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Introduction
Adventure Tourism is a form of tourism involving travel to remote or exotic locations in order to take part in physically challenging outdoor activities, it is a niche tourism involving exploration with a certain degree of risk, and which may require special skills and physical exertion.
Uganda is a country endowed with a variety of ecosystems ranging from semi-arid areas, Savannahs (woodlands and grasslands) through all tropical rain forests categories (lowland, semi-altitude and montane) to massive water bodies and not forgetting mountains!
One of the sustainable approaches to conserve these ecosystems has been the establishment and development of unique adventure tourism activities in these areas that conform to international standards. they include among others; White Water Rafting, Bungee Jumping, Kayaking, Boat cruises, Tubing, Quad biking, Horse Riding on and along River Nile, Ziplining in Mabira Forest, Abseiling on Sipi Falls near Mount Elgon, Horseback riding in Lake Mburo park, Boat cruising and Zipline on Lake Bunyonyi, Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Forest , Mountain Climbing in Mount Rwenzori and Elgon,
Wonder Adventures Uganda Limited has developed tailor-made itineraries that enable adventure travellers participate in these amazing and breath-taking adventures.
Several major airlines provide service to Entebbe, including United, Delta, Emirates, Ethiopian, KLM, and others. Note, you book your flight depending on your country of origin. Usually, Day 1 is planned as just a day of rest; for those arriving in time we gather for a welcome dinner at a hotel. For those that arrive early in the day, you can rest and, in the afternoon, enjoy a city tour of Entebbe site tours of the Kasenyi Landing site on Lake Victoria, the site seeing of the Legislative Council (Uganda’s first Parliament), The Bugonga Church, Independence tree, the State House environs, Old airport Control Tower among others
The hotels are close to the airport, and provide dependable and convenient shuttle services.
Accommodation in Entebbe town lodges
Early morning drive from Entebbe town through the suburbs of Kampala City to Mabira Forest, the forest is the largest remaining block of the low land rainforest in Central Uganda, it covers 306 sq km with the tallest zipline facility in Uganda, the forest supports three species of primates; the red-tailed and Vervet monkeys and the Grey-cheeked Mangabey, these primates can be viewed while one is on a forest walk towards the zipline area before descending to the Griffin Falls in the forest interiors! The Mabira Forest zipline sends you soaring between the tallest trees in the rain forest, the skyway makes for you a great day!
Afternoon drive to Jinja for an evening boat cruise to the source of the longest River on earth- The Nile, a spot which was discovered by one of the earliest European explorers of Eastern Africa – John Speke. The point marks the start of the Nile River from the biggest inland fresh water lake (Victoria) in Africa snaking its way through the heart of African continent for over 6,650 km before emptying in the Mediterranean Sea. From the boat the guides narrate the river’s history as chronicle of human civilisation, innovation and dependence on the lifeblood of Uganda and the continent at large. In the evening retire from the boat and drive to the lodge for dinner
Accommodation around River Nile in Jinja town
Morning drive to the starting point of the Rafting on the Nile. The activity is operated by certified aqua guides and involves drifting on the Nile using an inflated tube while watching birds, sunbathing and marvelling at the beautiful scenery of the river. It takes 4 hours to participate in this amazing activity while passing through the Middle of the Nile in the chaotic and turbulent rapids. The Nile rapids are graded 4 and 5 and offer the highest level of adrenaline rush and beautiful sceneries thus best white water rafting experience in Africa.
Afternoon participate in a rare adrenaline raising activity on the longest River in the world! It involves jumping from a platform with a bungee cord connected to two tied legs, although experience is not required before taking part in this activity, the participant needs to prepare psychologically before taking in this activity. Participants are tied around their ankles tie with their face looking down and the whole-body tie allowing you to float like a butterfly! Diving down a tower and touching the river Nile provides the most spectacular views imaginable. The main thrill comes from falling freely then rebounding softly over and over before finally touching the waters. It’s one of the scariest experiences but also most adventurous activity one can do in their lifetime.
Retire from the and drive back to the Lodge
Accommodation around River Nile in Jinja town
Morning drive to the horse-riding point. Horse riding in Jinja town is an interesting activity where adventure travelers get opportunities to explore the banks of River Nile and other places while riding horses, as visitors ride, they get chances of viewing tea and sugar plantations, explore rural areas including village homes, hills, birds and monkeys among others. The horses used are healthy, trained, experienced and schooled horses where each horse has a mounting block. Saddlebag, rain jacket and also know what is required to do so as to give a participant a safe and calm ride depending on your level of experience. A range of rides are offered catering for first-timers to advanced riders, the rides range from 1 to hours depending on the riders’ experience.
