Safari Overview

The 4-day Uganda wildlife safari starts and ends in Kampala. with a number of amazing eastern Uganda destinations, this trip will take you through Eastern Uganda, passing through Mabira Forest Reserve located along the Kampala-Jinja highway in Buikwe district between Lugazi and Jinja. Mabira is home to many endangered species like the primate lophocebus, a variety of birds, butterflies, as well as different endangered tree species. There are a number of touristic activities carried out in the forest; including forest walks, zip lining, bungee jumping, bird watching, mountain biking, among others.

You will also visit Sipi Falls, a series of three waterfalls located in Eastern Uganda shared by the districts of Kapchorwa, the north-east of Sironko and Mbale. They all lie on the edges of Mountain Elgon. There are a number of touristic activities carried out in this area including nature walks, community walks, hiking, tea plantation tours, and other guided tours.

The safari will also take you to Mountain Elgon, located in Eastern Uganda. It is the fourth tallest mountain in East Africa and the largest intact caldera in the world. The vegetation around this area is comprised of bamboo forest, ferns and flowering plants like wild orchids and much more. The vegetation type around this area harbors a wide range of wildlife including monitor lizards, chameleons and snakes, with a variety of  bird species including turacos, grey cuckoo-shrikes, lemone doves, mountain yellow warblers and many more,  plus different vegetation types that support wildlife.

One other thrilling bit is that you will get to visit the Ugandan Jewish Community located in the outskirts of Mountain Elgon. The people dwelling in this community can also be called the “JewUgandans”. From your interaction with them, you will learn the different Jewish practices and also visit their holy Synagogue on Nabugoye Hill, just outside Mbale, from where they worship their Creator.

The safari ends with exciting activities on the Nile like river rafting with the great experience of grade 5 rafts, peddling down the Nile and flipping over. On top of this is a 3 hour spectacular boat-cruise on the Source of the Nile with plenty of wildlife and a variety on birdlife, lizards and the huge Nile crocodiles, plus much more.

Tour Highlights

• Sipi Falls

• Mabira for Zip lining

• Mount Elgon

• Abayudaya Community “JewUgandan” Community

• River Nile Rafting

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda

Upon your arrival, our professional tour guide/driver will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the hotel. In case you arrive early, you can opt to visit Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, or Entebbe town located on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Day 2: Transfer to Kapchorwa for the Sipi Falls Experience via Mabira for Zip Lining

Early in the morning after breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up by our knowledgeable guide who will transfer you to Kapchorwa in eastern Uganda which is 289 kms, and takes approximately 5 hours by road from Kampala. You will have a 2 hour stopover in Mabira Forest Reserve for zip lining. The trail to your zip lining destination in Mabira offers a wide range of wildlife from forest birds to butterflies, monkeys and assorted tree species in this tropical rain forest; and much more. You will be briefed by your guide about the safety precautions taken to engage in the zip lining activities. The zip lines will send you soaring on top of the ancient trees of the forest as you view the different tree layers and their dense canopies along with other wildlife like monkeys, birds and butterflies. On your way back, you will visit the beautiful Griffins Falls. Following this forest experience, you will head to Mbale town for an hour’s lunch en route before proceeding to Kapchorwa. You will arrive in the late afternoon and later that evening, having rested freshened up, you will be guided on a hike for the Sipi Falls exploration spree. The hikes around the falls offer stunning views of the Karamoja plains and the slopes of Mount Elgon. While at it, you will also get to visit the Sipi river, and on your way back, you will encounter a common plant, sep, indigenous to the banks of River Sipi that from where it got its name. After this exploration, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Mount Elgon Cottages

Midrange: Sipi Rest Camp

Budget: Crown Nest Rest Camp

Day 3: Guided Nature Walk/Hiking on Mount Elgon and Abayudaya Community Visit (the Jewish/“JewUgandans” Community)

Waking up to an early morning breakfast and having replenished your energy, you will head for a guided nature walk/hike in Mountain Elgon National Park. You will first head out to the Mountain Elgon Forest Exploration Centre for a short briefing before heading for this hike through the rocky and hilly slopes of the intact mountain caldera. The vegetation type around this area offers a wide range of wildlife including monitor lizards, chameleons and snakes; with a variety of  bird species including turacos, the grey cuckoo-shrikes, lemone doves, mountain yellow warblers and many more,  plus different vegetation types that support the wildlife around this area. This whole activity will take 4 to 7 hours. You will have a picnic lunch that you will have packed as you relax on this same mountain. Later that afternoon, you will get to visit the Jewish/Abayudaya Community (Jewgandans) near the town of Mbale. These special people practice a form of Judaism. Our on-site guide will take you through the Jewish history, culture and practice, as well as guiding you on visiting their holy Synagogue on Nabugoye Hill, just outside Mbale town. After this faith-based experience, you will return to your place of accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Mount Elgon Cottages

