12 Days Discover the Untamed Beauty of Kidepo Valley Safari
Tour Overview
Tour highlights
- Wildlife game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park
- Cross country drive experience
- Optional activities in Jinja
- White water rafting in Jinja
- Community cultural experience
- Coffee tour experience
- Endless wildlife experience
- Karamojong Nyamatta home visit
- Sipi falls nature walk
- Karamojong cultural experience
Itinerary day by day
Day 1
Welcome to Uganda
Upon landing at Entebbe International Airport, you will complete the immigration process. Afterward, your driver guide will greet you warmly and transfer you to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.
Day 2
Transfer to Jinja - Source of the Nile
Jinja, located about 2 hours east of Kampala on the shores of Lake Victoria, is renowned as the historic source of the Nile River and the adrenaline capital of East Africa. The town offers a blend of serene sunsets, vibrant birdlife, and thrilling adventure activities such as white-water rafting, kayaking, tubing, quad biking, mountain biking, and horse riding. With its picturesque natural setting and historic colonial architecture, Jinja began to flourish as a key trading hub and river crossing point during British colonial rule in 1906. Today, the town features a lively downtown area and broad, leafy residential streets alongside the Nile River.
Upon arrival in Jinja, you’ll enjoy lunch before embarking on a boat ride to explore the source of the Nile. Afterward, you’ll have the opportunity to tour the city, admire the historic architecture, and then return to your lodge for some relaxation.
Day 3
True Nile white water rafting
Today, prepare for an exhilarating adventure! After a hearty breakfast and a safety briefing, you’ll embark on an exciting Nile white-water rafting experience. Whether you choose a full-day rafting adventure, which lasts until around 4 PM, or a half-day option that wraps up by midday, you’re in for a thrilling ride. The full-day experience offers a comprehensive journey through the impressive falls of the Nile. After your rafting session, you’ll enjoy a BBQ and drinks before your driver guide takes you back to your lodge for a well-deserved rest.
Day 4
Transfer to Sipi Falls – Kapchorwa
Day 5
Sipi Falls hike, and community encounter
Savor the finest coffee and get ready for a day in paradise. The Sipi River, flowing over the foothills of Mount Elgon, creates a stunning series of waterfalls, each surrounded by charming walking trails and verdant hills. Choose between a 3-hour hike for a shorter adventure or a 6-hour trek for a more immersive experience. A local community guide will accompany you, sharing insights into his life and the area.
During your hike, you can opt for a scenic walk focusing on nature and waterfalls, or enhance your adventure with a coffee tour or cultural tour. Along the way, you’ll encounter numerous waterfalls, plantations, and caves, greeted warmly by local villagers with cheerful “Jambo!” smiles.
After your hike, return to the lodge for a relaxing afternoon, dinner, and a restful night. It will be a day well spent, invigorating your body, mind, and soul while immersing yourself in the natural beauty and soothing sounds of the wilderness—a truly extraordinary experience.
Day 6
Off to Morotto. The Cradle land
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before setting out at 7:30 am for your drive down the foothills of Mount Elgon towards Moroto, passing through Tororo. Moroto Town, situated in the heart of the Karamoja region, will be your base for the cultural activities planned for tomorrow. Upon arrival, you’ll have lunch, then spend the afternoon immersing yourself in the Karamojong culture, exploring traditional customs and local crafts with a modern twist.
This visit offers a unique opportunity to experience Uganda’s untouched northeast, combining rich cultural heritage with the beauty of the wilderness. Embrace the true essence of Africa with genuine hospitality and a deep connection to nature and tradition.
Day 7
Nature Hike and visit the traditional
Start your day with breakfast, then prepare for a cultural immersion into one of the most intriguing and traditional communities in Uganda. The Karamoja region, located in North-Eastern Uganda, offers a glimpse into the traditional life of the Karamojong, one of the most ancient tribes still residing in the country.
In the early morning, embark on a scenic nature walk through the valley of Mount Moroto, the tallest peak in Karamoja. Along the way, you’ll set up camp at a traditional village of the So Tepeth mountain people.
Afterward, you’ll visit a Kraal, also known as a Manyatta or Boma in Swahili. This traditional village consists of huts surrounded by wooden and thorn fences designed to protect the cattle and inhabitants from rival tribes and wild animals. Some Kraals are permanent, while others are temporary, set up as the Karamojong follow fresh pastures for their cattle.
The Karamojong share similarities with the Maasai of Kenya but remain relatively unknown, ensuring a truly authentic and memorable experience. Tonight, you’ll stay at Karamoja Safari Camp or have the option to camp within the Kraal, offering a unique chance to connect with the roots of life in this remarkable region.
