13 Day Rwenzori Margherita Peak, Chimpanzee & GorillaTrek
13 days Rwenzori Margherita Peak Trek, Gorillas & Chimpanzees. Take the ultimate journey to Kibale Forest National Park for morning (0800 hours) chimpanzee tracking, followed by 7 days Rwenzori Mountains trekking to Magherita peak along the Central circuit route (Nyabitaba hut, John Matte hut, Bujuku hut, Elena hut, Kitandara hut, Guyeoman hut). Thereafter, proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park for an ultimate game drives and boat cruise on the Kazinga channel , then end with the great Gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Highlights For 13 Days Rwenzori (Margherita Peak ) trek, Gorillas & Chimpanzees
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 2: 8:am Chimpanzee trekking – Transfer to Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Day 3: Trek to Nyabitabah Hut (2651m)
Day 4: Trek To John Matte (3380m)
Day 5: John Matte (3380m) to Bujuku (3962m)
Day 6: Bujuku (3977m) to kitandara hut (4541m).
Day 7 : Elena Hut (4541m) to Margherita peak– Kitandara hut (4027m)
Day 8 : Kitandara (4027m) – Fresh field Pass (4282m) – Guy Yeoman (3450m)
Day 9: Acclimatisation Day
Day 10: Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija
Day 11. Game Drives and boat cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 12. Incredible Gorilla Trekking
Day 13. Return to Entebbe
Detailed Itinerary For 13 Days Rwenzori (Margherita Peak ) trek, Gorillas & Chimpanzees
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Early pick up from your accommodation, for an approximately 5-6 hours transfer by road to Kibale Forest National Park. Enroute, you will have lunch at the Gardens restaurant or one of your choice. You will arrive for your dinner and night settlement at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge.
Day 2: 8:am Chimpanzee trekking – Transfer to Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Wake up to a sumptuous breakfast very early in the morning so as to catch up with the briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Center. Upon arrival, you will follow up the registration procedure (your passport and chimpanzee tracking permit are a must have for you to register), then you will be briefed about the code of conduct for tracking chimpanzees.
In a group of 8 along with an signed ranger guide, you will be transferred to the point where chimpanzee trekking begins. Deep into the forest, you will follow trails as guided by the ranger guide, until you find the chimpanzees, where you will be allowed to interract with them for atmost 1hour, followed by an award of a chimpanzee certificate, upon the success of tracking chimpanzees at the Visitor’s center when you return.
Time for lunch will find you at the Hotel, then continue with your journey to mountains of the moon at the base in Nyakalengijja or at Ruboni community rest camp
Day 3: Trek to Nyabitabah Hut (2651m)
Following your morning admin, have breakfast, then transfer by 4×4 to the briefing point at the headquarters, where you will meet your porters, cooks and guide. The day trek kicks off with a 30mins – 1 hour’s walk to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park gate, for registration and confirmation, then the real journey to Margheritah peak begins. The guide will then lead you along the path that passes through a dense forest, Bakonzo farmlands, tributaries of Bujuku and Mahoma River. Join the massive ridge, along which you will reach the Nyabitaba hut (2651 m).
During this part of the journey, You will can hear sounds of chimpanzees and also encounter black and white colobus, blue monkey and brightly colored turraco Rwenzori. Duration of the hike: 6-7 hours. Elevation height: 1036 m
Overnight at Nyabitaba
Duration: 5-6 hours trek
Day 4: Trek To John Matte (3380m)
Duration of the hike: 7-8 hours.
Elevation height: 854 m
Nyabitaba (2651m) – Mubuku River (2600m) John Matte Hut (3380m)
Following your breakfast Early in the Morning, go along with the guide through a trail that descends to the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just beneath the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers.
Then walk passed the bamboo forest, and connect to the strenuous and slippery stretch of moss-covered cliffs to Nyamuleju rock shelter, where you will stop for Lunch. You will aslo enjoy the stunning views of the Stanley Mountains (Margherita Peak (5109m)) and Speke (4890m) on a clear day. Proceed with the walk to the giant heather zone, lobelia and agriculture, and later arrive at John Matte’s hut for Dinner (3505 m).
Day 5: John Matte (3380m) to Bujuku (3962m)
After breakfast, descend down to cross the Bujuku River, that leads you to the Lower Bigo Bog, the home of giant lobelias. You will love the beautiful scenery, as you trek on the hypnotising boardwalk in the open valley.
You will connect to through the steep forested section to the upper Bigo bog which gives way to Lake Bujuku, with impressive views of Mount Baker to the south and Mount Stanley to the west, ending at Bujuku hut after 4-5 hours.
