The overview
This 5-day Sipi Falls and Kidepo wildlife tour is an amazing safari that takes you to Sipi Falls where you will engage in hiking to the three prominent waterfalls, have coffee plantations exploration, and also Kidepo valley national park which is the true African wilderness area that harbor abundant wildlife species like elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, giraffes, cheetahs, striped hyenas, zebras, warthogs and different bird species like ostriches, kori bustard among others which will be seen during the game drives, hike the Lamoj Mountains and interact with the locals learning their culture
The highlights of this safari
- Hiking of Sipi Falls
- Coffee plantations tour
- Unlimited game drives at Kidepo
- Scenic drives
- Visiting Hot springs in Kidepo
- Karamojong Cultural exploration
- Hiking of Lamoj Mountains
Detailed daily Itinerary Kidepo national park plan
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Sipi Falls and do afternoon hiking of the Sipi Falls
After breakfast at your place of residence, our tour guide will pick you up, brief you on the safari, and then drive you to Sipi Falls, which is found in eastern Uganda at the foothills of Mountain Elgon in Kapchorwa region, northeast of Sironko and Mbale. You will pass via Mabira woodland and Lugazi sugar plantations on the way, enjoy the gorgeous drive, and arrive in time for lunch at the pre-booked hotel near Sipi Falls. After lunch, you will be ready for the afternoon adventuring. You will then hike the Sipi Falls with a local guide, beginning at the topmost waterfall (100m), descending to the bottom waterfall (the main waterfall), and ascending till you reach the shortest waterfall (75m). This hike will provide you with fantastic views of Mount Elgon’s stunning scenery and the sunset from the top of the falls. You will be driven to the lodge for dinner and overnight after the waterfall trek.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 2: Coffee plantations exploration and transfer to Kitgum
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet the driver guide for a coffee trip, during which you will visit local coffee estates. You will learn about Arabica coffee and its various stages of production, including planting, weeding, pruning, harvesting, drying, roasting, grinding, packing, and tasting. Following the coffee tour, you will drive to Kitgum, where the Kidepo Valley National Park is located, with an end-route lunch and fantastic views of gorgeous landscape, traditional homesteads, local people, and others along the road, upon arriving, you will check into the lodge for supper and overnight.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 3: Full-day game drive in Kidepo national park
After an early breakfast on the third day, the driver guide will take you to Kidepo National Park for a full-day game drive, throughout the game drive, which begins early in the early hours of the morning, you will have the opportunity to able to see predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, jackals, and others before they return to their hiding areas, as well as animals such as elephants, buffaloes, duikers, bushbucks, Following the morning game drive, you will be brought back to the lodge for lunch and a little rest before returning to the park for an afternoon game drive in the huge plains of Kidepo National Park.
During this afternoon game drive, you will ride towards the Narus River, the park’s only constant water source, and there you will be able to see abundant animals such as elephants, buffaloes, reedbucks, Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi, lions, klipspringer, water bucks drinking water, bird species such as black-breasted barbet, yellow-billed hornbill, little weaver, and take beautiful photos. You’ll also be able to explore Kanangorok hot springs, which are located 11 kilometers up the Kidepo River and are filled with boiling water that boils at temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius and streams at 1 liter every second. While visiting the hot spring, you will be able to witness spectacular views of the mountains beyond the border and engage with various individuals who come to pay tribute, offer sacrifices, and seek favors. You will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight after the wildlife drive.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 4: Hike to Lamoj Mountains and afternoon cultural tour
Early in the morning, eat breakfast before departing on a trekking trip to the Lamoj Highlands. The 4 hours of guided treks to these mountains begin at 7 am at the Apoka Tourism Center. They provide the best vantage point for seeing birds and other species, such as mountain reedbuck. You will be driven back to your lodgings for lunch and some downtime after climbing these mountains.
After lunch, you will embark on a cultural excursion with the Karamajong pastoralists who reside in villages around the park on the boundary of southern Sudan and Kenya. Understand their customs and culture in which men are permitted to take on many wives as they would like so long as they are able to pay the dowry for them, perceive their instruments such as spears, knives, beads, and bows, go to their Manyatta homesteads, see half naked people decorated in tribal markings, listen to ancient stories, and enjoy traditional entertainment such as cultural dances and drama, among other things, during the cultural tour. Following the cultural trip, you will return to the lodge for supper and sleep.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 5: Transfer back to Kampala
After a leisurely breakfast on the final day of the 5-day Sipi Falls and Kidepo game tour, you will be driven back to Kampala via the Kitgum-Gulu highway, stopping for an end-of-trip lunch, and then continue to Kampala, where you will arrive late in the evening. Upon arrival, the driver guide will take you to the Entebbe airport for your booked departure flight or at the hotel, effectively ending this safari.
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch