13 day Rwenzori & Primate trekking safari
13 day Rwenzori & Primate trekking safari covers 12 nights Rwenzori trekking, Chimpanzee tracking & Gorilla trekking. This 13 days Rwenzori & Primate trekking safari visits Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Rwenzori National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Also, the ultimate 13 days Rwenzori trekking, chimpanzee tracking & gorilla trekking safari offers an 8 day Rwenzori trekking to the highest point of Margherita of the central circuit route, and an absolute 1 hour interaction with chimpanzees as well as Gorillas in their Natural habitat not forgetting the accommodation in Luxury lodges of: Chimpundu, Protea hotel by Marriot, Equator Snow Lodge, Enganzi Lodge & Mahoganu Springs respectively.
Highlights of the 13 Day Uganda Trekking Safari
Day #1: Arrival-Transfer to Best Western Hotel or Protea By Marriot
Day #2: FlyTo Kibale National Park
Day #3: Chimpanzee Trekking Transfer Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Day #4 : Nyakalengijja(1615m) to Nyabitaba Hut (2651m)-Meet your guide who will transfer you for briefing
Day #5: Nyabitaba (2651m) – Mubuku River (2600m) John Matte Hut (3380m)
Day #6: John Matte (3380m) to Bujuku (3962m)
Day #7: Bujuku (3977m) to kitandara hut (4541m).
Day #8: Elena Hut (4541m) to Margherita peak– Kitandara hut (4027m)-Margherita Peak
Day #9: Kitandara (4027m) – Fresh field Pass (4282m) – Guy Yeoman (3450m)
Day #10: Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day #11: Morning Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise – Transfer To Bwindi Impentrable National Park
Day #12: Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Day #13. Departure
Itinerary Highlight fior 13 days Uganda Rwenzori, Gorillas & Chimpanzee Safari
Day #1: Arrival-Transfer to Best Western Hotel or Protea By Marriot
This is reserved as the day of arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be received by our guide who will welcome you and after drive you to Best western hotel or protea hotel by mariot
Day #2: FlyTo Kibale National Park
After breakfast, transfer to Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip for a flight to Kisoro Airstrip, then transfer by road to Kibale Forest National Park, & proceed to Chimpundu luxury lodge
Day #3: Chimpanzee Trekking Transfer Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Leave the hotel early in morning chimpanzee trekking which will give ample time to enjoy your time with our cousins, after trekking, we shall return to the lodge for hot lunch after we proceed to mountains of the moon at base at Nyakalengijja
Overnight at Equator snow lodge
Day #4 : Nyakalengijja(1615m) to Nyabitaba Hut (2651m)-Meet your guide who will transfer you for briefing
Here we will have instructions from the park rangers and an introduction to the route,as well as meeting with our guides and porters. After that, we will embark on a journey along a path that passes through a dense forest along the Mubuku River, crosses its tributary of the Mahoma River, and then a long climb to the massive ridge, along which you will reach the Nyabitaba hut (2651 m). During this part of the journey, we can hear chimpanzees and see 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
Day #5: Nyabitaba (2651m) – Mubuku River (2600m) John Matte Hut (3380m)
After breakfast, from Nyabitaba hut we will follow a trail that descends through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Next, we will pass a bamboo forest and a long, tiring stretch of slippery moss-covered cliffs. From the Nyamuleju rock shelter, we will see the Stanley Mountains (Margherita Peak (5109m)) and Speke (4890m). And then we will find ourself in the zone of giant heather, lobelia and agriculture. Finally reach John Matte’s hut (3505 m). Dinner and overnight at the hut. Duration of the hike: 7-8 hours. Elevation height: 854 m
John matte camp
Day #6: John Matte (3380m) to Bujuku (3962m)
From John Matte Hut, the trail drops down to cross the Bujuku River and enters the Lower Bigo Bog, the home of giant lobelias. Will enjoy the beautiful but hypnotising boardwalk through the open valley. Transition through a steep forested section to the upper Bigo bog which gives way to Lake Bujuku, with views of Mount Baker to the south and Mount Stanley to the west. This 4-5 hour hike ends at Bujuku hut. Bujuku is also a launchpad for climbing Mount Speke.
Overnight at Bujuku camp
Day #7: Bujuku (3977m) to kitandara hut (4541m).
From Bujuku Hut, after a muddy area, will start a steep climb through a forest of giant groundsels up to the Groundsel Gully. A branch in the trail leads to Elena Hut, 4.430 m, then the trail proceeds directly to Kitandara Hut. You walk through Scott Elliot Pass, 4.372 m., the highest point during the central circuit, where you can enjoy stunning 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 #8: Elena Hut (4541m) to Margherita peak– Kitandara hut (4027m)-Margherita Peak
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 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. Prepare for you 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 Kitandara
Day #9: Kitandara (4027m) – Fresh field Pass (4282m) – Guy Yeoman (3450m)
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 (4282m asl.) From the pass, take on the long high alpine mossy trail. Thereafter start the descent 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 we arrive for an overnight at Guy Yeoman hut after 6-7 hours.
Overnight at Guyoman or move to John matte
Day #10: Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends 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.
Proceed to Enganzi lodge for an overnight
Day #11: Morning Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise – Transfer To Bwindi Impentrable National Park
Enjoy a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth where you will see plenty of elephants,hippos and , lions and cape buffalos, in the mid afternoon , you will enjoy the boat cruise on kazinga channel which will make you get to see what kazinga channel has. after transfer to bwindi Buhoma section of Bwindi impenetrable National Park.
Dinner & overnight in Mahogany
Day #12: Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Leave for the early morning breakfast, with packed lunch to assemble to the gorilla trekking point, enjoy the briefing, then after, you will take a walk into the jungle to search for the gorillas, the duration might be 3-5 hours after that we shall return back to our lodge for relaxation and overnight
Day #13. Departure
The day begins with breakfast after we shall drive back to Kampala with lunch enroute at Igongo. Proceed to Entebbe if time allows , we can visit the Entebbe wildlife center after this we drive you to Entebbe airport and this will mark the end of our 13 day Rwenzori and gorillas and chimpanzees.
