12 Days Jinja and Dry East Safari with Sabiny Cultural experience
Overview
This 12 Days Jinja and Dry East Safari will take you to Jinja, the traditional industrial and commercial city of Uganda. Jinja is located in the Eastern part of Uganda and lies near the shores of a section of Lake Victoria where we find the source of the Nile. This beautiful safari destination offers some exciting activities such as flat water tubing, Rafting on the Nile ,water slide, boat cruise to the source of the Nile, the Uganda Railway Museum tour, quad biking and several others.
After having an incredible experience in Jinja, you will proceed to Mount Elgon National park for the Sabiny cultural encounter. Get ready to learn about the history, culture and traditions of the Sabiny people as well as take part in some activities within the local community. You will also go for the Sipi falls hike and coffee experience. Then, you will visit Kidepo Valley National Park, through Pian Upe Game Reserve, Murchison Falls National Park and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Return to Kampala for a city tour and proceed to Entebbe International airport for your departure flight.
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Mabira Forest for zip-lining, visit to the Uganda Railway Museum and relaxation
You will be picked up from your accommodation or the airport and transferred to Mabira Forest for zip-lining. The zip lining experience takes place on the Mabira Forest Canopy Super Sky way. This is a canopy zip-line system that sends you soaring between the tallest trees in Mabira Forest.
Located 44kms East of Kampala City, outside of Lugazi town at the Griffin falls camp, the sky way offers a life changing experience.
After zip-lining, you will have lunch, visit the Uganda Railway Museum which offers a varied program that includes exploring a locomotive and coach, film recollections/ stories, guided tours and many others. This is the first ever railway museum in Uganda! Later, you will return to your hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation:
Jinja Grand Hotel (below budget)
Kingfisher Safari Resort Hotel (on budget)
Wild Waters Lodge (above budget)
Meal plan: all meals and drinking water
Day 2 : Quad biking, flat water tubing and water slide
This will be a fun filled adventurous day in Jinja. You will wake up to a delicious breakfast and then head out for your quad biking adventure. While quad biking, you will get a golden opportunity to explore the countryside, interact with the local people and see the forests, plantations, villages and river banks.
Afterwards, you will go for flat water tubing, a relaxing activity where you can float on the water while sipping on your refreshment. Enjoy basking in the sun as you take in the beautiful sceneries around you.
As soon as you finish this activity, you will have lunch, relax and later enjoy the water slide.
Dinner and overnight stay:
Jinja Grand Hotel (below budget)
Kingfisher Safari Resort Hotel (on budget)
Wild Waters Lodge (above budget)
Meal plan: all meals and drinking water
Day 3: Boat cruise to the source of the Nile, visit to Ssezibwa Falls and transfer to Mount Elgon National Park
A boat cruise is the perfect way to enjoy a few relaxing hours on the River Nile. During the cruise, you will explore the source of the Nile, a symbolic location on the world map. 12 Days Jinja and Dry East Safari, You will learn about the history of the Nile such as the discovery of its source by John Hannington Speke in 1858.
After the boat cruise, you will visit Ssezibwa Falls. The name Ssezibwa is a local idiom referring to “something endless”. The Ssezibwa falls are also considered to be an important cultural site for the Baganda people.
Lastly, you will have lunch, check out of your lodge and embark on your journey to Mount Elgon National Park.
Accommodation:
Kapkwata Forest Cottage (below budget)
Mount Elgon Hotel and Spa (on budget)
Sipi River Lodge (above budget)
Meal plan: all meals and drinking water
Day 4: Sebei cultural experience
After preparing for the day’s activities, you will be led by your tour guide to embark on your Sebei cultural tour. The Sebei people are one of the unique tribes that inhabit the slopes of Mount Elgon in Eastern Uganda. They belong to the Kalenjin Community whose origin is believed to be the Ethiopian Highlands. Interestingly, one of their myths says that they came from Msiri (a name for Egypt).
