Birds of Acholi
3 days / 2 nights
This 3 days and 2 Nights is designed for bird watchers who would love to explore the birds of Acholi as well as immerse themselves in the Acholi cultural experience.
Ajulu’s Watch
After an early breakfast, we drive 30 km north of Gulu City toward Patiko, passing circular Acholi homesteads and towering Borassus palms that define this ancient landscape. On arrival, we explore Fort Patiko and the granite outcrops of Ajulu, once sacred grounds for clan gatherings, rituals, and watchpoints, and later marked by the legacy of the slave trade. After a local lunch, we hike Ajulu Hill in the cool of the evening as birdlife becomes active. Along the trail, look out for Piac Piac, Pied Crow, and Gray-backed Fiscal on rocky perches, while Rüppell’s Starling flashes across the skyline. In the scrub and grasslands, Common Bulbuls, African Thrushes, Tawny-flanked Prinias, Bronze Mannikins, and the bright Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu bring the hillside to life. We end the day at the summit with sunset views over Patiko Village before heading to Patalira for dinner around the Wang Oo and an overnight stay at our community homestay.
Bird Songs at Sunrise
Today, get out early. The heat in Patalira picks up fast, and so does the bird activity.After an early morning breakfast, we head out for a village walk.This area is a patchwork of grazing lands and homesteads, making it the best place to find the Piac Piac. These black, long-tailed birds are the constant companions of the local cattle, often seen hitching rides on their backs. As you explore the savanna, look out for the Gray-backed Fiscal perched on thorn bushes and the Common Bulbul making a racket in the fruit trees.The land is also home to other bird species.Later return for an Acholi lunch and in the afternoon, the focus shifts to pottery, You’ll spend time with local artisans who still use ancient techniques to shape raw clay into functional art. While the pots sit in the sun, we’ll scout the tall grass for the Tawny-flanked Prinia and watch Bronze Mannikins foraging near the huts before returning to your homestay for dinner around the wang oo and an overnight sleep.
Listening to Aruu Falls
After an early morning breakfast, we journey for approximately 51.7 km to one of Northern Uganda’s hidden natural treasures, Aruu Falls. You hear it before you see it, thunderous, powerful, alive. Cascading waters spill over ancient rock formations, inviting you to pause, breathe, and simply be. Spend time here reconnecting with nature, dip your feet in the cool water, stretch out on sun-warmed rocks, or let the mist brush your face as the landscape hums around you. A picnic-style lunch is served before a gentle nature walk through the surrounding area, perfect for spotting birds drawn to the riverine forest and rocky cliffs. As the day fades, we slow down to enjoy the tranquility of the falls and take in a peaceful sunset before departing to Gulu with arrival by early evening.
PAYMENT TERMS
- A deposit of 70% is due at the time of booking. The balance of 30% is due two weeks prior to departure.
- Cancellation Policy- Days before the Trip
31- 21 days : 25% cancellation fee charge
20- 14 days: 50% cancellation fee charge
14 – 4 days: 75% .cancellation fee charge
- Please pay in US$ to:
Account Name: Loremi Tours
Bank Name: Absa Bank
Account Number: 6007363166
Swift Code: BARCUGKX
INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE
- Transport
- English speaking community
guides - Meals
- All Acholi Experiences,
accommodation & activities
mentioned in the itinerary - Local Souvenirs
EXCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE
- Airfare to and from Uganda
- Visa’s
- Travel Insurance
- All beverages except tea, coffee or
juice taken at breakfast where
breakfast is included. - Tips, gratuities and items of a
personal nature - Any activity, meal or accommodation
NOT mentioned in the itinerary.
WHAT TO BRING?
- There is no power supply in the village so please charge you cameras and phones to the brim before departure.
- Comfortable walking and hiking shoes.
- Sunglasses, hats and sunscreens.
- Spending money for additional activities, there are no banks where we are going.
- Beddings and toiletries for personal use during the trip.
- Additionally, carry a torch or a solar-powered light for nighttime, as there is no power supply in the area.
- Camping tents and sleeping bags. (Optional)
BASIC TERMS
This is a conscious tourism experience that will have your perspectives challenged and broadened as you experience a
new culture and hopefully gain fresh insights. Here are a few things you should know;
- We do our absolute best to keep to the Programme and timings but sometimes the weather/animals/roads/slow
rhythm of village life gets the better of us! - Respect of the community and local culture is paramount. We recommend modest clothes that covers the knees for
the ladies to avoid discomfort for the locals and some very long uncomfortable stares. - Taking of photos with consent from parties involved is also to be observed. We do not recommend taking photos of
children during the experience - The Ajulu Hill trail can be rough and the rock is pretty sun exposed during dry seasons, we recommend wearing long
sleeve shirts and pants - In the rural area , only pit latrines (hole in the ground) are available. P.S -Including squats in your exercise routine will
get you started for sure
