This adventure starts in Jinja and heads north from Lake Victoria exploring from horseback the banks of the Nile and rural Uganda.
Experience views from the hills overlooking the Nile valley with canters through the plantations and surrounding Mabira rainforest. The forests are home to a number of species of primates including the rare Grey cheeked Mangabeys, although these aren't very easy to see.
During the trail you overnight at very comfortable lodges and finish with one night at the fantastic Wild Waters Lodge which is located on an island in the middle of the Nile surrounded by white water.
After the ride there is an optional 3 night extension to fly west to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest home to one of the few remaining populations of Mountain Gorilla. The trek to the gorillas is long and arduous but the effort is rewarded by spending time observing them closely while they eat, play and rest. A unique and unforgettable experience.
The horses are a mixture of thoroughbreds, Irish sports horses and local breeds. They are well trained and fit for their job. They range in height from 14hh to 17hh. During the week you will normally ride two horses as the horses are switched in and out from the safari. The horses are ridden in English saddles. At certain times of the year the horses use grazing muzzles to minimize damage to crops.
You should be a confident rider, comfortable at all paces and able to control your horse at walk, trot and canter in open countryside. Much of the ride is at a walk but there are also many opportunities for trots and canters on sandy tracks (and depending on ground conditions occasional gallops for those who are capable and wish to).
It is possible for the group to temporarily separate at certain points so that those who wish to go faster may do so. It is also normally possible to join the group mid-way through the morning or leave early if you wish to do less riding on a particular day.
Please note that hard hats are mandatory on this ride.
This ride has 2 choices of itinerary.
This outlines the 7 night Nile Explorer ride. It is possible to stay on an extra 3 nights to go Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi National Park. See separate itinerary.
Please note that the following is the proposed itinerary but it is always possible that local conditions will mean a change is necessary. If it is raining a ride might be shortened and a longer ride take place on a day with better weather. Over the week you stay at all the lodges and do the different rides.
On some days the horses are trucked to
the starting point (and you meet them by vehicle) and/or they are
collected by truck at the end of the day. This is so you avoid riding in
areas which are highly populated or just not offering great riding.
Horses may also be replaced during the week by fresh horses from the
stables.
Sunday - Entebbe to Jinja
You will be collected from your hotel in Entebbe or the airport and transferred to Jinja. The journey can take anything between 2.5 hours and 4.5 hours depending on the traffic. Arrive at your accommodation at Holland Park, which is near to the stables and about 20 minutes’ drive outside of Jinja.
Meet your guides and the horses and have an introductory ride of about one to two hours to try out the horses. Ride around Naminya village and along the banks of the River Nile. Later enjoy a sunset cruise and sundowner drinks on the Nile. Dinner and overnight at Holland Park.
Monday - Lake Victoria shore ride
Your first day’s ride is for approximately four hours through various tea and sugar plantations and villages, over some hills with stunning vistas of the country side.
Return to Holland Park for dinner and overnight.
Tuesday - Ride to the Rain Forest Lodge
The ride today is four to five hours’ riding around an enormous peninsula that lies into Lake Victoria. The horses are trucked to the starting point so that you have maximum riding in the more interesting places.
You stop for a picnic lunch in the hills overlooking Lake Victoria and Jinja town. Throughout the day you have fabulous views of the lake, sugar plantations, and traditional villages. There are possibilities for good canters.
Later transfer to Rain Forest Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Wednesday - Forest explorer ride
Ride for about four hours exploring Mabira forest with lunch on the way. You will be looking for rare forest primates (Grey cheeked Mangabeys) and other local monkey species. In the late afternoon you can relax at the pool or go for a walk. Overnight at Rain Forest Lodge.
Thursday - Ride to The Haven
Today you normally swap onto fresh horses from the stables. The ride is for about four hours past tea plantations, through jungled terrain and with great lookout points to arrive at the Haven lodge for a late lunch. This is a great spot for a swim in the river or at the swimming pool while overlooking some stunning white water rapids. Overnight at The Haven.
