Uganda Tours
Uganda – The Wild North Tour
Discover the rugged and untamed wilderness of North Eastern Uganda and indulge in an immersive experience of the unique Karamojong culture.
Discover Uganda's Wild North
Discover the rugged and untamed wilderness of North Eastern Uganda and indulge in an immersive experience of the unique Karamojong culture. Hike Mount Moroto, bike through communities, and go on safari in the remote Kidepo Valley National Park. In addition, explore the bustling city of Kampala, witness the source of the Nile River, and visit the breath-taking Murchison Falls National Park.
This 13-day escorted tour has many highlights including the chance to meet the Karamojong people while learning about their culture and to hike Mount Moroto. Of course, no trip to Uganda would be complete without taking a Nile river tour and experiencing some amazing safari adventures.
A private tour, this can be arranged for you to depart at any time – just contact Our Local Tour and our expert travel advisors will assist in putting together "The Wild North" tour of Uganda for you.
Day By Day
Your Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrive in Entebbe
On arrival at Entebbe, a guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Kampala.
Overnight in Hotel Africana or similar
DAY 2
Kampala City Tour
A mid-morning tour of Kampala, including cultural sites such as the Kasubi Tombs and the Gaddafi Mosque, with lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, walk to one of Kampala's poorer areas and help out with a food pantry serving food to street children.
Overnight in Hotel Africana or similar · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 3
Source of the Nile Tour
Set off early morning for a three-hour drive to Jinja, stopping at Namawojolo for "salty chicken on a stick," a popular delicacy for Ugandan travellers. On arrival in Jinja, take a boat tour to the source of the Nile, learning about the river's role in Uganda's history and culture, before continuing to a nearby fishing village to meet locals on a walking tour and learn about their trade and way of life. Head out for lunch at a local Ugandan family assisted by the Abide Family Centre, followed by a two-hour quad biking drive along the Nile River banks and surrounding local communities.
Overnight in Jinja Nile Resort or similar · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 4
Sipi
Head East to the foothills of Mount Elgon near the Kenyan border, a two-hour drive to Sipi Falls, a series of five cascading waterfalls. Check in and have lunch, then tour Sipi's coffee plantations that supply some of the world's famous coffee brands, meeting the farmers and learning the art and science of making coffee, including brewing your own.
Overnight in Sipi River Lodge or similar · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 5
Moroto
Set off at 9am and head north-east to Moroto for a two-day cultural adventure in the Karamoja region, one of the last frontiers of true African wilderness. After lunch, take a mountain bike ride following the cattle paths of the Karamojong nomads, cycling through village trails and interacting with indigenous communities.
Overnight in Karamoja Safari Lodge or similar · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 6
Mount Moroto and the Karamojong Community
A half-day hike of Mount Moroto, challenging but with spectacular views of the Karamoja savannah plains, meeting locals and indigenous communities along the trek. In the evening, travel to a Manyatta (Karamojong community) for a night in the Kraal, experiencing typical pastoral life by bush camping with the animals and shepherds, sharing stories and playing games with the warriors around the campfire.
Overnight in Bush camp · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 7
Travel to Kidepo
Wake to the sounds of the bush camp, head back to the lodge for breakfast, then begin the five-hour journey to Kidepo Valley National Park through Uganda's outback, past the rugged Karamoja landscape dotted with indigenous communities and imposing mountains.
Overnight in Kidepo Savannah Lodge or similar · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 8
Kidepo National Park
A morning game drive in the Narus Valley along the Narus River, the life-giving soul of Kidepo Valley National Park, with prominent sightings of elephants, buffalos, lions, zebras, giraffes, warthogs and antelopes, including a bush breakfast stop. After three to four hours of game viewing, return to the lodge, with another game drive in the afternoon.
Overnight in Kidepo Savannah Lodge or similar · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 9
The Kidepo Valley
Explore a different and more remote part of the park called the Kidepo Valley, in the northern part of the park, home to elusive ostriches and eland herds. Spend the afternoon at leisure at the lodge or head out for another game drive.
