2 Days - Kampala City, Uganda
KAMPALA CITY TOUR
The city tour includes excursions to the Uganda Museum, Kasubi Tombs, Local markets – Owino Market & Nakasero Market, Rubaga Hill, Namirembe Hill, and the Kings Lake to mention but a few. After breakfast we will pick you up from a hotel of your choice in either Kampala or Entebbe, explore the seven hills of Kampala (popularly known as the Rome of Uganda) plus the rest of Kampala.
Here below is a brief information on some of the places we will be visiting:
The Uganda Museum
A display of Uganda’s cultural heritage where one can see ethnological and natural-historical exhibitions. It is a vivid reminder of the country’s colorful past. The Uganda Museum (founded in 1908) in Kampala has exhibits of traditional culture, archeology, history, science, and natural history. It regularly presents performances of traditional music.
Kasubi Tombs
The place where fallen kings of Buganda Kingdom are buried. The Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi constitute a site embracing almost 30 ha of hillside within Kampala district. At its core on the hilltop is the former palace of the Kabakas of Buganda, built in 1882 and converted into the royal burial ground in 1884. Four royal tombs now lie within the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, the main building, which is circular and surmounted by a dome. It is a major example of an architectural achievement in organic materials, principally wood, thatch, reed, wattle and daub. The site’s main significance lies, however, in its intangible values of belief, spirituality, continuity, and identity.
Nakasero Market
At the noon of Saturday, January, 1895, the right Reverend Mckay advised the then Kabaka of Buganda to establish the first market in the Lubiri Palace. In 1905 the market moved to Kabugube and this was a temporary structure. Here you can find a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, mostly indigenous to Uganda. Across the street is a lower market, full of spices, legumes, grains, and hand-made house hold items. This market is surrounded by a number of shops or dukas, where you find everything for the home. Hardware, sanitary ware, and electrical shops surround the area.
Owino Market
One of the largest markets in this region of Africa. The endless booths that line the chaotic alleys of Owino offer a mind-boggling array of everything from homemade irons, to American hand-me-down-clothes with the goodwill price tags still on them, to an amazing array of African foods, to any and everything else under the sun. Everything at Owino starts cheap and gets cheaper with bargaining.
Another market option is the craft market on Buganda Road or the slightly larger crafts market behind the national theatre near the Garden City complex. Also on Buganda Rd.
Rubaga Hill taken-up by the Roman Catholics (and the first roman catholic church here); Rubaga Hill was the location of the main palace of Kabaka Muteesa I who ruled Buganda between 1856 and 1884. The palace was struck by lightning and was rebuilt on neighboring Mengo Hill.
The first Roman Catholic missionaries to arrive in Buganda were Frenchmen, Father Pierre Lourdel Monpel and Brother Amans, who settled near the hill in 1879.
As the Catholic Church took root in the country, the missionaries were allocated land on Lubaga Hill. The construction of St. Mary’s Cathedral on Lubaga Hill took place between 1914 and 1925, with the assistance of monetary contributions from Roman Catholic congregations abroad. Later, the missionaries also built a hospital and a nursing school on the hill.
Today, Lubaga remains the seat of the headquarters of the Catholic Church in Uganda. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala. The remains of the first African Catholic Bishop in Uganda, Bishop Joseph Nakabaale Kiwanuka and those of the first African Catholic Cardinal, Cardinal Emmanuel Kiwanuka Nsubuga are kept in the Catholic Mission on the hill.
Namirembe Cathederal
The Anglican Christians’ oldest church here; Mengo Hill which has the headquarters of the traditional family (the largest of Uganda’s traditional monarchies). The hill rises 4,134 feet (1,260 m) above sea level. It stands adjacent to Mengo Hill, the seat of the Buganda Government. The history of the two hills is intertwined, geographically, politically and religiously. Namirembe is the location of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the main place of worship of the Anglican Church in Uganda, from the time of its construction (1915 to 1919), until the 1960’s when the Cathedral became the seat of the Diocese of Namirembe.