There are several activities that you may engage the Sebei cultural experience such as
visiting a natural cave and experiencing the ancient culture of the local people. Listen to the stories of the elders, sing and dance to their traditional songs and taste their local food. Also, you may learn how to prepare local food such as their famous Maleewa bamboo shoots. There is a also a women’s hand craft shop in the trading centre that you can visit, participate in the traditional weaving and buy some souvenirs. Learn about Female Genital Mutilation ( a dangerous cultural practice that is being fought in this region).
Afterwards, you will return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation for the rest of the day.
Dinner and overnight stay:
Kapkwata Forest Cottage (below budget)
Mount Elgon Hotel and Spa (on budget)
Sipi River Lodge (above budget)
Meal plan: all meals and drinking water
Day 5: Sipi falls hike
Early in the morning, you will get ready for this day’s activities. First, you will have your breakfast. Then, you will prepare and pack all the necessary hiking gear before heading out for your adventure. Your guide will give you a short briefing about hiking, providing you with information about the safety precautions and rules. Afterwards, you will embark on your hike to explore the stunning views of Sipi falls. During this hike, you will also have a glance at the agricultural farmlands of the Bagisu as well as Mountain Elgon.
There are various levels of this hike, so one can go as far as their energy can take them. While hiking, you will also enjoy the roaring sounds of the water as it plunges against the rocks.
After your hiking experience, you will return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
Optional activity: Abseiling (at an extra cost)
Dinner and overnight stay:
Crow’s Nest Campsite (below budget)
Lacam Lodge (on budget)
Sipi River Lodge (above budget)
Meal plan: all meals and drinking water
Day 6: Sipi Coffee experience
This day will be for the coffee plantation visit/experience. Get an opportunity to trace the story of coffee all the way from the seed to the cup. Did you know that Sipi Falls Arabica Coffee is one of the world’s finest? During this experience, you will meet local coffee farmers, tour their plantations and learn about the life cycle of the crop and the role that they play in the process. You will also get to tour the local processing plant to see the selected coffee beans before shipment, learn the traditional art of roasting coffee and finally enjoy a delicious cup of coffee to sum it all up!
Dinner and overnight stay:
Crow’s Nest Campsite (below budget)
Lacam Lodge (on budget)
Sipi River Lodge (above budget)
Meal plan: all meals and drinking water
Day 7: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park with an en-route game drive in Pian Upe game reserve
After having your breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and embark on your drive to Kidepo Valley National Park. Along the way, you will experience an en-route game drive in Pian Upe game reserve- one of the most impressive and diverse wildlife habitats in Uganda. 12 Days Jinja and Dry East Safari, During this game drive, expect to have an encounter with various animals such as jackals, spotted hyenas, leopards, cape buffaloes, water bucks, the Uganda kobs, topis, primates like olive baboons and vervet monkeys and so on. After enjoying these gifts of Mother Nature, you will have a stop-over for your lunch before proceeding to Kidepo Valley National Park.
Dinner and overnight stay:
Apoka Rest Camp (below budget)
Nga’moru Wilderness Camp (on budget)
Apoka Safari Lodge (above budget)
Meal plan: all meals and drinking water
Day 8: Full day Kidepo Valley national park experience
Having taken a cup of tea/coffee, early this morning, you will go for your morning game drive in the park. Your tour guide will drive you through the mind blowing landscapes of the park that are usually dotted with plenty of wildlife. The Narus valley, which is the best location for wildlife viewing, will offer you an exceptional wildlife experience as you will view animals such as lions, buffaloes, cheetahs, elephants, elands, Rothschild giraffes, to mention but a few. All these animals tend to congregate around the water points that are found along the Narus Valley. As you continue to the Kidepo Valley, you will get a golden chance of viewing the ostrich-one of the unique features of the park.
After the game drive, you will return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. Then, you will head out for the Karamojong Cultural visit. This visit will reward you with the Karamojong traditional dances/performances and a feel of their art and crafts. You will be able to explore their Manyattas and learn about their traditions and cultures.
