Today, travelers are seeking new discoveries and special encounters. In the case of the route trip in Uganda, a lot has been discovered and exploited, but much remains uncovered and is ready for exploration.
Opting for a bit of special treatment in the Pearl of Africa? Then, the Northeastern Route road trip is here. The route summarizes the greater offers of Uganda through its unexploited natural pleasures. Either a self-drive trip or a guided safari, there are great amusements offered on this road trip.
The route features activities along the source of the Nile River through Jinja, the adventure capital of East Africa, including watching the magnificent Sipi waterfall and trekking the amazing lost world of Mt. Elgon National Park, reaching Uganda’s second highest peak.
Expect a drive through the real African wilderness of the Karamoja province and Karamoja Conservancy, which covers larger areas of the region through the Pian Bokora-Matheniko Conservation Areas. Reach the farther African remoteness of Kidepo National Park and face the unbeatable nature of Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest protected area.
Only the northeastern road trip in Uganda offers opportunities to recall the vintage wild hunter records of the big five. Watching pools of hippos and undertaking major African safari considerations. One of the authentic natural wonders of East Africa is the unreformed cultures of Africa that rejected the trends of civilization.
Tourist Attractions along the Northeastern Road Trip Route in Uganda
Source of the Nile
The springs through the lake initiate the beginning of the world’s longest river. The stretch of the Nile River right from its source is dotted with a number of amazing features like cliffs and waterfalls, which have attracted the development of various tourist activities.
Jinja City, also nicknamed the East African capital of adventures, is the hub for adrenaline-adventure activities that are done along the Nile River. Crowds of tourists find their adventure’s lost pleasure stored just along the river.
Whitewater rafting is the major undertaking; these are world-class rafting centers where one can raft up to the roughest grades 4 and 5. However, for learners, it’s also possible on lower rapids, and learning classes are available for first-time rafters.
Supplementing rafting are Kayaking and tubing; don’t miss bungee jumping, where you have to fly from a cliff about 45m high and head kiss the waters. These are all amazing adventures undertaken along this wealthy northeastern route.
Other things to do in Jinja along the source of the Nile River include horse riding, sun-setting boat rides or boat cruises, and quad biking, among other considerations.
Mount Elgon National Park
Uganda’s second-highest mountain and Africa’s highest mountain also make the list of tourist destinations to include on your northeastern route road trip. Mount Elgon is situated in the eastern region of Uganda, seated in the proud Gisu land.
This mountain shares borders with Uganda and Kenya; it’s considered to have the largest dormant volcanic caldera in the world.
When opting for greater hiking options along your road trip, taking on Mount Elgon hiking is a key point. The hiking trials have various hiking options that can range from one day to about five hiking days, reaching the Elgon summit of Wagagai Peak.
Along the hiking trails are various considerations, including traditional caves, waterfalls, and wildlife-watching options. After or before reaching the Rwenzori summit, it’s a great idea to also taste the pleasure of hiking Mount Elgon.
Pian, Bokora, and Matheniko Conservation Area
The uncovered, not exploited, and still authentic natural beauty when opting for enchanting road trip safaris that have not yet been explored, the real answer is the Pian, Bokora, and Matheniko plains. These three neighboring reserves are positioned along the eastern unpaved route to the northern reach.
The Pian Upe game reserve is the second largest protected area in Uganda after Murchison Falls National Park, and the Bokora and Matheniko game reserves all sit within the greater Karamoja conservation corridor, which also includes the Kidepo Valley National Park.
When opting for a road trip to any of these remote game reserves, ensure you have a stronger 4×4 vehicle to cruise through the off-the-beaten-path terrain.
The reserves are still under the management of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and they are perfect places to see animals scattered along the wider view of golden savannah openings dotted with spots of acacias.
These virgin adventure destinations are perfect for travelers looking for less-crowded tourist destinations. When opting for a road trip adventure to one of the three game reserves, accommodation is uncertain, so driving along with your camping gear is ideal.
Kidepo National Park
CNN termed the park the remotest park in Africa. What is your wish: to reach Africa’s remotest places, have a wider view of animals, and face the real meaning of authenticity? Kidepo Valley National Park is on the list of Uganda’s two most enchanting tourist destinations, the other being Murchison Falls National Park.
