Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Kampala and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National park
Upon your arrival at Entebbe international Airport, you will be welcomed by the experienced guide of Primate Safari Experiences, who will brief you about your Scheduled 13 Day Rwenzori & Gorillas. After here, you will be transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable national park, with an en route stop over at the equator for photography and lunch break at Fort portal. Arrive at the lodge in the late evening for dinner and an overnight stay at Gorilla Mist Camp/ Rushaga Gorilla Camp.
Day 2 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and transfer to queen Elizabeth National park
Have your breakfast early enough, after which you will set off with the driver guide to the Park 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 the lodge for lunch.
Check out of the hotel, and travel North to Queen Elizabeth National park through Isasha sector-famous for climbing lions. You will the enjoy the game drive along the way, during which you will spot Lions, Zebras, different Antelope species, Elephants, Hyenas, Leopards Buffaloes among others. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel
Day 3 Morning Game Drive and Afternoon boat cruise
Morning game drive and afternoon game drive sets off after an early morning breakfast, then we head to the kasenyi plains and the queens mile where we will explore and spot various wild game including Ugandan kob, elephants, lions, buffalo, water buck, warthogs Lions, different Antelope species, Hyenas, Leopards among others, not forgetting different bird species.
You will later in the afternoon go for a 2 hours’ boat cruise down the Kazinga channel that connects Lake Edward and George. The boat cruise leads you to the vast population of Hippos, and different animals drinking water by the water shores. The cruise also rewards you with remarkable opportunities to take photos, watch other water animals as well as bird species.
Day 4 Transfer to Kasese- Kilembe
Travel to Kasese after an early morning breakfast, and proceed with your journey to kilembe to register with the Rwenzori trekking head offices. Embark on your journey to your hotel for lunch, dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 5 Kilembe to Kalalama Camp
This day trek starts from the rangers post, after an early morning breakfast and head straight to Rwenzori National park’s gate for clearance before entering, which marks the beginning of the Kilembe Rwenzori trekking to Magheritah. Proceed with your day trek to the montane forest where you will encounter various species of monkeys such as Colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and other species of birds like the Rwenzori Turaco. Reach Sine camp where you will enjoy your lunch break alongside other refreshments. Continue with your trek to Kalalama at 3,147 m, from which you will have your dinner, next day briefing and an overnight stay.
Day 6 Kalama hut to Mutinda Camp
You will set off for your second day trek to Mutinda camp from Kalalama camp after your early morning breakfast. Start your hike at 9:00am passing through the bamboo-mimulopsis zone, which consists of a steep climb with many high steps, and later reach the resting point for alunch break alongside other refreshments. Continue with your day’s trek along the heather zone, passing by various streams, as ell as waterfalls, which are mostly covered by typical green moss vegetation. You will also be rewarded with impressive views of Giant Heather trees, and sometimes in a misty atmosphere. Arrive at Mutinda Camp at 3.688 m-named after the Mutinda Peaks.
It is from this point, that you can also climb further to the Mutinda Lookout at 3.925 m,which is a bout a 90 minutes ascent and 30 minute descent to the camp. This region is worth visiting, as it beautiful views as you stand on moss covered rocks with incredible views across the Rwenzori Mountains, stretching down to Kasese town and Lake George. .Arrive at Mutinda camp in the Late evening for dinner, next day briefing and an overnight stay.
Day 7 Mutinda Camp to Bugata Camp
Start with hiking up the boggy terrain at exactly 9:00am, after your morning breakfast at Mutinda Camp. Proceed with the typical wet vegetation and tussocks, as you enter the alpine vegetation zone with the presence of the giant lobelias (Lobellia gibberoa), the groundsel (Senecio adnivalis) as well as the everlasting flowers while crossing the Mutinda valley. Hike up the steep section up to Namusangi valley, crossing different as head to Bugata Camp at 4.062m
It is from this point that you will enjoy the stunning views of Weisman’s Peak of Mount Luigi of Savoy, which is always covered by the snow whereas the vegetation is mostly covered by tussock grass, everlasting flowers, giant groundsel and giant lobelia.
However, this third day walk also takes you via lake Kitandara which stretches up to Democratic republic of Congo, which also offers remarkable breathtaking views of nine lakes down the valley and Lake Nusuranja , from the nearby Plozza Rock.
Bugata camp, amongst other camps is well furnished with good facilities of solar lights, eco-toilets and bathroom. Your dinner and overnight at this camp.
Day 8 Bugata to HunWick’s Camp
Climb up the Bamwanjara pass, which steadily rises with various long flat bogs. During your climb, you will observe the glacial lakes far down in the valley. Upon reaching the top of Banwamjara Pass at 4.450m, you will be rewarded with remarkable views of all the main snowcapped peaks and you later come to rest in a small shelter while enjoying the breathtaking scenery.
Better yet this trek takes you down to the lower and upper Kachope lake which is steep and always muddy but provide exclusive views of Kachope Lakes and McConnell’s Prong.
Arrive at Hunwick’s Camp (3,974m), which is established on a ridge overlooking snowcapped Mt Baker. Dinner and overnight stay at this camp.
Day 9 HunWick to Magheritah Camp
Day 10 Magheritah Camp to the Summit and back to Magheritah Camp
You will wake up at 2:00am for your early morning breakfast, after which you will set off for the longest and strenuous walk to the summit of Magheritah which will start at 3:00am The early movement to Magheritah peak of Mount Stanley is mainly aimed at reaching the glaciers before sunrise since the heat from the sun causes the glaciers to melt, thus making the roots to be totally impassable.
Hiking through the steep heights to Magheritah peak requires enough physical strength. Proceed with your hike over the glaciers close, after then you will climb to an exposed section of the rock, which is bolted and roped, to get on the ridge running up to the top of the Magheritah peak at 5.109m
Upon reaching the peak, you will be endowed by the beautiful scene of the whole country, as you are now at the highest point of the country. Lunch will be served at the peak, after which you will descend to hunwick’s camp for dinner and an overnight stay.
day 11 From Magheritah camp to Kiharo camp
You will start your day by climbing up aridge towards McConnell’s Prong, where you will be rewarded with impressive views of the three peaks of Mount Stanley, mount Baker and speke as well as the scott eliot pass before reaching Oliver’s pass at 4,505m. The total distance between Hunwick’s Camp and Oliver’s pass is 3km. The trail then cuts across below waiseman’s peak to the confluence of the Nyamwamba River which flows down through Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elizabeth national park.
The confluence then meanders down the valley to Kiharo camp, which is established in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.
Day 12 Kiharo Camp to the base
From Kiharo camp, the path turns off to the right pass along the river. Spot Duikers as you pass along the river otherwise trek down the river itself jumping across the rocks as you pass down. A few
The trails becomes steep with multitudes of waterfalls after a few kilometres down the river, which is why you will have to move away from the river and follow a narrow ridge to bypass steep sections.
You will again meet the river where there is a huge rock shelter and a place to rest for a lunch break, after which, you will cross a small stream as you climb up gentle slopes before turning back down to the river to avoid another set of waterfalls which are impassable. The forest along this section is a home many birds species, primates, duikers and hyrax. This last day offers great experience and ending to a fantastic trek.
Day 13 Return to Kampala
On this day, Travel back to Kampala, which may take about 6-8 hours drive so as to catch up with your scheduled flight to your home country.