Midrange: Sipi Rest Camp

 Budget: Crown Nest Rest Camp

Day 4: River Rafting and Boat Cruise on River Nile

Having woken up to an early morning hearty breakfast, you will checkout of your accommodation and head to Jinja, 145 kms from Mbale—which is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes’ drive.  You will reach the Nile in time for river rafting, which activity starts with a short briefing on some vital safety precautions. Thereafter, you will slope downstream, passing through African villages. The rafting will take you through the most exciting river rapids of grade five, peddling down the Nile and flipping over an adventure that will leave you screaming in ecstasy and yearning for more. It is all mind-blowing, and mere words cannot express its intensity! Later on, you will retreat back to the rafting office for a simple snack, rafting videos and photos. This will be followed by your transfer to Jinja for an hour’s lunch break before heading out for 3 hours’ boat cruise on the Nile River. This is the sort of excursion that gives you exceptional breathtaking views of the surrounding islands with plenty of wildlife. Among others, these include the Nile giant lizards, water birds like the African kingfish eagles and herons. As you draw close towards the very point John Speke named the “Source of the Nile”, in the middle of the river lies a curio shop selling art and crafts. From here, you will get out of the boat and take a tour around. It is imperative to note that while taking photographs, be mindful of the slippery rocks. Following this memorable experience, you will retreat back to the banks to embark on your return journey to Kampala, reaching in the evening. You can head back to your hotel or go straight to the airport to catch your flight.

End of the Safari

Most popular safari

3 Day gorilla trekking Uganda safari

ACTIVITIES

Mabira Forest

Also known as “Mabira Central Forest Reserve”, it is a thick tropical rainforest characterized by dense canopies and according to www.ugandatourismportal.org, it is the largest tropical rainforest there’s in the country, but unfortunately, it is a greatly endangered ecosystem that stands high risks of massive destruction due to the on-going human activities that have caused people to encroach on its land.

Mabira forest is located on the main Kampala–Jinja highway in Buikwe District. It is 54 kilometers from Kampala city center and 26 kilometres from Jinja town. Its ecotourism site is about half a kilometre from the road head along a short dirt road off Najjembe trading centre. The Forest is accessible by all vehicles, private or public, throughout the year.

It is one of Uganda’s largest surviving natural forests, covering an area of 306 square kilometres. Mabira has a natural habitat of 312 species of trees, other varieties of plant life, a home to 315 species of birds, 218 butterfly species, 97 moth species and 23 small mammal species. (Source: www.nfa.or.ug)

While in Mabira forest, you can undertake a number of activities. Some of these are forest walks with over 68 kilometres of well-developed trail length, mountain biking, bird watching, environmental education and research, camping and picnics, primate watching, butterfly identification and general forest exploration. While on an adventurous journey, for instance, there are several well networked trails to take to whether on a guided or unguided stroll. Of the ten trails Mabira has, the forest trails are good for nature walks whereas the grassland trails are preferred by the bird enthusiasts.

Griffin Falls Camp

It is found within Mabira forest and it also known as Mabira Forest Camp. It is a breathtaking spectacle that is just 10 kilometres away from the highway. It is a catchment of River Nile and the fact that it falls in the middle of a rainforest makes it a unique feature that renders one a series of optical nutrition. It is an ideal place for nature lovers, owing to the fact that it is in an exclusive and secluded location, with the sounds of Mother Nature and her earthlings. The Griffin falls area consists of several drops, large blocks, and cascading waterfalls.

Apart from the accommodation services provided at the camp, you can also enjoy Uganda safari cultural tours to the nearby villages like Wasswa, environmental education, birding, forest walks, mountain biking, et cetera. On top of all these, this camp is famed for the zip lining experience it offers its visitors, specifically the daring sort. While on one of such expeditions, you soar so high up above the massive Mabira canopies and River Musamya, letting your adrenaline surge as you create memories that are bound stick with you. The strategically located site has a zip lining system that runs across five cables, with the last zip line stretching 87 metres across the river between two 40 metre trees using American safety standards to ensure the safety of our clients. The beautiful river on top of which you fly aloft while on the zip lines flows from Buikwe district west of the forest to the eastern part of the forest to Lake Kyoga rambling through the quiet forest.

