Country: Uganda
Destinations: Entebbe, Rwenzori Mountain National Park and Kibale National Park
Itinerary at Glance
Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe
Day 2: Transfer to Kasese
Day 3: Start hike to Nyabitaba Hut (2650m).
Day 4: Hike to John Matte Hut (3350m)
Day 5: Hike to Bujuku Hut (3962m)
Day 6: Hike to Elena Hut (4541m).
Day 7: Hike to Margherita peak (5109m).
Day 8: Hike to Guy Yeoman Hut (3260m)
Day 9: Descend to Nyabitaba (2650m)
Day 10: Descend and transfer to Fort Portal
Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Entebbe
Day 12: Departure
Overview.
The 12 Days Mount Rwenzori hiking and Chimpanzee trekking adventure tour, will give you a great experience to hike one of the most challenging mountains, thus Mountain Rwenzori, known as “Mountain of the Moon” and chimpanzee trekking at Kibale National Park. You will as well be able to trek the famous mountain Rwenzori, which is one of the world’s most challenging mountains, with a great hiking adventure that gives you a vast experience of nature. At the end of the Rwenzori trek, you will wind up your trek, with chimpanzee trekking adventure at Kibale National Park, the primate capital. This is a real life adventure, one would love to undertake….
Trip Highlights
- Mount Rwenzori hiking experience
- Chimpanzee trekking experience
- Countryside experience
- Wildlife experience
- Primate experience
- Community experience
- Bird life experience
- Road drive experience
Day 1: Arrive Entebbe
Day Itinerary
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport and passing through the immigration process, you will be welcomed by our safari driver who will, brief you shortly and transfer you to the booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay
Overnight stay at: Papyrus Guest House (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast
Day 2: Transfer to Kasese. Travel time + 7hrs
Day Itinerary
Have a relaxed early morning breakfast at your lodge, meet your guide, share a short briefing, and find your way to Kasese, through Fort Portal, where you will stop for an en route lunch. The country drive across Uganda is very rewarding, as you get to learn and know more about the country, with its landscape. You will later proceed to your booked accommodation in Kasese, where you will retire for an overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Mihunga Safari Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3 – 10: Hike Mount Rwenzori
Hiking Day 1: Hike Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba Hut (2650m).
Day Itinerary
Today, we kick off our great hike to the mountain of the moon!
Early in the morning, after having a cup of coffee, drive to Nyakalengija Trailhead (1600m). Meet porters and guides and begin hiking up to Nyabitaba hut. Walk through the matooke / Banana plantations on the side of the steep foothills, past the local Bakonjo homesteads. Continue with the trail along the Mubuku River, through landslides. After crossing the Mahoma River, climb steeply through bracken fern slopes and Podocarpus forest to Nyabitaba Hut. Dinner and Overnight at the campsite.
The hike takes an average of 6 -7 hours.
Overnight stay at: Nyabitaba Hut. (Camp)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Hiking Day 2: Hike to John Matte Hut (3350m)
Day Itinerary
From Nyabitaba follow the trail that drops down through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Passing through the bamboo forest, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock. From the Nyamileju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach John Matte Hut after passing through the tiring bog, for dinner and overnight at the Hut.
The hike takes an average of 7 – 8 hours.
Overnight stay at: John Matte Hut (Camp)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Hiking Day 3: Hike to Bujuku Hut (3962m)
Day Itinerary
From John Matte Hut the trail drops down to cross the Bujuku River and enters Lower Bigo Bog, the home of giant lobelias. Jumping from tussock to tussock, the bog is finally crossed but rarely without the feet sampling some of the freezing ooze below. The Upper Bigo bog gives way to Bujuku Lake, with views of Mt Baker to the South and Mt Stanley to the West. Bujuku Hut, well located in the shadow of Mount Baker and Mount Speke, is set in a narrow valley below Stuhlmann Pass. Dinner and overnight at the hut.
The hike takes an average of 4 – 5 hours.
Overnight stay at: Bujuku Hut (Camp)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Hiking Day 4: Hike to Elena Hut (4541m).
