14 Days Mountain Rwenzori Hiking and Gorilla Trekking
Day 1: Transfer to Kasese
On your arrival, you will be met by our safari tour guide who will transfer you to Kasese Town in Western Uganda. The drive takes you through traditional homesteads and farms, scenic views dotted with tea gardens and views of the mystical Rwenzori ranges. You will have a stopover for lunch en route. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Margherita or Rwenzori Base Mountain Camp (BB)
Day 2: Hike from Nyakarengija(1646 m) to Nyabitaba Hut (2652m)
After a heavy breakfast, you will be transferred to the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services at Nyakalengija to get the necessary equipment for hiking with guides and porters, and later set off for the 5-7 hours hike to Nyabitaba Hut. The trail follows the Mubuku River crossing recent landslide areas. Reach the Makoma River after 2½hr and then proceed to a very steep climb through open bracken fern slopes and podocarpus forest up to Nyabitaba Hut for an overnight.
Day 3: Nyabitaba – John Matte hut (3414 m)
This day’s hiking may take 7 hours; the trail goes from Nyabitaba hut to John Matte hut through Bujuku and Mubuku rivers – a steep and slippery point; proceed to John Matte hut where you will spend your overnight. Slow hikers may consider going back from this point.
Day 4: John Matte – Bujuku Hut (3962 m)
This hike takes about 3-5 hours – From John Matte cross River Bujuku then enter the Bigo bog, cross the drier ground up to Lake Bujuku overlooking Mt. Baker and Speke heading north. Then follow the trail until you reach Bujuku Hut for an overnight.
Day 5: Bujuku Hut – Elena Hut (4430 m)
Ascend from Bujuku Hut penetrating the moss dumped groundsel vegetation to Scott Elliot between Mt. Baker and Stanley, divert to Elena Hut for your overnight stay.
Day 6: Climb to Mt. Stanley
Ascend the Elena glacier to the Stanley Plateau and at this point, you will need crampons to ease your climb; cross the Elena Hut, Punta Margherita and then to Kitandara Hut. Proceed ascending the Margherita glacier and to the Summit which takes approximately 3 hours. Later on slope down to Elena Hut up to upper Kitandara Lake. Walk through the thick mud to lower Kitandara Lake (4.023m) where Kitandara Hut is located. This hike takes approximately 3 hours. Again undertake another climb to Mount Baker or Mount Luigi di Savoia and the peak Vittorio Sella with beautiful views of the site and features of Mt. Luigi di Savoia.
Day 7: Kitandara Hut – Guy Yeoman Hut (3.261 m)
From Lake Kitandara climb 4.282 m to fresh field pass along high alpine mossy glades before descending the circuit among rocky and boggy areas. This area is characterized by the glaciers of Mount Stanley and Baker. The muddy trail leads you to Akendali, Bujongolo Kabamba rock shelters, where the Kabamba valley begins; then continues descending to Guy Yeoman Hut surrounded by a beautiful landscape of mountains, vegetations and rivers – the hike takes approximately 6 hours.
Day 8: Guy Yeoman Hut – Nyabitaba hut
This morning ascends the steep slopes alongside the Mobuku River passing via Kichuchu rock shelter and then join the original route near the confluence of Bujuku River, a distance that takes 3 1/2hours.
Day 9: Nyabitaba – Nyakalengija and departure
Embark on a 2 hours hike to the Nyakalengija, look out for the tropical forest birds and monkeys. Your safari guide will be ready to transfer you back to Queen Elizabeth national park and relax at your hotel. Dinner and overnight at Tembo safari lodge.
Day 10. Morning game drive and boat cruise along kazinga channel.
Have your morning breakfast, you will go for game drive to queen Elizabeth national park, you will be able to see animals like elephants, lions, buffaloes and many more, after lunch go for boat cruise along kazinga channel, where lake Edward meets lake George. The rich wildlife along this channel characterized with high concentration of hippos and birds which makes it,the best birding spot in Africa is worth mentioning, you will also do evening game driver where you will be able to see different species of animals. Dinner and overnight at Tembo safari lodge.
Day 11. Morning game drive with tree climbing lions and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Transfer through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park on the way to Bwindi, this area is known for its tree-climbing lions. In Ishasha we will drive off in this adventurous vast Savannah area with topis and the southern version of Elephants to hopefully get the Lions high in the fig tree branches. Continue the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable NP. Here you will experience a change in the landscape from flat savanna, via cultivated hills to jungle covered mountains. Bwindi view lodge.
Day 12. Gorilla tracking experience
After breakfast at the lodge, you will go to the park headquarters for briefing from the Uganda wildlife Authority ranger guides. After the briefing, the ranger will lead you into the thick impenetrable forest to start your search for the endangered rare species of Mountain Gorillas. The gorilla search always continues from the place where they were last seen the previous day. Upon reaching the area where these famous species are, you will only be allowed to interact with them for only one hour and you should always keep maximum silence while with these Gorillas. You are allowed to take photographs and so one. To find the Gorillas, it’s such tiresome experience since it can take you almost 3-8 hours to find them. However, once you meet these gorillas, you will easily forget the hatches you have gone through to find them and instead save the good memories experience with them. After the interaction, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 13: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
In the morning have breakfast and then transfer to Lake Bunyonyi the deepest lake in africa also referred to as “Little Switzerland of Uganda” and it is one of the most beautiful place in Uganda. With stunning sceneries and amazing creatures, visit some of historical islands like punishment islands, this was called so because of the activities that were carried out there, for example girls who would get pregnant before marriage were taken there and starve to death.Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Overland Cottages.
Day 14: Transfer back to Kampala for your flights back home.
Have morning breakfast and transfer back to kampala/ Entebbe international airport for your flights back home.
End of the 14 Days Mountain Rwenzori Hiking and Gorilla Trekking tour.
