15 Days Mount Rwenzori Hike, Wildlife & Primates Safari
15 Days Mount Rwenzori Hike, Wildlife & Primates Safari is one of the most incredible tours to do on your Uganda tour. Mountain Rwenzori hiking safaris take you to hike Africa’s third-highest point – Margarita peak. Mount Rwenzori national park is one of Uganda’s national parks with the most fascinating and unique attraction as it is the only place in Uganda to find snow. It is also known as “The Mountain of the Moon” with a peak at about 5,109 meters above sea level. Mount Rwenzori is blessed with a wide range of flora and fauna as you climb all the way through different vegetation zones with plenty of giant lobelias, flowers, tress, bamboo forest and some montane cloud forests and other vegetation. Climb through meandering rivers and valleys, creating a significant Rwenzori hiking experience. Hiking Rwenzori Mountain is a worldwide opportunity to see nature at its best. Rwenzori hike to the central circuit tour takes 6-8 days trek on the Rwenzori Mountain on Uganda mountain climbing adventure.
Your 15 Days Mount Rwenzori Hike, Wildlife & Primates Safari is also blended with wildlife and primates experience featuring visit to Queen Elizabeth national park, second largest national park in Uganda and home to the climbing lions in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth national park is located on the Leeward side of Mount Rwenzori making the moisture and the wind dry. The park is blessed with about 93 different animal species and 900 registered bird species. It is also close to the Kazinga channel that connects the 2 lakes of George and Edward.
Bwindi Impenetrable national park is one of Uganda’s oldest national park with diverse rainforest of over 25,000 years ago and contains about 400 plant species. Bwindi Impenetrable national park inhabits half of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas in the world and it is divided into 4 sectors including; Buhoma sector which is the oldest trekking sector, Rushaga sector which has the largest number of gorilla families, Ruhija sector and finally Nkuringo sector. Bwindi forest also shelters some species of mammals including the forest elephants and the different species of antelopes. The park is also rich with different bird species including Albertine Rift endemics. Your Uganda Safaris tours will end with relaxation activities. Lake Bunyonyi is deepest lake in East Africa with 44 – 900 meters deep and with about 29 islands. When you think of a place to relax and chill after gorilla trekking before going back home, Lake Bunyonyi is the best place because of its cool weather and freshness of the breeze
Highlights of the 15 Days Mount Rwenzori Hike, Wildlife & Primates Safari
- Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe airport – Kampala
- Day 2: Transfer to Kasese – Mount Rwenzori national Park (Appx. 9 hours)
- Day 3: Climb – to Nyabitaba through Bakonjo homestead:
- Day 4: John Matte hut
- Day 5: Bujuku Hut
- Day 6: Mount Stanley
- Day 7: summit Margherita;
- Day 8: Climb Mt Stanley to Guy Yeoman Hut
- Day 9: Climb Nyabitaba
- Day 10: Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija
- Day 11: Lion tracking/morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
- Day 12: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
- Day 13: Gorilla trekking experience
- Day 14: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 15: Transfer to Kampala – Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe airport – Kampala
Upon arrival at Entebbe international airport, meet your safari who will be with you throughout the whole safari. Meet and greet then transfer to your booked hotel in Kampala city. Depending on your time of arrival, you will get time to explore Kampala city visiting some of the main Kampala attractions like the Gadaffi mosque, Art and craft markets, Uganda Museum, Uganda Independence monument to mention a few. Dinner will be served at your hotel stay at
- Luxury accommodation: Kampala Serena Hotel/Sheraton Hotel
- Mid-range accommodation: Fairway Hotel/Skyz Hotel Nakuru
- Budget accommodation: Forest Cottages
Day 2: Transfer to Kasese – Mount Rwenzori national Park
After breakfast at your hotel, check-out of the hotel and embark on your journey to Kasese district, home of the Rwenzori Mountain ranges in Uganda. It’s a 8-9 hours’ drive via Mubende – Fort portal highway with en-route lunch break and visit the crater lakes in Fort portal town before you proceed to Kasese which is about 2-3 hours from Fort portal town. Upon arrival in Kasese town, continue to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay with scenic views of the Rwenzori mountain ranges.
- Budget option: Springs International Hotel
- Mid-range option: Magherita hotel
- Luxury option: Equator Snow lodge
Day 3: Climb – to Nyabitaba (2,650 meters) through Bakonjo homestead:
Have breakfast and then drive to Nyakalengija trailhead (1600m) where you will start hiking up to Nyabitaba hut; walking through the banana sambas on the side of the steep foothills, past the typical Bakonjo homesteads! Follow the trail along the Mubuku River, through landslides and up and down rocks and bluffs, Cross the Mahoma River and climb steeply through break fern slopes and podocarpus forest to Nyabitaba Hut for overnight.
