Top safari holidays in Eastern Uganda – White water rafting and sipi falls
Top safari holidays in Eastern Uganda – if you intend to travel to Uganda, you need to read this blog post and then choose the activities to do – Well as Western Uganda has the wildlife, Eastern Uganda has the adrenaline adventures. The source of the Nile River lies in the region, and this mighty water body is where you can experience some of the best white-water rafting adventures on the planet.
Lying on the shores of Lake Victoria, charming Jinja City is known as East Africa’s adrenaline capital, and rafting is not the only activity that gets hearts pumping but also bungee jumping and paragliding are also in the mix.
There are more sedate activities Jinja City can offer, from stand-up paddle boarding on gentler stretches of the River to boat cruises. Straddling Uganda’s eastern border with Kenya, Mount Elgon National Park is a fantastic trekking destination and offers the chance to climb Africa’s eighth tallest mountain.
Highlights
Jinja City is the top destination in Eastern Uganda, and the regional capital makes a perfect place to visit for a few days. There are lots to do here at the source of the Nile River, whether you are looking for high-paced adrenaline thrills or more laidback fun.
White-water rafting on the Nile’s powerful rapids over a day or on two-day trips is the biggest draw, while other water-based activities will keep you entertained. Choose from kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, fishing trips and relaxing boat cruises to islands. On land you can go bungee-jumping off a riverside cliff, quad biking, and mountain biking or go on horseback safaris along the banks of the Nile River.
Running along the Kenyan border, Mount Elgon National Park is centred on Mount Elgon, a huge extinct volcano which is Uganda’s second highest peak and the eighth tallest in Africa. The appeal of climbing Mount Elgon lies in the ease and you don’t have to have any special experience or equipment to climb the mountain since it just needs a good level of fitness.
Low numbers of other climbers and budget-friendly cost compared with other peaks in East Africa. The climb is a four – to six-day round trip, and you will pass through beautiful scenery of tropical montane forest and bamboo glades and spot blue monkey and black-and-white colobus while trekking.
Lying on the edge of Mount Elgon National Park, Sipi Falls is made up of a series of three beautiful waterfalls and is the starting point for hiking routes that take you up Mount Elgon. It is a great place to visit for a few days if you want to do some gentle day hikes in the scenic foothills of the volcano.
Practical information
If you are going to climb Mount Elgon, pack appropriate warm clothing with you as it can get very cold at night. While you can hike year-round, the best months to go trekking are the dry ones – from June to August and December to February.
The Isimba Dam, a controversial hydroelectric power project on the White Nile, is under construction some 60 kilometres downstream from Jinja City. It is unclear when it will be completed, but once finished; the dam will flood some of the rapids on the one-day rafting trips offered by the activity companies in Jinja City. If you are planning to go rafting on the Nile, it’s a good idea to check the status of the dam and what rafting trips are being offered with the adventure companies in Jinja City before you travel.
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Walks to the Falls
Networks of well-maintained local trails give you beautiful views of the area and on your way to the bottom of each of the three levels of waterfalls. It is possible to walk off on your own, but we recommend taking a local guide who can explain the flora and fauna and also negotiate the passage through private property.
Village and forest walks are also possible at Mount Elgon National Park’s Forest Exploration Centre nearby, though you will incur the national park fees to hike there.
Coffee Tours
Aside from the falls themselves, a highlight to visiting Sipi is a tour that takes you through the entire coffee process at a nearby family farm. You will pick the coffee berries, to deshell and grind them with a traditional mortar and pestle, and roast them on an open fire, before – the best part – finishing with a fine cup of strong Arabica coffee.
Climbing Mount Elgon (5 – 6 days)
Lying on the border between Kenya and Uganda, Mount Elgon is the extinct volcano with the largest surface area in the world. The highest peak is Wagagai, at 4,321m. The full trekking circuit to the peaks takes five days to complete, following either Sasa or Sipi trails. Matoke Tours can organise your trip departing and returning to Sipi Falls with all equipment included.
Contact Great Adventure Safaris for top safari holidays in Eastern Uganda and we will help you plan a perfect itinerary that fits your budget, time and interests. Our safari managers are always ready to attend to your inquiry at all times.