Summit tour and safari
Join Alakara travels on a unique New Year's celebration in Uganda! On this trip you experience a fantastic trip to the top of Mount Elgon (4321 m), safari in one of Africa's most beautiful national parks, and you get to get close to daily life in the village on the Okra farm.
Mount Elgon is a very old mountain, and millions of years ago it was higher than Kilimanjaro. The trip offers fascinating landscapes through several different climate zones, varied fauna and flora. With an altitude of 4,321 metres, the risk of altitude sickness is small. Mount Elgon has great terrain to walk in, and the tour is suitable for anyone who is in normal good shape and used to walking in the mountains.
Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the far north-east of Uganda, and is considered by many to be one of Africa's most beautiful national parks. Here we will live in the middle of the savannah, with a view of fantastic landscapes and close to bustling wildlife.
The trip ends with a visit to William and Ingeborg at Okra farm, where we get to experience village life up close, relax and enjoy good food.
Day 1, Wednesday 28 December
Departure from Oslo with Turkish Airlines in the afternoon. Stopover in Istanbul before the trip continues to Entebbe.
Day 2, Thursday 29 December
We arrive in Entebbe early in the morning, and drive directly to Budadiri, a small village which is the starting point for the trip to Mt. Elgon. On the way, we drive past hectic Kampala, through the Mabira rainforest, across the Nile and on through villages and small towns to the regional capital Mbale. There we stop for lunch, before the last leg up the mountain to Budadiri.
We spend the night at Roses' Last Chance Campsite
Day 3, Friday 30 December
Vi wakes up early and starts the tour at Budadiri Gate, the gate of Mt. Elgon National Park. Here we register, and meet the guide, the porters and the cook who will be on the trip. We takeboda-boda(motorcycle taxi) to the village of Bumasola at 1,770 m. From here we take our legs. The tour starts through small farms and villages, before we enter the national park itself. After a steep climb up the Mudange Cliffs, the trip goes through easier terrain up to the Sasa River Camp. There we have lunch, before moving on to Mude Camp, where we spend the night. Mude Camp is located at 3500 m above sea level, and is known as one of the most spectacular places to see sunrise and sunset in all of Uganda.
Program day by day
Day 4, Saturday 31 December
On the last day of the year, we are going to the top of Mount Elgon, to Wagagai Peak at 4321 m above sea level! After an early breakfast, we start the trip up. On the way to Wagagai, we go to Jackson's Peak at 4165 m above sea level, and enjoy fantastic views of both Uganda and Kenya! After a well-deserved break at the top, we return to Mude Camp where we celebrate the summit and the end of the year 2022. In total, we calculate about five hours of walking on today's trip. The terrain is mostly easy, but the altitude means that you don't go as fast as you usually do!
Day 5, Sunday 1 January
The first day of the year offers an eight-hour long trip in easy terrain towards Tutum Cave Camp. The trip offers beautiful scenery and good chances to see various birds, monkeys and other animals. Tutum Cave is the largest cave in Mount Elgon, and is located close to the campsite. Here we will spend the last night in the mountains.
Day 6, Monday 2 January
The last day in the mountains offers an easy trip of about four hours down to the Kapkwai Exploration Center in the village of Sipi. We walk through dense rainforest with good chances of seeing different types of monkeys. In Kapkwai we are picked up by car and driven to the Home of Friends in Kapchorwa. Here we enjoy a hot shower, cold drinks and good food!
Day 7, Tuesday 3 January
We drive to Kidepo Valley National Park. This is a trip of approximately 8 hours, through a varied and beautiful landscape. We bring a lunch box from Home of Friends and spend the day on the road. In the park, we will stay at the Kidepo Savannah Lodge, where we will enjoy the sunset with a view of the wildlife and Kidepo's wonderful landscape.
Day 8, Wednesday 4 January
Today we spend the day on safari in the park. In Kidepo there are good chances of seeing elephants, giraffes, buffalo, lions, zebras, jackals, hyenas, warthogs and lots of different antelopes. In addition, the park has a unique birdlife. On safari we have with us en ranger from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, who know the park inside out and help us find out where the animals are.
Day 9, Thursday 5 January
We get an early morning safari before we drive out of the park and head for Okra farm. The trip takes 4-5 hours, and goes through some of Uganda's most remote areas. We would also like to claim that there are some of the country's most beautiful places! This is the land of the Karimoys, a nomadic cattle herder who has largely preserved their traditional culture. In this part of the country, cows mean a lot, and we are sure to see shepherds with their large herds along the road.
Day 10, Friday 6 January
This day we spend at Okra farm, which is run by tour guides Ingeborg and William. Okra farm is a farm with cows, goats, sheep, chickens and bees, and a guest farm. Here you enjoy the tranquility of the village, beautiful views, good food, nice people and good conversations around the fire in the evening! If you want to be a little more active, there are good opportunities for short and slightly longer trips in the local area. You can read more about Okra farm inthis blog post!
Day 11, Saturday 7 January
On the last day in Uganda, we drive from Okra farm to Entebbe. We stop in Jinja, the city at the source of the Nile and have lunch, before the last leg to Entebbe. In Entebbe we check in at the guest house and enjoy a good dinner together before the journey home.
Day 12, Sunday 8 January
Today we have to get up early, as the flight leaves Entebbe airport at 06.20. After an intermediate landing in Istanbul, we arrive in Oslo at 16.45.
Price and practical information
Price: 34,500
Registration by 15 October. There must be at least 10 participants for the tour to take place. The maximum number of participants is 16.
Children and young people are most welcome on this trip! We have not set an age limit, but they must be used to going on longer trips. Children under 12 receive a reduced price.Contactif you are wondering if the tour is suitable for you and your children!
The price applies per person in a double room.
Supplement for single room: NOK. 2000 (at Okra farm there is currently no option for single rooms).
Please note that the passport must be valid for at least six months after returning home. If you have a passport other than Norwegian, you yourself are responsible for investigating which visa rules apply to you.
Enrollment:Sign up in the form below!
Alakara reiser collaborates with Travelmate on the journeys. Through this collaboration, you as a traveler with Alakara are covered by the guarantee of the Travel Guarantee Fund. For information on payment and terms,read more here
Included in the price:
Flight ticket Oslo-Entebbe-Oslo
Norwegian-speaking tour guide
All transport and accommodation as described in the programme
All meals except lunch on day 2 and day 12
Entrance fees to Mount Elgon National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park
Guide, porter and cook on the mountain
Safari guide in Kidepo
Tent, sleeping bag and sleeping mat (you can of course bring your own if you wish!)
Not included:
Visa
Possible Covid-19 test
Vaccines and malaria prophylaxis
Cancellation and travel insurance
Tips for guides, porters, cook and driver (about USD 100 per person in total)
Connecting flights from other cities in Norway (ask for a quote)
Do you have any questions about the trip?Contact Us!