Overnight in Kidepo Savannah Lodge or similar · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 10
Murchison Falls National Park
Set off early for a six-hour drive to Murchison Falls National Park, breaking the journey in Gulu before continuing to the northern part of the park in time for lunch. In the afternoon, a game drive – Murchison Falls is renowned for a healthy volume of wildlife, with common sightings of giraffes, elephants, lions, buffalos and antelopes.
Overnight in Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 11
Nile River Boat Safari
Leave at 6am for a morning game drive in search of elusive predators such as leopards, lions and hyenas, then return for breakfast and a morning at leisure. In the afternoon, a three-hour boat safari on the Nile upstream towards Murchison Falls, with sightings of hippos, crocodiles, elephants and numerous bird species.
Overnight in Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 12
Rhino Tracking
Continue to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, home to Uganda's only white rhino population – with the help of a ranger, track the rhinos on foot through the bush thickets and observe them for an hour, learning about their biology and behaviour. Afterwards, travel to Kampala, arriving in the afternoon.
Overnight in Hotel Africana or similar · Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 13
Kampala
Relax or take the morning to explore Kampala and do some souvenir shopping, before transferring to the airport in the evening for your flight home.
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Know Before You Go
Included & Excluded
What’s Included
Accommodation and meals as stipulated in the itinerary
Local transportation in private customised safari vehicles
Experienced local tour manager
All activities as described in the itinerary
Park entry fees
All tipping of local guides (apart from the main tour guide)
What’s Not Included
International travel to the start and end point – contact us for information and flight options
Any airport taxes
Travel insurance
Any visa requirements (approx. $100 per person)
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks plus meals other than those mentioned on the program
Expenditure of a personal nature, laundry, telephone bills, drinks, souvenirs, tips etc.
Early check-in / late checkout fees if required
Gratuities for the main local tour guide
Tour Map
Book With Confidence
Dates & Prices
This is a private tour, scheduled to your requirements, and can be arranged for you to depart at any time – contact us for a quote.
From £3,695 per person, based on two people travelling and sharing a room
Single Supplement – £410
Good to Know
Travel Information
Safety, Passport, Visa and Health Information
We strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice for Uganda.
Your passport should be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of entry into Uganda, with at least one blank page for entry stamps. Apply for a visa at the Ugandan High Commission in London or online for an e-visa (an East African Tourist Visa is also available, valid 90 days for multiple entry into Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda) – only a Uganda visa is required for this particular tour.
Homosexual activity is illegal and not tolerated in Uganda's conservative society, and public displays of affection between same-sex couples could lead to arrest. It is illegal to buy, sell or trade protected wildlife or their parts without a licence, under the CITES ivory ban. Smoking is prohibited in public places and within 50 metres of them, and e-cigarettes and shisha are banned. Drug trafficking penalties are severe. Do not photograph military, official or diplomatic sites, including Owen Falls Dam near Jinja, and always ask permission before photographing people. It is an offence for anyone, including children, to wear military-style clothing, camouflage or red berets.
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. Medical facilities in Uganda are limited, especially outside Kampala – serious accidents or illness may require air ambulance evacuation, so make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds. Malaria and schistosomiasis (bilharzia) are common, with regular cholera outbreaks – drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.
What to Bring
Light clothing will suffice for most of your trip, with long-sleeved shirts/tops and trousers ideal for mornings and evenings when insects are active, plus a light waterproof coat. Well-worn, low-cut hiking shoes are ideal for safari and hiking activities.
Please allow yourself one main piece of luggage and a day-sack – you're expected to carry your own baggage, so don't overload yourself; a soft wheely bag may be easier to manage than a suitcase. We also recommend a sunhat, sunscreen, a torch, insect repellent, a water bottle, a solar charger, binoculars and a camera.
While You're There
The Ugandan Shilling is the local currency – ATMs are widely available and credit cards widely accepted in Kampala and other main towns. Uganda uses type G plugs (three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern), on a 240V/50Hz supply.
Uganda is on GMT+3, and wifi is common in hotels, lodges, restaurants and cafes across touristed areas.
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