Safari Overview
12 days Rwenzori hike and gorilla trek Uganda is safari to the heart of the virgin savannah parks of the continent of Africa. A tour that tests your passion and courage for wildlife. The Trip starts and ends in Entebbe international airport, taking into account your comfort, time, vacation goals, and satisfaction. You will go to the two world heritage sites in the south western part of Uganda and spend the twelve days. You will first visit the sought after endangered mountain Gorillas one of the four sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable national park; home to the largest concentration of mountain Gorillas.
Next will be the snowcapped mountain Rwenzori which is one of the tallest mountains in the world, and you will ascend and descend the summit in seven days. Among what you will hope to see here are the three horned chameleons. You will have boat cruise and game drive at Queen Elizabeth National Park. The trip is on road which unveils the beauty of Uganda; a tiny landlocked country in the east of the continent of Africa.
Day By day trip
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National park
Meet and greet our company representative at Entebbe/Kampala/Kigali. After a brief talk about how the trip will transpire, you will embark on an 8-9 hour road trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National park; home to the endangered mountain Gorillas. The route to the park is safe, and marked by busy towns, plantations, dotted homesteads and more. Learn Ugandan western culture as you drive south west, with an enroute stopover for Lunch, and refreshment. You will arrive at the lodge in the evening for dinner and a peaceful nap.
Day2: Gorilla trekking
Kick start your morning at 6am with an energizing breakfast meal. At 7am, you should be at the park headquarters for document verification and listening to the trekking dos and don’ts by the ranger guides. After the guides mentioning the different Gorilla families to trek, you will choose the family with the most exciting character, and trek.
It takes about 1-8 hours to locate them from where they were last spotted, and an extra hour for photography, question and answer moments. A family of Gorillas is dominated by females, but led by an alpha male-a silverback that leads the family to new territories. The day ends with dinner and a peaceful nap at the lodge. Lunch is at the forest.
Day3: Transfer to Rwenzori national park
After a tasty breakfast meal at the lodge, you will check-out for a transfer to Mount Rwenzori national park on road, with a stunning view of the landscape, water bodies, plantations and African homesteads. You may also encounter the long horned Ankole cows being grazed in the open fields. Have a chat with the local Guide as the journey progresses to your hotel, where you arrive, check-in, have Lunch and dinner. Enjoy a peaceful nap while waiting for the next day hike to the snowcapped summit.
Day4: Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba hut (2651m)
After a starter meal of the day, you will depart your lodge for Nyakalengija at the central trail head. The guides accompanied by porters will brief you on whatever you need to Know about Mount Rwenzori; one of the tallest mountains in the continent of Africa. The task you have is to ascend and descend the summit in 7 days. After the briefing session, you will start the hike through Bakonzo settlements and plantations. The central circuit has a high success rate, through the lush forest cover where you can chance to see among others; the three horned chameleons, duiker, white and black Columbus monkeys, chimpanzees, forest elephants and more. Lunch will be served en-route, with an evening arrival at Nyabitaba hut for dinner and overnight.
Day5: Nyabitaba to John matte (3505m)
After breakfast at Nyabitaba hut, you will proceed to ascend to 3505m, crossing Kurt Schuffer Bridge positioned between River Bujuku and Mubuku. Walk through the bamboo forest slippery rocks connecting to Nyamileju hut for Lunch and acclimatization. At this point, take a deep breath while watching the Margherita summit and that of Mountain Stanley. You will arrive at an altitude of 3414m-John matte camp in the afternoon for dinner and overnight.
Day6: John matte to Bujuku hut (3962m)
After a heavy breakfast meal at the hut, todays hike covers about 6kms on a 6-7 hour during. Between John Matte and Bujuku hut, you will be experiencing changer in temperature and experience altitude fever. Walk through the Bigo Bog, with an eye-catching view of the stunning distant summits, and River Bujuku with beautiful alpine spine vegetation. After crossing Bujuku, you will get to the hut in the early afternoon, have Lunch, and refreshment. You will start sleep early to ensure enough rest for the next days with a much challenging hikes.
