An Epic Rwenzori, Gorilla, Chimpanzee Trekking & Wildlife Safari Uganda.
17 Days Uganda Gorilla trekking, Rwenzori trekking, Chimpanzee tracking & wildlife(Big 5) safari unveils a unique adventure to Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking, followed by a 9 day Rwenzori central circuit trekking in Rwenzori Mountains National Park, before the Big Five(5) wildlife watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park plus boat cruise on Kazinga channel. This ultimate 17 day Rwenzori, Gorilla, Chimpanzee & Wildlife safari ends with Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Highlights of the Sensational 17
Day #1-3: Chimpanzee Tracking Experience in Kibale Forest
Day #4-12: Rwenzori Mountains Trekking To Margherita Peak
Day #13: Game Drives & boat Cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day #14-16: Double Gorilla trekking
Day #17: Return To Kampala
Detailed Itinerary For 17 Days Best Of Rwenzori, Gorillas, Chimpanzees & Wildlife Safari in Uganda
Day 1: Welcome Uganda
Upon arrival on your exceptional day of arrival for the 17 day Rwenzori, gorilla & chimpanzee trekking and wildlife safari, you will be transferred to Protea hotel, where you will enjoy swimming and relax by the beach for an overnight
meals plan: Bed and Breakfast .
Day 2: Transfer To Kibale Forest National Park
From Protea Hotel, you will be transferred to Kibale Forest National Park, where you will reach after 5-6 hours drive, with enroute break stops For Lunch at the Gardens Restaurant in Fort Portal. Then after proceed to Chimpanzee forest lodge for Dinner and overnight at Chimpanzee forest lodge or at Chimpundu luxury lodge.
Day 3 Chimpanzee Tracking
Leave the hotel early in morning, for Kanyanchu Visitor center for chimpanzee tracking briefing about the code of conduct during trekking and when with them.
On arrival, you will proceed to the registration desk , where you will present your chimpanzee tracking permit plus the Passport for verification, followed by allocation of your group (of not more than 8 people) guide. With him, you will be transferred to where Chimpanzee tracking starts, then proceed to the forest to look for the Chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee trekking may take between 2 to 5 hours, depending on how far they may have moved from the previous location, and you will be allowed to be with them for at most 60 minutes. Return to pick your certificate for successfully tracking chimpanzees.
Return to the lodge for hot lunch & Dinner at Chimpundu Luxury Lodge
Day 4: Transfer to Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Kasese
After a buffet breakfast, checkout with all your belongings at 10:00am, then proceed to Rwenzori Mountains National Park base at Nyakalengijja overnight at Ruboni community rest camp or luxury equator snow lodge.
Day #5: Nyakalengijja (1651m) to Nyabitaba (2651m)
Duration: 5-6 hours
Elevation height: 1036 m
Following your breakfast, you will depart early for Rwenzori Mountaineering Services offices in Nyakalengija for registration. Thereafter briefing about your 8 days Rwenzori Trekking via central circuit will take place, followed by allocation of guide, porters, as well as renting requirements (only for those who don’t have hiking gear).
Shortly after, the trek begins, and you will trek through bakonzo farmlands to the park boundaries, which follows the Mubuku river. The trail continues through Mahoma tributary, after which you will start ascending up a steep massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut.
During this part of the journey, we can hear chimpanzees and see black and white colobus, blue monkey and brightly colored turraco Rwenzori.
Day #6: Nyabitaba (2651m) – Mubuku River (2600m) John Matte Hut (3380m)
Duration of the hike: 7-8 hours.
Elevation height: 854 m
From Nyabitaba hut, follow a trail that descends through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just beneath the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Connect then to the Bamboo forest and a long, tiring stretch of slippery moss-covered cliffs to Nyamuleju rock shelter, where youwill glimpse the Stanley Mountains (Margherita Peak (5109m)) and Speke (4890m).
Proceed then to the giant heather, lobelia and agriculture Zone, and reach John Matte’s hut (3505 m) for dinner and overnight.
Day #7: 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 #8: Bujuku (3977m) to kitandara hut (4541m).
After breakfast, leave Bujuku hut and follow a muddy area, and connect to a steep climb through a forest of giant groundsels up to the Groundsel Gully. A branch in the trail leads to Elena Hut at 4.430 m, then the trail proceeds straight to Kitandara Hut. You trek through Scott Elliot Pass ( 4.372 m), through the highest point during the central circuit, where you can see impressive panoramic views down the Bujuku valley, of Mount Baker, Mount Luigi di Savoia and Stanley just above. This is a steep, rocky route which can very slippery when wet or icy.