The feel of real Africa, then take a self-drive road trip to Kidepo Valley National Park. Watch the endless landscape featuring a variety of wildlife, among which are herds of elephants, buffalos, antelope, warthogs, giraffes, zebras, foxes, and prides of lions, which can frequently be heard roaring at night.
The Narus and Kidepo valleys have proven great for any traveler visiting the place. The Kidepo Valley National Park is a paradise of wildlife life, including countless bird species like ostriches, secretary birds, and egrets, among many more.
Very amazing people display their great culture to the world and can take minutes to drive to one of the desirable communities.
There are communities around the park, and Kira Tunga organizes community tours in Moroto district. This tour includes night camping in the communities (Manyatta), tasting the local foods and beers, getting entertained by the locals through dances and songs, and listening to their tales.
Murchison Falls National Park
Uganda’s most contagious tourist destination, the park is an assortment of abundant wildlife thought to be a dual of flora and fauna. The major attraction of the park remains the roaring Murchison Falls, which most writers refer to as being the world’s most powerful waterfall.
Many routes for self-drives and guided road trips end here. The park receives the biggest number of tourists, but it’s the second-famous park, just after Queen Elizabeth National Park. As far as the northeastern route road trip is concerned, Murchison Falls boasts of being the hub to watch all that was missed from other areas.
Reaching the park, you can undertake the game drive for plenty of wildlife viewing and this incredible boat cruise, which leads to the bottom of the Murchison Falls themselves. As well, you have to take a drive to the top of the falls to get a glimpse of how the rapids force into a narrow crack, producing a great, moist roar.
At Murchison Falls National Park, expect to watch herds, schools, towers, prides, troops, and many other species of wildlife. A safari to Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only opportunity to watch the big five in Uganda.
How to Drive Along the Northeastern Road Trip Route
The Northeast Uganda route is a round-circuit route, and driving through the route, there are two options: either using the Northern Route that turns back to the eastern or using the Eastern Route that comes back through the northern again.
The Northern Route
It’s so popular but rarely used, especially by most adventurous travelers. The Northern Route circuit starts right from Kampala’s capital, driving through Bombo Road that joins Kampala-Gulu Road with notable en-routes to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to trek the only rhinos in their natural ambiance.
En-routes along the Northeastern route
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
The only center in Uganda to watch rhinos in their natural ambiance Along Kampala Gulu Road in Nakasongola district is the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. The rhinos here are under natural monitoring, and it’s acting as a rhino bleeding center with future plans to re-introduce rhinos to other parks.
So after about 3 to 4 hours of driving from Kampala on your northern route road trip, make an en-route stop at Ziwa rhino sanctuary and track these remaining rhinos in Uganda. Considering this stopover, it makes for a good mileage score as far as spotting the big five is concerned.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is well packed with adventures that can keep you busy for a full day on your road trip. Besides rhino tracking, you can also take part in bird watching, nature walks, and shoebill stork tracking.
Mabira Forest
The Mabira forest is a great reward along the Jinja-Kampala highway eastward from Kampala. The largest natural forest in central Uganda, the forest has gone through a series of threats of being cleared for other developmental matters, but it has persisted.
Mabira is another breathtaking spot along the northeastern route. In Mabira, one can take a nature walk, go mangebay tracking, go bird watching, and most importantly, go canopy zip lining.
Sipi Falls
The real meaning of nature dwells in the undertaking to trek through the three main phases of the falls. The falls are located at the foothills of Mount Elgon, and these falls have the reputation of being one of the tourist attractions in Eastern Uganda’s Kapichorwa district.
On the hikes to reach all these amazing falls, expect to trek through banana plantations and coffee plantations. The Sipi waterfall hike takes you to three sections of the falls, which are separated by steep hillsides. The hike to the Sipi waterfalls comes along with bird watching, cave exploration, abseiling, and various photographic posture demonstrations.
Aruu waterfalls
Encounter the unforgettable adventure of exploring these amazing cascading roars of Aruu waterfalls. These amazing flashes of water-dropping experiences are nowhere in the country and connect to a number of undertakings.
The waterfalls are located in Padar district, northern Uganda, along the Gulu-Kitgum road. These are photographable and extremely beautiful views of waters flashing rapidly on rocks, and they can take a posture on rocks.
Nyero rock painting
There is something to trace here. Listening to the Nyero rock painting helped me understand the real lives of the smartest people who lived before the modern world. The Nyero rock paintings are located in northern Uganda, in Kumi district, along the Mbale-Soroti highway.
