This tour will bring you ‘off the beaten’ tracks of Uganda’s hidden sites and people. We will start with the adventure safari in the Jinja and Mbale areas of Eastern Uganda. River Nile offers some of the best adrenaline rush activities and later hikes to watch the Sipi falls and abseiling experiences. After these exhilarating experiences, we shall embark on the cultural aspects of the tour. The Karamoja region was previously not visited much due to the armed Karimajong. All this is past and now they are down to keeping cattle and growing a few crops when the weather allows. They have a rich cultural heritage living in closed homesteads known as manyatta’s to see how they live and carry on their daily chores. You shall crown this experience with a safari experience first in Pian Upe game reserve and finally in the true African wilderness of Kidepo valley national park.
Safari Highlights
- Water rafting
- Source of River Nile
- Sipi falls
- Game drives
- Cultural and Community experiences
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival for the Eastern Uganda Adventure and Cultural Safari
On arrival at the airport, you will find a representative of Kagera Safaris waiting to pick you . They will transfer you to the hotel for overnight.
Drive time – 20 minutes
Day 2: Transfer to Jinja via Sezibwa falls and Mabira Forest
Jinja is the adventure capital of Uganda and by extension East Africa. If you are thinking adrenaline rush then this is the perfect place for you. The journey to Jinja will include 2 major stops – first will be a visit to the Sezibwa falls with an interesting cultural back ground.
Day 3: Rafting on River Nile
The Nile is the longest river in the world with its source in Jinja off Lake Victoria ending up in the Red Sea. Today you will spend the day on the waters of River Nile rafting with the sun kissing your skin. You will first have a short training with your rafting leader before starting the rafting adventure. Depending on your interest you can choose to hit the rapids and flip over or choose are more less adventure trip.
You will experience grade 5 rafting with 4 rapids before lunch and another 4 after lunch. You will have a stop over for lunch and end with a barbecue.
B, L & D
Day 4: To Sipi falls via Mbale – Hike Wanale Hill
After an early breakfast, you will transfer to Sipi falls via Mbale known for its several mountains surrounding the towns. Your first stop will be the Wanale hill with great views of Mbale town and beautiful waterfalls and caves, spend time hiking this beautiful hill with several stops to catch the beautiful views. Some part of the trail goes through gardens of the people.
Return to Mbale town, have lunch and proceed to Sipi falls area where you will overnight ready to explore this amazing destination of the Bamasaba people.
Drive time – 3 hours
B, L & D
Day 5: Hike the Sipi falls
The Sipi falls are 3 waterfalls in eastern Uganda coming out of different areas of Mt Elgon. They are beautiful waterfalls and were named as the most romantic waterfalls by the guide book – Lonely Planet. You will spend the morning hiking up all the 3 waterfalls, please carry your swimming costume because you can swim at some of the pools below the water falls.
In the afternoon, visit a home for a coffee experience with the award winning coffee which is by far the best Arabica coffee you will find anywhere.
Optional : Abseiling at Robs Rolling Rock
B, L & D
Day 6: Transfer to Pian Upe game reserve
Today after breakfast, we transfer to Pian Upe game reserve in eastern Uganda. It is one of the best places to see Cheetahs in Uganda. The main activity is having a game drive in the untouched reserve with some areas safe for a walking safari. For those interested in mountaineering they would plan to hike Mt Kadam but would need to be booked prior to the time. It is located in the Karamoja area so you have opportunities of visiting one of the Karamajong homesteads for an experience with them.
Drive time – 3 hours
Day 7: Game drive and Cultural Tour
Start early for a game drive in Pian Upe game reserve. We will mostly be looking out for Cheetahs which are easier seen here compared to any other park in Uganda. Otherwise look out for big herds of roan antelopes and water bucks, Bohor and Mountain Reebuck, Duikers, Dik-dik, Spotted hyenas, jackals, Common Elands, Cape buffalo, Uganda Kobs, Olive baboons, Vervet and Patas Monkeys, etc.
In the afternoon we shall visit a Karamajong family to learn more about their life and engage in their home.
Day 8: Transfer to Moroto
After the beautiful experience in Pian Upe, we shall leave for Moroto town to continue our cultural experience with the Karimajong people. The drive to Moroto will give you great views of beautiful scenery in this part of Uganda.
Enjoy stops along the way to take in the landscape until you arrive at your guesthouse in Moroto. On arrival in Moroto, check in to your accommodation and explore the small beautiful Moroto town or wait until tomorrow.
Drive time – 5 hours
B, L & D
Day 9: Cultural experiences in Moroto
Spend today visiting a Karimajong manyatta taking part in different activities surrounding the cows and lifestyle of the Karimajong. You will learn about the different rights of passage from child birth to adulthood.
You can alternatively take on a day hike of Mt Moroto returning in the evening depending on your preferences. Mt Moroto is inhabited by the Tepeth tribe who originally inhabited the Karamoja plains but left for Mountains when the Karimajong raided them.
B, L & D
Day 10: Transfer to Kidepo valley national park
One of the things that will keep you in awe is the beautiful landscape of the Karamoja region. It just keeps getting better as you keep moving further north. This beautiful region will show you a side of Uganda you will not get enough of. Today transfer to Kidepo valley after breakfast with short stopovers for pictures along the way. You will carry packed lunch and you will have a picnic in the plains of Karamoja.
Drive time – 5 hours
B, L & D
Day 11: Game drive in Kidepo Valley National park
Kidepo valley national park is the true wilderness of Africa with the largest herd of Cape Buffaloes found anywhere in Africa. It has amazing scenery of rock kopjes and mountains within the park.
The game drive will take you to Narus valley which access to water all year round as opposed to Kidepo valley which is seasonal. The wildlife to look out for include Cheetahs, leopards, lions, Elephants, Giraffes, Zebras, Water bucks, Bush bucks, Elands, Uganda Kobs and an array of bird life.
B, L & D
Day 12: Hike Mt Murungole
The Ik tribe are an indigenous tribe living at Mt Morungole which is borders with Kidepo valley national park. They essentially out of touch with most of the other local populations living in seclusion. Today morning after breakfast, you shall transfer to Mt Morungole and hike up to interact with the Ik tribe.
B, L & D
Day 13: Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Via Aruu falls
Today morning after breakfast, we transfer to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary via Area falls. Depending on time availability, we have an opportunity of visiting an Acholi homestead.
Drive time – 5 hours
B, L & D
Day 14: Rhino trekking
Have breakfast and after this experience transfer to the headquarters for briefing before you can start your Rhino trek. You will be led by the ranger to where the Rhinos might be located.
B, L & D
Day 15: Departure
Thank you for exploring Eastern Uganda with us and visiting the different communities thus sharing your income with them. We hope you had a fantastic time and you are now an ambassador for this area.
Drive time – 5 hours
B & L
