Overview
Embark on a 6 days Mount. Imatong hiking adventure using the southern route. This exclusive adventure seeks to conquer the peak of Mount. Imatong, as you encounter several flora and fauna species along your way. The terrain of this mountain is relatively steep and rugged, but navigable. Below is a detailed plan of how all this will unfold.
Day 1: Departure and arrival day.
Departure and arrival at Juba International Airport. You will meet our English-speaking guide driver, who will happily receive and drive you to the Hotel Pyramid/ Radisson Blue, where you will be briefed on the programs for the entire tour. At the airport, you will first meet the tallest people on earth as your first experience. The rest of the day is free to explore and prepare for the Adventure.
Day 2: Start the adventure.
After breakfast, you will drive to the eastern part of the country for 2:30 hours local time. On arrival in Torit town, capital of eastern Equatoria state, you will relax and have lunch at Hotel Torit, while the guide clears up tour permits with the state Authorities. Thereafter, you will drive for another 3 hours to Katire town Centre, the main town for Imatong people.
On arrival, you will check in at Imo resort for your overnight. After relaxing with a cup of coffee, you will be taken on a nature walk through the riverbanks of Kinyeti River, visit the waterfall, old British buildings during World War II, and then dive into the traditional villages within Katire center lives of different people of Lango, Lotuko, Acholi, Madi, and Kakwa are explored respectively.
Day 3: Start of the hike.
Morning after early breakfast (5:30 hours), you will drive to Gilo forest [lumbering site] through the steep zigzag road established by the British during the Second World War. On arrival at the lumbering compound, the guide and helpers will arrange the luggage while the drivers get back to the Resort. Thereafter, the adventure starts for about 3 3-hour walks through the thick forest to arrive at the first villages of the Imatong people.
Along the way, you will be experiencing the flora and fauna in the mountain slopes, including the pine and Eucalyptus plantations by the British. You will have your packed lunch in the first village. Drinking water is provided throughout the journey. After lunch and a short nature walk inside the villages, you will now continue your adventure through the beautiful landscapes for another 3 hours walk to the village of the traditional healer (landlord), where you will spend the night.
Day 4: Hike to the summit and evening farewell party with Imatong people.
You will wake up at 5.30 hours local time to have tea/coffee with snacks, and then you will start the final hike to the summit of Mount. Imatong (1-2 hours to the peak). The village traditional healer will perform his/her rituals in your presence before you start to walk out of the village. This tradition is necessary for the gods of the mountain to accept visitors without any danger of bringing heavy rains and strong winds that will interfere with the adventure.
On your way through the thick forest to the summit, you will first visit the house under the rock where the first Imatong man lived. The sons of the traditional healer, with the guide, will drop the tobacco at the house to pay respect to the spirits of the first man. Then you will continue the adventure to the summit, where the sons again will proceed ahead to pay respect to the rocky traditional house built on top by the first Imatong man, then after you also proceed to drop some pieces of stones on top of the house as your sign of respect to the spirits.
You will then continue to explore the summit with wonderful views of the amazing landscapes. After, you then slope back to the camp and have lunch, then start your adventure back to the village of the paramount chief, where you will relax and spend the night with evening traditional dances to entertain.
Day 5: Bye to the Imatong people.
After breakfast, you will then slope back to the Resort [3hours walk]. On arrival, you will relax, get to swim at River Kinyeti, have lunch, and then pack and drive to Juba (5 hours’ drive).
Day 6: End of the tour
After breakfast, those taking early flights back home will be dropped off at the Juba International Airport immediately. And for those with evening flights, will have a city tour to explore Juba, and later have lunch and drive to the airport for their flights back home.