It is worthwhile to note that all the proceeds from the ventures of Griffin Falls Camp are injected in to the local communities for their own good. According to Mr Hussein Kato, the Reservations Manager at this camp, “Griffin Falls Camp was established to ensure the welfare of the people in the surrounding communities by offering employment opportunities to them and supporting community groups like people living with HIV by funding their projects.” (Source: www.pmldaily.com)

Sipi Falls

Sipi falls is located in Kapchorwa, which is found in the eastern part of Uganda, approximately 277 kilometres from Kampala. It takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes to get there by road. Kapchorwa’s neighbouring districts of Mbale and Sironko are also known to be related to these agreeably most beautiful waterfalls in Uganda.

This trio of steep falls separated by brant hills is found on the foothills of Mountain Elgon, just at the edge of Mount Elgon National park nearing the Kenyan border to Uganda. The name sipi was derived from the word ‘sep’ which is a wild banana-like indigenous plant that grows along the banks of the Sipi River. Sep is used by the locals in that area as medicine for treating ailments such as fever and measles.

Of the three saults that make up Sipi falls, the 95 metre main drop is more attention-grabbing and thus a darling to the viewers. That is why most places of accommodation are built facing it. The vast plains that wind up the distance offer magnificent views, making a hike in this area a venture worth undertaking.

There are a number of other activities to undertake while at Sipi falls. You can go on sightseeing and bird watching sprees, visit the Sipi River and the native communities, check out the coffee plantations on the lower slopes of Mountain Elgon or get immersed in abseiling and rock climbing.

When planning for a hike, bear in mind that since all the waterfalls are not clustered together in the same locality, it is impossible to view them simultaneously. Nevertheless, they can be seen in one day at different intervals, which makes it all the more interesting. The paths to these falls are approximately 7 to 8 kilometres as you walk. It takes about 3 hours on a Uganda safari to visit all the falls, but this pretty much depends on individual fitness and pace. As you hike, you will need walking sticks to give you support because of the steep slopes at certain spots. Also, in case it rains, the paths get slippery and rather muddy.

For the hikes, still, there are different starting points depending on which waterfall to visit first. In the event that you have limited time to hike, you are strongly advised to start with the main waterfall and then proceed to the others thereafter. However, if you have plenty of time at your disposal, it is always better to first make for the first and second water fall, take a break, then crown it all with the third and most breathtaking of them all. At the base of the falls, you will notice some rocks at the mouth of the caves and beyond that look like they were manually sculpted to appear like seats. However, they were sculpted not by man but by Mother Nature herself.

Please note that vehicles cannot access all these spots owing to the steep terrain. In spite of this, you should look forward to having an amazingly unforgettable experience, because at your disposal will be some local guides who are very knowledgeable about the historical and geographical background of the area. Also, should your car get stuck because of the bad weather, you needn’t worry as they will readily offer you a helping hand.

Mount Elgon

This extinct shield volcano is one of Uganda's oldest physical features, first erupting around 24 million years ago. Mount Elgon was once Africa's highest mountain, far exceeding Kilimanjaro’s current 5,895m. Millennia of erosion have reduced its height to 4,321m, relegating it to the 4th highest peak in East Africa and 8th on the continent. Mt Elgon is home to two tribes, the Bagisu and the Sabiny, with the marginalized Ndorobos forced to dwell deep within the forest of Benet. The Bagisu, also known as the BaMasaba, consider Mount Elgon to be the embodiment of their founding father Masaba and refer to the mountain by this name. (Source: www.ugandawildlife.org)

Mount Elgon is perched on the Kenya-Uganda boundary, meaning it is shared by the two countries. Its crater, about 5 miles (8 km) in diameter, contains several peaks, of which Wagagai (14,178 feet [4,321 m]) is the highest. Its extrusions cover about 1,250 square miles (3,200 square km) and consist largely of fragmental rocks and only a smattering of lavas. The mountain slope is gentle and the outline unimpressive. On the east and southeast at about 6,200 feet (1,890 m) its relief merges with the Uasin Gishu Plateau, but in the west and northwest spectacular cliffs dominate the 3,600-foot (1,100-metre) plains of eastern Uganda. In the summit zone, moraines provide ample evidence of former glaciation.

