17 DAYS RWENZORI MOUNTAIN HIKING, WILDLIFE VIEWING AND APE TRACKING UGANDA SAFARI TO MT RWENZORI KIBALE FOREST, QUEEN ELIZABETH, BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST AND MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARKS.
A nine-day hiking trip summiting on Mt Stanley and Mt Speke
The 7 days being the least number of days we can take up clients to Margherita peak and taking on the trek in 7 days requires one to have really good fitness levels as it’s coupled with a greater height gain in terms of altitude acquired for the first 2 days remembering that altitude knows no fitness and if you are not well acclimatized it proves to be a tough challenge, this is coupled with even increased kilometers of walking covered in the first 2 days.
The 7 days trek takes you to Kalalama camp 3134 meters for the first night following a height gain of 1684 meters on the first day as the base camp is 1450 meters. And the second day you get to skip camp 2 and spend the night at the third camp Bugata camp 4062 meters, this is a very long challenging day coupled with a number of boggy/muddy sections. Hence someone signing up for this trek needs to be FIT and mindful of the altitude gains.
The 8 days trek happens to be our usual number of days most of the fit clients take on to the summit of Margherita peak. It follows a reasonable height gain on the first day which is a height of 1146 metres spending the first night at Sine Camp 2596 meters and on the second day you do not get to skip the second camp hence you spend the second night at Mutinda camp 3588 meters following a height gain of 992 metres and third night is when you sleep at Bugata camp 4062 metres.
Then the 9 days trek runs just like the 8 days trek till the summit however it gives one a more extra day during the descend hence we always recommend it to those who would wish to take it slow.
Snows of the Nile follows Neil Losin and Nate Dappen, two scientists and photographers, on an ambitious expedition to re-capture historical glacier photographs from the Rwenzoris. If they could retrace the steps of the Duke of Abruzzi’s legendary 1906 ascent, brave the Rwenzoris’ notoriously unpredictable weather, and re-capture Vittorio Sella’s glacier photos, their images would bear witness to a century of climate change.
Trekking up the highest point in the Rwenzori which is Margherita peak 5109m is tough and challenging due to the melting ice on top and exposed slippery rocks mainly at the final summit day. (The climate change has definitely affected the mountains as well), climbing the Peak is now technical due to the ever increasing number of crevasses and exposed slippery rocks making the summiting more difficult than what it was before. However final ascent to the actual peak is more of a hard scramble than a climb and snowing makes it harder as it is thin ice.
Though with all that said, the rewards and exhilaration of reaching the top peaks is next to none and our trained competent guides will guide you safely to the Margherita peak.
Just to emphasize summiting Margherita peak will require lots of fitness and at-least an attempt to one high altitude mountain before choosing this trek. Rwenzori Mountains are of their own kind and we really advise all our clients to be fit and ready for the trek. Please note that one should have technical climbing experience. I.e. Knowledge of ropes and use of crampons, Ascenders and figure 8s to belay and knowledge of how to use an ice axe is advisable as there are sections of 60%steepness and changing rapidly.
Being a group we would strongly recommend the 8days trek or 9days trek because with groups you have people with different fitness levels and 7days trek would quite tough to match everyone’s fitness as some might be capable of missing 2 camps with increased kilometers of walking and others may not be able to.
DAY 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport – Transfer to Kampala – Evening Kampala city tour
Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be welcomed by our company representative and safari driver guide for your transfer to Fairway hotel Kampala for a hot shower, relaxation and briefings about your vacation. If time allows go for Kampala evening city tour to explore the historical places of Uganda such as Kabaka’s palace and Amin torture chambers, Namugongo martyr’s shrines, Uganda National Museum, Kasubi tombs (the burial ground for the Buganda Kings one of the UNESCO’S recognized sight).