Friday - Rafting/adventure sports or rest day and swimming the horses
Today you may head out to experience some of the most beautiful white water rafting in the world (warm water thrills and spills).
Also, either today or tomorrow it may be possible to swim with the horses in the Nile. This is an optional part of the ride. You swim the horses in the river where there is a sandy bottom and no crocodiles or hippos.
Please note that the white water rafting is an optional extra (payable locally) and you may prefer to rest or do some of the other adventure activities in the area, such as Quad Biking, Bungee Jumping, Kayak school, Mountain biking or Jet boating.
Overnight at The Haven.
Saturday - Ride to Wild Waters Lodge
On the final day continue to ride along the banks of the Nile and through local villages, before arriving at one of the most breath taking lodges you will ever see. (approximately three to four hours riding). Wild Waters Lodge is located on an island in the middle of the Nile with massive white water all around the lodge. Enjoy relaxing in the pool that is actually a part of the Nile. Overnight at Wild Waters Lodge.
Sunday -Jinja to Entebbe
If you are returning to Entebbe for the Emirates flight which departs at 15:50 then you will need to depart from Wild Waters Lodge about 8.30 am. If you are on the late flight from Entebbe or are staying overnight in Entebbe to continue to Bwindi the next morning for Gorilla Tracking, then you can enjoy a morning enjoying the stunning location of Wild Waters Lodge before transferring back to Entebbe.
This outlines the 10 night Nile Explorer ride with the extension to do Gorilla Tracking. It is possible to omit the Gorilla Tracking and to leave after 7 nights.
Please note that the following is the proposed itinerary but it is always possible that local conditions will mean a change is necessary. If it is raining a ride might be shortened and a longer ride take place on a day with better weather. Over the week you stay at all the lodges and do the different rides.
On some days the horses are trucked to
the starting point (and you meet them by vehicle) and/or they are
collected by truck at the end of the day. This is so you avoid riding in
areas which are highly populated or just not offering great riding.
Horses may also be replaced during the week by fresh horses from the
stables.
Sunday - Entebbe to Jinja
You will be collected from your hotel in Entebbe or the airport and transferred to Jinja. The journey can take anything between 2.5 hours and 4.5 hours depending on the traffic. Arrive at your accommodation at Holland Park, which is near to the stables and about 20 minutes’ drive outside of Jinja.
Meet your guides and the horses and have an introductory ride of about one to two hours to try out the horses. Ride around Naminya village and along the banks of the River Nile. Later enjoy a sunset cruise and sundowner drinks on the Nile. Dinner and overnight at Holland Park.
Monday - Lake Victoria shore ride
Your first day’s
ride is for approximately four hours through various tea and sugar
plantations and villages, over some hills with stunning vistas of the
country side.
Return to Holland Park for dinner and overnight.
Tuesday - Ride to the Rain Forest Lodge
The ride today is four to five hours’ riding around an enormous peninsula that lies into Lake Victoria. The horses are trucked to the starting point so that you have maximum riding in the more interesting places.
You stop for a picnic lunch in the hills overlooking Lake Victoria and Jinja town. Throughout the day you have fabulous views of the lake, sugar plantations, and traditional villages. There are possibilities for good canters.
Later transfer to Rain Forest Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Wednesday - Forest explorer ride
Ride for about four hours exploring Mabira forest with lunch on the way. You will be looking for rare forest primates (Grey cheeked Mangabeys) and other local monkey species. In the late afternoon you can relax at the pool or go for a walk. Overnight at Rain Forest Lodge.
Thursday - Ride to The Haven
Today you normally swap onto fresh horses from the stables. The ride is for about four hours past tea plantations, through jungled terrain and with great lookout points to arrive at the Haven lodge for a late lunch. This is a great spot for a swim in the river or at the swimming pool while overlooking some stunning white water rapids. Overnight at The Haven.
Friday - Rafting/adventure sports or rest day and swimming the horses
Today
you may head out to experience some of the most beautiful white water
rafting in the world (warm water thrills and spills).
