20 Days Rwenzori Mountains Hike and Uganda Gorillas
20 Days Rwenzori Mountains Hike and Uganda Gorillas combines Wildlife viewing in savannah parks, Chimpanzee trekking, Rwenzori Mountains hike up to the peak and the amazing Gorilla trekking adventure. It will involve 7 of the 10 National parks in Uganda as well as other beautiful places. Parks include Rwenzori Mountains, Murchison Falls, Kibale Chimpanzee Forest, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable and Lake Mburo. These parks offer encounters to the big five, Chimpanzees, about 1100 species of birds including rare ones like the Shoebill, many other animals and authentic cultural tours.
Request a Quote
Day 1: Arrive Entebbe Airport
On arrival at Entebbe airport, you will be received and transfered to the hotel by staff from Jungle Escape Africa. Check in and rest until the next day to start your trip of 20 Days Rwenzori Mountains Hike and Uganda Gorillas.
Day 2: Drive to Murchison Falls Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Leave at 6.30am and drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary which is on your way to Murchison Falls Park. Engage in tracking the extremely endangered White Rhinos at Ziwa. You will not only witness the most successful Rhino breeding project in the world but also contribute to their survival. Proceed and cross Karuma Bridge to finally arrive at your lodge in the north of the park. Under go check-in procedures and later embark on a sundown game-drive as an initial taste on adventure. Return to your lodge and settle-in for the rest of the evening. Dinner and overnight there-in.
Day 3: Early morning Game drive and Boat cruise
Rise up early and join your driver/guide on an early morning game adventure. Look out for Buffaloes, Giraffes Elephants, Warthogs, Jackson Hartebeests, Lions, Leopards and Heynas, among others. Return to your lodging, relax and take a hot lunch.
At 1400hrs, transfer to the pier, attend briefing and embark on a boat-cruise on the serene Nile Waters to the Bottom of Murchison Falls. On the way, lookout for pirates of the Nile; Nile Crocodiles, Hippos, variety birds including the African Fish Eagle and other animals that quench their thirst on the waters of the Nile. The float finally reveals the immensely spectacular Murchison Falls. This is a perfect moment to take images of the beautiful Murchison Falls. After the great time at the bottom, return with the boat to the landing area at Para, join your driver and transfer back to the lodge.
Day 4: Visit the top of Murchison Falls en-route to Kibale Forest
Have breakfast, check-out and visit the Top of Murchison Falls where you can bear witness to the wonders of the falls. The Nile moves from being almost 80 meters wide to funnel through a 6-metre gorge creating a mayhem sound and wing of beautiful rainbow. Thereafter, embark on a long scenic ride via Masindi and Hoima Towns respectively. Break for lunch and continue along the Albertine belt to Fort Portal. Proceed to your lodging facility near Kibale National Park. Dinner and overnight therein.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Swamp tour
This early morning, wake-up and have breakfast. Transfer to the park offices to attend briefing by the Ranger-guide before entering the sanctuary to embark on your morning Chimpanzee tracking session. In addition to a large community of chimpanzees, there are 12 other primate species and approximately 400 bird species recorded in the area. Exit the park and return to your lodge for some hot lunch. Afternoon visit Bigodi wetland for more nature’s encounters.
Day 6: Drive to Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Have a leisurely breakfast at the lodge, check out and embark on the drive to Rwenzori Mountains National Park through Fort portal and Kasese towns. Arrive at the base camp at the trekkers hostel, check in and have lunch. Rest the remaining part of the day as you prepare your trekking gear for the next day’s hiking expedition.
Day 7 – 13: HIKING THE RWENZORI MOUNTAINS UPTO THE PEAK
Day 7- Hiking Day 1: From Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba Hut, 2652 M ASL
From the Rwenzori Mountains National Park headquarters at Nyakalengija, 1646M ASL, you will receive the briefing from the guides, with the possibility of hiring equipment. The hike starts through the plantations and homes of the Bakonjo, the people of the mountain, gradually reaching garden plots and elephant grass. You follow the Mobuku river, until crossing the Mahoma river.
The trail passes through an open bracken fern slope and Podocarpus Forest, up to Nyabitaba Hut, 2.652 m., which is the arrival point for the day. This will take from 5 to 6 hours. From the location, you are facing on the North the Portal Peaks, 4.627 m. and in front Mount Kyniangoma. During the day, you might see monkeys, the Rwenzori Turaco and hearing the chimpanzees.
Day 8- Hiking Day 2: Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte Hut, 3.414 M ASL
From Nyabitaba Hut you cross the Kurt Shaffer Bridge, through a muddy area along the Mubuku river. Then the trail climbs up through the bamboo forest. You reach a steep rocky area, which leads to Nyamuleju Hut. This point marks the start of the giant lobelia and groundsel zone. The way proceeds through a bog full of typical plants along the Bujuku river. The final point is John Matte Hut, 3.414 m. for spending the night. From Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte it can take approximately 6 hours. Enjoy the view of Mount Stanley and snow-capped Margherita and Elena Peaks.
Day 9 – Hiking Day 3: John Matte Hut to Bujuku Hut, 3.962 M ASL
From John Matte Hut you cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower Bigo bog, a grassy bog where you experience how to jump from tussock to tussock. You reach Bigo Hut and enter the upper Bigo bog, proceeding to Lake Bujuku, where it is starting the alpine savannah zone of little vegetation. You finally arrive at Bujuku Hut, 3.962 m. This day hike can take up to 5 hours. There you have a view on the peaks of Mount Stanley, Mount Baker and Mount Speke.
