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Celebrate Chanukah in Uganda

This Year, Celebrate Chanukah in Uganda

Trip Duration: 9 Days | 8 Nights
December 9-17, 2025
Starting Point: Entebbe International Airport

Join Rabbi Nambi on a memorable trip to experience the beauty of her home country and celebrate Shabbat and Chanukah with the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda. This trip is open to Beth Am members first. (If there is still availability after June 30, friends or extended family of Beth Am members who are going on the trip will be welcome to join.) Trip details will be arranged by local tour partners, Casa Uganda Safaris & Lodges.

Please register to join for a trip information session on Wednesday, July 2 at 7:00 PM on Zoom.
The registration deadline is Wednesday, July 30. A deposit of $500 is due Tuesday, July 15.

TRIP OVERVIEW
The "Celebrate Chanukah in Uganda" trip offers an incredible journey through central, northern, and eastern Uganda. Participants will experience the country's unique and diverse landscapes, from exploring the rainforest and wildlife to the source of the River Nile and the mountains of Sipi Falls. We will learn from and connect with various Abayudaya Jewish communities and schools, celebrate Shabbat and Chanukah in different villages, and engage in daily life. Uganda is home to 56 ethnic groups, each with its own language, customs, and traditions. The Abayudaya community includes members from more than eight different tribes and languages. Throughout the trip, we will interact with Abayudaya communities, celebrate together, share our Jewish stories, and hear theirs.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

  • Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary
  • Murchison Falls National Park
  • Several Abayudaya Communities
  • Sipi Falls and a local coffee experience in Kapchorwa
  • Jinja Town - the Source of the River Nile
  • Entebbe Botanical Garden, restaurants, and the market

TRIP ITINERARY
Below is the complete day-by-day itinerary for the visit. (Please note that there may be slight changes made depending on actual conditions on the ground).

 
  • Depending on your arrival time at Entebbe International Airport, a driver will welcome you in Entebbe, Uganda known as “The Pearl of Africa,” and transfer you to your booked hotel where you will settle in, relax, and get a good night’s rest before embarking on your adventure the next day.
  • Accommodation: Papyrus Guest House, or similar
  • Meal plan: welcome dinner
 
 
  • Our guide and driver will pick up the group from the booked accommodations and transfer us to Murchison Falls. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of Murchison Falls and the rolling plains, where you can view lions, giraffes, buffalo, elephants, and more.
  • You will surely be fascinated by the concentration of hippos and Nile crocodiles in this area. For birders, Murchison Falls boasts 450 bird species, including the elusive shoebill stork, the dwarf kingfisher, the white-thighed hornbill, and the Goliath heron. 
  • En route, stopover at Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola for an hour of guided rhino tracking. Another stopover will be in Masindi for lunch. Continue to the park and check into accommodations to relax for the evening.
  • Accommodations: Gipiri and Labongo Lodge (or similar)
  • Meal Plan: full board
 
 
  • After an early breakfast, embark on a magical sunrise morning game drive and tour Murchison Falls National Park, renowned for its high concentration of savannah wildlife. Enjoy game viewing of wild animals, lions, zebras, giraffes, plus various bird species. We will stop for lunch, then take a boat cruise on the incredible Nile River, along which you will see a diverse array of aquatic species. You will cruise past huge hippo pods, crocodiles, bathing buffalo, and numerous birds, including Savannah Forest and water birds. Be sure to bring your camera with you!  
  • Accommodation: Gipiri and Labongo Lodge (or similar)
  • Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
 
  • After breakfast, we will depart from the hotel and embark on a scenic 6- to 7-hour journey to Mbale via Lira and Soroti, with scheduled bio breaks as needed.
  • Upon our arrival in Mbale, you will have some free time to relax and enjoy the calm environment before preparing to usher in Shabbat.
  • Erev Shabbat: You’re home! We will join Nabuyoye Synagogue, a 15-minute ride from the hotel, for a musical Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner.
  • Accommodation: Mount Elgon Hotel
  • Meal Plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
 
  • After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for Shabbat prayers at the K’far Rishon Namutumba Reform Synagogue. Prayers begin at 9:00 AM. Experience the Abayudaya morning Shabbat service, featuring unique tunes and a prayer experience. Anyone interested in reading from the Torah or participating in any capacity in the service is welcome. The community would love it.
  • After prayers, we will proceed to a community Kiddush, followed by lunch, a short Torah study, and an opportunity for interaction with community members.
  • We will briefly visit Tikkun Olam Day School, the boarding primary school near the synagogue. We will return to the hotel to rest before the Havdalah in Nasenye village.
  • Accommodation: Mount Elgon Hotel
  • Meal plan: breakfast at the hotel, lunch in the community, and dinner at the hotel
 
