Countries: Rwanda and Uganda
Destinations: Kigali, Volcanoes National Park, Mgahinga National Park, Rwenzori Mountain National Park, Kibale National Park and Entebbe.
Itinerary at Glance
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
Day 2: Hike Mount Kabuye and transfer to Musanze
Day 3: Transfer to hike Mount Bisoke at Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Hike Mount Karisimbi at Volcanoes National Park
Day 5: Descend Mount Karisimbi at Volcanoes National Park
Day 6: Hike Dian Fossey tomb and transfer to Kisoro – Uganda
Day 7: Hike Mount Muhabura at Mgahinga National Park
Day 8: Hike Mount Sabyinyo at Mgahinga National Park
Day 9: Transfer to Kasese
Day 10: Start hike to Nyabitaba Hut (2650m).
Day 11: Hike to John Matte Hut (3350m)
Day 12: Hike to Bujuku Hut (3962m)
Day 13: Hike to Elena Hut (4541m).
Day 14: Hike to Margherita peak (5109m).
Day 15: Hike to Guy Yeoman Hut (3260m)
Day 16: Descend to Nyabitaba (2650m)
Day 17: Descend and transfer to Fort Portal
Day 18: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Entebbe
Day 19: Departure
Trip Overview
The 19 Days epic Rwanda Uganda Volcano hiking adventure tour, takes you to Rwanda and Uganda, to explore the great Virunga Volcano massive that is shared by the two countries and Mountain Rwenzori. You will undertake a great hiking challenge of Mount Kabuye as you head to Volcanoes National Park, for Mount Bisoke, Mount Karisimbi and Dian Fossey Tomb hike, crossing over to Uganda, to hike Mount Sabyinyo, and Mount Muhabura at Mgahinga National Park, before transfer to Kasese to hike one of the most challenging mountains, thus Mountain Rwenzori, known as “Mountain of the Moon”. 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. This is an exclusive real hiking adventure experience, for those who love hiking outdoors. Let’s take on the challenge!
The trip starts with arrival in Kigali and departure in Entebbe!
Trip Highlights
- Mount Karisimbi hike in Rwanda
- Mount Rwenzori hiking experience
- Mount Bisoke hike in Rwanda
- Mount Muhabura hike in Uganda
- Mount Sabyinyo hike in Uganda
- Dian Fossey tomb hike
- Mount Sabyinyo hike
- Mount Kabuye hike
- Hiking adventure experience
- Chimpanzee trekking experience
- Primate experience
- Community experience
- Countryside experience
- Wildlife experience
- Bird life experience
- Road drive experience
Day 1: Airport Transfer to Hotel.
Day Itinerary
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will go through customs and immigration, and you will be met by our company representative who will warmly welcome you to Rwanda – the Land of a thousand hills and later drive to your booked hotel accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Chez Lando Hotel
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Hike Mount Kabuye and transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Day Itinerary
Today after taking your early morning breakfast, at 6 am, jump onto your jeep, find your way to Nyirangarama, meet your local guide, and head off, for Mount Kabuye hike. Reaching 2,700 meters (8,800 feet) above sea level, Mount Kabuye is the third highest non-volcanic mountain in Rwanda behind Mount Muhungwe and Mount Bigugu. Enjoy a beautiful hike to the top of Rwanda’s Mount Kabuye in the ‘land of a thousand hills’. Soak up the panoramic views of the surrounding landscape with its scenic hills and lakes. Along the way see the lives of the local community and visit a primary school. You will be accompanied by a local guide and porters. Its summit is embellished with volcanic rocks and lush forest vegetation.
The starting point, approximately 1,600 meters (5,249 feet) which rewards you with a great view of the village, plantation, as you stroll around with a wonderful guided walk. The hike is roughly a 4 hours hike, with a great breathtaking scenery, of the rolling hills and valleys. The final 100-meter gradient is physically taxing, but not extremely strenuous.
Reaching 2,700 meters (8,800 feet) above sea level, Mount Kabuye is the third highest non-volcanic mountain in Rwanda behind Mount Muhungwe and Mount Bigugu. Its summit is embellished with volcanic rocks and lush forest vegetation.
Overall, this activity’s level of difficulty is moderate. While on the summit, stroll around the crest and feel the invigorating effect of the eucalyptus-scented, gentle wind. Take a minute to admire the panorama of the twin lakes. On a good day, the view of Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabyinyo volcanoes will take your breath away.
On the other side of the loop, you will be awestruck by the blurry appearance of Bisoke, Mikeno and Karisimbi. From this viewpoint, the three volcanoes look like paintings in the sky. Later return descend and will proceed with a drive to Musanze through the magnificent route to your booked accommodation. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Overnight stay at: La Palme Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Hike Mount Bisoke.