Day 10 – Hiking Day 4: Bujuku Hut to Elena Hut, 4.540 M ASL
From Bujuku Hut you climb through moss draped groundsel vegetation, to Scott Elliot Pass, 4.372 m., between Mt. Baker and Stanley. Here you divert to Elena Hut, 4.540 m. for spending the night before climbing Mt. Stanley.
Day 11 – Hiking Day 5: Elena Hut to Kitandara Hut, 4.023 M ASL
From Elena Hut you ascend the last tract of rock and ice which leads to Margherita Peak on Mt. Stanley, 5.109 m. Time to complete the climbing about 3 hours. The peak was first climbed by the Duke of Abruzzi at 9.30am on 18th June 1.906. After you descend to Upper Kitandara lake and through thick mud to Lower Kitandara lake where is located Kitandara Hut, 4.023 m where you will spend the night. Time to complete the hike about 3 hours more. From Kitandara Hut you can proceed for climbing Mount Baker or Mount Luigi di Savoia and the peak Vittorio Sella. Enjoy the view of Mt. Luigi di Savoia.
DAY 12 – Hiking Day 6 : From Kitandara Hut to Guy Yeoman Hut, 3.261 M ASL
From Lake Kitandara you climb to Freshfield Pass, 4.282 m., a long flat of high alpine mossy glades, before descending the circuit among rocky and boggy areas. The panorama is dominated by the glaciers of Mounts Stanley and Baker and Mount of Savoy. A muddy trail leads to Akendahi, Bujongolo and Kabamba rock shelters, where starts the Kabamba valley down to Guy Yeoman Hut, 3.261 m. This can take up to 6 hours. The hut is surrounded by a beautiful landscape of mountains, vegetations and rivers.
DAY 13 – Hiking Day 7: Final descent back to Nyakalengija from Guy Yeoman Hut
The trail is attractive along the valley of the Mobuku and Kichuchu rivers, rich in plants and flowers of the heather zone before reaching the bamboo forest. See Kabamba falls on the way. Time to reach Nyabitaba Hut is about 4 hours. From Nyabitaba starts the 40 minutes trail to see Lake Mahoma and back to the hut for descending to the park head quarters. The trail takes more 2 to 3 hours. At the finishing point your safari guide meets you and takes you to the lodge by Queen Elizabeth national park to rest after your big hiking adventure.
Day 14: Morning relaxation, afternoon Kazinga Channel boat cruise
Spend the morning relaxing at the lodge after your hike in the Rwenzori mountains as you enjoy great views of the park. After lunch at the lodge, take a relaxing boat ride on Kazinga Channel. This is a 32km channel which links Lake Edward and Lake George. This channel is said to contain the world’s largest concentration of Hippos. Be ready to see land and water adapted hippopotamuses yawning and some slashing canines to each other and the National Geographical society killing machine, the Nile crocodile, gaping along the banks. Return to your lodge after the boat ride for dinner and overnight.
Day 15: Ishasha Tree Lions Game Drive
Check out of the lodge and drive to Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park and home to the tree climbing lions. Through a network of trails here, avenues for encountering the magical tree climbing lions are availed. The sights of these big cats hanging up in the fig trees are so incredible! Expect to spot other savannah inhabitants on your search for the tree lions.
Day 16: Ishasha to Bwindi Gorillas Park
Wake up to the sounds of nature and have breakfast before setting out on another game drive for your last chance on the tree lions. Check out of Ishasha and drive to Bwindi Gorillas Park. Evening Bwindi community visit.
Day 17: Gorilla trekking day
This day marks the summit of your Uganda Safari, it’s for tracking the endangered Mountain Gorillas. Wake up very early for breakfast and prepare well for the trekking activity. With your packed lunch boxes, rain gear and drinking water, drive to the park headquarters for the general briefing conducted by the head ranger. Pick walking sticks, hire a porter (not a must) and ascend to the forest following your allocated guide and rangers who shall lead you to where the Gorillas were last seen the previous evening so that you start trekking them. It can take 1 to several hours trekking through a physically demanding terrain. Follow and photograph them for one hour after finding them. Check out of the forest and drive back to the lodge to relax the remaining part of the day.
Day 18: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, Boat ride
Check out after breakfast and drive to Lake Bunyonyi for a boat ride and relaxation. Check into your lodge on arrival and rest until lunch. Step out in the afternoon to explore Lake Bunyonyi and its islands with a boat. Evening relaxation as you enjoy the views of the lake from your lodge.
Day 19: Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo Park, night game drive
The views of the beautiful lake that you shall wake up to here shall likely give your breakfast a special taste. Check out of your lodge and later transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. Lunch at the lodge and have some rest. Night game drive for chances on the elusive cats specifically the leopards and others.
Day 20: Game walk and Flight back home
Check out of your lodge and return to the park for a game walk to see animals up-close. Check out and embark on a purely scenic drive to Entebbe airport. Stops shall be made for photography and the one for lunch at the Equator Restaurant. After the last photo moments at the Equator, continue to the airport to check in for your flight back home. End of the 20 Days Rwenzori Mountains Hiking Safari and Uganda Gorillas.