  • After breakfast, we will visit various Abayudaya communities and homesteads, spending time with the locals. Women might choose to participate in the Abayudaya women’s meeting. We will also visit local farms and Jewish schools.
  • We will visit Semei Kungulu’s Museum, the home of the founder of Judaism in Uganda, which is now a national historic site.
  • We will have an early dinner at Casa del Turista in Mbale Town. Then, head to the Nabugoye Synagogue to light the first lights of Chanukah.
  • Accommodation: Mount Elgon Hotel
  • Meal plan: breakfast at the hotel, lunch in the community, and dinner at Casa Del-Turista
 
  • After breakfast, we will journey to Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa. This involves a drive through the northeastern part of Uganda to the foothills of Mt. Elgon, where you reach a plateau 1,800 meters above sea level, home to the beautiful Sipi Falls. This lush green area features spectacular waterfalls nearly 100 meters high, surrounded by village walking trails and fertile coffee-producing hills. Steep hillsides separate the three falls. Compared to other regions of Uganda, the weather here is quite cool. You can relax and enjoy the fresh air and peaceful environment away from the hustle and bustle of city traffic. We will have a guided tour of Sipi Falls and a guided coffee experience with local farmers.
  • After returning to Mbale, we will join one of the Abayudaya communities to light the second night Chanukah candles.
  • Accommodation: Mount Elgon Hotel
  • Meal: Lunch, breakfast, and dinner
 
  • After a delicious Ugandan breakfast, we will drive through Mabira Forest and tea plantations to Jinja town.
  • We will enjoy three of the following activities;
  1. Tubing on the Nile
  2. Sunset boat cruise
  3. Alternative options include zipline, quad biking, and the Source of the Nile Visit.
  • You will also have the opportunity to explore the Jinja African Market and purchase gifts.
  • We will conclude with dinner and lighting Chanukah candles at the hotel.
  • Accommodation: Two Friends' Guesthouse (or similar)
  • Meal: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
 
  • Depending on the flight schedule, we will visit the Entebbe Botanic Garden, restaurants, and the market.
  • You will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport to catch your flight back home.
  • L’hitraot!
 

PRICE PER PERSON (Based on double occupancy)
The cost per person is $4,000+ airfare (usually under $2,000)

INCLUDED
The tour price includes the following:

  • 9 nights of mid-range accommodation and meals.
  • Ground transportation, and airport pickups and dropoffs.
  • Private safari vehicles and professional driver/guides.
  • Park Entrance fees & listed activities.
  • Bottled drinking water during transfers. 
  • Walking poles.
  • All tips and gratuities; tour guides, driver, hotel staff.

The registration deadline is Wednesday, July 30. A deposit of $500 is due Tuesday, July 15.

EXCLUDED
The tour price does not include the following:

  • International airfares. Please book your own flights; we will provide a few options.
  • Travel insurance. Here are some suggestions of travel insurance companies that offer international packages:
  • It’s also recommended to purchase travel insurance that covers emergency evacuation.
  • Yellow fever vaccine is mandatory. Please check with your doctor for other recommended shots.
  • Entry visa for Uganda is mandatory. Here is a link to the online application for a Uganda tourist visa, along with the related fees.
  • Meals and alcoholic drinks that are not part of your accommodation.
  • Personal expenses, such as laundry, optional activities, and souvenirs

SUGGESTED ITEMS
It is recommended to bring these items with you on your travels:

  • Phone, charger, adapter type G, and an extension adapter if you need more than one outlet at a time (also available for purchase in Uganda).
  • Camera (optional)  
  • Light clothing and warm nightwear  
  • Hiking boots and a rain jacket  
  • A headlamp/ flashlight  
  • Sunglasses  
  • Insect repellent  
  • Sunscreen  
  • Shabbat clothes (no suits or ties needed)
  • Bathing Suits (optional)
  • Binoculars (optional)

PLEASE NOTE
A word about the physical conditions in Uganda:

While you won't be asked to walk long distances, the walking surfaces can often be uneven and unpaved, especially in remote villages, and we have a couple of long drives. When an activity requires a hike (e.g., Sipi Falls), we will explain the distance and conditions in advance. We will drive to the venue as close as possible and provide alternative activities for those who are unable to hike. Hotels, restaurants, and most stops along drives have flush toilets. However, most local homes and community bathrooms have pit toilets only. We hope this will help you make an informed decision about your participation.

GORILLA TREKKING
Gorilla trekking is one of Uganda’s most memorable wildlife experiences. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we won’t be able to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park as a group. If you are interested in gorilla trekking either before or after our group trip, let Rabbi Nambi know, and she will inform our local tour company to make arrangements for you. Alternatively, you can book the trip yourself online.

QUESTIONS?
For more information, please contact Rabbi Shoshana Nambi.

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