Uganda Sourcing Safari

Explore Cacao and Coffee in the Heart of Africa

Jan 26 - Feb 5, 2022

Pre-Register Now

Small group travel. Space is limited.

Adventure Overview

Join Moka Origins Co-Founder, Jeff Abella, to the heart of Western Uganda. This signature Origin Adventure brings you to the epitome of east African culture and embodies our pursuit of fair trade partnerships and sustainable coffee and cacao production in Africa. We’ll join our sourcing partner Latitude Trading Company and meet some of the farmers who grow our beans. Together we will consciously experience the breathtaking sights of Uganda's landscapes and wildlife, and honor some of Africa’s most iconic attractions.

Highlights:

Witness how sustainable farming and ethical sourcing supports communities
Hike through the lush rainforest while observing Chimpanzees
Whitewater raft down the Nile river
Observe wild elephants and lions on a guided safari
Watch hippos as we take a boat Safari
Enjoy tons of raw cacao fruit, local chocolate and fresh coffee

Yoga On This Adventure

Optional meditation and yoga will be infused throughout the journey to heighten our awareness of the beauty and energy of the region. We will use asana to keep our bodies attuned for adventure, relaxation practices for rest and nurturance, and mediation to assimilate the vibrance, abundance, and grace this experience has to offer.

Adventure Highlights

Cacao in Semuliki Forest

The Semuliki Forest is home to our cacao partner, Latitude Trade Co. and located in the Rwenzori Mountains of Western Uganda. The 1,500 farmers who grow our beans are also located at the very base of these mountains, and utilize Latitude's collection and fermentation points. We'll experience cacao harvesting, fermenting, and drying and participate in planting trees.

Coffee in Bukonzo Village

We are proud to work with coffee grown by 1,500 hard working farmers and sourced by Atlas Coffee Importers. The Bukonzo Organic Coffee Cooperative is located in the Kasese District of Western Uganda. These mountains are famous for their lush and diverse vegetation and terrain, ranging from their snow capped mountains to lush rainforests. We’ll be visiting our coffee partners to learn about our Uganda Bukonzo coffee and the lives of the farmers who harvest it.

Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest is a vast region of tropical rainforest where we will be guided by experts to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat as they search for food, groom one another, and play games high up in the forest canopy. Famously known to hold the highest density of primates in all of Africa, Kibale’s lush evergreens, grasslands, and rainforests are home to 13 recorded species, among them the chimpanzee. Along the way, our guide will point out several sought-after species of birds such as green-breasted pitta, blue turaco and Nahan’s francolin.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

We’ll take a guided safari through Queen Elizabeth National Park in hopes of spotting 4 of the Big 5: African elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, as well as antelopes and local birds. Queen Elizabeth National Park extends from the base of the Rwenzori Mountain Rangeand offers breathtaking scenery and thriving wildlife.

Kazinga Channel Boat Safari

The Kazinga Channel bisects Queen Elizabeth National park and connects Lake Edward to Lake George. Our guide will steer us down this river as we observe hippos, birds, and the occasional Nile Crocodile, who all use the river for protection during the midday heat. This river is a highlight of the park, and a perfect way to get close to wildlife.

Nile River Whitewater Rafting

Jinja is a town famously known as the source of the Nile River, one of the rare north flowing rivers and the longest river in Africa. The rapids flowing from Lake Victoria offers some of the best white water rafting in the world, and is a great way to explore Uganda's picturesque landscapes.

Kampala City

As the capital city of Uganda, Kampala is a bustling city alive with African culture, food, and architecture. It is also the home of Latitude Bean-To-Bar Chocolate Factory. We'll stop in the factory for lunch and a tour and have dinner at one of Kampala's many restaurants.

Accommodations

This trip provides plenty of time to relax, swim, experience culture and enjoy local food. All participants will share lodging with immediate travel partners, or with a same-gender roommate. We'll be staying in comfortable lodgings throughout our journey.

Accommodation Styles: Hotels for 2 nights; Guest Houses for 2 nights; Boutique Lodges for 5 nights.

All bookings are double-occupancy, however we can provide a single room with supplement fee of $400.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Uganda

Fly into Entebe, Uganda and be met by Jeff Abella at the airport. Join up with our full group in Entebe.
Accommodations: Entebbe City

Day 2: Crater Lake Hike

After breakfast, we’ll drive to Fort Portal where we will spend two nights
Crater Lake Hike in Fort Portal
Accommodations: Fort Portal

Day 3: Cacao Farming

After breakfast we will drive to Bundibugyo village and our cacao partner Latitude Trading Co, and Founder visit Jeff Steinberg.
Experience cacao harvesting and cacao collection. Learn about different methods of processing, collection and fairtrade pricing.
Visit fermentation facility
Evening Accommodations: Fort Portal