Also,
either today or tomorrow it may be possible to swim with the horses in
the Nile. This is an optional part of the ride. You swim the horses in
the river where there is a sandy bottom and no crocodiles or hippos.
Please
note that the white water rafting is an optional extra (payable
locally) and you may prefer to rest or do some of the other adventure
activities in the area, such as Quad Biking, Bungee Jumping, Kayak
school, Mountain biking or Jet boating.
Overnight at The Haven.
Saturday - Ride to Wild Waters Lodge
On the final day continue to ride along the banks of the Nile and through local villages, before arriving at one of the most breath taking lodges you will ever see. (approximately three to four hours riding). Wild Waters Lodge is located on an island in the middle of the Nile with massive white water all around the lodge. Enjoy relaxing in the pool that is actually a part of the Nile. Overnight at Wild Waters Lodge.
Sunday -Jinja to Entebbe
Those returning to Entebbe for the Emirates flight which departs at 15:50 will need to depart from Wild Waters Lodge at about 8.30 am.
You will be staying overnight in Entebbe and so can enjoy a morning enjoying the stunning location of Wild Waters Lodge before transferring back to Entebbe. Arrive at Entebbe and overnight at a guesthouse near to the airport. Dinner is to your own account tonight.
Monday - Entebbe to Buhoma
Morning transfer to Entebbe airport for flight to Kihihi. From Kihihi Airstrip you will be transferred by road (one and a half hours) to your accommodation in Buhoma (either Engagi Lodge or Mahogany Springs Lodge or similar) and to Bwindi National Park, the home of the endangered Mountain Gorillas. Check in at the lodge.
Depending on your time of arrival, you may have time to go craft shopping in the village or on a guided forest walk (extra cost) or to simply relax in the gardens of the lodge and prepare for the gorilla tracking. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Buhoma.
Tuesday - Gorilla tracking
An early breakfast today and then you are transferred by vehicle the short distance to the Park Headquarters for the briefing for the Gorilla Tracking which is at 08.00. The briefing is very important and the guides will explain the rules of what you must do or not do when you find the gorillas. Please note that if you have a cold or flu, which poses a serious health risk to the gorillas, you will not be permitted to go. It is recommended that you borrow long walking stakes from the hotel.
During the briefing you can hire porters. It is recommended that you hire a porter to carry your back pack and provide you with assistance over rough terrain and many people hire two porters. The cost is USD 20 paid directly to the porter. This is a very important source of income to the local community – each person is permitted to be a porter just one day a month. Don’t worry about the large group of people – the porters are not permitted to come right up to the gorilla viewing - at this point it will just be the rangers accompanying you.
You need to be prepared to walk for up to four hours (although sometimes it can be just 30 minutes) in steep, hot and possibly muddy conditions, either in full sun or in the rain, before you encounter any gorillas.
But when you find them the hard work will definitely be worthwhile as you observe them closely while they eat, play and rest. The interaction will last precisely one hour – not long – but an hour you will remember for the rest of your life.
Lunch is a picnic box provided by the lodge who will also provide you with drinking water (it is important that you take plenty of water to keep hydrated during the hike). Later return to your lodge. There may be time to visit the craft shops at Buhoma village and you may be able to see the children from the orphanage dance and sing. They also have drawings and craftwork for sale.
Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Buhoma.
Wednesday - Bwindi National Park to Entebbe
After breakfast transfer by vehicle to Kihihi Airfield – the journey takes about an hour and a half. Depart Kihihi on Aerolink schedule flight departing at 9:45, arriving Entebbe at 11:25. Connect with international flight home.
If you are on the late flight via Nairobi, then it is possible to book a day room at a nearby guesthouse.
The accommodation on the trip is a highlight and you stay in some beautiful lodges in stunning settings. Please note that if you are booked to have a twin room then it is possible that this might be one double bed and one single bed. There is no single supplement if you are willing to share and we find you a sharer.
During the trail you normally stay two nights at each of three comfortable lodges and end with one night at the beautiful Wild Waters Lodge, located on a island in the middle of the Nile and surrounded by white water. Occasionally local conditions may mean that we have to substitute different accommodation.