Day7: Bujuku to Elena Hut (4541m)
Have an early morning breakfast meal at the hut and start the 4km hike, with the view of the groundsel vegetation. The duration of this hike is 5-8 hours, for up to 4541m, ascending to Lake Bujuku to the western part of the mountain. Traverse the upper Bigo bogo, swamps, Lake Bujuku, and Elliot pass at 4372m. After a lunch break, you will have a steep hike supported by the metal ladder through a trail leading to Elena hike. At Elena hut, you will experience coldness, yet having a stunning view of Mount Baker and Mount Speke which at times gets covered by a fog.
Day8: Elena hut to Margherita summit toKitandara (4023)
By 00:00 hrs, you should be up and ready to make your dream true; the dream of joining the list of those who have successfully made it to the snowcapped mountain summit. Have some early meal, and then with all torches turned on, start the journey to Margherita summit, hiking through mount Stanley plains to the summit. It is one of the most difficult parts of the hike, but no one can afford giving up at this point.
The guide will assist in using the ice axe at the glacial axe, seeing you arrive at the base of the Margherita glacier before sunrise. Have a little rest, and then proceed to the summit where there is an impressive view of Lake Ireen, the ice view and Mount Speak. Take the photos, and ask questions, before descending to Elena hut for Lunch, and then through Scott Elliot pass, head to Kitandara hut for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day9: Kitandara to Guy Yeoman Hut (3505m)
Today starts early in the morning with a cup of coffee. After words, you will have a 6-8 hour hike to guy yeoman hut, through the base of Mount Baker which requires some more stamina. Gently traverse the headwall to the southern part of the mountain where you watch a fresh field. At some point of the Journey, there will be a muddy trail, through to Kabamba, the rock shelters and Akhendahi Bujongolo- the camp erected in the historical times of Duke of Abruzzi 1906. There will be a meal in between the Journey, and a late arrival at Guy Yeoman Hut, set at the shores of river Mubuku. After a long Journey, retire to bed after dinner.
Day10: Guy Yeoman Hut to Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija
Walk-out of bed to the breakfast ground for an energy giving meal. After eating and drinking, you will continue with the last portion of your dissension, switching to the central circuit to Nyabitaba hut. Cross the bamboo forest with the sighting of beautiful flowers, Mubuku and Kichuchu River, as well as Kabamba falls. Very steadily, the four hour hike will see you reach the hut for some rest and Lunch.
Here you can visit among other places Lake Mahoma. In the evening hours, proceed with the view of several plantations and birds, to Nyakalengija where our driver guide will be glad to meet you. Every victory has a reward thus pick your hiking certificate and proceed to the lodge for refreshment, dinner and a very sweet slumber.
Day11: Nyakalengija to Queen Elizabeth NP-Boat cruise
After breakfast, you will check-out of the lodge and meet your driver guide for a transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park; Uganda’s Medley of wonder. Exit with a view of the mountain backdrop, flora, and other eye-catching Geographical features. There will be an early arrival at Queen Elizabeth National park, where you will register at the entrance and proceed to your lodge if staying inside the park for check-in and refreshment.
Lunch will be served on time, followed by an afternoon boat cruise at Kazinga channel where you will watch variety of aquatic birds, the swamps, school of hippos, crocodiles and other animals quenching their thirst by the lake shore. Take the photos while enjoying the calm serenity and the breeze. End this day with dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day12: Sunrise Game drive and Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe.
You will start your day at 6:00 am with a sunrise 3-4 hour game drive at Kisenyi and other parts of the open savannah park.
With no assurance of what animal, bird, reptile or any other that will come your way; you will hope for a good day with the sight and sound of among others; the lions, leopards, hyenas, elephants, Buffaloes, warthogs, hippos, several antelope species, the crested cranes, love birds, and more.
After game drive, you will return to the lodge for Breakfast, and check-out from the lodge for a 7-8 hour drive to Kampala/Entebbe International airport. You will have an enroute stopover at for Lunch, photography, and observing the equator crossing point. Enjoy your drive to the agreed drop-off point for a flight to the next destination.
End of safari
