10 Days Rwenzori, Wildlife & Gorillas

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport and Transfer to Kasese.

Meet Primate Safari Experiences guide who will pick you up from the airport or hotel  of residence in either Kampala or Entebbe. After here, travel to Kasese via fort portal city  where you will have lunch and later proceed to Kasese. Dinner and overnight at Equator Snow ( Luxury) Ruboni Community Camp ( Budget) Check on the Safari Landcruiser or Mini vans for Mid range.

Day 2: Start to Hike -Nyakalengijja to Nyabitaba

The Ultimate goal of your adventure starts today , the first day into rwenzori mountains with experienced Mountaineering.  You will head to the RMS and  meet your Rwenzori trekkers/hiker guides, porters, after which you proceed with a warm up trek to the Mount Rwenzori national park’s main gate for park registration before entering the park.

The trek leads you through the Bakonjo settlements and plantations. Your central circuit trail hike starts from the main gate, right after registration to Nyabitabba hut at 2651m, which may take approximately 6-7 hours.

Day 3: Nyabitaba to John Matte

Follow the trail from  Nyabitabba to John Matte, after your early morning breakfast. Cross over Kurt Schuffer, lying between Bujuku and Mubuku river, after which you will continue trekking over slippery moss covered and steep rocks a longside bamboo mixed with montane forest. The forest contains various bird species that you may spot as you trek through the forest, continuing upto Nyamileju rock shelter, where you will have your lunch break. Enjoy remarkable views of mount Stanley and speke(only on a clear day). Proceed to john Matte hut through the alpine forest, arriving at the hut in the afternoon for dinner, next day’s briefing and an overnight stay.

Day 4: John Matte to Bujuku Camp

After an early morning breakfast, you will cross the Bujuku river to the bigo bog region. Follow the steep path to the upper biogo bog, after which you will reach the drier ground upto Lake bujuku. Enjoy the beautiful views of Mount Stanley to the west, Mount Baker to the south and speke to the North. Arrive at Bujuku camp at 3962m, after 4-5 hour walk. Dinner, next day briefing and an overnight stay.

Day 5: Bujuku Camp to Elena

On this day, you will trek for about 6-7 hours from Bujuku hut to Elena hut. Since the hut is situated within the cold, rocky region of mount Stanley, you will pass via the upper bigo bog, and then through the steep slopes of Lake Bujuku to the West as you ascend to the 4372m Scott-Elliot pass. Proceed  through several swamps as well as the beautiful ground gully. Walk through the steep sections above the gully by using a metal ladder reaching a junction with two divided trails, whereby the right trail heads to the Elena Hut, rising through a steep  trail above the large boulders to Mount Stanley  otherwise the left trail heads to the Scott-Eliiot pass as you descend to Kitandara  hut.

Arrive at Elena hut in the afternoon, and enjoy the breath views of Mount Baker and Mount Speke, which is sometimes hard to see due to fog. Dinner and an overnight at the hut.

Day 6: Elena hut to Magherita peak to Kitandara

You will wake up at 2:00am, enjoy your breakfast, and embark on your hike to the top of Magheritah peak starting from 3:00am. Hike through the Stanley plateau to the top of Mount Stanley. While using ropes, you will hike through the steep rocky regions, as well as crampons and the ice ax on the glacial axe- as directed by the guide.

This may last for a couple of hours, after which you will arrive at the bottom of magheritah glacier-the most challenging part of the 7 days Rwenzori central circuit trekking experience. Proceed to the top of the peak of Mount Stanley (Magheritah Peak) at 5107m.

While at the peak, enjoy the impressive views of Lake Irene, Mount Speke and the surrounding environment, after then descend Elena hut for lunch and later continue with your trek to Kitandara, through the Scott Elliot pass (also considered as the most beautiful spot of Rwenzori). Dinner and an overnight at Kitandara hut.

However, depending on your group’s strength, you may opt to spend another night at Elena Hut, and continue the next day to Kitandara then to Guy Yeoman.

Day 7: Kitandara to Fresh field pass to Guy Yeoman

After an early morning breakfast, spend your entire 6-8 hours’ trekking along the base of mount baker which is quite slippery. Ascend steeply up the head wall, that spreads from the base of Mount baker, as you proceed towards the southern side of Mountain Rwenzori to the Fresh field pass.

Continue with the long stretch of the muddy trail, trekking through the Kabamba, Akhendahi and rock shelters of Bujongolo-the base camp for the historic expeditions by Duke of Abruzzi in 1906. Proceed with your trek along the Kabamba trail and later arrive at Guy Yeoman, which is established at the banks of River  mubuku. Dinner and overnight at the hut.

Day 8: Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija and transfer to Queen Elizabeth

On this last day of your Rwenzori hike, wildlife and primate experience you will descend to Nyabitaba hut, after your early morning breakfast passing through the Bamboo forest.

You enjoy great sightings of beautiful flowers and plants, bamboo forests and Kinchuchu and Mubuku Rivers, not forgetting the Kabamba falls. Arrive at Nyabitabba hut after a 4 hours’ trek, after which you will briefly spend 40 minutes visiting Lake mahoma. Return to the hut after Lake Mahoma exploration and embark on your trek to Nyakalengijja where you will meet your guide to transfer you to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Dinner and overnight at Queen Elizabeth Safari Lodge

Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi national park

After Morning Break fast , you will travel to Bwindi which is the home for the mountain gorillas and you will in the mid morning , Check in at the lodge. Buhoma Lodge ( Luxury ) Ihamba Residence ( Mid Range ) and Ruhija gorilla Camp ( Budget)

Day 10 Gorilla Trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable national Park, depart for Kigali

You will have breakfast at the lodge, after which you will set off with the driver to the  headquarters for briefing.

Along with the ranger guide, you will set off for your gorilla trekking adventure, which may take about 30mins to 6 hours depending on the gorilla family, group strength and location of the gorillas.

Upon encounter, you will be allowed to stay in the presence of the gorillas for at most one hour, as you watch them do their daily chores. Return to the headquarters for your gorilla trekking certificate, and later proceed to Kampala to your lodge, or  If you still want more cultural treat, you can visit the Batwa Culture to catch up with a thrilling traditional moment with the locals, as you enjoy their traditional and cultural stories, then you will  set for Kampala the following day