Holland Park
Holland Park is a few miles north of Jinja and is within walking distance of the horse's stables. The spacious guest cottages are set in gardens on the west bank of the Nile and overlooking the river. The hotel has a small swimming pool. There is abundant birdlife as well as vervet monkeys in the surrounding trees.
RainForest Lodge
This interesting lodge is set on a hill in the Mabira Forest Reserve. There are twelve individual en-suite cabins well spaced through the forest and connected by walkways. There is a bar and central dining lodge as well as a swimming pool.
The Haven
The Haven is on a beautiful spot on the banks of the Nile. The spacious bungalows have private terrraces overlooking the rapids and there is a central restaurant and swimming pool.
Wild Waters Lodge
Of all the lodges you stay at on this ride Wild Waters has the most impressive location - on an island in the middle of the Nile. There are ten en-suite canvas and thatch rooms each with their own private view of the Nile. The rooms are linked by wooden walkways to the central dining area.
At Bwindi we use one of two alternative lodges which are located near to each other in the village of Buhoma which borders Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and is located a few minutes’ drive from the Park headquarters where you meet your rangers for the gorilla tracking.
Mahogany Springs has seven chalets each with two double beds, en-suite bathroom and a private terrace with panoramic views of the forest and surrounding land. The main building has a craft shop, bar, restaurant and a large veranda.
Engagi Lodge has eight cottages each with double or twin beds, en-suite bathroom and a private terrace with beautiful views of the forest and surrounding land. The main lodge has a dining room and bar.
Upcoming Dates
The ride dates from 3 - 10 June 2018 and 2 - 9 September 2018 (followed by the extension to visit the Mountain Gorillas) will confirm once two people book.
Other dates require a minimum of three people to confirm (or you can pay a small group supplement).
RIDING AND MOUNTAIN GORILLAS
2018 | Per person sharing |
Single Supplement |
Nile Explorer (7 nights) |
$4,000 |
$500 |
Nile Explorer and Mountain Gorillas (10 nights) |
$6,195 |
$744 |
If there are less than 3 people confirmed onto a date there is a small group supplement of $889 (7 nights) per person or $1,019 (10 nights) per person.
INCLUDES Accommodation; all meals (except not in Entebbe); drinks with meals during the ride; riding; guides; concession fees and road transfers from and back to Entebbe. The extension to visit the Mountain Gorillas includes three nights accommodation; all meals at Bwindi; guides and concession fees; Gorilla Permit; road and air transfers.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT If you are willing to share then the single supplement on the 7 night riding safari is reduced by 50%. If we find you a sharer, then there is no single supplement.
PAYABLE LOCALLY Lunch or dinner in Entebbe; bar bills; non-riding activities such as white water rafting; tips to guides; laundry; other personal expenses
NEAREST AIRPORT Entebbe
TRANSFERS from Entebbe to the ride by road are included. The extension to visit the Mountain Gorillas includes flights from Entebbe to and from Bwindi National Park and all road transfers.
NOT INCLUDED International flights to Entebbe
In The Saddle Gallery
Uganda is renowned for its temperate weather. Temperatures range between 16°C (at night) to 26°C (during the day) for the majority of the year (April to November). During the hotter months (December - March) temperatures can reach in excess of 30°C. The riding safaris do not operate in January or February.
There are two rainy seasons, with the short rains from late October to December, and the long rains from March to June. It still rains in the dry season and can be heavy, it just is not as regular as in the wet season. The horses are acclimatised to damp conditions, and to riders wearing all encompassing rain ponchos, so safaris are rarely postponed due to rain.
Day | Weather | Max. Day (°C) |
Min. Night (°C) |
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The terrain was different almost every day, with beautiful vistas, sticky, pokey jungles, farmland and more. What I loved the most was being able to ride through the villages, see the children, they way the Ugandans lived, learn how to say hello in Lugandan and watch their faces light up when we spoke to them. Breathtaking ride.
Lisa
Overall Rating 4.9/5. Based on 12 reviews in the last 12 months.
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