8 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Hiking Safari in Uganda− DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 Of The 8 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Hiking Safari In Uganda: Arrive In Uganda Via Entebbe International Airport & Transfer To The Hotel In Kampala.

Arrive in Uganda following the flight from your respective country of origin. You land at Entebbe International Airport which is the main gateway to Uganda where you will find the company representative dedicated to offer you a courteous welcome. After briefing about Uganda and the safari, you will connect to the respective hotel in Kampala for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

The bustling town of Entebbe is situated on a small peninsula in Lake Victoria, the world’s biggest tropical lake about 40km away from Uganda’s capital city, Kampala.

There are several activities you can opt to do in Entebbe depending on your time of arrival like seeing over 300 varieties of exotic plants, and admiring black-and-white colobus monkeys in the beautiful Entebbe Botanical Gardens. The rainforest zone of these gardens was the location used during the filming of the original 1940 Hollywood classic, Tarzan.

Other activities include visiting the Jane Goodall Institute’s Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, sunset boat cruises on the lake, or exploring the Mabamba Swamp by canoe in search of the fascinating Shoebill birds. Entebbe also has a well-maintained golf course embraced by exotic trees, and anglers can go on boat trips to fish for the legendary Nile perch on Lake Victoria.

The Highlight Of The Day: – Touch Down In The Pearl Of Africa At Entebbe Airport With The Breathtaking Waters Of Lake Victoria.

Accommodation:-

Upmarket/Luxury: – Speke Resort Munyonyo/Kampala Serena Hotel/Sheraton Kampala Hotel

Midrange/Standard: – Cassia Lodge

Budget/Basic: – Biyem Hotel/ Nexus Resorts Nansana

Meal Plan: – Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance & time: – Approx. 40km or 1 hour

Activities & Services Of The Day:-

• Pick up from Entebbe International Airport and transfer to the hotel in Kampala

Optional Activities You Can Choose To On this day Include:-

• Entebbe city tour
• Boat ride to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
• Visit Entebbe Botanical Gardens
• Visit Uganda Wildlife Education Centre
• Fishing trip on Lake Victoria
• Sunset boat cruise on Lake Victoria
• Kampala city tour

Day 2 Of The 8 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Hiking Safari In Uganda: Drive To Jinja; Visit The Mabira Forest & Sezibwa Falls En Route. Enjoy A Boat To The Source Of The Nile On Arrival.

We will enjoy an early breakfast this morning at around 6.00 am and then depart Kampala city. We are heading east, to Jinja town which is often referred to as East Africa’s main adventure tourism capital. This large historical town is home to the source of the Nile: the place where the world’s longest river exits Africa’s largest lake to commence an epic 6,650km journey to the Mediterranean Sea.

It is a drive of 1-2 hours. We will pass the impressive landscapes of the city outskirts, towns, and markets where you will see people going on with their daily life.  Along the way, we’ll 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 during which you will see a variety of birds and primates such as Red-tailed monkeys, and black-and-white colobus, not forgetting primates like the endemic Ugandan Mangabey. We will proceed to Jinja where you will enjoy a thrilling boat cruise to the source of the Nile. The cruise is a rewarding adventure as it exposes you to opportunities of exploring counts of birds including beautiful Kingfishers. Stepping at 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
• 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
• Bungee jumping into the historic Nile River
• Quad biking
• Kayaking on the Nile
• Fishing trips along the Nile River

Day 3 Of The 8 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Hiking Safari In Uganda: Transfer To The Sipi Area, Hike The Sipi Falls &Tour Coffee Farms.

After breakfast at around 7.30 am, we’ll undertake a 98km (4-5 hours) drive from east Jinja to Sipi Falls, the most beautiful chain of waterfalls in Uganda. The drive is rewarding and we’ll pass through amazing landscapes of Eastern Uganda, rice fields, sugarcane plantations, busy roadside markets, and quiet rural villages, where you get a real sense of what life is like here before arriving in Mbale town for lunch.

After lunch, we’ll undertake a 3-hour hike to the main Sipi waterfall to marvel at this magnificent 100m-high fall which 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 waterfall is surrounded by beautiful walking trails and lush green hills.

