11 DAYS UGANDA: DISCOVERING THE CULTURE

Uganda’s capital welcomes you with the perfect mix of tradition, culture and modernity. During a Kampala city tour, you’ll see what we mean. Your guide takes you to iconic landmarks like the World War Monument and Independence Monument, shows you a different side of the city in the Katanga Slums, and the beauty of the vibrant Owino Market. Here you can buy local arts and crafts, the perfect souvenirs for your loved ones at home (or yourself). Interact with friendly people, experience the warmth of Ugandan hospitality and most importantly, taste delicious Ugandan street food.

Discover the culinary side of Uganda during this fun cooking class in Kampala. Your local chefs will share all their kitchen secrets (okay, almost all of them) so that you can surprise your loved ones with the yummiest souvenirs! In this hands-on experience you’ll learn about local ingredients, cooking techniques and cultural traditions. Discover the secrets of creating mouthwatering dishes like matoke (steamed green bananas), luwombo (stew cooked in banana leaves), and rolex (Ugandan street food) and enjoy them afterwards yourself.

Going from lakeside Entebbe, you go on a six-hour drive to the Sipi Falls today. The landscape slowly changes from the city and the sandy beaches of Lake Victoria to a variety of rugged and abundant green vegetation as you approach Mount Elgon National Park. Once you arrive, you see the park's main attraction, the Sipi Falls; three waterfalls on the north-western slopes of the extinct volcano Mount Elgon. This journey might be long, but it's definitely not boring, with its perfect blend of adventure and nature's beauty!

The famous Sipi Falls are not just a great hiking spot, but also a paradise for coffee-lovers. Here, many farmers grow high-quality and internationally-sold Arabica coffee on small pieces of land. On this tour you can experience the entire process from picking the coffee berry to drying, grinding the beans with a big wooden mortar to cooking and finally tasting the coffee yourself. Enjoy the rich aroma and taste of freshly brewed coffee whilst engaging with the hospitable community, marvelling at the stunning surroundings and supporting the local farmers. A delicious win-win-situation.

After seeing the beautiful dense and lavish green Sipi Falls in Mount Elgon National Park, you drive towards the more rocky Moroto district. It's a 6-hour journey, long enough for a break and a stretch of the legs along the way. The Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is the perfect place for that, as it happens to have the most picturesque viewpoints. So why not stop here and enjoy your picnic lunch with an occasional elephant or giraffe passing by? It makes a long journey all the more adventurous and memorable!

Visit a village of the Karamojong tribe in the northeast of Uganda, and get to meet the people, see their houses, go cattle herding and experience what a day in the life of the Karamojong looks like! The Karamojong are semi-nomadic pastoralist people who are known for their unique culture, their traditional way of life and their resilience of surviving in harsh environments. A visit is a fascinating experience, and if you are lucky, you might even see some traditional dances or ceremonies during your visit!.

The 5-hour drive from the rocky Moroto district to Kidepo Valley National Park takes you 'off the beaten track', as the far-off Kidepo is less visited by tourists. This means the park offers more unspoiled nature and more animals, and thus a more special wildlife experience. During the drive, the beautiful Karamoja region captivates you with plenteous scenic views and spotting of buffalos, lions, zebras and antelopes.

Looking for an untouched version of Uganda where you can escape the crowds? Kidepo Valley National Park is the place! This remote haven of pristine wilderness covers over 1,442 square kilometres with savannah plains, escarpments, mountain peaks and rocky outcrops. It is home to elephants, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs and not less than 475 bird species. This is also the place where you can meet the indigenous tribe of the Karamojong and discover the Kanangorok Hot Springs.

During a walking safari in Kidepo Valley National Park, you can discover this natural gem from a completely different point of view. As the morning sun rises, you start your adventure with your experienced guide. Dive into a breathtaking landscape, learn more about the various plants and natural phenomena you’ll meet on the way, and get eye-to-eye with African wildlife (or eye-to-knee in the case of giraffes). On foot, you’ll see details and hear sounds much clearer than in a jeep. It's probably the most natural way to go on a safari!

