4 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Safari−DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY

Day 1 Of The 4 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Safari: Transfer To Jinja, Visit The Sezibwa Falls, Mabira Forest, Reptile Village & Boat Cruise To The Source Of The Nile.

After breakfast at around 6.30 am, we will transfer to Jinja driving 80km from Uganda’s capital city Kampala which takes about 2 hours. The drive takes you past the impressive landscapes of the city outskirts, towns, and markets where you will see people going on with their daily life. We will branch off to tour the Sezibwa Falls which lies on Sezibwa River, a notable beauty spot and significant cultural site of Buganda. Legend has it that, Sezibwa River is not a natural phenomenon, but the progeny of a pregnant woman called Nakkungu, who lived many centuries ago and belonged to the Kibe (fox) clan. She was expected to give birth to twin children, but instead what poured from her womb was a twin river.

We will continue on the drive to Mabira Forest for forest walks. Mabira is the largest remaining block of moist semi-deciduous forest in Central Uganda. The forest ranks as one of the most important birding sites in Uganda with a checklist of 315 species including the Great blue turaco, African grey parrot, three species of hornbills, forest wood-hoopoe, Africa pitta, Purple-throated cuckoo-shrike, Red-tailed leaflove, Wyn’s weaver, Nahan’s francolin. Primates include Red-tailed monkeys, and black-and-white colobus, not forgetting primates like the endemic Ugandan Mangabey.

We will proceed to Jinja where you will take a visit to the reptile village to explore counts of snakes and other reptiles and then connect to the afternoon connect to the source of the Nile: one of the most iconic places in Africa – the point at which the world’s longest river exit Africa’s largest freshwater lake to commence an epic 6,650km journey to the Mediterranean Sea. The boat cruise to the source of the Nile is a rewarding adventure as it exposes you to opportunities of exploring counts of birds including beautiful Kingfishers. Stepping the point where John Speke stood as the first European to discover the source of the River Nile takes you back to the ancient times when the mystical Nile River Source lured great men into the world of the unknown.

The highlight of the day: – A stunning boat cruise to the source of the Nile River.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Wild waters Lodge/ Haven Lodge Jinja

Mid-range/Moderate: – 2 Friends Hotel Jinja/Haven Lodge Jinja

Budget/Basic: – Source of the Smile Guesthouse

Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast/Half board in a hotel in Jinja

Drive distance & time: Approx. 80km or 2-3 hours

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Transfer to Jinja
• Visit Sezibwa Falls
• Forest walks in Mabira Forest
• Visit Reptile Village
• Boat cruise to the source of the Nile

Optional activities you can do on this day:-

• Ziplining in Mabira forest
• White water rafting along the Nile
• Quad biking
• Mountain biking
• Kayaking
• Fishing trips

Day 2 Of The 4 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Safari: Transfer To Sipi Area & Hike The Sipi Falls.

After breakfast at around 6.30am, embark on175km (3-4hours) drive to Sipi falls in the east of Uganda. The drive takes you through the beautiful eastern Uganda landscapes featuring lovely wetlands and swamps before approaching the extensive rice plantations that have made this region the hub of Uganda’s rice. You drive through the Mbale area and proceed to Sipi for lunch.

In the afternoon, we embark on the Sipi Falls hike for a sightseeing experience. The 99m-high Sipi Falls is the last in a series of three pretty waterfalls formed by the Sipi River as it cascades downhill from the upper slopes of Mount Elgon into the Kyoga Basin. The walking trail to Sipi Falls, (only 20 minutes each) leads from behind the Sipi trading center to the base of the main waterfall. You will enjoy the impressive scenery as you hike to the falls including the sights of Elgon Mountain and the plains of Karamoja. The Sipi falls present a lovely flow of water and a good site for photography.

You can also continue another 20-30 minutes hike to reach a cluster of caves on the cliff above the river. It is also possible to take a hike from the main waterfall to the two more small waterfalls one of which has a tempting swimming pool at the base. Another interesting option is a coffee tour to local subsistence farms where you will learn about the coffee farming process from harvesting and drying the beans to roasting and grinding them for consumption.

Return from the activity and connect to the lodge for relaxation and overnight

The highlight of the day: – An exciting hike to the Sipi falls on the slopes of Mount Elgon.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Sipi River Lodge

Mid-range/Moderate: – Mbale Resort Hotel

Budget/Basic: – Sipi River Lodge/ Kapkwai Forest Cottages

 Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance & time: – Approx. 175km or 3-4 hours

Activities & Services:-

Meal Plan: – Bed & Breakfast / Half board

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Visit Sip falls

Optional activities you can do this day:-

• Abseiling and rock climbing on cliffs around the waterfall
• Sportfishing

Day 3 Of The 4 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Safari: Undertake A Whole Day Hike To Mount Elgon.

After breakfast at around 6.30 am, connect to Kapkwai Forest Exploration Center (only 3km east of Sipi) on Mount Elgon. The free standing Mt Elgon is an extinct shield volcano. At 4321m, it is the second-highest massif in Uganda and it boasts the largest base of an extinct volcano in the world. This massive extinct volcano is topped by an immense collapsed caldera, which is the largest Moutain caldera in the whole world.

Kapkwai Center is situated at an altitude of 2050m, immediately inside Mount Elgon National Park. There is a network of trails that runs through the exploration centre offers access to the surrounding Afro-montane forest and the opportunity to see associated monkeys such as black-and-white colobus, blue monkeys as well as birds such as cinnamon chested bee-eater, Doherty’s bush-shrike, golden-winged sunbird, Hartlaub’s turacos, Bar-tailed trogon, Grey-throated Barbet, Montane Oriole, Moutain greenbul, and Black-collared Apalis.

The hike also offers you impressive views of the mountain flora including the groundsel and giant lobelia, the panoramic views of Bagisu settlement and farmlands, Mbale town, Karamoja plains, and Kenya. You have a picnic lunch on the mountain and retreat back to the starting point in the evening to connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

The highlight of the day: – An adventurous whole day hike to Mount Elgon.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Sipi River Lodge

Mid-range/Moderate: – Mbale Resort Hotel

Budget/Basic: – Sipi River Lodge/ Kapkwai Forest Cottages

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Picnic lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Hiking Mount Elgon

Optional activities you can do on this day:-

• Mountain biking
• Cultural tours
• Rock climbing

Day 4 Of The 4 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Safari: Transfer Back To Kampala.

After a relaxed breakfast at around 7.30 am, embark on the transfer back to Kampala passing through the impressive swamps of Eastern Uganda along with the views of extensive rice and sugar plantations. Arrive in Kampala in the afternoon.

 Meal Plan: – Breakfast & Lunch

 Drive distance & time: – Approx. 255km or 5-6 hours

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Transfer back to Kampala

End of the 4 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Safari ∣ 4 Days Mountain Elgon Hiking/Uganda Trekking Tour

4 Days Rwenzori Mountains Hiking Safari−SAFARI INCLUSIONS

  Full time English professional safari driver guide

  4×4 safari van/ 4×4 Safari land cruiser with poop up roof for game viewing with functional A/C

  Full board accommodation

  Wi-Fi Internet on board the safari vehicle

  Bottled water

4 Days Rwenzori Mountains Hiking Safari − SAFARI EXCLUSIONS

  International &domestic flight fees

  Visa fees

  Laundry services

  Items of personal nature

  Gratuities and tips

  Other beverages/ drinks

  Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above

Getting There

Transport Means to Your Safari Destinations

Accommodations/ Safari Lodges/ Safari Hotels to Your Safari Destinations

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