Uganda Trek School Expeditions

From vast mountain ranges to incredible waterfalls, Uganda really is the ‘Pearl of Africa’. You’ll have the privilege of working to protect endangered White Rhinos before trekking to the summit of the mighty Mount Elgon.

  • Location Uganda, Africa
  • Duration 4 weeks
  • Expedition Type Trek

During this life-changing expedition you will get to experience one of the most beautiful countries in Africa and gain a new perspective on life, living and working alongside local communities. Take in the spectacular wildlife and help play an active part in protecting important habitats and natural environments, as well as supporting community development initiatives to help alleviate poverty. Your challenging trek to the summit of Mount Elgon will be the perfect chance to test your limits and discover what you’re capable of – and you’ll never look back.

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A fully supported expedition, from start to finish

Your expedition cost is comprehensive and covers the incredible activities you’ll be taking part in, as well as the extensive support you’ll receive in the lead up to, and during, your expedition.

Don’t forget you’ll also need your vaccinations, visas, kit and some spending money. You can find guidance on all of these on your personal Traveller Gateway once you sign up.

  • Ongoing pre-expedition support
  • Flights and in-country transfers
  • Travel insurance
  • Food and accommodation
  • Adventure challenge
  • Project costs
  • Leader and staff costs
  • Camps t-shirt
  • Orientation and language lessons
  • 24 hour emergency support
  • Reserve location

This sample itinerary will give you an insight into what you’ll be getting up to. Please note, the exact projects, activities and camps may change closer to the time of your expedition.

Day Activities More details
Day 1 Leave for Uganda This morning you will make your way to your designated meeting point ready to embark on your journey to Uganda.
Day 2 Arrive in Uganda On arrival in Uganda, you will be met by a member of our awesome Camp Uganda crew who will transfer you to a hotel for your first night’s stay.
Day 3 Head to your first camp We will hit the road in the morning and head to the first camp of your expedition. Here you will have some time to settle in before an arrival briefing and camp orientation from our Camp Manager. In the evening, you’ll be treated to a traditional home-cooked dinner and time to relax around the campfire learning some Swahili phrases.
Day 4 – 7 Community project work Lack of resources in communities have resulted in children not having access to proper classrooms and are being taught in temporary, unsafe structures. You could be helping with the construction of permanent school buildings along with refurbishing community buildings and installing water storage systems.
Day 8 – 12 Mount Elgon Trek Time for your adventure challenge. Over the next five days, you will trek up the spectacular extinct volcano of Mount Elgon. Travel through terraced fields and vibrant bamboo rainforest before you trek the crater rim and experience the exhilarating feeling of reaching the summit. Waking in the early hours of the morning of your final day, you will attempt to summit the mountain and witness the spectacular sunrise – an incredible experience you will never forget.
Day 13 – 18 Community project work We’ll head to the next camp of your expedition where you will be spending your second project phase. Here you will be helping to support community development projects in a rural village. Projects could include low level construction, painting, plastering and brick laying to help improve community infrastructure.
Day 19 Transfer to Ziwa Wildlife Sanctuary Today you will be transferred to our camp in Ziwa, located within an amazing wildlife ranch, home to Uganda’s famous White Rhinos. You will be staying in tented accommodation during your time here and if you’re lucky, you may wake up to the sight of these rare animals over the boundary of the camp.
Day 20 – 26 Wildlife conservation work Over the next week, you will be helping to support the work of the Rhino Sanctuary. Not only will you be undertaking projects such as habitat maintenance, you will also have the chance to go on a trek through the incredible sanctuary.
Day 27 Time to relax Today you will head back to Entebbe for some last-minute souvenir shopping and sight-seeing. Enjoy reflecting on the amazing memories you have made over the last few weeks and soak up your final few hours in Uganda.
Day 28 Kwaheri from Uganda It’s time to say your final farewells (or Kwaheri in Swahili) to the Camp Uganda crew before we head back to the airport in time for your flight home.

How you’ll make a difference

You’ll work on a range of projects throughout your expedition, each aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and designed to make a significant and lasting impact on the region’s most critical issues.

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Uganda – School improvements

You’ll be based on one of the poorest areas of Uganda, which is badly affected by seasonal rainfall. The infrastructure at the local school is in a severe state of disrepair and children are often taught outside due to a lack of facilities. You’ll help to construct or refurbish permanent classrooms so that local children have access to a safe and suitable place to learn.

UN Sustainable Development Goals
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No poverty

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

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Quality education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

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Gender equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

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Reduce inequalities

Reduce inequality within and among countries

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Uganda – Wildlife conservation

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary provides one of the only safe havens for Uganda’s few remaining white rhinos and breeds them for eventual release back into the wild. You’ll work alongside this dedicated team of rangers and conservationists, to support the daily running of this critical conservation centre, undertaking low-level repair and maintenance and helping to monitor the rhinos.

UN Sustainable Development Goals
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Life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Experience the local way of life in our authentic camps

Our camps are the heart of our expeditions. Built and staffed by locals in the traditional style, and located within the heart of communities, they are the perfect place to relax after a day of project work. You’ll get to stay in a number of camps during your expedition, which could include those featured below.

Camp Budadiri

Camp Budadiri

Camp Budadiri is a rural camp located at the western foothills of the impressive Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano that rises up to more than 4,000 metres above sea level. The town is a popular staging area and base camp for those who are preparing to trek the mountain. On a clear day you’ll be rewarded with some great views of the surrounding lush emerald scenery.

  • Location: 300 km (8 hours drive) from Entebbe International Airport
  • Accommodation style: Tents
  • Bed Type: Comfy mattresses & bedding
  • Toilets: Modern toilets
  • Showers: Cold showers & sinks
  • Power: Mains electricity backed up by generator. British 3 pin power sockets
  • Social area: Camp fire, lounge area, town nearby
  • Signature dish: Mandazi (delicious donut type pastry), Hog roast
Camp Ziwa

Camp Ziwa

Definitely one of our most exciting camps, Camp Ziwa is a tented bush camp in the heart of Uganda’s best rhino sanctuary. This is the perfect camp to get away from it all and reconnect with nature as you are surrounded by monkeys, antelopes, warthogs and a host of amazing birdlife. Camp Ziwa is complete heaven for nature lovers everywhere!

  • Location: 210 km (5-6 hours drive) from Entebbe International Airport
  • Accommodation style: Tents
  • Bed type: Comfy mattresses & bedding
  • Toilets: Modern toilets
  • Showers: Sinks & hot showers
  • Power: Mains electricity backed up by generator. British 3 pin power sockets
  • Social area: Camp fire, surrounded by beautiful wildlife, spectacular sunrises
  • Signature dish: Matoke (green banana)

I loved my time in Uganda, the mountains, wild country and the wonderfully warm people made it an adventure never to be forgotten. Can’t wait to go back one day. Well done to all the Camp Uganda crew, to the awesome Camps leaders and to the fantastic students!

Teacher, Camp Uganda 2019

Our local camp legends

Our camps are staffed by members of the community who will make you feel like a local in no time. These legends will make your expedition spectacular and will show you the very best of their home country.

Tony Kagen

Uganda is such a friendly country and we love to welcome our overseas guests and make them feel at home here. The Luganda culture is incredible! While visiting our magnificent country you will help us make vital impacts on the community surrounding our camps, as well as hopefully some wild and rare Rhinos!

Interested in this expedition?

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