Looking for an untouched version of Uganda where you can escape the crowds? Kidepo Valley National Park is the place! This remote haven of pristine wilderness covers over 1,442 square kilometres with savannah plains, escarpments, mountain peaks and rocky outcrops. It is home to elephants, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs and not less than 475 bird species. This is also the place where you can meet the indigenous tribe of the Karamojong and discover the Kanangorok Hot Springs.

During a jeep safari, our guide takes you in your private jeep on an unlimited game drive in the park. Make sure to share your expectations for this day with him, and let yourself be surprised by the suggestions he might have. Once on the road, ask any question that comes to mind and most of all: enjoy the amazing ride and sights!

After the raw and rugged Kidepo Valley National Park, you are off to Murchison Falls National Park, the roaring jewel of northwest Uganda with the River Nile and the famous Murchison Falls as its highlights! What's more, this park is home to an abundance of wildlife – think of animals such as zebras, giraffes, elephants, and the rare shoebill stork. A safari in Murchison Falls will surely leave lasting impressions and is absolutely worth the 8-hour drive!

Murchison Falls National Park is the largest and oldest national park in the country, spanning an impressive 3,840 square kilometres. The park is mostly known for its vast open savannahs, where you can go on classic game drives and spot lions, elephants, giraffes, and many other animals between the long grasses. The mighty Nile River cuts through the whole park, creating dramatic whitewater rapids, a breathtaking gorge AND areas for easy-going boat safaris to see hippos, crocodiles and birds. Last but not least, the famous Murchison Falls plunge an impressive 43 meters and are a major highlight of the park (and can be seen from the boat!).

During a jeep safari, our guide takes you in your private jeep on an unlimited game drive in the park. Make sure to share your expectations for this day with him, and let yourself be surprised by the suggestions he might have. Once on the road, ask any question that comes to mind and most of all: enjoy the amazing ride and sights!

Embark on a double-decker boat for an old-style River Nile cruise in Murchison Falls National Park! Sail up the river for two hours (and one hour back) while spotting hippos and crocodiles in the water, and several other animals on the shores. The boat eventually leads you to the bottom of the impressive 43-meter-high Murchison Falls, where you can feel the fresh water droplets on your face while seeing the water cascading down. The falls are so powerful that it's impossible to get very close, but trust us – you’ll be impressed nevertheless!

Follow in the footsteps of famous people like Winston Churchill and climb to the top of Murchison Falls! This 45-minute hike is relatively easy as the path is paved with steps and footbridges. With some luck, you might spot baboons while enjoying the feel of the cool mist of the waterfalls on your skin during the walk. Once at the top, you marvel at the mighty, churning masses of Nile water squeeze through a narrow gorge before plunging into the depths and take in the view over the Nile and the vast savannah landscape below you.

Today you drive from Murchison Falls to Kibale National Park. This 6-hour drive leads you past welcoming villages, rainforests, charming tea plantations and mesmerizing crater lakes towards Fort Portal - a friendly and hospitable gateway city to Uganda's adventures. If the weather is clear, you can see the Rwenzori Mountains with their snow-capped peaks. And then, get ready for Kibale Forest, the primate capital of the world with no less than 13 different species of monkeys!

Would you like to interact with locals when on holiday? During this excursion, you’ll get the chance to do just that. Meet the local communities near Kibale National Park and learn more about their everyday life, traditions and customs. Learn to weave a basket or see (join!) traditional dances. A nice plus: on your way, you can marvel at the scenic beauty and animals of the park. And an even nicer plus: with this unique cultural exchange, you create lasting memories AND support local sustainable tourism.

As you drive back to Entebbe, you again pass through the villages with their lively marketplaces and the outstretched countryside with tea and coffee plantations, smooth green hills and the occasional wildlife waving you goodbye. After several days of sheer adventure, even the ride back to Entebbe is an experience to enjoy!

This is your last day! Unfortunately, it's time to catch your flight home from Entebbe International Airport. Sad to leave...? Not to worry! We can easily add a few days of safari to your holiday, or extend it with a few days on the shores of Lake Victoria for some whitewater rafting or other exhilarating activities!