Day Itinerary
Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical Groundsel Gully as it ascends to Scott-Elliot Pass at 4372m. At the head of the gully a metal ladder takes you over a steep section after which the trail is divided into two. The trail on your right leads up to Elena Hut and Mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders, while the trail on your left leads to Scott-Elliot Pass and down to Kitandara Lakes. Dinner and Overnight at the campsite.
The descend takes an average of 3 – 4hours.
Overnight stay at: Coolly and Icy Elena Hut (Camp)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Hiking Day 5: Hike to Margherita peak (5109m).
Day Itinerary
For those aiming at reaching Margherita peak (5109m), continue to the base of the Stanley Glacier. To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 5-7 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you over three glaciers,
Slippery rock, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides. Note that this climb is for only physically fit and technical climbers. Climbing on to the glaciers, cross the Stanley Plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and cool weather, scramble up to the summit of Margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzoris. Given the high altitude and the tough conditions even if you do not reach the peak, don’t get disappointed. Prepare for your return through the Scott-Elliot pass, where there are spectacular views back to Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke, up to Mount Stanley and down to the Kitandara Lakes. After the trail that passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight at the campsite.
Overnight stay at: Kitandara Hut. (Camp)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Hiking Day 6: Descend to Guy Yeoman Hut (3260m)
Day Itinerary
From Kitandara, take on the trail that ascends steeply up the headwall, spreading out from the base of Mount Baker and continuing along the south side of the mountain to Fresh field Pass. At this point you can view into the Congo to the west and Mount Stanley to the north. From the pass, take on the long trail passing the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.
Overnight stay at: Guy Yeoman Hut. (Camp)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Hiking Day 7: Descend to Nyabitaba (2650m)
Day Itinerary
Take on the path down to Nyabitaba hut. The path can be slippery and muddy and therefore requires careful balancing over the vertical mud or steep rock. Remember this is part of the adventure within this mountain. Overnight at the campsite
Overnight stay at: Nyabitaba Hut. (Camp)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Hiking Day 8: Descend and transfer to Fort Portal
Day Itinerary
Descend gently down the muddy paths to the trailhead, and continue to the base. Debrief and refresh and meet your guide, and transfer your to your booked hotel, finally arriving in Kasese for lunch. You will later transfer to Fort Portal to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Isunga Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Entebbe. Travel time +8hrs
Day Itinerary
In the morning, you will set off to the park headquarters for briefing before going for Chimpanzee tracking, where you may encounter other primates like Vervet Monkeys, Blue Hoest Monkeys, Black and white colobus Monkeys among others. The park is known as home of primates with 13 primate’s species including the famous chimpanzees. The trek takes roughly 2 – 4 hours, depending on the chimpanzee movement. One hour will be allocated to you, to have a wonderful interaction with the chimpanzees, as you take pictures and short videos, as your local guide explains to you all the biological background of the chimpanzee as you interact. You will later return from trek and head for lunch, in the afternoon; drive off to Entebbe to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Papyrus Guest House (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Airport transfer.
Day Itinerary
Today, your safari to Uganda, comes to an end, you will have breakfast, and depending on your flight time, your driver guide will transfer you to the airport in time, to check in for your flight back home, patched with a number of travel memories. We look forward to your next visit and recommendation to friends and family. End of service!
Meal Plan: Breakfast only
This safari package includes.
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- En-route lunches
- Mount Rwenzori Hiking permits
- All park fees
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Accommodation during the trek and summiting equipment’s
- Gas for cooking
- Porters for client
- Local guides
- Rescue fee and government tax
- Services of English speaking driver/guide
- Unlimited bottles of mineral water
- Much fun on African soil
The package excludes expenses of personal nature like:
- Visa Fees & flights
- Optional activities
- Hiking equipment
- Tips for guides
- Laundry
- Alcoholic drinks
- International vaccinations & tests
- Health test requirements
- Personal travel Insurance
- Personal shopping bills
- Phone call bills
- Extras while at the hotel
- Items of personal nature
Please contact us for a free detailed quote on the option of your choice. We can tailor a request that suits your interests, and budget, as well as we can change or upgrade the lodge options. Write to us with more details about your safari.