Kabaka’s Lake
Visit the Kabaka’s Lake (Kayanja Ka Kabaka), the largest man-made lake here, dug up on orders of the tyrant Sekkabaka Mwanga (also a former King), who needed it as an escape route besides being a place for water sport just adjacent to his kingdom headquarters – Mengo.
After driving to Kampala central and visiting Nakasero Market and a curiosity shop for some crafts. This tour can be done any time of the year. It can also be done at the start or at the end of any of our other safari packages.
MABAMBA TOUR
The Mabamba Swamp is by far the most convenient place to see the elusive shoebill stork. Trust us to take you on a half day trip to Mabamba Swamp in search of the shoebill. The bird is easiest seen in the morning when they stalk their main prey, the mudfish or frogs, but may be spotted all day. They may stand absolutely still for long periods awaiting the movements of their prey and then suddenly strike with a marvelous speed.
Transportation to the swamp is by way of boat transfer from the Entebbe pier. This trip takes about 3 – 4 hours.
NGAMBA ISLAND – Full Day Excursion
Early in the morning we will take a boat to Ngamba Island Sanctuary – located 23 km offshore from Entebbe. We set off with the early morning boat at 8:00 am to Ngamba Island – the home of orphaned chimpanzees. The journey, on water in a traditional motorized boat/speedboat takes 90 minutes/50 minutes each way. You will be welcomed at the island, with a welcome-drink. Thereafter you will be directed to the visitor’s centre where you will be given an introduction to the project, its history, island residents, and their plight.
You will receive an educational orientation by a chimpanzee caregiver and view 2 feedings of the chimpanzees. You have an opportunity to feed chimpanzees from the visitors’ raised platform area along the edge of the sanctuary fence.
On the program is lunch at the Sanctuary. Visitors are not allowed to carry packed lunches & drinks to the island but are offered the following all prepared and served by island staff:
Selection of salads and sandwiches.
Ugandan Buffet.
Assortment of freshly baked Ngamba confections.
Assortment of drinks: water, sodas, wine, spirits.
Back to Entebbe at 3:00pm.
Note:
There is an afternoon option for visitors that would like to go later. Boat leaves Entebbe for Ngamba Island at 10:30 am and sets off at 5:00 pm for the mainland.
Life jackets and rain suites are provided for all on board our boats.
Extra activities on request: Swimming on the equator, viewing a neighbouring fishing village, bird watching, other wildlife encounters, or just sunbathe and relax.
Lunch, beverages, swimming and personal items are not included in the prices quoted above.
2 Days Lake Mburo NP
Within about 4 hours from Kampala lies one of the smaller national parks of Uganda, Lake Mburo National Park.
Because poaching is almost done, this park has a lot of animals within her boundaries. It is the only park in Uganda where impalas live. During game drives you will see plains zebra, one of the largest antelopes in Africa, the eland, lots of bushbuck, Defassa waterbuck, topi, common duiker, warthogs and smaller mammals like dwarf mongoose and marsh mongoose. After an absence of years lions can be found again, but you need a lot of luck to see them. Leopard and spotted hyena are also residents of the national park. Lots of birds can be found too during a game drive in the park. In the papyrus swamps the mysterious shoebill breeds and the shores of Lake Mburo belong to the best places in Uganda to see the African finfoot. So, don’t forget to make a boat trip on the lake.
INCLUDED
Ground transportation (4WD vehicle) throughout the trip in a 4WD tour vehicle
Meals as indicated on the aforesaid meal plans
Bottled drinking water while on safari
Accommodation as per options in the intinerary
Activities as stipulated on the Safari program
Services of an English-speaking driver/guide
Lots of fun in the African sun!!!
NOT INCLUDED
ENTRY permit/visas for Uganda if required
Typical souvenir
