OVER VIEW
Experience an authentic cultural journey with our exclusive 7 day Uganda Cultural Tour! This tour will immerse you in rich traditions and vibrant communities. From exploring ancient heritage sites to participating in traditional practices and activities, this is your chance to experience Nshenyi and Ewaffe Cultural Villages.
The Uganda Cultural Experience takes you to where three countries meet: Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. We will introduce you to Nshenyi Village, a 170-hectare farm located in the Ntungamo district, at the border with Isingiro district, about 2 km from Kitwe town. The Tour Ends with a day immersion in Buganda Cultural Heritage.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit Nshenyi Cultural Village, a 170-hectare farm in Ntungamo, to witness traditional cattle rearing.
- Enjoy a hands-on experience milking long-horned Ankole cows and processing milk into local ghee or butter.
- Explore the Rwanda border through Mirama Hills for scenic views
- Engage with the Batwa Community and discover their pottery craftsmanship.
- Take an uphill hike to meet honey farmers who harvest from caves and rocky hills.
- Experience the vibrant traditional music and dance of southwestern Uganda.
- Immerse yourself in Ewaffe Cultural Village, a cultural hub of the Buganda Kingdom.
- Participate in farm tours, cooking classes, and food tastings highlighting Buganda's culinary heritage.
- Savor the Indigenous Fruit Feast and enjoy traditional Buganda dishes served with Luwombo.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport
The 7 Day Authentic Uganda Cultural Tour starts at Entebbe Airport, where you will be met by a company representative/guide who will transfer you to your place of overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Dinner depending on time of arrival.
Accommodation: Lepetit Village
Comfort Level: Mid-range
Day 2: Kampala to Nshenyi Cultural Village
The journey from Kampala to Nshenyi Village in Ntungamo District takes drive west along the Kampala-Masaka Highway, passing through Mpigi and vibrant roadside markets. You will have an Equator Stop for photos and craft shopping and a lunch stop in Mbarara. Proceed through scenic views of lush countryside, rolling hills and terraced hills arriving at the cultural village in the evening.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Hima Homestead or Guest House
Comfort Level: Basic Homestead
Day 3: Milking Cows, Milk Processing, visiting the Border of Rwanda, and Traditional Dance Group.
After your breakfast, you will set off with a guide to participating in the milking of the long-horned Ankole cows. Later return to the homestead and learn about the milk processing to traditional ghee, a local butter delicacy served with food.
Thereafter you will have lunch and proceed to visit the Border with Rwanda through Mirima Hills. Later in the evening, a local traditional dance and music group will perform, you may join them as well.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Hima Homestead or Guest House
Comfort Level: Basic Homestead
Day 4: Batwa Community and Pottery Works, Local Markets and Nature walks at Farm
After enjoying breakfast, your itinerary includes a visit to the Batwa Community, where you'll gain insight into their unique lifestyle and admire their pottery craftsmanship. Following this, you'll explore local markets, homesteads, and a school, engaging with the vibrant local community.
Return to the homestead for a leisurely late lunch and some downtime.
In the evening, you'll have the option of a nature walk through the farm's picturesque surroundings or embark on an invigorating uphill hike to meet farmers who specialize in harvesting honey from the caves and rocks dotting the nearby hills.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Hima Homestead or Guest House
Comfort Level: Basic Homestead
Day 5: Nshenyi Village - Igongo Cultural Museum- Kampala
Today you will head to the Igongo Cultural Museum for a glimpse into the culture and history of the Ankole people. Check out the Nkwazi crafts shop, the Eclipse monument, the cultural village (Itaramiro), and the Mpororo Courts. Have lunch then back to Kampala arriving in the evening
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Lepetit Village
Comfort Level: Mid-range
Day 6: Ewaffe Cultural Village
Head to Ewaffe Village, a community-based program that offers an authentic cultural experience of Buganda in the central region of Uganda. You will be welcomed by traditional Kiganda Dances such as Bakisimba and Nankasa.
Learn about the local species of plants, spices, and herbs, including their uses and the stories behind each species. Experience the Indigenous Fruit Feast and enjoy traditional cuisines served with Luwombo. Additionally, there will be a session on gender-based sex education facilitated by 'Kojjas' and 'Sengas', and an opportunity to participate in community projects like tree planting.
You will have a local brew / banana juice preparation and tasting and later in the evening, you will head back to Kampala. You may participate in some Traditional Games as well.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Lepetit Village
Comfort Level: Mid-range
Day 7: Igongo Museum - Entebbe - Departure
Breakfast and then depending on your flight back home, you will have lunch at a local restaurant and then proceed to the airport in time for your departure flight back home at the end of the 7 Day Uganda Cultural Tour
Depending on your flight time, a day room is available for freshening up before heading to the airport.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
• Comfortable hiking boots and lightweight clothing.
• Rain jacket and a warm sweater for cooler evenings.
• Insect repellent and sunscreen.
• Reusable water bottle.
• Binoculars and a good camera.
• Personal medications and a small first-aid kit.
