Mt. Elgon Mountain Bike Race

It’s time to prove your skills at the yearly Mount Elgon Mountainbike Race 2016!!!

Main race is a 33km XC/Enduro style course – it’s a mass start and the first across the finish line wins. From Sipi we climb into Mt. Elgon National Park before descending singletrack through coffee planations and villages. There’s 1000m climbing and 2100m max elevation over two off road loops connected by a little tarmac. Course record 2hr 25min.

Half race: The half race misses the first loop up to the National Park and is easier with less climbing and a lower max elevation. Course record 1hr 21min.

Trained or not… There are a lot of activities for those who don’t want to participate in the race, such as troutfishing in very lush surroundings, climbing, hiking the waterfalls , coffee trips just to mention some…

This year there is an accommodation and food pack for $50 pp. It includes 2 nights camping at Noah’s Ark (across the road from Sipi River Lodge) with 2 breakfasts, one lunch at Sipi River Lodge and a BBQ on the Saturday night.

Check out the Facebook page for more details https://www.facebook.com/mountelgonbikerace/

Inisita (Luwazi) Rockclimbing!

MCU is heading rock climbing once again at Luwazi. Climbers of any level of experience are welcome.

The trip is roughly one hour outside of Kampala in a village near Gayaza, called Kijjo. All gear is rentable through the club at the rock; just remember to bring lunch, sunscreen and about 5 litres of water. Prices for the trip and gear are as follows:

Rope: 10,000UGX
Harness + belay device: 10,000UGX
Shoes: 10,000UGX
Fuel: approximately 10,000 (return) unless you make your own way
MCU membership card (annual): 50,000 (necessary for all MCU trips and available for purchase in the parking area)

Sign up here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/1/d/1FjMwTWA8uZCBBNQc_CVkff8b9H80nWxn2o836hvHfo8/edit?usp=sharing and email Laura for any questions!

Whitewater Kayaking Weekend

Our next MCU kayaking weekend will be on October 22-23rd in Bujagali!

Once a month MCU heads to Jinja for discounted group lessons with the stellar team at Kayak the Nile. Paddlers of all levels – including beginners – are welcome. It’s always a fun weekend out of the big city! More info and sign up here: http://kayakthenile.com/mcu-weekend-booking-form/

Non-kayakers are more than welcome to join and enjoy a chilled out weekend wit MCU. There are plenty of non-kayaking options from swimming, stand-up-paddle-boarding on the Nile, going on community walks, horseback riding and many more. Email Laura Bierer (laurabierer@gmail.com) if you’d like to come but are not sure about other activities in Jinja.

MCU Kayaking Weekend

Our next MCU kayaking weekend will be on August 6-7th in Bujagali!

Once a month MCU heads to Jinja for discounted group lessons with the stellar team at Kayak the Nile. Paddlers of all levels – including beginners – are welcome. It’s always a fun weekend out of the big city! More info and sign up at the link below:
http://kayakthenile.com/mcu-weekend-booking-form/

Depending on demand there might be the option to take a safety lesson for slightly more advanced kayaker – a decent whitewater roll is required for this. Email Laura if you are interested.

Non-kayakers are more than welcome to join and enjoy a chilled out weekend.

Luwazi Rock Climbing

The MCU is running another overnight climbing/camping trip to Luwazi this weekend July 23-24. Luwazi (actually called Insita) is a rock near Gayaza, in a village called Kijjo ( I think thats the spelling :P). It is roughly an hours drive outside of Kampala. We will meet up at Oasis mall near Centenary park at 7.30 on Saturday morning and we will climb until Sun afternoon.

The rock has a number of different sport routes of varying abilities. If you do not have your own climbing gear then gear can be rented from the Club for the trip. Email Nicky Young at stuckin1984(AT)hotmail(DOT)com

Mabira Forest

Are you looking to join a trip that is a little different and offers options for people of all levels of fitness and ability who like to get outdoors in beautiful surrounds?

If so….. then this is the trip you have been waiting for!!!!!

We are planning on heading to Mabira Forest, about 1.5 hours drive east of Kampala. The Mabira Forest is a rainforest area covering about 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi) (30,000 hectares (74,000 acres)) in Uganda, located in Buikwe District, between Lugazi and Jinja. It has been protected as Mabira Forest Reserve since 1932. There are options to bird watch, trek to see Mangabey monkeys, hike (both relaxing and long and adventurous options available) and bike through the forest and nearby sugar cane and tea plantations, or just simply come to relax with the sounds of the forest…

The trip will run from Saturday 27^th August to Sunday 28^th August, which gives ample time to explore the serene forest and surrounds.

Accommodation:

We will stay at the basic, but peaceful, Griffin Falls camp (also known as Mabira Forest Camp). As part of the MCU, we have been fortunate to be able to negotiate some great savings off their normal prices and rates, and we have all been offered a FREE 2-hour forest walk! (Normal price UGX15k). Longer hikes are also available (UGX10k per person).

The accommodation options are:

3 x Self-contained eco-nests (twin) (UGX80k per night (normal price UGX100k)),
1 x Modest banda (twin) (UGX40k per night (normal price UGX60k)),
1 x Quadruple banda (four beds) (UGX20k per person, per night (normal price UGX30k)) or
Unlimited: Bring your own tent and camp under the stars (UGX10k per person, per night).

