Itinerary

10 Days Uganda Rwanda hiking tour - Rwenzori Expeditions

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

Upon the arrival at the airport, you will be received and welcomed by our company representative who will also be your travel guide. You will start the long journey to Mount Rwenzori National Park lunch will be in Fort portal town , Proceed to Rwenzori Mountains National Park arriving at Snow heights lodge in the later evening .

Accommodation at Snow heights lodge

Day 2: Nyakalengija (1650) to Nyabitaba camp (2650m)

Start the day by approaching the Rwenzori expedition reservation officer early in the morning in order to allocated hiking equipment if so and arrange for guides, chef and porters at once hiking starts from the park gates to Nyabitaba a distance of 7km takes 5-6 hours and an ascent of 1200 meters. The trail at the beginning goes through homes and fields progressing through high elephant grasses and dense bush.

You will climb over cliffs and bluffs crossing river Mahoma then ascending steeply into Nyabitaba camp. Certain animals can be spotted such as the white and black colobus monkeys, three horned chameleon and the Rwenzori Turaco birds. Stay an overnight at the Nyabitaba camp.

Day 3: Nyabitaba (2650) m to Johnmaate camp (3505) m

From Nyabitaba you descend to your right follow the trail that drops down through the forest for a half an hour to the Kurt Shafer bridge, just before the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers.

The walk is then easy going for a couple of hours passing through the bamboo forest and then becomes more difficult kind of like spelunking, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rocks. From the Nyamileju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant Heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach Johnmaate camp after passing through the tiring bog. While here, high chances of catching the nice views of Mount Stanley and margherita glacier. Dinner and overnight at the hut.

Day 4: Johnmaate camp (3505) m to Elena camp (4541) m

From Johnmaate camp the trail drops down to cross the Bujuku river and enters lower bigo bog, the home of giant lobelias, jumping from tussock to tussock, the bog is finally crossed but rarely without the feet sampling some of the freezing ooze, continuing on to the upper bigo bog you will follow the Bujuku river that sometimes runs underground from lake Bujuku, with views of mount Baker to the South and mount Stanley to the west. Take on the left as you reach Lake Bujuku and continue up to Elena camp 4541m and it takes 7 km 7 hours walk. Dinner and an overnight

Day 5: Elena hut (4541) m to margherita peak (5109) m and back to Johnmate camp (3505) m

For those aiming at reaching margherita peak, continue to the base of Stanley glacier. To reach the summit of margarita, the climb takes about 5-7 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you through over three glaciers, slippery Rock, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides. Note that this climb is for only physically fit and technical climbers.

Climbing on to the glaciers, cross the Stanley plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and colly weather. Scramble up to the summit of margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori. Given the high altitude and the tough conditions even if you don't reach the peak, don't get disappointed. Prepare for your return through the Irene lakes where there are spectacular views of the Bujuku lake, mount speke, Mount Stanley and down the Johnmate camp. After the trail that passes you through the Alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend passed the Bujuku lakes and continue down to Johnmaate for dinner and an overnight at Johnmaate camp 3505m

Day 6: Johnmaate camp 3505m to Nyabitaba camp 2560m for lunch and continue down to Nyakalengija for transfer to the lodge

The descend to Nyabitaba takes around 6-7 hours but with an early start and it's possible to make it all the way down to nyakalengija. Below Johnmaate, the route descends the cliffs of Nyamileju takes you through the Heather forest zones down to Nyabitaba for either dinner and an overnight or lunch and continue down to nyakalengija for hot showers. Overnight at Snow height lodge

Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable National Park .

You will have breakfast at the lodge and start on the drive to connect to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park passing through Queen Elizabeth National Park where you may have time to stop at Ishasha Sector where you may opt to pay park entrance to enjoy the game drive to search for the tree climbing lions and later proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is the home for the mountain gorillas.

Overnight at Gorilla Mist Lodge

Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.

Have a delicious breakfast at the lodge and drive to the park headquarters for briefing by the ranger guides about the rules and regulations to be followed during the gorilla trekking experience. Every group will be allocated to the gorilla family to trek and once traced, they will be allowed to spend 1 hour as they watch them and also take some pictures of these gentle apes. After the experience, you have lunch and then drive off to  Volcanoes national park.

Overnight at Five Volcanoes lodge

Day 8: Hike Karisimbi

Have breakfast, go for briefing at the park headquarters and drive to the starting point where you will begin the hike. You will trek through Bisoke and navigate your way up to Karisimbi. During the wet season, the hike will be more challenging. On a lucky day, you might even encounter the Gorillas on your hike but that’s nothing to consider at all because it is a very rare occurrence. You will overnight on the mountain close to the peak.

Day 9: Descend Mount Karisimbi

On this day, you will ascent to the top of Karisimbi 4,705m and descend back to the starting point where you will find your driver for the transfer to Kigali for an overnight at 2000 hotel.

Day 10: Kigali City tour and transfer to the Airport.

After morning breakfast at the hotel , you will set off for city tour around Kigali and you enjoy the scenic drive of the city , visiting the local markets , Mount Kigali and other shopping centers . Drop off at the airport will  depend on your flight.