In the afternoon transfer to the quad biking station, A prior briefing and free training lessons at the practice circuit for about 30 minutes on how to manage the bike on the road, changing gear, maintain stability…..During this activity you have an opportunity to experience the African country side and mingle with local people while riding the bike. The rides also take you through forests, tea/sugarcane plantations and the banks of river Nile. This kind of biking is open to individuals of at least 12 years and the activity can run from 1 hour to 4 hours when participants are provided by safety gears like overalls, helmets and goggles and directed by experienced guides.
Alternatively in the afternoon one can go TUBING on the Nile, the activity involves sitting on an inflatable tube with safety gear which includes among others a grade – 5 life jacket and a helmet. Tubing is a fun-filled adventure, so exciting and very calming at the same time. As you go tubing, you are in for admiring the serenity of the mighty Nile while listening to the burbles of its waters as they swirl through the rocks that at some points steal the show with those breath-taking flashes of white waters and ripples.
Accommodation around River Nile in Jinja town
Drive from Jinja town through Kakira sugarcane plantations, Iganga and Mbale towns to Sipi Falls environs. Mid-morning engagement in abseiling, the thrilling activity is done around Sipi Falls which originates from Mountain Elgon. Sipi falls has three water falls; Abseiling is done right by the third/main waterfall and involves descending a 100-metre vertical cliff using a rope. The descend is controlled by sliding down a rope while friction is exerted on the abseil rope through a smooth metal device and figure of eight.
A qualified team of professionals and well-trained in abseiling and safety measures manages the activity. Since the abseiler safety is a priority, the skilled guides use proper safety equipment to ensure your well-being as you abseil.
The process involves three major activities;
i) Briefing and wearing of safety gear
iii) Return to the Top
Retire from the activity and check-in one of the lodges around the Sipi Falls
Here you are welcomed to Mountain Elgon with the “world’s Largest Mountain Caldera”! With 4,000 sq km, Mountain Elgon National Park has the largest volcanic base in the world, located on the Uganda-Kenya border. It is also the oldest and largest solitary, volcanic mountain in East Africa, its vast form, 80km in diameter, rises more than 3,000m above the surrounding plains, such higher altitudes providing a refuge for flora and fauna. Hiking this mountain is one of the best mountain hiking experiences in the world!
Day i) Mountain Elgon Hike: Piswa Camp
After an early breakfast we transfer you to Kapkwata at 2,190metres where the hike is started, following the Kapkwata trail. It is a scenic route running through the bamboo, heath and moorland vegetation types, arriving at the Piswa Camp at 2,850m.
Dinner and camping at Piswa campsite
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day ii) Hunters Cave Camp
Hike up to the rim of the Caldera through beautiful columns of the most rare and endemic plant species like the Giant Lobelia. A visit to the slopes of Mt. Elgon can’t go without finding the wild everlasting flowers.
Visit the hot springs and Suam Gorge before descending to the Hunters Cave at 3,850m
Dinner and camping at Hunters Cave Camp
Meal plan FB
Day iii) Mude Cave Camp
Morning breakfast, and then ascend to the top of the Caldera then to the Wagagai Peak at 4,321m, descend thereafter through the Jackson Summit (4,200m) and the Jackson Pool to arrive at Mude Cave Camp at 3,500m,
Dinner and Camping at Mude Cave Camp.
Meal plan: FB
Day iv) Mount Elgon – Kampala
Early morning descend through the Sasa trail to Budadiri and then travel back to Mbale town. After having lunch, we continue to Kampala for relaxation and reflection on the climbing experience of the second highest summit in Uganda.
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch
End of Eastern Circuit
Hiking Mount Elgon Inclusions and Exclusions
Includes
Excludes
Note: Hikers must be prepared to walk for up to 4 hours every day through steep cliff and muddy routes. Hikers must bring along their own climbing gear or hire it at the base camp. The helpers carry 8kg maximum of personal climbing gear. So, any extra shall be paid for,
What to bring
Sleeping bag, rucksack, sleeping mat, good hiking boots, waterproof trousers, raincoat, heavy warm jacket, hand gloves, scarf and cup, jumper, torch, light changeable clothing, sweaters, insect repellants, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, binoculars, cameras etc.