On the caldera’s uneven floor there are considerable swamps, tapped by the Suam and Turkwel rivers. Other streams furrow the slopes. The moorland zone, containing tree heaths, giant groundsels, and lobelias, extends down to 10,000 feet (3,050 m), where it is succeeded by bamboo forest. Below 8,300 feet (2,550 m) is a temperate deciduous forest. Elgonyi was the Masai name for the mountain. The Scottish explorer Joseph Thomson visited the southern side of Elgon in 1883; in 1890 Frederick (later Sir Frederick) Jackson and Ernest Gedge traversed the caldera from north to south. (Source: www.britannica.com)

Mt. Elgon consists of five major peaks, and these are;

Ø  Wagagai (4,321 metres [14,177 ft]), in Uganda

Ø  Sudek (4,302 metres [14,114 ft]), on the Kenya/Uganda border

Ø  Koitobos (4,222 metres [13,852 ft]), a flat-topped basalt column in Kenya

Ø  Mubiyi (4,211 metres [13,816 ft]), in Uganda

Ø  Masaba (4,161 metres [13,652 ft]), in Uganda

 Geologists suggest it to be the oldest extinct volcano in East Africa because they gauge it to be not less than 24 million years old. Its vast form, 80 kilometres (50 mi) in diameter, rises 3,070 metres (10,070 ft) above the surrounding plains. Its cooler heights offer respite for humans from the hot plains below, and its higher altitudes provide a refuge for flora and fauna. The western slopes of Mount Elgon are occupied by the Bantu-speaking tribe of the Gishu (Gisu). They are majorly farmers, and they cultivate coffee, bananas, millet, and corn (maize).

Its soils are red laterite, which makes it an ideal farming area. It is also the catchment area for the Nzoia River and the Lwakhakha River, which flow to Lake Victoria. Kitum Cave, one of Elgon’s caves, contains salt deposits and it is frequented by wild elephants that lick the salt exposed by gouging the walls with their tusks.

=

Abayudaya

Abayudaya is a Luganda (local dialect) word meaning Jews. The Abayudaya community was birthed in 1919 with Semei Kakungulu as its founder. Kakungulu collaborated with the British colonialists by helping them to extend the colonial government from Central Uganda to Eastern Uganda. He was taught Christianity during this same colonial time but after his contract expired, he decided to convert to Judaism in 1919.

Kakungulu's Commitments
As soon as his contract with the British expired, Kakungulu exhaustively read the local Bible which comprised of two sections i.e. The TaNaKh and The Christian New Testament. He was utterly dissatisfied with the message in the New Testament, stating that it was contradicting the original Bible (The Old Testament). He was thus seeking for a better way a human being could serve and be close to the God of the Heavens and the Earth. Despite the fact that his lineage never connected to any of the ten lost tribes of Israel, Kakungulu understood very well that even Gentiles could be considered people of God as long as they observed the commandments of the Creator as stipulated in Isaiah 56:1-7. Therefore, he deserted his first faith and declared himself Jewish.

At first, he considered the seventh day of the week as a holy day and announced to his congregants that no labour should be offered on Saturday since this was the Sabbath of God. Later on he realised that he was uncircumcised and he took a knife to cut off his foreskin. The rest of his followers followed suit and in that same year, they all declared this to be an eternal custom; that all their male children should be circumcised at the age of eight days, a decree which is being practiced up to now in the Ugandan Jewish Community. As they continued reading the Bible, they discovered a number of laws including keeping Kashrut and Niddot.

Location
The Abayudaya are located in five villages, most of which are found in Eastern Uganda across River Nile. These villages are Putti, Nabugoya, Nasenyi, Namutumba, Namanyonyi, Apac and Mukono (which is in Central Uganda). The Abayudaya practice subsistence farming, growing crops like coffee, corn, rice, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, green bell peppers, and cabbages. Their community boarders Mount Elgon on which we find the most beautiful waterfalls and game park.

This community comprises of approximately 3,000 people including children and adults. Besides the aforementioned, they also practice Artesian for commercial purposes e.g. music, dance and drama, on top of kneading Yamulk, in otherwords Kippot. The Abayudaya community are Shomer Mitzivoth, but also live at peace with the non-Jewish members of the communities they inhabit.