Day 7
Nature Hike and visit the traditional
Start your day with breakfast, then prepare for a cultural immersion into one of the most intriguing and traditional communities in Uganda. The Karamoja region, located in North-Eastern Uganda, offers a glimpse into the traditional life of the Karamojong, one of the most ancient tribes still residing in the country.
In the early morning, embark on a scenic nature walk through the valley of Mount Moroto, the tallest peak in Karamoja. Along the way, you’ll set up camp at a traditional village of the So Tepeth mountain people.
Afterward, you’ll visit a Kraal, also known as a Manyatta or Boma in Swahili. This traditional village consists of huts surrounded by wooden and thorn fences designed to protect the cattle and inhabitants from rival tribes and wild animals. Some Kraals are permanent, while others are temporary, set up as the Karamojong follow fresh pastures for their cattle.
The Karamojong share similarities with the Maasai of Kenya but remain relatively unknown, ensuring a truly authentic and memorable experience. Tonight, you’ll stay at Karamoja Safari Camp or have the option to camp within the Kraal, offering a unique chance to connect with the roots of life in this remarkable region.
Day 8
To Kidepo National Park
In the morning, take advantage of the opportunity to spend additional time with the Karamojong tribe. After this enriching experience, you’ll embark on a journey to one of Uganda’s most remote and pristine national parks: Kidepo Valley National Park, a hidden gem in the northeastern corner of the country.
Nestled in the rugged, semi-arid valleys between Uganda’s borders with Sudan and Kenya, Kidepo Valley National Park is a secluded and seldom-visited destination offering some of the most breathtaking scenery in Uganda. Although the journey is long, the rewards are significant, as you will experience an afternoon game drive in the Narus Valley. Here, you might encounter herds of elephants and buffaloes, and catch sight of lions, cheetahs, and leopards perched on rocky outcrops throughout the valley.
Your visit to Kidepo Valley National Park will be one of the highlights of your tour, offering a tranquil escape where the only sounds are those of nature.
Day 9
Safari in the hearts of Kidepo Valley National Park
After breakfast, embark on an extraordinary game drive and walking safari in Kidepo Valley National Park. This park is one of the few in Uganda offering walking safaris, where you’ll explore the wilderness on foot accompanied by an armed ranger for safety. This unique experience allows you to get up close to wildlife in a way that car-based game drives cannot. Expect to see buffalo, waterbuck, giraffe, warthog, zebra, bushbuck, and the lively baboons, along with a variety of bird species. Your guide will make frequent stops to discuss the local flora and fauna, including birds, insects, trees, animal tracks, and the medicinal uses of plants.
Return to your lodge for a hot lunch before heading out for another game drive in the park. Surrounded by mountains and rocky ridges, the savannah is teeming with wildlife, including 475 bird species and over 80 mammal species. Unique sightings might include ostriches, zebras, bat-eared foxes, aardwolves, caracals, cheetahs, and both greater and lesser kudus. Kidepo Valley National Park is renowned as one of Africa’s finest wildernesses, and it ranks No. 3 on CNN’s list of the best national parks in Africa. As you enjoy a sunset drink at your camp balcony, savor the day’s adventures and perhaps capture that iconic lion-on-a-rock photograph.
Day 10
Safari in the hearts of Kidepo Valley National Park
Day 11
Transfer back to Entebbe
Enjoy an early breakfast at the lodge, as today marks the end of our adventure. We will begin the journey back to Kampala or Entebbe Airport. The drive will take us through scenic routes via Lira and Gulu. Along the way, we’ll make a stop for souvenir shopping at a popular spot.
Upon arrival in Entebbe, your driver/guide will take you to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 12
Departure
Today, our incredible 12-day safari through North-Eastern Uganda comes to a close.
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast, and if you have an evening flight, consider an optional excursion to Mabamba Swamp for shoebill watching or UWEC Zoo for a wildlife experience (both can be arranged). Afterwards, your guide will transfer you to Entebbe Airport for your departure.
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Included/Excluded
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- Karamojong Cultural experience
- White water rafting on the Nile
- Sipi falls hike
- Endless wildlife encounter
- Bottles of mineral water during safari
- Services of English speaking driver guide
- Coffee tour
- Park entrance fees
- En-route lunches
- Safari game drives as mentioned
- Visa Fees, flights
- Extras while at the hote
- Tips & gratuities
- Items of personal nature
- Optional activities
- Laundry
- Alcoholic drinks
- Phone call bills
- International vaccinations
- Personal shopping bill
- Health test requirements
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