Overview
This journey will take you off the main path to discover Uganda’s hidden places and people. We will begin with an adventure safari in Jinja and Mbale, both in Eastern Uganda. The Nile River provides some of the finest adrenaline rush sports, as well as later walks to see the Sipi Falls and abseiling excursions. Following these thrilling encounters, we will move on to the cultural parts of the journey. Due to the armed Karimajong, the Karamoja area was formerly underutilized. All of this is now history, and they are back to raising cattle and farming a few crops when the weather permits. They have a strong cultural past and may be seen living in secluded homesteads known as manyatta’s and carrying out their daily activities.
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
When you arrive at the airport, an African Buffalo Safaris representative will be ready to pick you up. They will transport you to the hotel where you will spend the night.
Day 2: Transfer to Jinja via Sezibwa falls and Mabira Forest
Jinja is Uganda’s and, by extension, East Africa’s adventure capital. If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, this is the place to be. The route to Jinja will involve two significant stops. The first will be a visit to the Sezibwa falls, which have a rich cultural history.
Day 3: Rafting on River Nile
The Nile is the world’s longest river, beginning in Jinja near Lake Victoria and finishing in the Red Sea. Today you will spend the day rafting on the Nile River, with the sun caressing your skin. Before you begin your rafting trip, you will receive a brief instruction from your rafting leader. Depending on your interests, you may either hit the rapids and flip over or go on a less adventurous tour.
You will float four grade 5 rapids before lunch and four more after lunch. You’ll pause for lunch and finish with a BBQ.
Day 4: To Sipi falls via Mbale – Hike Wanale Hill
After an early breakfast, you will travel to Sipi Falls through Mbale, which is famed for the many mountains that surround the city. Your first visit will be the Wanale hill, which has amazing views of Mbale town as well as spectacular waterfalls and caves. Spend time trekking this gorgeous hill, making multiple pauses to take in the scenery. Some of the route passes through people’s gardens.
Return to Mbale town, eat lunch, and then travel to the Sipi falls region, where you will spend the night, ready to enjoy this magnificent Bamasaba location.
Day 5: Hike the Sipi falls
The Sipi falls are three waterfalls in eastern Uganda that flow from various regions of Mt Elgon. They are stunning waterfalls that have been called the most romantic waterfalls by the travel guide Lonely Planet. You will spend the morning climbing up all three waterfalls; please bring your bathing suit as you will be able to swim in several of the pools below the waterfalls.
Visit a house in the afternoon for a coffee experience with the award-winning coffee, which is by far the greatest Arabica coffee you can find anywhere.
Day 6: Transfer to Pian Upe game reserve
After breakfast, we will go to the Pian Upe wildlife reserve in eastern Uganda. It is one of the greatest spots in Uganda to watch cheetahs. The main activity is a game drive in the pristine reserve, with some spots safe for a walking safari. Those interested in climbing would trek Mt Kadam, although reservations would be required ahead of time. Because it is in the Karamoja region, you may visit one of the Karamajong homesteads and interact with them.
Day 7: Game drive and Cultural Tour
Begin your day early for a game drive in Pian Upe wildlife reserve. We’ll largely be hunting for cheetahs, which are more common in this park than in any other in Uganda. Otherwise, keep an eye out for large herds of roan antelopes and waterbucks, Bohor and Mountain Reebuck, Duikers, Dik-dik, Spotted hyenas, jackals, Common Elands, Cape buffalo, Uganda Kobs, Olive baboons, Vervet and Patas Monkeys, and other primates.
In the afternoon, we will visit a Karamajong family to learn more about their lives and to participate in their activities.
Day 8: Transfer to Moroto
Following our wonderful experience in Pian Upe, we will travel to Moroto town to complete our cultural immersion with the Karimajong people. The trip to Moroto will provide you with spectacular views of the magnificent countryside in this region of Uganda.
Stop along the road to soak in the scenery till you arrive at your Moroto guesthouse. When you arrive in Moroto, check into your hotel and tour the little but picturesque Moroto town, or wait until tomorrow.
Day 9: Cultural experiences in Moroto
Spend the day visiting a Karimajong manyatta and participating in various activities related to the cows and Karimajong lifestyle. You will study about the many rights of passage from infancy to maturity.
Depending on your choices, you can also go on a day walk up Mt Moroto and return in the evening. Mt Moroto is home to the Tepeth tribe, who originally lived in the Karamoja lowlands but fled to the mountains after being ravaged by the Karimajong.
Day 10: Transfer to Kidepo valley national park
The stunning environment of the Karamoja area is one among the things that will leave you speechless. As you get farther north, the scenery improves. This lovely location will show you a side of Uganda that you will not forget. After breakfast, transfer to Kidepo Valley, with brief photo stops along the road. You will bring a packed lunch and have a picnic in the Karamoja plains.
Day 11: Game drive in Kidepo Valley National park
Kidepo Valley National Park is Africa’s real wildness, home to the continent’s biggest herd of Cape Buffaloes. Within the park, there is stunning beauty with rock kopjes and mountains.
The game drive will take you to Narus Valley, which has year-round availability to water, as opposed to Kidepo Valley, which is seasonal. Cheetahs, leopards, lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, water bucks, bush bucks, elands, Uganda Kobs, and a variety of bird life are among the animals to be seen.
Day 12: Hike Mt Murungole
The Ik tribe is an indigenous tribe that lives on Mount Morungole, which borders the Kidepo Valley National Park. They are virtually isolated from the majority of the other local communities. After breakfast today, you will transport to Mt Morungole and trek up to interact with the Ik people.
Day 13: Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Via Aruu falls
After breakfast, we go to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary through Area Falls. We may be able to visit an Acholi farmhouse depending on time constraints.
Day 14: Rhino trekking
After this encounter, proceed to the headquarters for a briefing before beginning your Rhino trip. The ranger will lead you to the location of the Rhinos.
Day 15: Departure
Thank you for traveling around Eastern Uganda with us and visiting the many villages, sharing your earnings with them. We hope you had a wonderful visit and that you are now an advocate for this region
