5 Day Kampala Jinja Cultural Safari Experience
Our 5 Day Kampala Jinja Cultural Safari Experience offers the opportunity to visit the Buganda Cultural Trail, the religion, Ssezibwa Falls, Mabira Forest, and the source of the Nile, as well as the White Water Rafting Experience.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe
Meet and greet our safari driver-guide. You will transfer to your Hotel in Kampala for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Serena Hotel Kampala (luxury), Cassia Lodge (midrange), Namirembe Guest House (budget)
Day 2: Buganda Cultural Trail/ Kampala city tour.
Your trip begins with a visit to Kasubi Hill, which houses the Kasubi royal tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Historically, Buganda Kabaka has always built their palaces on strategic hills to control the major roads to the palace and to have easy ways to escape in case of invasion or rebellion.
After the Kabaka died, officials removed and buried his jawbone at a separate site to maintain a shrine and keep his spirit alive. Mutesa I became the first king buried at Kasubi, establishing it as the royal burial ground for the Buganda royal family.
Three of his successors now lie buried there as well. Mutesa I originally built the first structure on the site in 1881 as his royal palace, but he later requested that it serve as his final resting place. An on-site guide will brief you on the history behind each structure at this site, including the entrance, each of which is of traditional importance to the kingdom.
While on the tour.
Leave Kasubi and drive to the Twekobe – the official place of Buganda’s present king. Here, the Kabaka of Buganda and British colonial officials signed the famous 1900 Agreement, establishing the Uganda Protectorate. The palace was first constructed in 1885 on Mengo Hill by Ssekabaka Mwanga, with an original architecture that matched that of Buckingham Palace at the time.
Whilst there, you can view the largest artificial lake called the Kabaka’s Lake. Mwanga, who loved water sports, intended to link the lake to Munyonyo, where he would sail on some of his hunting expeditions. Just nearby is the Lutiiko, or Buganda, parliament. In this particular building, the Kabaka and his cabinet of ministers often meet to discuss and implement important matters about the kingdom.
After lunch, visit the Uganda Museum. Originally opened at Makerere University in 1942, the museum later moved to Kitante. Sir Apollo Milton Obote officially opened the new site in 1962 on Uganda’s first independence day. The museum remains an important ethnological site, featuring various sections of great historical significance.
You will also visit the Independence Monument, an imposing work of art that depicts a woman standing firmly on the ground. Wrapped from head to toe, she hoists a baby with triumphantly raised hands to tell the story of Uganda’s independence.
Visit the Kololo independence grounds, which also serve as an airstrip. At this site, officials lowered the Union Jack and raised the Uganda flag for the first time in 1962.
Day 3: The Religious Trail
Your trip begins with a visit to Namirembe Cathedral. The cathedral is on Namirembe hill, whose name traditionally translates to ” full of peace with this particular location being a historical gathering for celebrating war victory. With the establishment of the Diocese of Eastern Equatorial Africa in 1890, Namirembe Cathedral opened in 1892 as the official headquarters of the Anglican Church in Uganda, a position it has held to date.
You will then proceed to Rubaga Cathedral. The Catholic White Fathers first constructed it in 1889, after Mwanga donated land on Lubaga Hill for the project. Currently, the hill is the headquarters of the Catholic Archdiocese in Uganda and houses a hospital and a school, all run by the same diocese.
Drive to the beautiful Baha’i temple in Kikaaya and admire its beautiful architectural setting. An on-site guide will also provide information about this religious sect and readily answer any of your questions.
After lunch, visit the Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine, Namugongo, which honours the 25 Catholic and Protestant martyrs whom Ssekabaka Mwanga executed for their faith. Ssekabaka Mwanga was the King of Buganda at the time, and whose word was the law during his reign. Historically, the Kabaka punished individuals who disobeyed him at Namugongo.
By following their religion, these young men rebelled against the king, who claimed supremacy even over God. Executioners hacked some of the martyrs to pieces and burned the rest alive. Today, both Catholic and Protestant shrines in Namugongo honour these saints.
Day 4: Ssezibwa Falls, Mabira Forest, and the source of the Nile
Leave Kampala at 7:00 am and drive along the Kampala Jinja highway past Mukono, reaching Ssezibwa Falls. A woman named Nakangu produced this waterfall, which people say is a twin river. An important cultural site for the Buganda kingdom. You will inspect a couple of on-site caves and shrines where locals go to pray for blessings and wealth.
Leave Ssezibwa after breakfast and drive to the Mabira Ecotourism site. An on-site guide will brief you on the importance of the forest and will take you on a guided nature walk. Whilst here, you will view lots of important tree species, forest specialists (birds) and even some monkeys.
Enjoy lunch at the Mabira Rainforest Lodge, then proceed to the source of the Nile. Enjoy a canoe ride to the very source of the Nile, after which you will check into your Hotel.
Accommodation: Jinja Nile Resort (luxury), 2 Friends (Midrange), Cool Breeze Hotel (budget)
Day 5: Full day white water rafting
Our rafting spree will begin at 8:00 am. Experience the best grade 5 rafting in the world. You will come across lots of interesting waves like the Club wave, Cool Wave, Big Brother, Itanda, and many more.
Bring extra cash to buy photos of your rafting trip, as the company prohibits personal cameras. Wrap up this beautiful day with a barbecue at the end of your rafting spree, after which you will drive back to Kampala, arriving in the evening.
End of 5 Day Kampala Jinja Cultural Safari Experience.