Besides nature, in abundance, your hike will include a tour of a small local coffee-producing farm. This is the perfect time to pick up some high-quality Ugandan coffee to take home to your friends and family. Retreat from the activity for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

The highlight of the day: – The hike to Sipi Falls

Accommodation:-

Upmarket/Luxury: – Sipi River Lodge

Midrange/Standard: – Mbale Resort Hotel

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

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance & time: – Approx. 198 km or 3-4 hours

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Transfer to Sipi Falls
• Sipi Falls hike
• A tour of a small local coffee-producing farm

Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-

• Abseil from the top of the 100-meter-high Sipi Falls
• Mountain biking

Day 4, 5, 6 & 7 of the 8 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Hiking Safari In Uganda: Adventure Climb To Mount Elgon Following The Sasa Trail

Day 4 of the 8 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Hiking Safari Uganda: Climb From Budadiri (1,250m) To Sasa River Camp (2,300m)

We’ll enjoy our breakfast at around 6.30 am after which we will connect to Budadiri (1250m) close to the town of Mbale at the entry of Mount Elgon National Park. You arrange all the mountain climbing equipment and the logistics such as camping gear, water, and food.

In the company of the porters and guides, you embark on the adventure climb traversing the foothills of Mount Elgon along the road to Bumgabula village. The old road ends and the trail becomes very steep as you climb up through many terraced fields and alongside houses. The scenery is spectacular, and plan to take lots of photographs of the hillside villages. Continue east on a steep trail up to the cliffs called “the Wall of Death”, which is spectacular and exciting, but not as bad as the name implies. You will climb a few bamboo ladders here.

The steepest part of the climb is over shortly after the cliffs, and from there on it is a very enjoyable trek through the jungle. Keep an eye out for Colobus and Blue monkeys. You settle at Sasa River Camp (2.900 m) to mark the daybreak.

Accommodation: – Sasa River Camp

Hiking distance and time: – Approx. 1,250m -2,900m or 6-8 hours

Altitude gain: – 1650m

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities and services of the day:-

• Hiking from Budadiri to Sasa River Camp

Day 5 Of The 8 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Hiking Safari Uganda: Hike from Sasa River Camp To Mude Cave (3,500m)

On this second day after breakfast at around 7.00 am, we’ll embark on a 4-5 hours hike from Sasa River Camp to the 16-berth hut at Mude Cave (3500m). The hike is pleasant and there are some nice views once you reach the timberline. Here we can use our spare afternoon at Mude Cave to ascend Jackson’s summit (4,165m), which is a round trip of around 5 hours.

Accommodation: – 16-berth hut

Hiking distance and time: – Approx. 2900m -3,500m

Altitude gain: – 600m

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities and services: – Hiking from Sasa River Camp to the 16-berth hut at Mude Cave

Day 6 of the 8 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Hiking Safari Uganda: Summit The Wagagai Peak (4,321m) and Descend Back To 16-Berth Hut At Mude Cave.

On the third day, we’ll ascend from Mude Cave to Wagagai peak and back a long hike of 8-9 hours. The summit offers views of the largest mountain caldera in the world. The experience is quite rewarding as it exposes you to an impressive moorland zone with lush mountain flora. Descend back to Mude campsite for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

Accommodation: – 16-berth hut

Hiking distance and time: – Approx. 3,500m – 4,321m

Altitude gain: – 821m

Descent:-821m

 Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities and services: – Summiting Wagagai Peak

Day 7 of the 8 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Hiking Safari Uganda: Descend From 16-Berth Hut (3,500m) To Budadiri (1,250m).

On the fourth day after breakfast at around 8.00 am, we’ll descend from Mude Cave to Budadiri to mark the end of the adventure mountain climb.

Accommodation:-

Upmarket/Luxury: – Sipi River Lodge

Midrange/Standard: – Mbale Resort Hotel

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

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Descending Mount Elgon
• Transfer to the lodge

Optional activities you can choose to do in Mount Elgon National Park

• Day hikes and birding in Kapkwai Forest Exploration Centre
• Cultural visits: Budadiri Community Walks or Visit Sipi Widow’s group
• Mountain biking

Day 8 Of The 8 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Hiking Safari Uganda: Transfer Back To Kampala.

We will enjoy a relaxed breakfast at around 9.00 am and then embark on a 255km (4-6 hours) drive back to Kampala.

Meal Plan: – Breakfast & Lunch

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Transfer to back to Kampala

Optional activities you can choose to do in Mount Elgon National Park

• Cultural visits: Budadiri Community Walks or Visit Sipi Widow’s group

End Of The 8 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Hiking Safari Uganda

Getting There For The 8 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Hiking Safari Uganda

Transport Means to Your Safari Destinations

8 Days Mountain Elgon Climbing Hiking Safari Uganda − SAFARI INCLUSIONS

• Full Board Accommodation on Safari
• Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
• Fuel
• Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
• Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
• Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
• Bottled water while on safari
• Border crossing fees (for cross border safaris)

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