Experience the authentic beauty of Uganda at the source of the Nile. On horseback, discover the breathtaking splendour of the Nile, picturesque rural areas and everyday life in local villages. Thanks to the incredible friendliness and generosity of our Ugandan neighbours, you can get to know their homes, trading centres and the vibrant life of our community. During the trail, you will ride through the untouched Mabira Rainforest, catch a glimpse of the fascinating Lake Victoria and ride through tea and sugar plantations. You will also have the opportunity to swim in the Nile on horseback.
For those looking for a special nature experience and wanting to avoid the tourist crowds, Uganda is the perfect destination!

Itinerary

Day 1: Pick-up at around 9 a.m. at your hotel in Entebbe. We recommend arriving a day early and booking an extra night in Entebbe. We recommend The Boma in Entebbe. You will be taken to your accommodation in Jinja (transfer approx. 2.5-4 hours). There you will be greeted with a delicious lunch, followed by a boat trip on the Nile, where you can discuss the rest of your trip in peace. In the afternoon, you will get to know the horses and go on your first 1.5-hour ride in the surrounding area. You will explore the surrounding villages and ride along the banks of the Nile – enjoy the impressive view of the Nile! In the evening, enjoy dinner and relax – your holiday has begun!

Day 2: Sugar and tea plantations (approx. 4 hours riding time)
Today your horse riding tour really gets going! The horses are transported by truck to the starting point of the tour and you will meet them again after a hearty breakfast. The morning hours are characterised by fruit and vegetable plantations and traditional villages. You will ride uphill and downhill, catching glimpses of the surrounding landscape. Afterwards, you will ride to a higher point and enjoy your tea with a magnificent view of the sugar plantations and the Mariba Forest below you. At lunchtime, you will have a picnic in a beautiful spot on a hill with a magnificent view of Lake Victoria, the source of the Nile and the city of Jinja. From here, you can look out over open countryside. Small, traditional villages and sugar plantations appear before your eyes – enjoy the view. Afterwards, you will ride at a brisk pace to your accommodation – there are plenty of beautiful stretches for a faster gallop.

Day 3: Ride to Haven River Lodge (approx. 5-6 hours riding time)
Today you will have the opportunity to visit a school while the horses are taken to the starting point of today's ride. There you will meet the children and their teachers. They are always happy to have visitors and enjoy chatting. Perhaps you could bring a small gift such as sweets, exercise books or pens – there is still a great need for such things in Uganda! Afterwards, you will mount your horses and explore a large peninsula that leads into Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria is the third largest lake in the world and the largest lake in Africa. The lake is shared by three countries: Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. The landscape around the lake is more open and the bird life is diverse. After a break, you will mount your horse again and ride on until you reach your accommodation for the day – the Rainforest Lodge. There you will have time to relax and enjoy the evening.

Day 4: Exploratory ride through the rainforest (approx. 3.5 hours riding time)
Today you will ride through the Mabira Rainforest. The Mabira Forest covers an area of 30,000 hectares and has been protected as a reserve since 1932. It is home to hundreds of rare animal species. With a little luck, you may spot the grey-cheeked mangabey, a primate species from the family of guenons with a delicate head, long limbs and a long tail, which was discovered here in 2007. You will stop for morning tea on the way, in the middle of the dense jungle. After the first ride, you will have time to relax, enjoy a massage (not included), go swimming or hiking.

Day 5: Ride to Wild Waters Lodge (approx. 5 hours riding time)
Today, you will usually change horses and get ready for the next part of the tour on fresh horses. You will ride for about two hours through the rainforest and then past many tea plantations, where you will also take a short tea break. Afterwards, you will continue on horseback and slowly leave the densely forested area until you arrive at Haven Lodge. There you will have time for a late lunch. The lodge is beautifully situated with a view of the Nile! You will have time to relax and enjoy the beautiful lodge to the fullest.

Day 6: Time for more adventure and relaxation
Today you will have the opportunity to try out some water sports (not included!) and enjoy sporting activities. In the morning, you can set off on a white-water rafting trip and plunge into the waters of one of the most beautiful places in the world. Rafting is optional; you can also spend the day relaxing by the pool or book other activities in the region such as quad biking, bungee jumping, kayaking, mountain biking or a bird watching tour.

Day 7: Swimming in the Nile (approx. 3-4 hours riding time)
If you wish, you can get up very early today to avoid missing another highlight of the tour: swimming with horses in the Nile – an absolutely amazing experience! You will swim in a beautiful bay with a sandy bottom, without hippos or crocodiles. Afterwards, you will return to your accommodation for a leisurely breakfast before setting off on your last ride of the week. You will explore the surroundings of the Nile and ride to a viewpoint with a magnificent view of the Nile. Today you will have the opportunity for some brisk galloping until you reach your destination – the Kalagala Falls. Here you will say goodbye to your horse and be taken by boat to a beautiful, luxurious lodge in a breathtaking location. The lodge is situated on an island in the middle of the Nile, surrounded by impressive rapids with white spray. Enjoy the pool, which is actually part of the Nile, and relax with this magnificent view. In the evening, you will sit down together for one last dinner and look back on the week.

Day 8: Departure
After a final breakfast and a short time to relax, you will be taken back to Entebbe. From there, you can start your journey home or explore other beautiful corners of Uganda.

The route is subject to change at any time depending on weather and ground conditions.

Accomodation
You will be accommodated in comfortable lodges and hotels at 3*/4* level with wonderful views and beautiful rooms. Double or single rooms are available at to stand.

Saddle & Tack: English eventing saddles, snaffle.

Experience: You should be comfortable in all gaits and have trail experience. There are many trot and canter possibilities. Rider weight max. 80kg.

Horses: Approx. 25 horses: thoroughred, warmblood, Saddlebred, sure-footed, forward going and balanced.