Day by day Itinerary
Travel to Sipi Falls, Hiking the Waterfalls & Coffee Tour
Depart Kampala at around 6:00 AM to beat the morning traffic and begin the 5–6 hour drive eastwards. The route takes you across Mabira Forest, the Nile crossing at Jinja, and the bustling centers of Iganga and Mbale. Plan a 20–30 minute stop in Jinja or Tirinyi for breakfast or refreshments. As you approach Mbale, the scenery becomes progressively greener, with the towering Elgon ranges appearing in the distance. Arrive in Sipi around midday and check into your lodge—options range from cliff-top cottages with panoramic views to cozy budget bandas. After lunch, meet your local guide and begin your guided hike through the three waterfalls that make up Sipi Falls. The hike includes navigating rugged cliffs, coffee farmlands, narrow footpaths, caves behind waterfalls, and breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the Karamoja plains. Your guide will share the history of the area, local traditions, and the role of Arabica coffee farming in the community. After exploring all three falls (typically 3–4 hours), proceed to a coffee experience where you harvest, roast, grind, and prepare traditional Arabica coffee using local methods. End the day by watching the dramatic sunset as the plains turn golden, followed by a warm dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Sipi Falls Lodge
Lunch, Dinner
Transfer to Pian Upe, Game Drives, Nature Walks & Optional Cultural Visit
Wake up early to enjoy breakfast with fresh mountain air and stunning views of the Sipi cliffs. Depart around 8:30 AM for the 2–3 hour drive to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, passing through Kapchorwa's terraced farmlands and descending into the semi-arid Karamoja landscape. On arrival at the reserve headquarters, complete the registration process and meet the ranger who will accompany you during your stay. Begin your mid-morning game drive across the sweeping savannah plains, famous for their raw wilderness and low visitor numbers, making sightings more intimate. Look out for zebras grazing in herds, elands and hartebeests scattered across the plains, impalas, gazelles, dik-dik, rock hyraxes, olive baboons, and vervet monkeys. Pian Upe is also known for its cheetah population—Uganda's largest—so your ranger may direct you to areas where they are most likely to be spotted. After lunch (packed or at the campsite), proceed for a guided nature walk, where you'll learn about medicinal plants, unique rock formations, bird species like ostriches and secretary birds, and the ecological history of the area. If time allows, you may visit a nearby Karamojong community to experience traditional homesteads, beadwork, and cultural dances. Return to your accommodation in the evening, enjoy dinner under a clear star-lit sky, and relax around a campfire while listening to the sounds of nocturnal wildlife.
Pian Upe Campsite/Lodge
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning Bush Walk, Breakfast & Departure
Start the day with an optional short sunrise walk or birdwatching session around the reserve, a perfect time to witness animals as they emerge to graze. Afterward, take breakfast, pack your bags, and check out of the facility. Begin the journey back to Kampala, retracing the scenic drive through the plains, foothills, and finally the busy eastern corridor. You may stop in Mbale for lunch or quick shopping of local crafts before continuing to Kampala, where you are expected to arrive in the late afternoon or early evening, marking the end of your adventure.
Breakfast