This tour challenges you to go off the beaten track and experience Uganda in a different, thrilling way! A unique combination of adventure, overwhelming nature and fascinating culture!
Go off the beaten track and experience the undiscovered East! Explore your limits while surfing the Source of the Nile and speed up for an exciting quad bike safari through the African countryside. Then marvel at the romantic Sipi Falls, cool off with a natural shower and overlook the Karamojong plains, stretching till the far horizon…
Day 1 : Transfer to Jinja (2 hours) After breakfast we will depart Kampala and head towards the unknown East. On our way to Jinja we will pass Mabira Forest, one of the largest and most beautiful tropical forests in Uganda. A short hike will allow you to stretch your legs and encounter different species of primates, birds and colourful butterflies. Upon arrival in Jinja we will visit the genuine origin of the Nile. Watch how the most famous river in the world starts its long journey through Africa. Dinner and overnight at the shores of the Nile at Adrift Nile High Camp.
Day 2 : Full day raft adventure Ready for a full day of adventure? Then start rafting at the source of the Nile. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and thundering rapids of the White Nile. Don’t forget to watch the incredible birdlife as you drift quietly between the rapids of the river. The real adventurers can start or end the day with a dip in the river Nile. Leap from one of the most spectacular sites in the world and touch the Source while hanging upside down (optional). Dinner and overnight at Adrift Nile High Camp.
Day 3 : Quad bike Safari After breakfast we will go on a 4 hour quad bike safari. Follow the small tracks through the bushes that will lead you to undiscovered beautiful view points overlooking the rapids of the Nile. The safari will give you also the chance to explore the African countryside from another angle, as you pass small villages, cultivated land and see people during their daily activities. After lunch you have different options to spend your afternoon. Relax at the shores at the impressive Bujagali Falls, ride along the shores of the Nile on the back of a horse, go kayaking, enjoy a village walk or rent a mountain bike and explore the surroundings by bicycle (optional). Dinner and overnight at Adrift Nile High Camp.
Day 4 : Transfer to Sipi (3 hours) Today we will leave the unforgettable Source of the Nile and continue to the east. Passing Iganga we drive towards Tororo, situated at the border with Kenya. From here you can observe the Tororo Rock, a prominent rock that rises 300 metres above the surrounding plains. Rock climbing is possible on request. We proceed to Mbale, a charming town at the foot of the Mount Elgon. This area is full of rich heritage and fascinating culture. We will have a lunch stop at Mbale and with beautiful viewpoints on our way we will reach Sipi Village, nestled between mountains and waterfalls. Dinner and overnight at Sipi River Lodge.
Day 5 : Sipi Falls Today you will enjoy a hike to the lovely Sipi Falls. It is a beautiful walk to the bottom of the famous waterfall, then continue with a steep climb to a series of caves. As you follow the challenging trail to the other waterfalls, you will pass maize fields, banana plantations and typical bandas. Cool off with a natural shower and enjoy the breathtaking views over the valley. At the end of the day your strains will be rewarded with a magnificent sunset. Relax as the sun spreads its final ray of lights over de plains of Eastern Uganda! If you want to experience a real thrill and watch the waterfalls from a very close distance, then go abseiling down the mountain, along the famous Sipi Falls (optional). Dinner and overnight at Sipi River Lodge.
Day 6 : Mount Elgon National Park After breakfast we drive to the Mount Elgon Forest Exploration Centre. Mount Elgon is an extinct volcano, situated on the border with Kenya. With 4321 metres of altitude it is the fourth highest mountain in East Africa and the second highest peak in Uganda. A day hike will allow you to explore the diverse mountain forest. There are two different trails to choose from, passing clear waterfalls, mysterious caves and spectacular viewpoints. It is a paradise for bird lovers, with about 300 different species of birds recorded in this enchanting area. At the end of the day we will return to the hospitality of Sipi River Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 7 : Return to Kampala (5 hours) Time for some relaxing before we leave the Karamojong plains behind us and head back to the capital city. Arrival in the afternoon in Kampala and drop off at the place of your choice.