Day Itinerary
Have a warm breakfast at your lodge, later pick your picnic lunch, meet your guide and transfer to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi, where you will receive a briefing from the park ranger at RDB Office, before heading for your Mount Bisoke hiking adventure. Start the climb; you climb to the top of Bisoke volcano, which stands at an elevation of 3711 m above the sea level and take a look at her beautiful Crater Lake and back to Musanze. The hike takes roughly 5 – 7 hours depending on how fit and fast your group is on hiking experience. Later return, meet your driver guide, and drive to your booked accommodation for refreshment, later dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: La Palme Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Hike Mount Karisimbi
Day Itinerary
Have an early morning breakfast, as today you’re up for a great challenge, thus hiking Mount Karisimbi in two day. You will need to be in very good shape, so as to be able to submit the mountain in a short time. Your guide will meet you very early by 6 am, and proceed to drive to park headquarters for briefing and later head off for the hiking adventure. Later head off, for the Mount Karisimbi hike. You will undertake the hike to the summit of mount Karisimbi which stands at 4507 meter above sea level, roughly 6 – 7 hour’s hike. You will head with packed lunch and water with you. You will need to bring along some snacks and energy drinks. You will reach at the camp, and retire at your own leisure at your camp with a beautiful view. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Overnight stay at: Camping
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Descend Mount Karisimbi a
Day Itinerary
Have a relaxed mouthwatering breakfast, you will set off to reach the peak of Mount Karisimbi standing at 4507 m, which offers you a stunning scenery. Upon reaching the summit, you will later descend down with an en route lunch. Later proceed and reach at the base, meet your guide who will transfer you, for refreshment at the hotel in Musanze. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel
Overnight stay at: La Palme Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Dian Fossey Tomb hike and transfer to Kisoro
Day Itinerary
Early in the morning, you will receive a briefing from the park ranger at RDB Office, before heading for your hiking adventure. Start the climb; you climb to Dian Fossey grave yard on a guided trail, with a great informative ranger guide, who will share with you the entire story of Dian Fossey’s life at the park, and her great work towards gorilla conservation. The hike takes roughly 5 – 7 hours round trip, depending on your hiking experience, and the hiking group of that day. You will later return and drive off to Kisoro, through the Cyanika border, to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Ichumbi Hotel Kisoro
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7: Transfer to Hike Mount Muhabura.
Day Itinerary
Meet your guide at your hotel after an early morning breakfast, share a short briefing, and later proceed with your drive to Mgahinga National Park, where you will get ready for a challenging hike, as you meet your park hiking guide with your packed lunch, where you will undertake Mount Muhabura hiking. The mountain is 4127 m above sea level and it takes 5 – 6 hours of hiking. You will enjoy the beautiful view that this mountain rewards with great flowers along the way. The hiking is a bit challenging and you need to be in good shape, but the scenery along the way is rewarding. You will later return to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Ichumbi Hotel Kisoro
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8: Hike Mountain Sabyinyo
Day Itinerary
Today, we head for another amazing hiking challenge, to take on Sabyinyo, which rewards you with a great experience, of viewing the 3 countries, from one stand. Due to the extremely rugged nature of the terrain along the Sabyinyo’s slopes that has many craters with sharp ridges, the mountain cannot be trekked in the other two countries except in Uganda where they have managed to work out a safe trekking route to the summit, though with a very challenging trails that includes improvising handmade ladders to assist climbers at very steep sections. Standing at 3645 m, Mount Sabyinyo, is one of the most exciting volcanoes, which offers a great hiking adventure. Peak 3 is reached by a steep and muddy scramble. The borders of three countries converge on this summit and you will find yourself simultaneously in Rwanda, Congo and Uganda. The 14 km round trip takes about 8 hours. You will later return in the evening, and retire at your lodge, refresh and later dinner and overnight stay
Overnight stay at: Ichumbi Hotel Kisoro
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9: Transfer to Kasese. Travel time + 5hrs
Day Itinerary
Have a relaxed early morning breakfast at your lodge, meet your guide, share a short briefing, and find your way to Kasese, with 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: Sandton Hotel Lodge (Standard)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10 – 17: 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 (Hut)
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 (Hut)
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 (Hut)
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 (Hut)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Hiking Day 5: Hike to Margherita peak (5109m).
Day Itinerary
For those aiming at summiting 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 (Hut)
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 (Hut)
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 (Hut)
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 18: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Entebbe. Travel time +7hrs
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 19: Airport transfer.
Day Itinerary
Today, your safari to Rwanda – 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
- Mount Rwenzori Hiking permits
- Mount Karisimbi hike permit
- Mount Bisoke hike permit
- Mount Sabyinyo hike permit
- Mount Muhabura hike permit
- Mount Kabuye hike
- Dian Fossey Tomb hike permit
- Kigali city tour
- All park fees
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Accommodation during the trek and Summiting equipment’s
- Gas for cooking
- Porters for client
- En-route lunches
- 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.