Nile Horseback Equestrian Vacation featuring the River Nile, White Water Rafting, Lake Victoria and Mabira Rain Forrest.

We would like to introduce you to Uganda's first multiday horse riding safari holiday, the Nile Explorer on horseback. We offer fabulous riding along the source of the world's longest river, the River Nile. We pass through traditional Ugandan villages, areas of crops and jungle, lake fronts, sugar cane plantations, swamps, rain forrest areas and of course the edge of the River Nile at its source in Jinja Uganda. The views are spectacular and there are a multitude of bird species (highest diversity area in the world), monkeys galore, and if you are really lucky some of the more elusive animals, like mongoose and antelope. There is also the opportunity to take your horse swimming in the Nile at a beautiful sandy bottomed bay if you are so inclined.

Please Note: To run the safari we need a minimum of 4 riders, however we can still run the safari with less riders if the riders are prepared to pay a supplement. The safari has four set dates per year, however if you have a group of four or more we can tailor dates to your availability. We can also adjust itinerary and length of safari (rest days etc) to suit the group and organise accommodation for before or after the safari.

2008 Dates:
1st - 7th October
and any time on request with 4 riders

6 days - 5 nights US $1650 pp + $69 single supplement
Small groups under 4: +$ 360 pp

Excluded: Airfares, visas, vaccinations, items of a personal nature, beverages, transport outside of stated, optional activities, curios and tips.

Please Note:
We do require experienced riders for this safari as the route encompasses swamps, creek crossings and jungle riding. You need to be able to canter for extended periods and be competent riding in English style saddles. You will be in the saddle for roughly 4-8 hours per day.

VERY IMPORTANT
We do not use Western saddles as often used in North and South America!

Guides
All the safaris are led by Natalie McComb, assisted by Uganda rider Lawrence Mpima, grooms and other staff. Accommodation are high end African retreats. The rides are led by Natalie McComb who knows the back trails and in’s and out of traveling on horseback in Uganda, in East Africa.

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Arrive at Entebbe International transport. Depending on time of arrival you can transfer directly to Jinja or we will arrange accommodation in Entebbe. Transfer is included.

The first large rapids of the River Nile

Cantering horses through the banana and maize plantations in the village

Day 2 - After a leisurely breakfast at your hotel, you will be taken to Nile Horseback Safaris, where you will meet the horses and guides and we will get ready to ride by 11am. The horses we use are Thoroughbred’s, who after early careers on the racetrack in Kenya, have been re-trained for eventing, and safari trekking. They are completely bombproof in traffic, around wildlife and with local village children. They range in size from 14.1h to 17h and are beautifully fit. We ride in English style saddles.
Once all the luggage has been loaded into the safari vehicle and everyone has been introduced to the crew, we will begin, heading down the edge of the Nile River. This section of the ride encompasses villages, jungle, stream crossings and even moving through swamps. We will spend some time swimming with the horses in the Nile and then after approximately 4 hours in the saddle we will arrive at the Haven, a beautiful riverside lodge situated above a huge rapid. In the afternoon you have the option of a swim in the river a sunset cruise, fishing or just chilling out while enjoying the view.

Day 3 This morning we are going to go for a day of white water thrills and spills! Heading off to the source of the Nile, we load up in rubber rafts before braving some of the biggest white water in Africa. The river is termed relatively safe though, as the water flushes into big ponds below each rapid, and if you do fall in the water is beautifully warm! You’ll be back at the Haven tonight, with the horses, and a well deserved night’s sleep! For those that rafting the river does not appeal, we offer the option of other activities listed below.

Float trip down the nile (an alternative to rafting as no large rapids)
Quad Biking
Mountain Biking
Canoeing
Kayaking
Bungee Jumping
Village Walks and Meals
Fishing

White water rafting the River Nile near Jinja in Uganda

Relax in a Hammock overlooking the Nile at The Haven

Day 4 - This morning we will spend at the Haven, swimming and fishing or simply relaxing and enjoying the beautiful surroundings. We’ll saddle up later today and head to the rainforest. Massive avenues of rainforest trees guard the dirt tracks, monkeys chatter overhead and the local villagers will stare and laugh in amazement, most of them never having seen horses before. There are amazing birds, such as the Great Blue Turaco, flying around everywhere, orchids, creepers and vines and roots to walk across, monkeys like Vervet and Red Tails chattering away at our passing. Sometimes you will glimpse some of the shy village people, still dressed in skins and carrying hunting spears, peering out from behind fronds before breaking into magnificent smiles and dances of delight upon seeing the horses.
We will arrive at The Mabira Rain Forrest Lodge set deep in the forrest. It is a brand new luxury lodge, where we will stay for the night.

Day 5 - We leave the rainforest behind us and pass through sugar cane plantations and villages, before arriving on the edge of Lake Victoria. The lake is the largest in Africa, more of an inland sea, where the birdlife changes dramatically and the terrain opens up more. We ride along the lake, winding around bays and up hills passing through more isolated pockets of forrest, before we eventually get to the Kingfisher Lodge. Here we are located on the source of the Nile, where John Hanning Speke first discovered the river. A swimming pool, full bar and restaurant services await us tonight, where we have a well-deserved celebration!

Viewing the sugar and tea plantations on horseback

Village huts on the edge of Lake Victoria

horse riding along the banks of the river Nile

The beautiful river nile enjoyed on horseback

Day 6 - This morning we ride back to Nile Horseback Safaris premises, stopping enroute to see the obelisk commemorating Speke and the official source of the world’s longest river. We will pass down spectacular parts of the bank of the Nile to finally reach the end of your River – Jungle – Village - Lake horseback safari.

Once you have finished your horse riding safari, you may wish to enjoy some of the other beautiful attractions that Uganda has to offer such as a animal safari to Murchison Falls National Park, or an up close Mountain Gorilla encounter in the south west of Uganda, we will be happy to help organise.

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