Several major airlines provide service to Entebbe, including United, Delta, Emirates, Ethiopian, KLM, and others. Note, you book your flight depending on your country of origin. Usually, Day 1 is planned as just a day of rest; for those arriving in time we gather for a welcome dinner at a hotel. For those that arrive early in the day, you can rest and, in the afternoon, enjoy a city tour of Entebbe site tours of the Kasenyi Landing site on Lake Victoria, the site seeing of the Legislative Council (Uganda’s first Parliament), The Bugonga Church, Independence tree, the State House environs, Old airport Control Tower among others
The hotels are close to the airport, and provide dependable and convenient shuttle services.
Accommodation in Entebbe lodges
The drive from Entebbe town to Lake Mburo National Park, takes us through broken forests and savanna vegetations, of course good views of semi-urban Uganda, a quick stopover at the Equator, then to the smallest of all savanna parks in Uganda (370 sq km). Here you embark on an afternoon Horseback riding which is an exceptional and adventurous activity in this park where you explore the park while on a horse back. The service is offered by a private luxurious lodge inside the park with 7 horses and 4 ponies that are available daily. This activity immerses you in the park’s outstanding biodiversity, with numerous species of birds and an excellent array of large mammals including Plain Zebra, Impala, Common Elands, Topis, Giraffes, Buffalo, Olive Baboon, and Waterbuck that the lush habitat presents
Evening retire from the activity and to the lodge for accommodation
journey bumps you into the rolling hills of south-western Uganda code named the “Swiss Alps of Africa”. Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in Uganda with 29 islands and offers a range of adventurous tourism activities which include canoeing, ziplining, swimming among others. In the afternoon by use of a speed boat you are navigated on the deepest and bilharzia free lake to visit some of the islands and later participate in the zipline activity. You are briefed by the zipline instructors and given all the necessary zipline gears, the briefing includes a simple training to prepare you for the high ropes and challenges. The high ropes challenges are a bit tiresome and challenging at some point but worth doing. Be ready for a 2-3 hours adventure and fun
Retire from the activities and transfer to the lodge for accommodation
On this day we start late in the day after a morning relaxation around the lake but with an exciting destination in mind—the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This is mainly a few hours’ drive, depending on the stop-overs we make for sceneries along the way.
Bwindi National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to approximately half of the world’s endangered population of Mountain Gorillas.
Once part of a much larger forest that included the Virunga Volcanoes in neighbouring Rwanda and DR Congo Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is now an ecological island within a sea of human settlement and cultivation and therefore of big conservation importance. Arriving in the evening and connect and retire for accommodation
Lodging near Bwindi Forest
After an early breakfast, we report to the park
headquarters for a briefing prior to the Gorilla tracking expedition. This activity may take anywhere from 2-8 hours, so a reasonable degree of fitness is required. The hike starts about 8:30 – 9:00 AM and we are back anytime of the day. It may be just be 2 hours or several hours. It is a wonderful experience to stare into the eyes of these gentle giants; watch them in awe as they play and go about their daily activities. It is indeed a “once in a lifetime experience”
Each encounter is different and has its own rewards; we are likely to enjoy close
view of adults feeding, grooming, and resting as the youngsters play and swing from lianas in a delightfully joyful display. Only a limited number of people are allowed in to see the family groups each day, so the earlier we purchase the permits
the better. The forest ecosystem is fascinating, with lush greenery and of course, a repository of birds. Visits to the gorilla groups support their conservation and
rangers who work hard to pace the hike for you to have success in finding them.
Accommodations near Bwindi
After breakfast, we drive from Bwindi Forest to the Rwenzori, crossing the Equator for the second time with views of the Mountains of the Moon (the Rwenzoris) as part of our day before reaching its foothills
The Rwenzori mountains is the second tallest mountain in Africa after the Kilimanjaro. This UNESCO world heritage site is jealously protected as the Rwenzori Mountains National Park. Also reffered as the mountains of the moon, this snow-capped mountain is located along the border of Uganda bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo. The most recommended Rwenzori trekking route is the 7 days Climbing Rwenzori mountains using the central circuit route. The circuit passes through 5 different vegetation zones from the Mountain Forest, to the Bamboo zone, and the Alpine zone respectively, with a difference in their levels of altitude from 2800 to 3500 metres above sealevel
Day i): Trek from Nyakalengiya to Nyabitabba (2651m)
Early morning after briefing by the Rwenzori trekkers/hikers guides with the accompaniment of the helpers/porters, you trek through the Bakonjo settlements and plantations to Nyabitabba hut at 2652m which may take approximately 6-7 hours
Day ii): Hike from Nyabitabba to John Matte (3505m)
After breakfast at this hut a trail is followed to John Matte, cross over to Kurt Scheffer, lying between Bujuku and Mubuku River, after which you will continue trekking over slippery moss-covered and steep rocks alongside bamboo mixed with montane forest. The forest harbors various bird species that are spotted during the trekking, continuing to Nyamileju rock shelter where a lunch break is taken.
