Cultural Tour - Uganda's Community Experience

DAY 1
Arrive and proceed to Kampala and experience an exciting entertainment from the Ndere center in Kampala, see how amazing dancers jiggle their bodies to the cultural beats of the traditional instruments, dinner and o/n in Kampala.

DAY 2
After a morning breakfast have a tour around Kampala visiting the different cultural sites starting from Naggalabi Corronation Site which has the real history and origin of the Buganda Kingdom from there, proceed to Kasubi Tombs a burial place for the Baganda Kings, continue to the Wamala tombs a site of the palace of King Suuna II, return to the respective hotel for dinner and/or stay.

DAY 3
After a morning breakfast, visit the Kabakas lake and Palace at Mengo, then head to the Namugongo shrines where the Uganda Martyrs were burnt under the orders of King Mwanga, then have evening narration as you learn about the real history of what happened in Buganda, the transformations they have gone through and how the different cultures live without wrangles with one another, back to the Hotel for dinner and o/n stay.

Day 4
Have breakfast in the morning, then proceed for a workshop at Ndere center, participate in different cultural activities such as cooking traditional foods (Luwombo) taking part in traditional music and dances, dress up in traditional attire (back clothe) etc dinner and o/n at Hotel Africana

DAY 5
Have early morning breakfast, then visit the Tombs of Mukajanga, one of the royals to King Mwanga and among those who burnt the Uganda martyrs, then drive back to Kampala at mid morning, back to Ndere cultural center for various competitions. Winners are awarded prizes and certificates, evening entertainment by Ndere troupe dinner and o/n stay at Hotel Africana

Day 6
After breakfast, take a morning drive to the eastern part of the country, branch to the Ssezibwa falls which is reported to have been a favorite spot of King Mwanga and Mutesa II both of whom planted trees there that still flourish today , continue to the Mabira forest which extends even more than 300km2, the forest is primarily composed of most semi-deciduous forest in which more than 200 tree spp have been identified, proceed to the mighty Nile that is seven times the volume of the Zambezi, then to Bujagali falls, watch the real sparkling white water of the Nile as it forces its way through the stones to the Mediterranean sea, receive entertainment by the Budendo cultural group, see the white water rafters, learn the mysteries that surrounds Bujjagali falls lunch and o/n stay at Jinja Nile Resort.

Day 7
Visit the Source of the Nile where a British expedition led by Richard Burton and John Speke set out to find the great lakes shown on Ptolemy's map. After reaching Lake Tanganyika, the two men split up because Burton was ill. Traveling on for another month, Speke discovered Victoria Nyanza and was convinced that the White Nile flowed from it, After a boat ride on the source of the Nile, receive cultural entertain by the orphans of Balifunaki group and spend the whole afternoon at palace of Kyabazinga the king of the Basoga learning more about the Basoga and the death of Bishop Hannington, dinner and o/n stay at the Resort.

Day 8
After a morning breakfast, drive at ease eastwards to Pallisa, where we shall be welcomed by the ‘Namadu’ dancer a traditional dance of the Bagwere and later have dinner and o/n at country Inn. Worthy noting is that this area is a cross road of different cultures and several performances are expected before we depart from the area.

Day 9
Take a morning excursion after breakfast to the beautiful Gogonyo palm garden and Kasodo, have a boat trip on Lake Lemwa, interact with the local fishermen and view how they extract fish from the lake locally then return to the Inn for lunch, with cultural entertainment in the afternoon by the Namwoyo Tongoli group, then dinner and o/n at the Inn.

Day 10
After morning breakfast, proceed to Agule, Kamake and Kibaale rocks, enjoy the scenery of these areas with the different cultural attachments to them then drive back to the Inn for dinner and cultural entertainment by the Itesots (Adungu Dance).

Day 11
Drive to Nabulanganga Primary School after breakfast to join the men and women in preparation of a rural wedding ceremony. Here the whole group will participate in the local activities. These include peeling bananas, fetching fire wood, constructing sheds, fetching water from the streams, and any other activities that will be identified. The group shall be divided into small groups each undertaking different activities. The activities shall be announced and the group members are free to choose where they have interest. We go back to the Inn for dinner and o/n stay.

Day 12
After breakfast at the Inn, drive back to the wedding site. Here we again join the community in the activities of the day. These include cooking, preparing the reception, Decorating, preparing the cake, welcoming guests, serving and being served. Dinner and o/n at the Inn

Day 13
Spend the day at Nabulanganga Primary School interacting with the community. This school has been built basically as a result of the Universal primary Education. We shall interact with the school children, the youth, women and men. This is the day for sharing experiences and visiting some homes and gardens, back to the Inn for dinner and o/n stay.

Day 14
After breakfast, visit the recommended Nyero Rock Paintings to anybody with a passing interest in archeology on human prehistory in Kumi, continue to Mbale for lunch, if an even year, enjoy the Gishu circumcision ceremony, Dinner and o/n stay at Mbale Resort Hotel.

Day 15
After early morning breakfast, visit and learn about the fascinating story of the Abayudaya (simply meaning “Jews” in Luganda), which starts with Semei Kakungulu, a prominent military and political figure in Uganda’s history, who in the 1890s helped the British conquer territories and establish their rule in Eastern Uganda. Kakungulu became disillusioned with the British when they refused to install him as King of the newly conquered territories and so he joined the Malaki Christians, a dissident group that incorporated Jewish ideas into their religious practice.

Day 16
Early morning visit to Sipi Falls which is a stunner and arguably the most beautiful waterfall in Uganda. The falls are about 55km north of Mbale, in the foothills of Mt Elgon and not far from the town of Kapchorwe.
Not only are the falls spectacular, so too are the views of Mt Elgon above them, and the wide plains of eastern and northern Uganda disappearing into the distance below. There are three levels of falls, but the two upper levels are fairly small compared with the main drop. It is well worth spending a night or two in this peaceful and appealing place.
There are some excellent walks on a network of well-maintained local trails, and beautiful scenery in every direction. Dinner and o/n stay in Sipi.

Day 17
Interaction and enjoyment of the colourful traditional (Kadodi) dances, dresses and the handicrafts of the Gishu which are worthy seeing, for good hikers, visiting the enormous caves, scenic peaks, gorges, and hot Springs will be rewarding, (optional). The village markets bustle with life, and local craftsmen work as they have done for generations. In this area you can discover the infinitive and variety of lifestyles and heritage which make Uganda so special. Then proceed to Tororo dinner and o/n at Rack Hotel.

Day 18
After breakfast, hike the rock then depart for Kampala with a stopover at the Busitema forest Reserve for primate and bird watching, continue to Iganga for lunch at Mwana Highway Hotel then to Kampala for dinner and o/n stay.