• Nature blending clothes
Included in the Itinerary
- Ground transportation in a safari customized 4WD Toyota Landcruiser with gasoline/fuel
- Community Led Programs at Nshenyi Cultural Village
- Community Led Programs at Ewaffe Cultural Village
- Igongo Cultural Center
- Drinking water / refillable water bottle
- English-speaking Guide
- Accommodation and Meals
- All Park Entrance Fees.
Excluded in the Itinerary
- International Airfares;
- Visa Fees;
- Drinks and Beverages
- Tips, and Gratuities for your Driver/guide and hotel staff
- Optional activities unless specified as included
- Any other services not expressly shown in the itinerary or indicated as included.
Uganda, deservedly dubbed the Pearl of Africa, is in the Great Lakes Region in central Africa and boasts an ecological diversity that rivals that of many larger countries. Here, the Eastern Savannah meets the West African jungle. Uganda offers visitors incredible diversity through its multitude of varying ecosystems. Bordered by the Rwenzori Mountains (often called the Mountains of the Moon, the third highest in Africa), the Virunga Mountains, and Africa's largest lake, Lake Victoria, it's a beautiful country bursting with birds and wildlife.
In no other African destination can one see a comparable variety of primates with so little effort - not just the great apes but also more than ten monkey species. And, if Uganda had primate enthusiasts grinning with satisfaction, it would have birdwatchers doing cartwheels. Uganda is, by far, the smallest of the four African countries in which more than 1,000 bird species have been recorded, and it is particularly rich in western rainforest specialists - undoubtedly the finest birdwatching in Africa.
For most, the highlight is found amongst the forests in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where facing endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is one of the most profound wildlife encounters you will ever experience. Discover tree-climbing lions around Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park, trek chimps in Kibale Forest or Kyambura Gorge, or snatch massive Nile perch up north at Murchison Falls, where the mighty Nile cascades through a gap just seven meters wide. Adrenaline junkies will find Jinja simply exhilarating with its white-water rafting, kayaking, and bungee jumping activities. Jinja is rapidly emerging as East Africa's answer to the more southerly "adrenalin capital" Victoria Falls.
We invite you to explore Uganda, a diverse landscape with abundant wildlife, plenty to discover, and unique experiences. When recounting your time in this jewel of a country, you'll struggle to find the words that do justice to it.
Entry Requirements:
Your passport must have a minimum of at least two full clear pages for visas and stamps and be valid for more than 6 months from the date of entry into Uganda.
Please check visa requirements prior to travel with your booking agent or Bush Wander, as requirements are regularly changed with little notice.
Most passports require a single-entry visa (US$55). Visas cannot be obtained on arrival. You must apply and pay for them online at https://visas.immigration.go.ug at least two weeks before your arrival.
You must upload clear copies of your current passport, a yellow fever certificate, and a passport photo.
Only Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted for visa payments. Once payment is made, the system will process your application and send you a barcoded email. Print out this email and bring it with you to Uganda. Upon arrival, you should present the barcoded email to the immigration officer, who will scan the barcode, take your fingerprints and photo, and place a visa in your passport.
Alternatively, the Ugandan High Commissions may issue visas where such commissions are located.
Visa Exempt Countries:
The following nationalities do not require a visa to enter Uganda: all nationalities from East African countries (Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi), all nationalities from COMESA countries (Angola, Eritrea, Malawi, Madagascar, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia, Comoros, Kenya, Mauritius, Zimbabwe), and passport holders from OTHERS (Antigua, Barbados, Fiji, Grenada, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, The Grenadines, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Bahamas, Belize, Gambia, Jamaica, Malta, Singapore, St. Vincent-Tonga and Ireland).
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East Africa Tourist Visa:
If you are planning an East Africa trip to Uganda, Rwanda, and/or Kenya, it may be better to apply for a multiple-entry visa, which is valid for 90 days for tourists only. The cost is USD100 per visa. For more information go to: https://visas.immigration.go.ug/#/apply if you are entering Uganda first, or alternatively, the Government visa site for the East Africa country you will be first entering.
Banking and Currency:
US Dollars cash is widely accepted and, in most cases, preferred as the currency that travellers should use to EXCHANGE into UGX on arrival for spending money on the road e.g. for drinks, curios, tips. Please note that USD bills older than 2009 are not accepted. Ensure your USD bills are 2009 or younger. Small USD bills are difficult to change – use Uganda shillings for small tips.
Credit Cards:
Credit cards can be used at some lodges and hotels, but a transaction fee of up to 5% may be charged. Ask first.
Travel, Transport, and Getting Around Flights:
Note that baggage allowance on all domestic flights is max 15 kgs in soft bags
Health and Medical Information
Travellers require a Yellow Fever inoculation more than 10 days prior to your departure. The certificate will be checked on arrival in Uganda. If you have a history of liver disorders (hepatitis etc.), consult your physician first.
Tetanus and Cholera inoculations are recommended but not compulsory. Hepatitis inoculation is at the discretion of the traveler.
Malaria prophylactics are a must and can be purchased from your local pharmacy. Please consult your pharmacist/doctor.
Diarrhoea / Giardia - Bottled water is readily available throughout Uganda, however, it’s advisable to bring medicine just in case.
This is a guide only. Please check with your doctor or travel clinic for the latest information