Overnight at Elena hut.
Day #9: Elena Hut (4541m) to Margherita peak– Kitandara hut (4027m)
Your hike starts at 3:00 am so as to reach early enough at Margherita Peak(5109m). Begin walking down the base of the Stanley Glacier. The climb takes about 5-7 hours , to reach the Margherita Peak. This depends on the weather conditions and the physical strength & Ability to climb this mountain. This challenging walk takes you over three glaciers, slippery rock, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides.
Walk through the glaciers, cross the Stanley Plateau and continue 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
Take Note That: This climb is for only physically fit and technical climbers.
Day #10: Kitandara (4027m) – Fresh field Pass (4282m) – Guy Yeoman (3450m)
Proceed with the trail that rises steeply up the headwall, emerging out from the base of Mount Baker and proceeding along the south side of the mountain to Fresh Field Pass (4282m asl.). Thereafter, take 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 #11: Acclimatization
This day is always meant for acclimatization and refreshment, otherwsie, one can opt to spend another night at the Elena Hut on the summiting day
Day #12: Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija-Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP
From Guy Yeoman, follow the route down to the the cliffs of Kichuchu, and proceed with the boggy trail beyond Kichuchu, and cross the Mubuku River twice through a bamboo forest before ascending up to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit. Continue past Nyabitaba Camp to complete your trek through Mihunga gate at Nyakalengija.
Proceed to Enganzi lodge for Dinner and overnight
Day #13: Game drives
Start your day 13, with a very early morning game drive which starts at 6:30 am. You will set off early to catch up with the cats such as Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs among others. Other common animals include large population of of elephants, hippos and , lions , cape buffalos.
Proceed with your drive to Kazinga channel for a mid afternoon boat cruise on kazinga channel which will make you get to see what it has to offer. There are a number of hippos and other aquatic animals, don’t be surprised to spot hyenas and lions at times on the river banks as they use it as hunting grounds.
Head to the Lodge for Lunch, relaxation and swimming and overnight.
Day #14: Isasha sector -Transfer to bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Have a relaxed morning breakfast, then proceed to through the Ishasha sector well known for the tree climbing lions these are famously spotted in the known fig trees. This drive will also give an ample time to spot other animals like elephants and hyenas, as well as hippos on the ishasha river seprating Congo DRC and Uganda . Lunch will be enroute at Savana resort hotel.
Proceed to Bwindi impenetrable forest / Buhoma sector for an overnight at hotel Mahogany springs.
Day #15: Mountain Gorilla trekking
On this day 14, you will rise up early for breakfast, after which, the driver guide will transfer you to the park headquarters for briefing.
Upon reaching, the ranger guide will welcome you and register you, as you wait to be briefed at 8:00am. You will given guidelines that you must adhere when looking for gorillas, when with them and when you leave them. It is from this moment that you will be allocated a gorilla group/family, after which you will set off for the gorilla such in the thick forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorilla trekking may take about 2-6 hours, depending on how far the gorillas have moved from the point they were left the previous day. On finding them, you will meet face to face with the Mountain gorilla to a maximum of 1 hour, after which you will return to the headquarters to pick your gorilla trekking certificate. The driver will then drive you back to the Hotel for lunch
We advise you to hire a porter to carry your day pack because sometimes the gorillas could be located a distance from the start of your trek, they can also help push or pull you along the steep slippery paths in the forest.
Day #16: Second Gorilla Trekking
Just like the day before, you will rise up early for breakfast, after which, the driver guide will transfer you to the park headquarters for briefing.
Upon reaching, the ranger guide will welcome you and register you, as you wait to be briefed at 8:00am. You will given guidelines that you must adhere when looking for gorillas, when with them and when you leave them. It is from this moment that you will be allocated a gorilla group/family, after which you will set off for the gorilla such in the thick forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorilla trekking may take about 2-6 hours, depending on how far the gorillas have moved from the point they were left the previous day. On finding them, you will meet face to face with the Mountain gorilla to a maximum of 1 hour, after which you will return to the headquarters to pick your gorilla trekking certificate. The driver will then drive you back to the Hotel for lunch
We advise you to hire a porter to carry your day pack because sometimes the gorillas could be located a distance from the start of your trek, they can also help push or pull you along the steep slippery paths in the forest.
Day 17: Depart For Kampala
Begin your day with breakfast. then leave for kampala with lunch enroute at Igongo Cultural museaum or at the equator, not fogetting to shop from i out of over 100 stalls of craft shops. Proceed to Entebbe to get to Entebbe by 6:30 pm. and this will mark the end of our 13 day Ruwenzori and gorillas and chimpanzees.
