Itinerary
Day 1: Drive to Mabamba wetland for shoebill watching
Upon the arrival at Entebbe International airport, you will be welcomed by the company representative who will brief you about the trip and if time allows, you will be transferred to Mabamba wetland for shoebill watching. After the experience, you will drive back to the lodge of your booking for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation at Santa Maria lodge
Day 2: Drive to Mount Elgon National Park in Mbale
In the morning after breakfast at the lodge, you will prepare for your transfer to Mount Elgon national park for a hiking experience. The national park protects the eighth highest mountain on African continent, the second highest in Uganda and the fourth highest in East Africa. The mountain stands at a height of approximately 4,000 square kilometers and it lies between the international border of Uganda and Kenya. The national park not only protect mount Elgon but also other attractions like over 300 bird species, small wildlife species, beautiful vegetation and many others. The drive to Mbale takes about 6 hours and upon the arrival, you will check in at a hotel of your choice for dinner and breakfast
Accommodation at Home of Friends Hotel
Day 3: Drive to Budadiri Gate and then to the starting point
Wake up for your early breakfast and drive to Budadiri Gate for registration and briefing about the hiking experience. After the pre-trek brief, you will be assigned to your respective ranger guides, porters plus the cooks who will be preparing your meals while in the mountain. After, you will drive to the starting point of the trek in Bumasola Village and the hike will take you through the wall of life to Sasa River Camp at 2900 meters where you will retire for a night.
Dinner and overnight at Sasa River Camp
Day 4: Hike to Mude Camp at 3,500 meters
Have your delicious breakfast and continue with the hike to Mude Camp. This camp was named after the infamous poacher known as Mude who died in the cave where the campsite is located. The Camp is surrounded by over 5 hills and upon the arrival here, you will have your tasty lunch. After lunch, you will have a short hike to the water falls and later descend back to the campsite for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and Overnight at Mude Campsite
Day 5: Hike to Wagagai at 4,321 metes
Wake up early for breakfast and embark on the hike to highest summit of the mountain – Wagagai. The route to the summit takes you via the Jackson pool, the Jackson table and the Caldera Ridge. The hike to the peak is at a distance of 9 kilometers and then 9 kilometers back to Mude Camp for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and Overnight at Mude Campsite
Day 6: Descend to Kajeri at 3,383 meters
After breakfast at the camp, you will prepare for a 21 km descend to Kajeri for a late lunch. From here you will proceed to Tutum Cave for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and Overnight at Tutum Cave
Day 7: Continue to Kapkwai Exploration Center
Have your breakfast at Tutum Cave and continue with the descend to Kapkwai Exploration Center which is the exit route from the mountains. Here, you will meet you guide who will drive you to the hotel of your choice in Mbale.
Accommodation at Home of Friends Hotel
Day 8: Drive to Kampala
Wake up for your breakfast and prepare for your transfer to Kampala. The journey will expose you to several beautiful features like hills, mountains, vegetation covers, cultural people and many others. Arrive in Kampala in about 6 hours’ time and check in at the lodge of your choice for refreshments, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation at Santa Maria hotel
Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
In the morning after breakfast, you will make a transfer to the home of almost half of the world’s mountain gorillas – Bwindi Impenetrable national park. Expect some stopovers during the transfer like at the Equator for photographs and Mbarara city for lunch. After, you will continue with the drive to the park where you will reach the in the evening hours and check in at your booked hotel for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation at Gorilla Mist lodge
Day 10: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Wake up early and transfer to the park headquarters for briefing about the dos and don’ts during mountain gorilla trekking experience. The experience involves hiking through the rainforests of the park in search of the mountain gorillas. Once sighted, you will be allowed to spend an hour with them as you take some videos and pictures. After gorilla trekking, you can opt to for a Batwa cultural tour who are the inhabitants of the forest and later move back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation at Gorilla Mist Lodge
Day 11: Drive back to Entebbe/ Kampala
Have your breakfast at the lodge and check out for your transfer to Entebbe International Airport or Kampala. You will have an enroute lunch in Mbarara city and after proceed with the 7 hours drive to Entebbe/ Kampala.