Dinner and overnight stay:
Apoka Rest Camp (below budget)
Nga’moru Wilderness Camp (on budget)
Apoka Safari Lodge (above budget)
Meal plan: all meals and drinking water
Day 9: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park and a visit to the top of the falls
You will wake up to an early delicious breakfast and then check out of your lodge. Thereafter, your tour guide will pick you up and start on your journey to Murchison Falls National Park.
When you arrive at the park, you will drive straight to the top of Murchison Falls which is also known as Kabalega Falls. 12 Days Jinja and Dry East Safari, This is where the Nile forces its way through a gap in the rocks that is only 8 meters wide, and tumbles 43 meters before flowing Westward into Lake Albert. You will also learn that the outlet of Lake Victoria sends around 300 cubic metres per second of water over the falls, squeezed into a gorge less than 10 metres wide. If you are lucky, you will be able to get a glimpse of the beautiful rainbow that lingers over the gushing waters from time to time. Take some photographs while there and enjoy the refreshing breeze as you take it nature’s stunning beauty!
Lastly, you will return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation:
Red Chilli Rest Camp (below budget)
Pakuba Safari Lodge (on budget)
Chobe Safari Lodge (above budget)
Meal plan: all meals and drinking water
Day 10: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
After having your morning coffee, depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the opportunity of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeests, buffaloes, elephants among others. For any birder, this area supports numerous bird species such as the secretary bird and black chested snake eagle, to mention but a few. Undoubtedly, this experience will enable you appreciate the wonders of the Savannah as you will get to observe the interdependence of wildlife in the eco-system.
Return to your lodge for a relaxed breakfast. Later in the afternoon, after lunch, you will head out for a boat cruise on the Nile where you will spot lots of animals including elephants, hippos, Nile crocodiles, buffaloes and several water birds. Usually, the large animals that you may find along the riverbanks drink and bathe from the refreshing waters of the river. A sight that you cannot afford to miss out on! Thereafter, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation:
Red Chilli Rest Camp (below budget)
Pakuba Safari Lodge (on budget)
Chobe Safari Lodge (above budget)
Meal plan: All meals and drinking water
Day 11: Transfer back to Kampala via the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After a good night’s rest, you will have a relaxed breakfast and get ready to check out of your lodge before setting off for Kampala. Along the way, you will have a stop-over at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking. This activity will be thrilling as you will have an encounter with the endangered Southern white rhinos. Rhino tracking takes about 3 hours, after which you will have lunch and proceed to Uganda’s capital city – Kampala.
Dinner and overnight stay:
Millennium Terrace Hotel (below budget)
Cassia Lodge (on budget)
Protea Hotel by Marriott (above budget)
Meal plan: all meals and drinking water
Day 12: City tour and transfer to the airport
Depending on your flight schedule/departure time, you may first proceed to Kampala where you will engage in a city tour to experience the beauty of the city and its culture.
Get a chance to visit different places around Kampala such as: Gadhafi Mosque, Rubaga Cathedral, the Uganda Museum and the King’s Palace. You will also get a taste of Ugandan cuisines at a restaurant in the city in the company of your guide. Later you will be driven to Entebbe International Airport for your flight back home.
End of safari
Inclusions
- Park fees (For non-residents)
- All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional English speaking guide
- All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- Fuel for the entire safari with unlimited milage
- All Taxes/VAT
- Comprehensive safari vehicle
- Round-trip airport transfer
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinking water (On all days)
Exclusions
- International flights (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc)
- The government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
NB:
The inclusions and exclusions of the safari can be handled depending on your preferences.
We can provide a professional tour guide that speaks any other language (of your choice) apart from English.
Ensure to follow all the necessary COVID 19 and Ebola travel guidelines to ensure that you are in a safe and healthy condition during your safari with us. One of our major priority is to provide the best possible safety and comfort during your tour, so please be assured that you will be in safe hands.
Some of the travel guidelines include wearing and carrying a sufficient number of surgical masks, moving with an alcohol based hand sanitizer, vaccination against COVID 19 or taking a PCR test and several others. Book with us today and get the safari of your dreams!