Accommodation options:
- Sheraton Hotel Kampala (luxury option)
- Fairway Hotel and Spa (mid-range)
- Maries Royale Hotel (budget)
DAY 2: Kampala city – Rwenzori Mountain National Park – Evening Nature Walk / Bird Watching Safari
After breakfast our safari driver guides will pick you from Fairway Hotel at 0600 Hours and drive south west via Fort portal to Rwenzori mountain National Park. The drive will take approximately 5-6 hours. As you drive along the way enjoy the scenery and see Ugandan’s way of life in their traditional homesteads and farms. Have lunch from Fort Portal town and later continue with the drive up-to your designated park for hotel checking in, relaxation, and briefings about the tour and then have a short evening bird watching tour. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation options:
- Mountains of the moon hotel (luxury option)
- Margherita Hotel (mid-range)
- Dutchess Hotel and Restaurant (budget)
Day 3
After breakfast drive to Trekkers hostel Kilembe the base camp at 1450 meters, Briefing from the guides and start the trek to sleep at Sine Camp 2596 meters following a height gain of 1146 meters
Day 4
Hike to Mutinda camp at 3688 meters, giving you a height gain of 1092 metres. In the afternoon at Mutinda one may wish to climb up Mutinda look out at 3975 metres of which apart from offering breathtaking views and it gives you good acclimatization since you would be continuing higher to the summit at 4620 metres.
Day 5
Hike to Bugata camp at 4100 meters, with a height gain of 412 meters through the valley of amazingly unique beautiful plant species, streams and waterfalls while we head to Bugata camp at 4100 meters. The trek gets tougher and exhausting with the steep ridges, mud and boggy sections, high steps but the rewards are enormously beautiful.
Day 6
Hike to Hunwick’s camp at 3974 meters, via Bamwanjara pass at 4450meters having excellent views of the main peaks whilst the trek.
Day 7
Hike to Margherita camp at 4485 meters, passing down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitandara which is very stunning with deep water and beautiful vegetation, climbing through Scoot Elliot pass to Margherita camp.
Day 8
Wake up at 2:00 am and have an early breakfast and set off to climb Mt Stanley going through its glaciers to the summit of Margherita peak at 5109 meters. After the summit we will descend down to Hunwicks camp at 3974 meters for the night. This is the longest day.
Day 9
Descend down to Kiharo camp at 3640 meters through Oliver’s pass. Overnight at Kiharo camp set in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation.
Day 10
Descend downhill past the moss covered rocks along rivers and beautiful forests back to the base camp in Kilembe, Debrief and refresh. Later transfer to Kibale Forest National Park for the whole evening relaxing and preparing for another experiential adventure of the man’s closest relatives “Chimpanzee trekking” dinner and an overnight
Accommodation
- Crater Safari Lodge (luxury)
- Isunga Safari Lodge (mid-range)
- Kibale Guest House (budget)
DAY 11: Kibale Forest National Park – Morning Chimpanzee Tracking – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
In the morning you have breakfast and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park head quarter for briefings before setting off for a forest walk in search for chimpanzees. The forest walk will be guided to provide information not only on chimpanzees and primates but also on other small organisms making it more interesting. The walk will reward you with other primates like Grey Cheeked Mangabeys, Colobus monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, l’Hoestes, and butterflies. After chimpanzee encounter return to your lodge for refreshments and lunch then start the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, it is nestled between two lakes, George and Edward with kazinga channel joining the two lakes, its lush Savannah offers prime grazing ground for the African buffaloes, African elephants and various antelopes, the park hosts over 600 bird species, on a clear day there are chances of viewing the mountains of the moon the Rwenzori and its snow peak. Drive straight to the lodge for checking in, the entire evening of this day will be spent relaxing at the lodge and you may decide to swim or enjoying steam bath which are for free. Dinner and Overnight
Accommodation
- Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury)
- Parkview Safari Lodge (mid –range)
- Parkview Safari Lodge (budget)
DAY 12: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Morning Game drive – Afternoon Boat cruise – Evening nature walks to Lake Katwe salt mining village.