Included in the price: - Ground transport per comfortable 4WD safari vehicle - English speaking driver/guide - Accommodation in budget places mentioned in the itinerary, based on a double room - Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Bottled mineral water throughout the safari - Full day rafting - Half day quad bike safari - Nature/Village walk in Sipi - Hike in Mount Elgon National Park and park entrance fee
Exclusions: - International flight and airport transfer - Bungee jumping (USD $65 per person) - Horse riding (2 hours - USD $50 per person) - Mountainbike Tour (2 hours - USD $35 per person) - Guided Village Walk (2/3 hours – USD $10 per person) - Other optional activities like abseiling and rock climbing - Meals and drinks not mentioned above - Laundry and tips - Items of personal nature
Note: If you wish to extend your stay in Jinja or climb Mount Elgon all the way to the top (4 days), please inform us and we will offer you an adjusted itinerary.
If you wish to stay in luxury accommodation please notify so we can inform you about the upgrade fees. Please complete the enquiry form below for more details and tailor-made safaris in Uganda and Rwanda!
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I was very impressed with the website when I was looking for a company to plan our trip to Murchison Falls. My friend and I were going to Uganda to visit my daughter and her friend who were working as volunteers with an NGO in Jinja. The four of us wanted to visit Murchison Falls.
We were pleased that the operator was able to make arrangements to suit our budget. They also accommodated our wish to be picked up in Jinja instead of Kampala.
Our driver, Beki was wonderful. Not only was he a very competent driver, but he was full of good humour and knowledge about the culture of Uganda and its animals and plants. He answered all of our questions about everything we saw on our trip to Murchison Falls and we had many as this was our first trip to Africa. He pointed out many things of interest to us and made us feel so comfortable on our trip. Beki helped to make our safri a most enjoyable and memorable experience.
The company sent us an information package and a complete itinerary before we went on our safari. I thought this was very helpful. I have only praise for their staff. If Beki is representative of all their drivers, then you are ensured of an amazing safari experience.
We thought they did a very good job of meeting our needs during our trip to Uganda. They were responsive when we asked to modify the standard itinerary - visiting a local hospital, the Kampala marketplace, and the veterinary school at the University.
At our request, they substituted an extra game drive for the scheduled activity, and accommodated our request for a different hotel in Kampala on our last days.
Our guide/driver was named David, and he answered all of our questions, maintaining his composure despite some unforeseen circumstances (car broke down, and he had to get a different driver to bring us back to Kampala).
We took the luxury option except for Travellers Rest, which we chose when the Nkuringo Lodge was not able to honor our reservations. It was an unexpected pleasure to stay at Travellers Rest -- wonderful food and friendly service at a very reasonable price. The Primate Luxury Tented Camp, where we stayed when we tracked chimps in Kibale, seems like it's not quite ready for prime time but shows promise for the future.
Overall, we were very pleased, and if we were going to make the trip again, we'd call them.
We would be delighted to provide you with information about our holiday. We have nothing but praise for this operator, both for their helpfulness throughout and their flexibility in planning our itinerary.
We had a rather unusual plan for our holiday, in that, as well as touring the game parks, we wished to seeand meet Ugandans on the ground as much as possible,and also we wished to end our holiday by being taken to Gulu, where our daughter is working as an NGO.
They responded to this by including a 2-day visit to a farm in the far south-west, near the Tanzanian and Rwandan borders, and by agreeing to drop us off in Gulu, rather than returning us to Kampala.
We visited Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabth, Kibale and Murchison Falls National Parks, in addition to Nshenyi village referred to above. All this was achieved in an 11-day itinerary, at a very reasonable cost. Our driver was fantastic. He was not only one of the best drivers I've ever come across either inside or outside of Uganda, but he was also very friendly, and most knowledgeable about all the wildlife, including the rich variety of birds we saw. He also had phenomenal eyesight; even when the road he was negotiating was particularly pitted and rough, he still managed to catch sight of birds and game a long way of, which we would have missed.
Altogether a most positive, enjoyable and educational trip. I'd recommend anyone to go; Uganda is a truly beautiful country. We look forward to returning.
I found the safari operator to be very accommodating with any special requests we had regarding the itinerary.
The Safari Lodge pool made for a perfect setting for a sunset swim, overlooking the channel filled with hippos. The lodge also provided the unique experience of waking up to a hippo grazing outside our door.
