A Memorable Trip to Fort Portal: Adventures Beyond the Classroom – Year 7.
Nestled at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, Fort Portal is a beautiful and peaceful place filled with nature and culture. Recently, our Year 7 students and staff from Kampala International School Uganda (KISU) took a memorable trip to this town. The experience combined education, adventure, and fun, helping students bond and appreciate Uganda's natural wonders.
The journey to Fort Portal began early Monday morning, with students excitedly boarding the bus at dawn for a five-hour drive. Along the way, they enjoyed the countryside, seeing hills, tea farms, and local markets. They made stops to stretch, snack, and meet friendly locals. Upon arriving, they settled into a cosy lodge, " Home Bliss,& quot ; and had a welcome briefing about the planned activities, ending the day with a sit-down around the tables filled with stories and laughter.
The second day focused on exploring nature. Students visited the Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru Caves and waterfalls, learning about the area's history and mythology from local guides. They then hiked to the crater lakes, where they discussed environmental themes while enjoying the view and observing wildlife.
The third day involved cultural learning and community service. Students visited a local farm to learn about sustainable farming, met artisans, and participated in a cultural exchange at a nearby school. The final day included a canopy walk in Kibale National Park, leading to reflections on their experiences and appreciation for Uganda’s beauty and culture. The trip allowed students to grow, bond, and learn outside the classroom, leaving them with lasting memories.
From November 10th to 15th, 2024, Year 8 students embarked on a transformative journey to Mpanga Nature Centre. The trip combined outdoor learning with cultural and environmental exploration, offering students opportunities to connect with nature and contribute meaningfully to the local community. Activities included forest walks, tree planting, and hands-on community service projects like donating supplies. Students immersed themselves in local traditions, enjoying storytelling, music, and visits to community enterprises such as drum makers and coffee processors. These experiences enriched their understanding of sustainability and local culture while fostering teamwork, and empathy through group activities and reflections. This remarkable trip left students with a deeper appreciation of nature, stronger connections with peers, and valuable life skills. It was a week of learning, growth, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Mr. Sam Mwangi
During the outdoor education week, the year 10 students together with four year 9 students embarked on a trip to Murchison falls national. We were accommodated at Pakuba lodges and students engaged with three main activities on the different days. We had a day where we cruised the Nile and visited the Murchison falls, a day we hiked through Budongo forest and a day we toured the park ie game drive. On the whole, students were able to learn a lot about Uganda’s wildlife and tourism potential, learnt to work with many of their colleagues outside the school environs and appreciated the value of nature to human survival. We would like to thank Terrace safaris limited for organising the trip and putting in place clearly programmed events. We would also like to thank the teachers who accompanied the students viz
Ms. Beatrice Kamau, Ms. Margaret Mukobe, Mr. Xavier Fernandes and Mr. Muhammad Sekatawa
This year’s Year 11 trip was an unforgettable adventure to the sunny beaches of Diani, Mombasa, Kenya. Despite the November heat, the stunning location and exciting activities made it a journey to remember for the 13 students who participated.
We departed Entebbe on Sunday, 10th November, arriving in Mombasa by early afternoon. The scenic drive to our base, the Southern Palms Beach Resort, set the tone for what was to come. After a sumptuous lunch—just the first of many—we settled in, eager for the adventures ahead.
Over the next three days, the students tested their limits with thrilling water sports, including jet skiing, rafting, and windsurfing, embracing every challenge with enthusiasm. A visit to Haller Park allowed us to feed giraffes and marvel at other wildlife, while a trip to the historic Fort Jesus immersed us in Kenya’s rich history.
Saying goodbye to Mombasa was tough, but the friendships forged and memories made will stay with us for years to come—a true trip of a lifetime!
Mr. Robert Buga
This year, the DP 1 trip took place in Jinja. We began our adventure with a tour of Ssezibawa Falls, where we learned about the cultural heritage and significance of this site, particularly in relation to the Kingdom of Buganda. We stayed at the Nile River Explorers Camp, and it was an exciting moment as the students eagerly rushed to book their beds in the shared dormitories.
On Tuesday, November 12th, we visited Tenda Primary School to participate in activities related to our CAS project. In turns, students taught and trained the host pupils in games, discussed menstrual hygiene, constructed a more durable drying rack, and painted boards. With the money they had fundraised, the students donated items such as cups, sugar, maize flour, sanitary towels, mosquito nets, shoes, and clothes. Later that day, we enjoyed a boat cruise on the Nile, exploring the wonders of nature.
On Wednesday, November 13th, we started our day by planting trees at East Secondary School and King of Kings Muslim Secondary School. In the afternoon, we went kayaking on the Nile. The highlights of that afternoon were kayaking on the calm rapids and swinging into the Nile, which was truly exhilarating.
On Thursday, November 14th, we split into two groups for different activities: horse riding and mountain biking. The mountain biking was a great chance to test our strength as we navigated through challenging terrain. Meanwhile, horse riding was no easy task either. Under the scorching sun, we rode through the community, working to maintain our balance on the horses. The climax of our adventure came when we took a picture on the hill with the Nile in the background.
That evening, we had an incredible experience riding quad bikes, and everyone agreed we wanted a second chance at that activity.
On the morning of Friday, November 15th, a few of us were daring enough to try the slide into the Nile. The first dive was terrifying, but once committed, there was no turning back; everyone had to go through the entire slide. The reward was a thrilling bounce in the water that felt like a fast drive on a speed boat.
We concluded our trip with a visit to the railway museum, where we had the opportunity to enter the train cars and learn about the history of the railway network in East Africa.
Mr. Jude Kakuba
Our Outdoor-Ed trip to Diani Beach in Kenya was an amazing all-round experience! We got to do some super fun physical activities like jet-skiing, kayaking, and wind-surfing, which definitely gave us all an adrenaline rush. These activities gave us memories that we could talk about for years to come. But it wasn’t just about having fun; the trip was also really educational. We visited historical landmarks like the Fort Jesus Museum where we learned about the city’s history of slavery and colonization, we also visited the famous Mombasa tusks and the strong historical connections between Kenya and the British. These monuments gave us a deeper understanding of Mombasa’s past and reflect the rich cultural history. We also explored Haller Park where we got to see fascinating animals like hippos, crocodiles, a variety of snakes, and even tortoises that are hundreds of years old!
The highlight of the trip was carrying out our Collaborative Science Project (CSP), a major part of our Diploma Programme. This project helped us sharpen our critical thinking and problem-solving skills as we worked in small groups to research the effects of human activity on the beach and its ecosystems. Since we had limited resources for our experiments, we had to be creative and collaborate closely to find solutions, which made the project challenging and more interesting. From Biology to Chemistry to Physics, we analyzed how humans impact the ecosystem by carrying out experiments and research to see the connections between science and real-life environmental issues. From those experiments, we learned a lot about the diverse ecosystem of Diani and how even the smallest of human activities can greatly affect the environment.
Overall, it is safe to say that the trip was a perfect blend of adventure, education, and teamwork, leaving us with memories and lessons that will stay with us for a lifetime. A huge thank you to our amazing teachers who made this unforgettable trip possible– it was a fantastic way to spend our last senior year outdoor-ed trip!
Lielna