Have breakfast and head out for a morning game drive to look for wildlife on the Kasenyi track of the park. Common sightings here are; elephant, warthog, waterbuck, Kob, leopard, lions, hyena, buffalo and so much more. After a short break and visit Katwe fishing village to witness the local salt mining procedures. In season, you will see plenty of flamingos at this part of the park. Have lunch and go for an afternoon boat cruise on the well-known Kazinga Channel, the Channel has the highest concentration of hippos in Africa it is also a great place for birders enjoy most as you will see hundreds and hundreds of birds on the shore, you can easily identify over 40 species while on a boat cruise safari. Besides watching uncountable hippos and Birds, you will be also amazed by plenty of the Nile crocodiles basking on shores of the channel, Monitor lizards, Elephant herds, Buffaloes, Antelopes and by chance you might see the water shore killers such as lions, spotted hyenas as they have also come to quench their thirty. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight
Accommodation
- Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury)
- Parkview Safari Lodge (mid –range)
- Parkview safari lodge (budget)
DAY 13: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Morning game drive through Ishasha sector –Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National park.
After breakfast and with bags ready head out to Ishasha sector that is famous for its tree-climbing lions, for a morning game drive looking for the tree climbing lions and afterwards continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park famous of harboring endangered mountain gorillas. A magnificent verdant swathe across the steep ridges of the Albertine Rift Valley, this ancient rainforest -one of the few in Africa to have flourished throughout the last Ice Age -is home to roughly half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Arrive to check in and have lunch, relax or go for an evening village walk and shopping at the craft market before dinner. At an altitude of up to 2,607 meters (8553ft). Expect some cooler temperatures in the evening.
Accommodation
- Buhoma Safari Lodge (luxury)
- Gorilla Mist Camp (mid-range)
- Ruhija Community Rest Camp/ Buhoma Community Rest Camp (budget)
DAY 14: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – Morning Gorilla trekking –Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi – Evening canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi.
Wake up early for breakfast and depart for morning pre trek Gorilla briefing at the park Headquarters. Later go for your long time awaited activity “Gorilla trekking” the time taken while trekking is not known but it is expected to be between2-8 hours depending on the movement of the Gorilla family you are allocated to. During the trek expect to discover other primates such as Chimpanzees, black and white colombus monkey, vervet monkey, and many others.
On encounter, spend an hour of exhilarating moments with these gentle giants. Return to the lodge for a shower, lunch. Then leave the home of red eyed giants and drive to Lake Bunyonyi where over 200 bird species have been recorded. “Bunyonyi” actually means “the place of many little birds” Lake Bunyonyi is one of the few African lakes completely safe for swimming and canoeing.
Accommodation
- Arcadia Lodge Bunyonyi (luxury and mid-range)
- Lake Bunyonyi Overland Lodge (budget)
DAY 15: Lake Bunyonyi – Drive to Kampala City with en-route stop at Igongo cultural center and Kayabwe Equator crossing point
This day after breakfast checkout and drive to Kampala on the way to Kampala City the drive will take you through good landscapes of the western region of Uganda and herds of Ankole cattle with their incredible long curving horns while seeing Ugandan’s way of life in their traditional homesteads and farms you shall have an en-route stop at Igongo cultural center for the firsthand information about the Ankole Kingdom have lunch and make a museum tour later continue with the drive to Kampala City but before Kampala you will have another stop at the Equator crossing center (Kayabwe) for water experiment and photography moments since it is best spot to take a memorial photo. Dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation
- Sheraton Hotel Kampala (luxury)
- Fairway Hotel and Spa (mid-range)
- Maries Royale Hotel (budget)
DAY 16: Kampala city – Transfer Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Nakasongola for rhino tracking.