The Source of the Nile

River Nile is well known to be the longest river in the world. Its source (or rather one of its many sources) is right here at Jinja, Uganda. If you may be wondering how the name Nile came about, it is a famous Greek word simply meaning valley. The river flows from the surrounding areas close to the Equator to the outrageous Sahara desert and up to the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Lake Victoria was first sighted by Europeans in 1858 when British explorer John Hanning Speke reached its southern shore while traveling with Richard Francis Burton to explore central Africa and locate the great lakes. Believing he had found the source of the Nile on seeing this "vast expanse of open water" for the first time, Speke named the lake after the then Queen of the United Kingdom. Burton, recovering from illness and resting further south on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, was outraged that Speke claimed to have proved his discovery to be the true source of the Nile when Burton regarded this as still unsettled. A very public quarrel ensued, which sparked a great deal of intense debate within the scientific community and interest by other explorers keen to either confirm or refute Speke's discovery. British explorer and missionary David Livingstone pushed too far west and entered the Congo River system instead. It was ultimately Welsh-American explorer Henry Morton Stanley who confirmed Speke's discovery, circumnavigating Lake Victoria and reporting the great outflow at Ripon Falls on the lake's northern shore.

Flanked today by the city of Jinja, the waterfall described by Speke now lies submerged beneath the Owen Falls Dam, Uganda’s main source of hydro-electric power. Still, a Uganda tour to the source of the Nile remains a moving and wondrous experience, no less so to those who have seen the same river as it flows past the ancient Egyptian temples of Luxor some 6,000 kilometres downstream. (Source: www.ugandatourismcenter.com) The source of the Nile, alluded to hazily in the ancient writings of Ptolemy, stood as one of the great geographical mysteries of the Victorian Age.

Closer to home, the Nile downriver from Jinja offers some superb white water rafting and game fishing. Its crowning glory, however, is Murchison Falls, where the world’s longest river funnels through a narrow fissure in the Rift Escarpment to erupt out of the other side in a crashing 43 metres plume of white water. The river below the falls is no less spectacular in its own way, with its profuse birdlife, thousands of hippos, and outsized, gape-mouthed crocodiles.

A Uganda tour to Nile will take you through another life of adventure. There is a golf course unwinding along the banks and the Source of the Nile, which provides a pretty focal point to the flow of water from Lake Victoria’s only outlet. A boat ride out to Samuka Island is another trip of itself, not counting the beautiful fauna you will see along. Booking a safari downstream on the Nile River brings you to Adrift Nile High Camp with various activities including bungee jumping. A few kilometres further is Bujagali Falls, the adventurer’s capital with grade-five white water rafting, kayaking, river boarding, and mountain-biking. These activities offer a unique way to explore the river banks, passing though farms, forests and villages beside the Nile. (Source: www.aboutuganda.com)

According to www.tripadvisor.com, while at the authentic, original Source of the Nile Site, where the British Explorer Speke first discovered the River Nile you can stand where he stood, take a picture with the monument, go for boat rides across the River Nile and into Lake Victoria, see monkeys, monitor lizards, pythons (and maybe even an authentic African Witchdoctor). The site also allows for camping, nature walks, parties and occasions with a truly spectacular nature setting. It is deal for bird watching and for anyone looking for a 1 day tour in the Ugandan Countryside.

 While planning an excursion to the Source of the Nile on your Uganda trip, you are advised to visit it during the day time, and endeavor to carry binoculars in order to have a spell-binding birding experience. You can also visit the curio shops and grab yourself some souvenirs. The Speke monument just near the river’s source is also a landmark worth beholding, and it is ideal for photographic moments in which you will capture life-long memories of your River Nile adventures!

ONLINE BOOKING

Please complete the following form so we can send you a personalized price!

SAFARI INCLUSIONS

Safari includes:

Transportation in a Tour Van/Landcruiser.

Service of an English-speaking tour guide/Driver

One gorilla permit per person

Boat cruise

Game drive

Cultural village tour

Park admissions

Accommodation on full board

Entrance fees to all destinations as per the program.

Transfers to and from Entebbe Airport/Kampala

Safari excludes:

All activities not mentioned in the program

Phone call bills

Tips

International Transfers

Visas to Uganda

Gratitude to tour-guides

Personal insurance

Visas to Uganda

Personal effects of any nature

Hotel fees before and after the safari