Enjoy remarkable views of Mount Stanley and Speke (only on a clear day). Proceed to John Matte hut through the Alpine Forest, arriving at the hut in the afternoon for dinner, the next day’s briefing, and an overnight stay.
Day iii): Trek from John Matte hut to Bujuku Hut (3962m)
After early morning breakfast, you cross the Bujuku River to the Bigo bog region. Follow the steep path to the upper Bigo bog, afterwhich you reach the drier ground up to Lake Bujuku.
Enjoy the beautiful view of Mount Stanley to the west, Mount Baker to the south, and Speke to the North. Arrive at Bujuku camp at 3962m, after a 4-5 hour walk. Dinner, next day briefing, and an overnight stay.
Day iv): Trek from Bujuku camp to Elena Hut (4541m)
On this day you trek for about 6-7 hours from Bujuku hut to Elena hut. Since the hut is situated within the cold, rocky region of Mount Stanley, you pass via the upper Bigo bog and then through the steep slopes of Lake Bujuku to the west as you ascend to the 4372m Scott-Elliot pass.
Proceed through several swamps as well as the beautiful ground gully by using a metal ladder reaching a junction with two divided trails, whereby the right trail heads to the Elena Hut, rising through steep trail above the large boulders to Mount Stanley
Otherwise the left trail heads to the Scott-Eliot pass as you descend to Kitandara hut. Arrive at Elena hut in the afternoon, and enjoy the breath view of Mount Baker and Mount Speke, which is sometimes hard to see due to fog,
Dinner and overnight at the hut.
Day v): Trek from Elena Hut to Margherita Peak then to Kitandara Hut(4023m)
You will wake up at 2:00am, have your breakfast, and embark on your hike to the top of Margherita peak starting from 3:00am. Hike through the Stanley plateau to the top of Mount Stanley while using ropes, you will hike through the steep rocky regions, as well as crampons and the ice axe on the glacial axe as directed by the guides.
This may last for a couple of hours, after which you will arrive at the bottom of the Margherita glacier- the most challenging part of all the days. Mount Rwenzori central circuit trekking experience. Proceed to the top of the peak of Mount Stanley (Margherita peak) at 5107m.
While at the peak, enjoy the impressive views of Lake Elena, Mount Speke, and the surrounding environment, after then descend Elena hut for lunch and later continue with your trek to Kitandara, through the Scott Elliot pass (also considered as the most beautiful spot of the Rwenzoris)
Dinner and overnight at Kitandara hut.
However, depending on your group’s strength, you may opt to spend another night at Elena Hut, and continue the next day to Kitandara then to Guy Yeoman
Day vi): Trek from Kitandara to Fresh field pass to Guy Yeoman (3505m)
After early morning breakfast, spend your entire 6-8 hours’ trekking along the base of Mount Baker which is quite slippery. Ascend steeply up the headwall that spreads from the base of Mount Baker as you proceed towards the southern side of Mount Rwenzori to the Fresh pass.
Continue with the long stretch of the muddy trail, breaking through the Kabamba, Akhendahi and rock shelters of Bujongolo – the base camp for the historic expeditions by Duke of Abruzzi in 1906.
Proceed with your trek along the Kabamba trail and later arrive at Guy Yeoman, which is established at the banks of river Mubuku.
Dinner and overnight at the hut.
Day vii): Descent trek from Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba to Nyakalengiya.
On this last day of the 7 days Rwenzori trekking safari through the central circuit trail, you will descend to Nyabitabba hut, after the morning breakfast passing through the Bamboo Forest.
Enjoy great sightings of beautiful flowers and plants, bamboo forests and Kinchuchu and Mubuku Rivers, not forgetting the Kabamba falls, Arrive at Nyabitaba hut after a 4 hours’ trek, after which you will briefly spend 40 minutes visiting Lake Mahoma.
Return to the hut after Lake Mahoma exploration and embark on your trek to Nyakalengija where you will meet your driver guide to transfer you back to the lodge.
End of 7 Days – Rwenzori Trekking Safari
Day 14: Drive back to Kampala/Entebbe airport
End of Western Circuit
