriented approach common to many mountains: the ultimate goal on reaching the top of Mt. Elgon is not the final ascent to the 4321m Wagagai Peak, but the descent into the vast 40km² caldera.
- 13. Murchison Falls National Park Uganda’s Largest N. Park • Murchison Falls National Park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the sweeping Bunyoro escarpment tumbles into vast, palm-dotted savanna. First gazetted as a game reserve in 1926, it is Uganda's largest and oldest conservation area, hosting 76 species of mammals and 451 birds. • The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, the centerpiece of the park and the final event in an 80km stretch of rapids. The mighty cascade drains the last of the river's energy, transforming it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. This stretch of river provides one of Uganda's most remarkable wildlife spectacles. Regular visitors to the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes and buffaloes; while hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are permanent residents. • Notable visitors to the park include Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway and several British royals.
- 14. Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda’s most popular tourist destination • Queen Elizabeth National Park is understandably Uganda’s most popular tourist destination. The park’s diverse ecosystems, which include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands, make it the ideal habitat for classic big game, ten primate species including chimpanzees and over 600 species of birds. • Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, the park’s magnificent vistas include dozens of enormous craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills, panoramic views of the Kazinga Channel with its banks lined with hippos, buffalo and elephants, and the endless Ishasha plains, whose fig trees hide lions ready to pounce on herds of unsuspecting Uganda kob. • As well as its outstanding wildlife attractions, Queen Elizabeth National Park has a fascinating cultural history. There are many opportunities for visitors to wildlife attractions • meet the local communities and enjoy storytelling, dance, music and more. The gazetting of the park has ensured the conservation of its ecosystems, which in turn benefits the surrounding communities. • Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park is truly a Medley of Wonders!
- 15. Semuliki National Park HOT SPRINGS • Semuliki National Park sprawls across the floor of the Semliki Valley on the remote, western side of the Rwenzori. The park is dominated by the easternmost extension of the great Ituri Forest of the Congo Basin. This is one of Africa’s most ancient and bio- diverse forests; one of the few to survive the last ice age, 12-18,000 years ago. • The Semliki Valley contains numerous features associated with central rather than eastern Africa. Thatched huts are shaded by West African oil palms; the Semliki River (which forms the international boundary) is a miniature version of the Congo River, the forest is home to numerous Central African wildlife species, and the local population includes a Batwa pygmy community that originated from the Ituri. As a result, this park provides a taste of Central Africa without having to leave Uganda. • While Semuliki’s species have been accumulating for over 25,000 years, the park contains evidence of • even older processes. Hot springs bubble up from the depths to demonstrate the powerful subterranean forces that have been shaping the rift valley during the last 14 million years.
- 16. ACTIVITIES • Birding- • View listing • Bwindi • Mgahinga • Queen • Murchison • Rwenzoris • Kidepo • Mt Elgon • Lake Mburo • Kibale • Semliki Uganda is a birder's paradise. Over half of all bird species in Africa can be found here, making it one of the richest birding destinations on the continent. Crammed into this diminutive country is an astonishingly rich diversity of habitats, from the scenic shores of Uganda’s many great lakes to the lush forests of the Albertine Rift and the banks of the mighty Nile River. Though Uganda has only one endemic bird (Fox’s Weaver), 23 Albertine endemics occur here which are rarely observed elsewhere. These include the Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Nightjar, Dwarf Honeyguide, African Green Broadbill, Archer’s Robin- Chat, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Short-tailed Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Collared Apalis, Regal Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Dusky Crimsonwing, and Shelley’s Crimsonwing among others. The record for the number of species recorded in a three-week period is 665… pack your binoculars, some sturdy shoes and your checklist, and challenge yourself to spot even more!
- 17. Chimp Tracking/Habituation View listing:-Kibale, Semuliki, Murchison, Queen Many of Uganda’s dense tropical forests are inhabited by our closest cousin: the chimpanzee. Come and track these fascinating apes, and observe them feeding, climbing trees, responding to humans and caring for their young in their magnificent natural habitat. Kibale forest has one of the highest densities of primates in the world, with over 1450 chimpanzees along with the rare I’Hoest’s monkey and East Africa’s largest population of the threatened red colobus monkey. In Queen Elizabeth National Park, the chimps inhabit the “underground forest” of Kyambura gorge, a magical setting for your tracking experience. For a more educational experience, why not join a habituation tour? Follow researchers as they follow the chimps throughout their daily activities, familiarizing them with a human presence without altering their natural behaviour. The Habituation Experience runs during tourist low season months (March, April, May and November). Chimp tracking usually starts at 8am and 3pm, and lasts 2-3 hours depending on the location. Due to the chimpanzees’ wide range, it is not always possible to spot them, but your expert guide will be able to point out many other forest species, including monkeys, birds and vegetation.
- 18. Cultural Encounters • View listing:- Kidepo, Kibale, Bwindi, Semuliki, Rwenzori Mgahinga, Murchison, Mt Elgon, Queen Uganda’s culture is as extraordinary as its wildlife - from the hunter- gatherer Batwa pygmies who have inhabited the dense forests of the south- west for thousands of years; to the cattle- herding, semi-nomadic Karamojong of the expansive northern plains; and the Batoro who farm the verdant slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains in the west. Each community has its own language, traditions, dance, music and craft, and some even retain their own monarchy. Through the cultural activities offered on this site, visitors can now discover the country’s rich cultural heritage through music, crafts and cooking, and give something back to the welcoming residents of Uganda each time they book a community-based tour.
