Prepare for unique local and cultural experiences. Venturing on this journey is one way of keeping the communities alive. Let’s raise the voices of rich cultural encounters in Africa some at the verge of extinction, feel connected with the local people at all times. We invite you to seize the opportunity to be part of this local life, refreshing break combining primate walks and wildlife encounters, a well-deserved holiday for outgoing travelers seeking to cultural vacation. Get inspired.
Accommodation Type
Duration
15 Nights 16 Days
Day 1: Entebbe –Soroti
Take the time now to choose and start the right journey to the world of discoveries. Driving at your convenience to the Eastern parts of the country in to Soroti. Home of the Itesos. Make a quick stop to interact with the local people. Explore this rich cultural diversity. A visit to the local markets to fully immerse yourself in local life. Overnight stay ad dinner.
Journey time
About 6 hours
Meal plan
Day 2: Soroti–Kidepo Valley National Park.
Being part of this journeys counts to an adventure traveler. Drive off to Kidepo valley national park and explore the rugged landscape of the Karamojong region. On arrival, enjoy the most breathtaking sighting with the finest wildness. Spend your evening on a cultural visit to the local communities of the Karamojong with a local performance. Overnight stay and dinner
Meal plan
Day 3: Kidepo Valley National Park.
The day begins with an early breakfast, indulge in a game drive to the ostrich farm. Encounter different wild lemur species including herds of elephants, cape buffalos, giraffes, and lions and then the hot springs at kanangorok. The afternoon is spent on a visit to the Karamojong cultural experience. Immerse in local culture, interact with the local elders and have an opportunity to interact with them. Visit the kraals, the grinding stones and many more interesting items.
Meal plan
Day 4: Kidepo Valley National Park.
Another full day with the IK communities. Meet the local elders. No stay seems long enough with the IK People. Later go for an overnight stay and dinner.
Meal plan
Day 5: Kidepo Valley National Park- Mt. Elgon
Feel vibrant on a morning in Africa, after your cup of coffee, begin the scenic drive in to the Elgon slopes.
Journey Time
7 hours
Meal plan
Day 6: Mt. Elgon National Park.
Today explore the Bagishu culture, learn why they do male circumcision as a sign of manhood in the family. Feel the taste of local made brew with a cultural performance of the famous local dance “kadodi”.
Meal plan
Day 7: Mt. Elgon National Park.
Visit the local coffee farms and have the crop to cup experience. Mount Elgon region is famous for its coffee. Be part of the process of how coffee is grown, roasted and tasting. With so much to see and do on this day.
Meal plan
Day 8: Mt. Elgon National Park –Kampala
morning hike to Sipi falls before returning to Kampala. Time permitting make your way to Kasubi tombs, the burial place for the Buganda Kings and a visit to the Kabaka’s palace in Mengo.
Journey Time
3 hours
Meal plan
Day 9: Kampala-Kibale- Kibale Forest National Park.
Ready for an amazing scenic drive to Fort Portal area. A stop in Mityana for the Tanda pit holding the legend of death and the Nakayima tree with great tales about the Buganda for it rich cultural beliefs. (Lunch enroute) Fort-Portal the fabled Mountains of the Moon.
Meal plan
Day 10: Community Visits around Kibale Forest National Park.
All spent on a community visit, from local schools and community hospitals for any volunteer. Those with supplies to assist the community with from books, pens, clothes, mosquito nets and medical supplies will be welcome to the needy people living in these communities.
In the afternoon visit the Tooro Kingdom palace to explore the values and ties of the Kingdom. Time permitting, visit the Karambi tombs, the burial tombs of the Tooro Kings.
Meal plan
Day 11: Kibale Forest–Bwindi Forest. (Travel time 5hrs)
Today’s drive to Bwindi takes about 5 hours, drive through interesting features. Arrive Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the evening. This park is home of the rare mountain gorillas. Apart from gorillas, there are a wide variety of primates to see including the blue and red tailed monkeys. The forest itself is lush and green and there are streams running through it.
Journey Time
5 hours
Meal plan
Day 12: Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Day & Batwa Cultural Experience.
After an early breakfast, you will be driven to the park headquarters for briefing. You will then proceed to the start point and set off for your Gorilla trekking experience inside Bwindi forest. You will need to carry drinking water, rain jacket and jungle boots while the rangers will provide you with a walking stick. Gorilla trekking is one of the unique activities you will enjoy while photographing and observing the gorillas. Bwindi is however most notable for her 340 Mountain Gorillas, about half the world’s population of this critically endangered primate. After tracking, come back to the lodge for late lunch. Afternoon dedicated for the Batwa cultural experience. You will get a glimpse of the daily life of the pygmies living around the park. Storytelling, cultural performance for entrainment. They will give you a briefing and a demonstration of their lives including hunting, harvesting and way of life.
Meal plan
Day 13: Bwindi Forest–Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
After breakfast, drive to Rwanda as you enjoy the rolling hills for which Rwanda is well known to Ruhengere via Musanze. Volcanoes National Park is the iconic palace of mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in Rwanda. A place that Dian Fossey, a former primatologist lived in for decades in an effort to protect these endangered primates.
Journey Time
5 hours
Meal plan
Day 14: Visit Iby’ Wachu Village-Nyungwe Forest.
This is a complete local experience meeting ex-gorilla poachers, sharing their lifestyle and demonstration on local weddings, King’s life. Iby Iwacu is changing the traditional perception of what constitutes tourism by turning fate into fame through sharing various aspects of rural cultures and livelihoods. Have a scenic road transfer to NYUNGWE FOREST National Park. This is where the largest montane forest in East and Central Africa is found. The heart of Nyungwe Forest is like a scene from a fairy tale. Tall old mahoganies, ebonies and giant tree ferns tower above you, whilst orchids and other epiphytes cling to every branch. Brightly coloured birds flit around, butterflies are everywhere, and walking quietly you may even encounter larger forest residents, including a variety of primates for which Nyungwe National Park is renowned. You will be assisted with check in. Have Lunch. The afternoon is at leisure enjoying the scenery.
Journey Time
5 hours
Meal plan
Day 15: Nyungwe Forest (Chimpanzee Trek & Visit Banda Villages).
An early start at 05h00 you will get your packed breakfast and drive to the park headquarters for chimpanzee trek briefing and formalities and then to the evergreen forest for a great experience that starts at 06h00. You may spot a wide variety of bird life. Return to the lodge at around 12h00 for lunch. Afternoon make a visit to Banda village for a local interaction with the peopleliving around Nyungwe forest. Enjoy the cultural performances.
Meal plan
Day 16: Nyungwe – Kigali (Kings Palace) –Depart.
Have breakfast at the lodge and check out, start off with a canopy walk briefing that takes place at 08h00. Your guided canopy walk will start at 09h00. The Canopy walkway consists of three bridges and three towers and is a total length of the walkway is 200m. The walkway is embedded in a guided tour along IgishSigishigi Trail. Drive to Kigali and a stop en route at Kings Palace Museum. Witness the reconstruction of the traditional royal residence, the King’s Palace is a beautifully-crafted thatched dwelling shaped like a beehive. In olden times, Nyanza was the heart of Rwanda. Lunch will be in Kigali. Proceed to Kigali international Airport for your departing outbound flight.
Journey Time
5 hours
Meal plan