Bujuku is also a launchpad for climbing Mount Speke.
Day 6: Bujuku (3977m) to kitandara hut (4541m).
Breakfast in the morning, then ascend up through a forest of giant groundsels to the Groundsel Gully. You will arrive at the junction where one branch in the trail leads to Elena Hut, 4.430 m, while the other to directly to Kitandara Hut. Proceed through Scott Elliot Pass, 4.372 m., the highest point during the central circuit, so as to enjoy incredible panoramic views down the Bujuku valley, of Mount Baker, Mount Luigi di Savoia and Stanley just above. This is a steep, rocky trail which when is wet or icy can be very slippery.
Overnight at Elena hut.
Day 7 : Elena Hut (4541m) to Margherita peak– Kitandara hut (4027m)
This day trek starts at 0300 hours so as to reach Margherita peak (5109m),and descend to kitandara hut. Descend to the base of the Stanley Glacier, and climb up to reach Margherita peak. The climb, depending on the group’s physical strength, ability and weather, will take approximately 5-7 hours depending on the climate conditions, as you will trek over three glaciers, slippery rocks, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides. (Note that this climb is for only physically fit and technical climbers).
You will continue climbing on to the glaciers, cross the Stanley Plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and coolly 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.
Upon successfully reaching the summit, descend through the Scott-Elliot pass, where there are impressive views back to Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke, up to Mount Stanley , then to the Kitandara Lakes. Continue along the trail that passes you through an alpine zone of scattered vegetation and rough boulders, slope past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight at the Kitandara
Day 8 : Kitandara (4027m) – Fresh field Pass (4282m) – Guy Yeoman (3450m)
Have breakfast, and commence your trek with a steep hike up the headwall, spreading out beneath the edges of Mount Baker and proceeding along the south side of the mountain to the Fresh Field Pass (4282m asl.) Connect to the long high alpine mossy trail, and begin descending through steep rocky trails and the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906, until you arrive for an overnight at Guy Yeoman hut after 6-7 hours.
Overnight at Guyoman or move to John matte
Day 9: Acclimatisation Day
Take a full day rest so as to acclimatize and refresh, with an optional second night at Elena since the day of summiting is a bit hectic
Day 10: Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija
As you say good buy to the cold days and nights, trek downwards from Guy Yeoman to the cliffs of Kichuchu. Beyond Kichuchu the boggy path crosses the Mubuku River twice through a bamboo forest before climbing up to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit. Continue past Nyabitaba Camp to complete your trek through Mihunga gate to Nyakalengija, at the base ( meet end of the trek)
Have Lunch and proceed to Enganzi lodge for an overnight
Day 11. Game Drives and boat cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park
Rise up early to catch up with cats like Leopards, Lions from hunting, and proceed with the game drive, before breakfast at 9:30 am. Expect to spot plenty of elephants, hippos, lions and cape buffaloes, then in the mid afternoon , proceed enjoy the boat cruise on kazinga channel which will make you get to see what kazinga channel has.
Lunch will be enroute as you proceed to bwindi ruhijja section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, reaching for an overnight at Gorilla mist lodge
Day 12. Incredible Gorilla Trekking
Take breakfast early in the morning, then along with packed lunch, proceed to the park headquarters for briefing, where you will be allocated a group, a gorilla family plus a guide.
Dive into the thick forest to search for the gorillas,, as you follow the guide’s instructions, and upon finding them, you will be allowed to interact with them for at most 60 minutes, while you take photos.
Return for your certificate, that will prove, you successfully trekked gorillas, then return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 13. Return to Entebbe
Have a relaxed breakfast, then drive back to kampala with lunch enroute at Igongo Cultural museum. Proceed to Entebbe by 6:30 pm, this will mark the end of your 13 day Rwenzori and gorillas and chimpanzees.
The package includes:
Gorilla permit.
Ground Transportation
Ruwenzori days of Hike to Margarita( central circuit)
Accommodation and meals as on the itinerary
English speaking guide
Gorilla permit
Chimpanzee permit
Boat ride in queen Elizabeth park
Park entrance
Ice climbing equipment (ice axe, crampons, helmet, harness and ropes
As well as gumboots
Accommodation on the mountain (wooden hut )
Meals as you hike
2 ranger guides
2 porters per person
Cheff/cook
The price excludes:
Air ticket, Visas, Laundry (is included on the 5star , Tips, Hiking gear.
other personal expenses not included in the package.
Night of 20th june in Entebbe is not included
VISA:you all need a visa to enter Uganda application is done online
Vaccine: Yellow fever is still required. Make sure you are up to date