- 19. Game Drives Get ready for a classic African adventure - cruise through the endless savannah past majestic elephants, stampeding buffalo, prowling lions and skittish antelope. Uganda’s game drives offer not only astonishing wildlife viewing, but also some of Africa’s most beautiful scenery - watch warthogs graze against a blue backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains, or giraffes galloping beside the placid River Nile. A variety of safari companies, catering to all tastes and budgets, offer comfortable, air- conditioned 4WD vehicles so that you can thoroughly enjoy your drive through Uganda’s rolling landscapes. Viewing hatches(is this the correct term?!), large windows and experienced guides present you with the best chances of observing and photographing the magnificent species that inhabit this abundant wilderness. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to arrange your safaris, as this is when the creatures of the savannah are most active. •Kidepo •Semuliki •Murchison •Lake Mburo Queen
- 20. Gorilla Tracking
- 21. Hiking/Nature Walks Get up close to some of Africa’s most stunning flora and fauna. Nature walks and hikes take place across Uganda’s national parks, passing through dense woodland, steamy rainforest, tough bushland and papyrus swamps. They will lead you up volcanoes, down mountains, through deep gorges and along dry river beds - there’s truly something for everyone! Your trained guide will be able to point out the various primates that inhabit the forest canopies, as well as many bird and butterfly species, so keep your binoculars and camera to hand. Get ready to be enthralled by the otherworldly vegetation of the Rwenzoris; humbled by the vast emptiness of Kidepo; and drenched by the relentless spray of Murchison Falls - be sure to pack your walking shoes! View listing Parks: Kidepo,Kibale,Bwindi,Semuliki Rwenzori,Mgahinga,Murchison,Mt Elgon Lake Mburo,Queen Elizabeth
- 22. Hot Springs Africa’s Rift Valley has bestowed Uganda with some of its most memorable geographical features - conical volcanoes, deep chasms and bubbling thermal springs. Spewing an enormous steam cloud across Semuliki National Park’s emerald landscapes, the Sempaya Hot Springs are certainly one of the country’s most unusual scenic offerings. Named by the locals as the “male” and “female” springs, these boiling pools are reached following a trek through a monkey-filled tropical forest. Hungry after your walk? Enjoy matooke (green plantain) wrapped in leaves and boiled in the spring or eggs!
- 23. Launch Trips Beat the heat and dust of a traditional game drive - go on safari in a boat! Despite being a landlocked country, a quarter of Uganda’s surface area is covered in water, and it’s also the source of the mighty River Nile, which spills out of the immense Lake Victoria. As birds and beasts congregate along the lush banks of the rivers and lakes, this is one of the best and most relaxing ways to observe Uganda’s magnificent wildlife. See huge hippo pods escape the midday heat, buffalos wallow while oxpeckers sit on their backs, elephants come to drink and bathe in the cool waters and Nile crocodiles sunbathe surrounded by flocks of aquatic birds. Launch trips are also a great way to reach the base of the thunderous Murchison Falls, spot papyrus endemics and rare shoebill storks in the swamps - and watch a fiery African sunset as you float downriver. All you need to do is sit back and relax as this incredible scene drifts past! PARKS: Queen Murchison Lake Mburo Semuliki PARKS: •Queen •Murchison •Lake Mburo •Semuliki
- 24. Mountain/Volcano Climbing Uganda boasts the third highest peak in Africa, four extinct volcanoes and one of the largest intact calderas in the world - not bad for such a compact country! Those who wish to stand on one of these awesome peaks are spoilt for choice. Inexperienced climbers or those short of time can choose one of the three conical Virunga Volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Any of the three can be summited in a day, and offer astounding views of Uganda, Rwanda and the DR Congo. Mount Elgon, on the Kenyan border, also requires no technical expertise, but the route to the top takes 4-7 days, passing though wonderful forest scenery, natural pools and past ancient caves. The true challenge is the Rwenzoris, Africa’s highest mountain chain. Inexperienced climbers will enjoy the enchanting forest scenery of the lower slopes - but only skilled mountaineers should attempt the nine-day trek to the snow-covered equatorial peaks. Parks: Rwenzori Mt Elgon Mgahinga
- 25. Wildlife Research Tours The adventure that gives back to the environment! For visitors who yearn to leave their safari vehicle behind and get up close to African fauna, a wildlife research trip is both rewarding and educational. This is no ordinary safari; visitors actively participate in monitoring species such as lions and mongooses, or counting the thousands of huge hippos and exotic birds that fill the park. Participants use locator devices and learn habituation calls, as well as monitoring weather, surroundings and the creatures’ behavior, with the valuable results being used in researchers’ databases. Experiential tourism activities contribute important research to the overall understanding of wildlife ecology. The experiential tourism activities currently available are Mongoose Tracking, and Lion Tracking. Parks: Queen Elizabeth
- 26. Bush Camping Surround yourself with the sounds of the savannah at night! Dusk is when the African wilderness truly comes to life - and what better way to experience it than sitting around a campfire, with the equatorial stars twinkling overhead? As well as spending the night under canvas in the middle of the African bush, you can discover a wealth of nocturnal species during night drives and nature walks, all interpreted by your expert guide. Back at the campsite there’s time for storytelling by the light of the moon - and this is one story you are sure to want to tell over and over again! Parks: Murchison Falls
- 27. UGANDA AND RWANDA TOUR PACKAGES “Our packages are tailored made to suit individual requirements, aiming to delight even the discerning traveler with our insight into little known tour and safari destinations throughout the region; which we tender at the best possible price.” 10 Days Uganda Safari 14 DAYS wildlife,birding and Gorilla Safari 8Days Safari 5 Days Tour 15 Days Best of Uganda • 12 Days Uganda Rwanda • 12 days Birding • 3 days Gorilla Trek • 1 day White Nile water rafting • 3 days Murchison falls