Day 4: Kibale Forest National Park

Drive to Kibale Forest National Park
Explore Kibale village and enjoy local culture and cuisine
Accommodations: Kibale Forest National Park

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking

We will spend the morning tracking chimpanzees while hiking in the Kibale Forest National Park.
Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park and enjoy a relaxing afternoon at our Safari lodges situated in the savanna.
Accommodation: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 6: Cacao Visit and Boat Safari

After breakfast we will travel with Latitude Trading Co and visit their cacao facility in Kasese
Lunch at the lodge
We’ll take a boat Safari on the Kazinga Channel
Accommodation: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 7: Safari and Coffee Day

After an early breakfast we’ll take a safari wildlife drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park
We will visit the source of our Uganda coffee at the Bukonzo Organic Cooperative
Free afternoon to enjoy the lodge.
Accommodation: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 8: Chocolate Factory Tour and Tasting

Drive to Kampala
Lunch at Latitude’s Chocolate Factory
Tour Chocolate Factory
Accommodations: Kampala City

Day 9: Nile River Rafting

Drive to Jinja, the source of the Nile River
We’ll take a guided white water rafting trip down the Nile with expert guides.
Free afternoon with optional activities.
Accommodations: Jinja Village

Day 10: Departing Flights From Entebbe International Airport

Optional activities and shopping
Drive to Entebbe for Farewell Dinner
Evening Airport Departures.

NOTE: This is the tentative agenda, it can change due to time, weather, group energy capacity, or other constraints.

Register Here

Registration is open.

Trip Pricing

Early Registration Price: $4600 (pay before June 1)

Normal Registration Price: $4900 (pay before Aug 15)

Deposit Amount: $1000*

*The deposit secures your spot on the trip

Trip Dates

Jan 26 - Feb 5, 2022

For more information:

Email: travel@mokaorigins.com

Call Jeff: (570) 445-1901

View All Registration Details

Visit Registration Page

Other Information

Pricing Includes:

All ground transportation and airport transfer in Uganda
All meals scheduled in itinerary
All accommodations as scheduled in itinerary
All itinerary activities
All gratuity charges

Pricing Excludes:

International travel to/from Uganda
Additional excursions and activities
Alcoholic beverages
Visas and travel insurance

Packing List & FAQ's

Here is a link to our Ugandan FAQ page with a travel map, weather projects, packing list and more.

FAQ's and Packing List

Eco-Tourism

Our commitment to sustainability extends even to the way we travel. We believe all tourism should be beneficial to the areas we visit and should be left as good, or better, than when we arrived. We ask that you make this commitment with us while traveling together, and be mindful about how our presence affects local culture, environment, or natural resources, especially as we are interacting with national parks, wildlife, farming villages, and local communities.

Meet Your Guides

The Latitude Team

We are lucky to have Latitude's Founder/Director Jeff Steinberg and Tour Expert Madeline Dollin host us in Uganda.

The Moka Origins Team

Our Co-Founder and CEO, Jeff Abella along with Founder of Sacred Trails Linda Domino will be your Moka Ambassadors.

Jeff Abella, Moka Origins

Jeff’s key motivations are good coffee, great chocolate, family and empowered communities. Jeff moved to Cameroon in 2007 and has been working on international business development ever since. Jeff’s passion for social entrepreneurship led him to establish humanitarian projects in West Africa, North India, Central Mexico and eventually to co-founding a cacao and tropical fruit farm in Cameroon along with a bean-to-bar chocolate factory in Pennsylvania. Currently serving as the Managing Director for Himalayan Institute Cameroon, and CEO of Moka Origins where he manages supply chain, marketing and brand strategy, while also overseeing reciprocity and impact at origin. Jeff also serves as the Chairman of the Sacred Link Foundation and is a Board member on the FedEx Entrepreneur Advisory Board. Jeff loves to talk to groups about social entrepreneurship, small business strategies, and how to use business as a way to create good in the world. In 2019 Jeff presented to students at Yale University and was awarded the FedEx Small Business Grant. Email Jeff at Jeff@MokaOrigins.com

Linda Domino, Sacred Trails

Linda Domino will serve as yoga guide for this journey. She has been a friend of Moka Origins since guiding her first retreat at the Himalayan Institute in early 2018. Linda has been practicing and teaching yoga and mediation for nearly 20 years and has guided numerous yoga retreats. She attended the inaugural Origin Trip to the Dominican Republic this past June. It was transformational, and inspired her new venture, Sacred Trails, committed to curating gatherings, events, and conscious travel experiences that inspire inner growth and awakening! Linda embraces travel and immersive cultural experiences as a way to see ourselves and others with renewed clarity, love and compassion. She believes it awakes our sense of purpose and unity and she is eager to share it with others!