Day 4: John Matte hut (3,350 meters)
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. You will reach John Matte Hut after passing through the tiring bog, for Dinner and Overnight at the Hut.
Day 5: Bujuku Hut
After John Matte Hut, the trail drops to cross the Bujuku River. 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 Steinmann pass.
Day 6: Mount Stanley
Leaving Bujuku, the trail climbs the steep slopes west of the lake, passing through the magical Groundsels 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 splits into two. The right leads up to Elena Hut and Mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders. The left path leads to Scott. Elliot passes and down to Kitandara Lakes.
Day 7: Summit Margherita – 5,109 meters
When climbing Margherita peak , continue to the base of the Stanley Glacier. It can be a four to seven hour walk to the summit of Margherita. It is only for the physically fit and is a technical climb which requires roping up, crampons and appropriate equipment for cold, windy and icy conditions. It is best to attempt the final climb in a minimum group of 4- two climbers and two guides; climb on to the glacier, cross the Stanly Plateau and proceed with the ascent. Returning to Scott- Elliot pass, descend to the Kitandara Hut for overnight, past the Kitandara Lakes.
Day 8: Climb Mount Stanley to Guy Yeoman Hut – 3,260 meter
From Kitandara, the trail 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. From the pass, the long muddy descent continues, passing the rock shelter at Bujangolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906.
Day 9: Climb Nyabitaba -2,650 meters
The path down can be slippery and muddy with little to hold on to and requires careful balancing over the vertical mud or steep rock. An overnight stop at the Nyabiaba Hut
Day 10: Climb Nyakalengija – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Descend Nyabitaba and continue via Nyakalengija taking about 3 hours. At Nyabitaba start the 40 minutes trial to see Lake Mamoha and back to the hut for descending to the Park headquarter. Upon reaching the park headquarters, meet your safari guide and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. It’s about 2 hours’ drive from Mount Rwenzori national park. When you reach your booked lodge, check-in, have lunch and relax for the rest of the day with excellent views of the mountain. Dinner and overnight at
- Budget option: Pumba Safari lodge
- Mid-range option: Parkview Safari lodge
- Luxury option: Mweya Safari lodge
Day 11: Lion tracking/morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
You will wake up early, have breakfast and transfer for your lion tracking experience, this activity is only done in Queen Elizabeth national park, where visitors are guaranteed of viewing lions. Also enjoy an en-route game drive with expectation of seeing more animals including antelopes, warthogs and white Colobus monkeys just to mention a few.
In the afternoon after lunch, you will go for a launch cruise along Kazinga channel where you will get an opportunity to see a number of bird species, elephants and buffaloes, hippos and crocodiles at the lake shores. Return to the lodge and relax, dinner and overnight
Day 12: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park. It’s a 5-7 hours’ drive depending on your gorilla trekking sector with en-route lunch. Drive via Ishasha sector for chances of seeing the tree climbing lions as your proceed to Bwindi park. Check-in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at
- Budget option: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
- Mid-range option: Buhoma Haven lodge
- Luxury option: Buhoma Lodge
Day 13: Gorilla trekking experience
After an early morning breakfast, drive to the park headquarters at 7:00 am for briefing about the park and its habitants and also you will be advised on your expectations during trekking and be allocated a gorilla family to trek. Bwindi impenetrable national park has the world’s largest population of the mountain gorillas with four different sectors with each having more than three gorilla families. After briefing, drive to the starting point of the trek and enter the forest with your provided armed range guides to search for the mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking may take about 2- 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorilla up and down the hilly jungle, and on meeting them, stay with the gorillas for a maximum of one hour, before you descend back to the starting point where your driver will be waiting for you to return and relax at the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 14: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
After having breakfast, connect to explore the lake on a boat trip and visit some of the interesting islands. Bunyonyi comprises of 29 islands especially the punishment island and the lake is the best place of relaxation. Later afternoon, explore the zip-lining experience at Lake Bunyonyi. Relax at the lake shore with great views of the hills. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 15: Transfer to Kampala
After breakfast, check-out, and transfer to Kampala as your last destination for this safari. It’s a 8-9 hours’ drive from Kabale to Kampala. Your safari guide will drop you at allocation you advise or better still be dropped at Entebbe international airport if you have a flight.
End of Safari
