8 DAYS HIKING MT. ELGON AND CULTURE SAFARI

If you're looking for a trip that combines adventure and culture, this is the tour for you. You'll get the best of both worlds on this 9-day culture and trekking vacation in Uganda. Your first encounter will be with local people on the outskirts of Mt Elgon's slopes. After that, you'll spend four days climbing and exploring Mt Elgon, which features waterfalls, greenery, and caves.

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Itinerary Highlights

• Source of River Nile

• Sipi Falls

• Sabiny Culture

• Hiking Mt Elgon

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Day 1: On Arrival in Uganda – The Pearl of Africa (40km)

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On arrival, our team guide will welcome you to Entebbe International Airport and you will then be transferred to your preferred place of accommodation. If time allows, we can take a short town tour around Kampala city, visiting historical sites, shopping malls, foodies, and enjoying some nightlife experiences.

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Day 2: Transfer to Jinja – Adventure Capital of East Africa (343km)

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We start the journey with first a stopover at Sezibwa Falls for a cultural experience on our way to Jinja. The journey to Jinja is through beautiful landscapes of tea and sugarcane plantations, a tropical rain forest, and several homesteads.

When we arrive in Jinja, we take a boat trip to the source of river Nile on Lake Victoria, where our enthusiastic guide will tell you all about the Nile and its journey to Egypt. After the boat ride, we will transfer to Sipi River Lodge for an overnight stay or to another preferred location in the Sipi area.

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Day 3: Cultural experiences on the slopes of Mt Elgon (30km)

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We will spend time in the Sabiny community learning about their culture and participating in some of their cultural activities. We will visit the Sipi Widows group on the slopes of Mt Elgon will walk us through the Arabic coffee plantations, showing us how to plant, pick, grind, store, and wash coffee. We will learn about the Sabiny and participate in traditional weaving, African cuisines (preparation, cooking, and tasting of local dishes), and a visit to the women's handcraft shop. Proceeds from the tour and shop are used to maintain the coffee trees, raise awareness about the dangers of female circumcision (which is still practiced in this region), and contribute to paying school fees for the very needy children in the community.

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We will also hike to the Sipi Falls, which have stunning views after which retreat to our accommodation – the Sipi River Lodge or any other preferred choice of accommodation.

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Day 4: Hike to Piswa Camp

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After breakfast, we will hike to Kapkwata at a 2190-meter altitude, where you will begin your Mt Elgon hike. It is a scenic route that takes you through bamboo, heath, and moorland before arriving at the Piswa Camp at 2850 meters. The first day's hike will be relatively easy; as you ascend to Piswa camp, take in the various vegetation covers.

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Day 5: Hunters Cave Camp in Mt Elgon

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Hike up to the caldera rim through beautiful columns of rare and endemic plant species such as the giant Lobelia elgonensis. This is a lovely trip through the vegetation found only at this elevation in Uganda; keep an eye out for the ever-beautiful wild Everlasting flowers. This route will take you past some Hot springs, which are a good place for a stopover. The Suam Gorge, with beautiful mountain views, is also located on the same trail. After the gorge, the final leg of the hike takes you to Hunters Cave Camp at a 3850meter altitude.

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Day 6: Overnight at Mude Cave Camp

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Today's goal is to climb to the top of the caldera at the 4321-meter-high Wagagai Peak. The views from the caldera are well worth the ascent. Following that, we will descend through the Jackson summit (4200 meters) and the Jackson pool to Mude Cave Camp (3500 meters) for the night. Mt Elgon has the world's largest caldera and is Africa's fourth highest peak.

 

Day 7: Descend through the Sasa Trail

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After an early breakfast, you will begin your descent to Budadiri via the Sasa trail. We will choose a different route so you could see more of the mountain from a different angle. When we arrive in Budadiri, we will begin our journey back to Kampala, stopping for lunch in Mbale town.

 

Day 8: End of Mt Elgon Hike – Departure (338km)

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After a restful night of reminiscing about your hike to Uganda's second-highest peak, we will transfer you to the airport to begin your journey home. We look forward to planning your next trip to the Pearl of Africa.