10-Day Cultural Tour of Uganda

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Kampala City Tour (Buganda Kingdom)

Pick up from Entebbe Airport and head to Kampala. Kampala is steadily graduating into a fully-fledged metropolitan city with residents from all over the world but look beyond the metropolitan facet of Kampala and you will discover that Kampala is sitting on a cultural gem. Lubiri, one of Kampala's original 7 hills, is the royal palace of the most authoritative kingdom in Uganda, Buganda. Lubiri is a cultural treasure embodying the history, aspirations and achievements of Buganda. After the Lubiri visit, you will visit the Uganda Museum where you will find a cultural village replica showcasing the different traditional architectural styles of tribes across the country. After lunch, visit the UNESCO heritage Kasubi Tombs, which is the burial ground for four of Buganda’s kings. Drive to Jinja this evening for overnight stay.

Main Destination:

Kampala (City)

Accommodation:

The Haven Eco River Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located in Jinja (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Source of River Nile (Busoga Kingdom)

Wake up to the sound of birds and a beautiful sunrise. The main attraction in Busoga kingdom is the River Nile. After your exploration of the source of River Nile, you will be treated to cultural dances of Busoga Kingdom, the third largest ethnic group in Uganda. Visit the Busoga palace and other cultural landmarks. This evening proceed to Mbale, the largest town in Bugisu Kingdom. If you happen to be visiting in an even year, you might even attend the Bagisu Imbalu event - a cultural circumcision ceremony for young men characterized with singing, drumming, electric dancing and beer parties.

Main Destination:

Jinja (Town)

Accommodation:

Mbale Resort Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Mbale (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Hike to Wanale Hill Summit (Bugisu Kingdom)

Wake up this morning. Eat a good breakfast. Put on your hiking boots and let's go! Once you have reached the top of Wanale Hill you will have an unobstructed bird's view of the entire Bugisu kingdom. Wanale is a magnificent 6,864 ridge with a magical appeal. Lunch will be at a local restaurant that specializes in local cuisines such as Malewa. Malewa is obtained from crushing and drying special bamboo shoots. It can easily be confused in appearance for banana fibers, except that it has a sweet smell and the visible joints that characterizes. Oh, plus it is edible and yummy! Later meet the locals for a conversation.

Main Destination:

Mbale (City)

Accommodation:

Mbale Resort Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Mbale (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Moroto/Nyero Rock Painting

After breakfast, depart Mbale for Moroto district with a stopover at the Nyero Rock Painting. This is a prehistoric rock art site that was beautified by the Batwa, one of the only two indigenous tribes of Uganda. It is a set of three-tiered rock shelters with primitive paintings on their inner surfaces.
Thereafter, proceed with the trip to Moroto District in far North Eastern Uganda where you will feel the pulse of Karamojong, a tribe of nomadic warriors. This is the most authentic cultural tourism destination in Uganda as the ancient cultures here are not yet adulterated by modernity. The Karamojong are the sister tribe of Kenya’s Maasai. Everything the Maasai do, the Karamojong do. A day with the Karamojong community is priceless.

Main Destination:

Moroto (Karamoja)

Accommodation:

Kara-Tunga Safari Camp

• Budget tented camp located in Moroto (Karamoja)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day-Long Cultural Experience of the Karamojong

Spend the day enjoying the Karamojong dances, food, and even follow them to their cattle rearing and anything in-between. Living on a large plateau in the Eastern Rift Valley escarpment of Uganda, this tribe of pastoralists wear colorful blankets, piercings and beads that distinguish them from other tribes in Uganda. The climate in this part of the country is dry and windswept. Nonetheless, it is absolutely worth it as it reveals beautiful panoramas, sunsets over the mountain peaks and nights full of stars.

Main Destination:

Moroto (Karamoja)

Accommodation:

Kara-Tunga Safari Camp

• Budget tented camp located in Moroto (Karamoja)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Moroto >> Western Uganda

From Karamoja, drive towards Western Uganda for a tour of the royal palace of Bunyoro Kingdom which is headquartered in Masindi District. You will also visit the mausoleum where Bunyoro’s kings were buried. One such is Mparo Tombs where King Kabalega II who was exiled in Seychelles by the British Empire in 1899 is buried.

Main Destination:

Masindi (Town)

Accommodation:

Kabalega Resort Masindi

• Mid-range hotel located in Masindi (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Royal Mile in Budongo Forest

Embark on a half-day tour of the royal mile in Budongo Forest where Bunyoro kings used to hunt. Carry on with a journey to Kampala ahead of your cultural entertainment at Ndere Troupe Center on the outskirts of Kampala. It is a cultural outdoor auditorium that showcases traditional dances of all of Uganda’s major kingdoms. There is traditional and folklore story-telling and a great place to learn about Uganda's diverse culture. The performances are fantastic.

Main Destination:

Kampala (City)

Accommodation:

Hotel Africana

• Mid-range hotel located in Kampala (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Kampala >> Mbarara (Ankole Kingdom)

Wake up very for breakfast before hitting the road to the land of milk. As you head west again, you will experience the traditions of the Banyankole tribe. Among the must-visit places here is Igongo Museum, a heritage site dedicated to the preservation of the Ankole kingdom’s past.
You will spend the night at Emburara Farm Lodge, a luxurious cultural village in a ranch setting. It offers a homestay experience during which guests get to understand the cultural connection between the long-horned Ankole cattle and the locals.

Main Destination:

Mbarara (Town)

Accommodation:

Emburara Farm Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located near Mbarara (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Emburara Farm Lodge >> Mgahinga NP

Wake up and take the cows to the waterhole. Meet, mix and mingle with the locals. Throughout this tour, you will be able to spot a wild animal every now and then as the journey takes you through some of Uganda's wildlife-filled protected areas. After the activities of the day here, drive towards Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for overnight stay.

Main Destination:

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Gorillas)

Best Time To Visit June to August and December to January

High Season June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce)

Best Weather Jun to Aug and Dec to Jan (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Mgahinga Gorilla NP

GorillaCommon

ChimpanzeeNone

ElephantOccasional

BuffaloOccasional

LeopardRare

White RhinoNone

Show more

GiraffeNone

Black RhinoNone

LionNone

CheetahNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

Mount Gahinga Lodge

• Luxury lodge located just outside Mgahinga Gorilla NP (Gorillas)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Mgahinga Gorilla NP >> Departure

Visit the Batwa tribe. Discover how the Batwa tribe used to live in the park before they were evicted in 1994. Among the sites you will visit is Garama, a spacious underground cave that used to serve as the palace of the Batwa royal family.
Afterwards, you will proceed with the journey to Kigali International Airport, your point of departure. It is within five hours drive from Mgahinga. Alternatively, we can drive you back to Entebbe International Airport if you prefer to depart from Uganda. There is also the option of flying to Entebbe from Kisoro Airstrip.

Main Destination:

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.