After breakfast begin the panoramic drive northwest through the famous Luwero Triangle, en-route stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary the only place where you can meet these members of the big five family in the wilderness, This visit will provide you with an opportunity to go closer to these peaceful giants to have clearer view and photo moment. Later proceed to Murchison Falls National Park for evening check in at the lodge. Dinner and overnight
Accommodation
- Paraa Safari Lodge (luxury)
- Pakuba Safari Lodge (mid-range)
- Twiga Safari Lodge (budget)
DAY 17: Murchison Falls National Park – Morning game drive – Afternoon boat cruise –Evening to top of the falls
Enjoy breakfast and go out for a morning game drive on the northern bank of the River Nile. Your guide will help you spot elephant, lion, cape buffalo, Roth child’s giraffe, hartebeest, waterbuck, Oribi, bushbuck, bohor reed buck, hyena and leopard, have a short break for lunch and go for a boat safari upstream the calm Victoria Nile to the base of the falls stopping just few meters from the ‘Devil’s Cauldron’, marvel at the toothsome hippos, home of crocodiles and over the 17km stretch you may see elephant, waterbuck and Uganda Kob. It is a zone of many bird species like goliath heron, Egyptian goose, pelican bee-eater, kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant and the rare shoebill stork and by chance you might meet the lake shore hunters. After taking this photogenic boat safari do an evening hiking to top of the falls where the Nile crashes through a 6 meter gorge and falls 45 meters for a numerous scenic view point and photographic moments. Dinner and overnight
Accommodation
- Paraa Safari Lodge (luxury)
- Pakuba Safari Lodge (mid-range)
- Twiga Safari Lodge (budget)
DAY 17: Murchison Falls National Park – Hiking to top of the Falls –Transfer to Entebbe international airport to meet your return flight
After breakfast leave the lodge and return to Entebbe Town for lunch and short tour to Uganda Wildlife Education Center to meet Cheetah the fastest animal on the land and ostrich the flightless bird and drive to Entebbe International Airport to meet your return flight.
The Package Includes
Safari Excludes;
Trekking with us
We do have lots of trained supportive guides who are happy to lead you to the summit, with lots of experience in high and Low altitude summits, flora and fauna, first aid, abseiling, cooking, customer care and lots of stories to tell about the mountains since most of our guides come from the Rwenzori regions.
Our treks come with porters who will be carrying your luggage during the hike at a maximum weight 20 kg per bag; we advise that you carry a big backpack which the porters will be carrying and a day pack for your personal equipment which you carry yourself. Backpack covers are a must have as Rwenzori are always wet even in the dry seasons, please endeavor to invest in a good backpack cover to avoid wet equipment during the trek, or else use polythene bags inside the bag pack to protect your gear.
All meals are provided during our treks and we pride ourselves to providing good meals which are prepared by our trained guides. Our meals are designed to keep you healthy and safe during your trek and we do cater for all meal allergies. Please let us know all your meal allergies when booking your treks for a better organization. We do advise one to carry favorite snacks as they’re a good motivator during your trek.
All accommodation during the trek is in huts with bunk beds dormitory style and mattresses unfortunately we can’t provide twins or singles for during the hike as the conditions are tough to build huts and we have a policy of conserving the mountain environment hence less destruction of nature, but we endeavor to provide as much comfortable accommodation as we can. All you need is a warm sleeping bag rating 0 to -2 degrees Celsius and you will be covered up for the nights.
Insurance is mandatory for all our treks and all clients should buy their insurance before arrival covering Medevac and evacuation at an altitude of 4000 metres and above. If clients are coming for the hike only, the wont need to worry about anti-malarial tablets as there no mosquitoes in the mountains. We instead advise one to carry insect repellent. Please note that no trek will depart without insurance.
For all treks summiting Margherita peak, we will provide the following gear: – Harnesses, carbines, ice axes, helmets, rubber boots (are a must have), ropes and ice screws as part of the hiking package. The rest of the equipment must be carried by all hikers as we have not much for hire. All we can hire are crampons @ $20 and price is for the whole trek