Please mention that you are part of the MCU when booking to take advantage of these discounted rates. To get in touch with the camp, please contact them on 0754 031 769, 0751 949 368, 0712 955 671 or 0752 920 515. Alternatively, you can email them on griffinfalls@yahoo.com.

Cold showers are available, and there are eco-friendly toilets. And if you ask nicely, they will heat a bucket of water for you to enjoy a warm shower under the forest canopy.

Food:

Catering wise, the staff at the camp can prepare local meals (UGX10k a plate), and we are also planning on cooking a BBQ on the Saturday night. Please bring your own meat/ vegetables to put on the BBQ, and we will bring some staples (sauces, bread etc). There will be a nominal charge for the BBQ, to cover these costs in addition to the charcoal, UGX5k – UGX10k per person, depending on numbers.

The staff will also prepare a campfire for us in the campsite area. If you have musical talent, feel free to bring along instruments/ voices for us to enjoy whilst we sit around the campfire etc…

Breakfast (eggs/ fruit/ bread/ coffee and tea) can be purchased from the camp for UGX7-10k per person.

Beers and sodas are available for purchase at the camp, although there are no refrigeration facilities, so if you are partial to a cold drink, a cool box/ esky might be a good idea.

Points to Note:

There is a park fee of UGX30k per person for the weekend.

If you would like to bike, the camp does not have bikes for rent, so please bring your own.

And please also remember bug spray/ insect repellent

Directions: The camp can be found on google maps- however, we recommend do not take the “recommended route”, which basically takes you almost through people’s houses… Instead, continue past the recommended turn off the road to Jinja, and in Lugazi, turn left just before the Minnah/ Minah restaurant on a corner on the left in the town. This road is MUCH better than the other one, especially if it has been raining, and there are various signs to the camp along the way to assist- but do keep a watch on google maps, as not every turn is signposted.

Please note: there are options for zip lining in the forest for USD$50 a person. Should you wish to do this, please note that this activity is not supported by the MCU, as we are not able to guarantee the safety of the activity.

Contact: Any questions or if you would like to come but are struggling to find transport, please contact Sally Holbrook at madsally@hotmail.com or on 0752 184057.

Please follow the link to book (please only complete if you are 100% sure you will be attending): Mabira Forest Trip 27^th– 28^th August 2016: Sign Up Sheet

Hope to see you there!

Two days rafting on the Nile

Day one: Overtime rapid to the Naluable camp, stopping for a few hours at Superhole. For the non-kayakers we bring river boards and get everyone surfing – then we have lunch there. We pull into the camp around 4pm have some nice snacks, set up camp and have a big BBQ. After the BBQ we usually have a fines meeting to get everyone in the spirit then the local women group come and sing and dance for us around the fire. Lots of beers included.

Day two: big fry up then on the water for about 10am – stop at Nile Special rapid then have lunch either there or floating down to Malalu – finish the day surfing at Malalu then take out.

Food, drinks, tents, transport (including Kampala shuttle) will all be included $210 for rafters (usually $255).

Kayakers are welcome to paddle with the trip but must be signed off by Kayak the Nile. For those that can kayak independently the cost is $65 for food, beers, shuttle… and for the kayakers that are not yet comfortable enough to do a river run on their own, but have done 5 or more lessons with KTN, KTN offers a lesson on the first day along the rafting trip and then you’d join in with the rest of the rafters on the 2nd day. To kayak as a lesson with KTN it will cost $225.

Superholympics

Mountain Club of Uganda presents #superholympics with the support of Kayak the Nile (U) Ltd.

Superhole Olympics is a day filled with fun and crazy events in kayaks on and around Superhole Wave on the Nile River. You don’t need to be a pro kayaker to compete, this is an event for intermediate and advanced paddlers alike. No pressure just good fun. Also great for spectators with a floating bar!

MCU July Kayaking Weekend

Once a month MCU heads to Jinja for group discounted lessons with the stellar team at Kayak the Nile. Paddlers of all levels – including beginners – are welcome. It’s always a fun weekend out of the big city! More info and sign up at the link below:
http://kayakthenile.com/mcu-weekend-booking-form/

After we get off the river, we’ll be heading to the Reel Paddling Film Festival at the Nalubale Tea House in Jinja at 6.30pm for a 7pm start on Saturday the 16th July. Tickets cost 8,000ush for Ugandan Citizens and 15,000ush for everybody else. Tickets can be bought on the door on the night.

Reel Paddling Film Festival World Tour

Since 2006, the Reel Paddling Film Festival World Tour has been showcasing the very best paddling films. The World Tour screens in more than 120 cities around the world. This year for the first time it will be held in Uganda and is currently the only place in Africa.

The Festival will be held at the Nalubale Tea House in Jinja at 6.30pm for a 7pm start on Saturday the 16th July. We would like to highly thank our sponsors Nalubale Rafting Base & Tea House and Kayak the Nile (U) Ltd for their help with this event.

Join us for this year’s best paddling films. You’ll be inspired to explore rivers, lakes and oceans, push extremes, embrace the paddling lifestyle and appreciate the wild places.

For event details please visit http://www.reelpaddlingfilmfestival.com/