Adventure vacations in Uganda

Nile Safari

Overview

The riding experience in Uganda allows riders to immerse themselves in the African landscapes and the traditional way of life of the local people. Riding near the official source of the River Nile, you move to a variety of well-appointed accommodations along the river and in the rain forest. The well designed itinerary and close attention to detail allow guests a full experience of the best that the area offers.

The accommodation is at four separate lodges: two are on the banks of the Nile, one lodge is in the rain forest and one on an island in the Nile.

Food on the safari is all European style. Local fresh fruit is organic and fantastic.

  • Overview:
    The horses are well trained trail horses, with a mix of breeds. All horses are given lots of love, care and attention, resulting in good characters. English saddles are used, and all the horses go in snaffle bridles. Also each rider will carry a small saddlebag with essentials.
  • Equipment Required:
    Helmets are required. There are some helmets and chaps available to borrow.
  • Horse Breeds:
    Irish Sport, Thoroughbreds, American Saddlebred crosses, Ethiopian ponies.
  • Trip Pace:
    Moderate to fast.
  • Tack:
    English saddles are used, and all the horses go in snaffle bridles
  • Weight limit:
    200 lb / 90 kg

A simultaneous trip can be taken by motorbike for non-riders.

Entebbe hotel at 8:30am on Day 1, guests are advised to arrive the day before.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1

8:30am pick up from your accommodation in Entebbe Uganda, then transfer to Jinja.
Lunch and pre-departure chat on a River Nile boat cruise.

Accommodation: Holland Park Jinja. Please note: Single rooms are further back
from the river at this lodge, so no single supplement charged for these rooms.

Riding: Approx 1.5 hour short ride in the late afternoon to warm up and try out
horses around the local village and along the banks of the River Nile.

Day 2

Sugar and Tea Plantations Ride

Accommodation: Holland Park

Riding: Approx 4 hours ride through various plantations and villages, over some hills with stunning vistas of the country side. Picnic lunch. Fabulous views and open terrain, rural villages and sugar and tea plantations. Long canters are possible for those who want to indulge.

Day 3

The shores of Lake Victoria ride

Accommodation: Rain Forest Lodge

Riding: Approx 5-6 hours riding. The horses are transferred to the start point while guests visit the local school. Feel free to bring any primary age books you can spare to donate to the library! You will then ride around an enormous peninsula that lies in Lake Victoria with lunch overlooking the lake. You pass by views of the source of the Nile and Jinja town. Then travel by vehicle to the lodge, where the horses also stay.

Day 4

Forest explorer ride

Accommodation: Rain Forest Lodge

Riding: Approx 3.5 hours exploring Mabira forest and surrounds with a morning tea stop on the way in the thick jungle. You will be looking for rare forest primates, a subspecies of Grey Cheeked Mangabeys that are only found in Mabira forest. There is also lots of spectacular birdlife. Late lunch back at the Rain Forest Lodge. then you have the afternoon to yourself to relax, get a massage or swim or wander the forest.

Day 5

Rainforest Lodge to The Haven

Accommodation: The Haven

Riding: Approx 5 hours riding through the Mabira forest and then into the tea plantations where you stop for lunch. Another couple of hours in and out of the forest until you arrive at the Haven lodge. Great spot for a swim in the river or at the swimming pool while overlooking some stunning white water rapids.

Day 6

Rafting/adventure sports or rest day

Accommodation: The Haven

Today you can head out to experience some of the most beautiful white water rafting in the world (warm water thrills and spills). Please note rafting is optional you may prefer to rest or do some of the other adventure activities in the area: Quad Biking, Bungee Jumping, Kayak school, Mountain biking or a birding trip on the river.

Day 7

Swimming Horses and Ride to Wild Waters Lodge

Accommodation: Wild Waters Lodge

Riding: Optional up early for swimming your horse in the Nile. A beautiful bay with a sandy bottom, no hippos or crocs, then back for breakfast at the Haven. For your final ride you will be riding up to a lookout for a birds’ eye view of the Nile before stopping for a drink at another stunning vista overlooking the Nile. A fast paced ride to finish at Kalagala Falls. Say goodbye to your horse and board a boat to a breathtaking lodge. Located on an island in the middle of the Nile with massive white water all around the lodge. Enjoy the pool in the afternoon that is actually a part of the Nile.

Day 8

Departure today – transfer back to Entebbe after breakfast at Wild Waters Lodge.

Itinerary Addendum

This is itinerary is flexible and may be modified at the guide's discretion depending on weather conditions and other unforeseeable circumstances.

Trip Map

Trip Dates & Pricing

Other dates possible for groups of 4 or more, however January to March is hot, April and May are mild wet season, most of July and August is unavailable, and October and November & December make up the main wet season.

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Preferred Trip Dates

Nile Safari
December 20, 2024
January 1, 1970
January 1, 1970
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Do you have questions about this ride itinerary? Do you want to make sure that this it is the right ride for you? Or are you ready to book? Please call or email our experienced and friendly ride consultants for more detailed information. With first-hand knowledge of the exciting tours we offer, the ride consultants at Equitours look forward to answering any questions you might have

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I have been on many riding trips around the world and the Nile Safari was special. The hosts and crew made every effort to make this trip memorable and pleasurable. From the moment we arrived, we felt cared for and cared about in such a way that other outfitters pale by comparison.This... Read more  

Otto, 2018