Itinerary

17 Days Rwanda Karisimbi Hike , Gorilla watching & Rwenzori trek with Rwenzori Expeditions

Day 1 :Transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park

You will be welcomed by the Primate Safari experiences safari guide and transfer you to Volcanoes national park located within the Virunga Mountains that are shared by Uganda , Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo.  You will need to be in day before since the Karisimbi Hike. You will visit the genocide memorials and enjoy Kigali city tour  where you will even Hike the Mount Kigali.

You will enjoy lunch within Kigali and later proceed to transfer to volcanoes national park which is the home for the mountain gorillas , golden monkey and various Virunga Mountains to hike famous Karisimbi , Visoke hike which are all dormant volcanoes.

Upon arrival you will be checked in at your prefect accommodation which include : Davinci Lodge , Five Volcanoes Lodge.

Things to see

• Hike Mount Kigali
• Genocide memorial visit
• Craft shop visits
• Scenic drive

Day 2: Hike Mount Karisimbi

You will enjoy morning breakfast and head to the park headquarter for briefing about the Mount Karisimbi , preparation of the camping gears , arrangement of the porters and food to be used during the hike to the Mountains.  After the Safari guide will drive you to the starting point your the hike and start to walk through the lower vegetation covers of Volcanoes National Park which is sharing the border with Virunga National Park & Mgahinga National Park. You will start to hike slowly  upto the crater where you will spend the overnight in the tents on the realms of the crater lake.

Day 3: Descend Mount Karisimbi

You will wake up in the morning , pack your camping gears, prepare to have morning break fast and start to descend back to the starting point of your hike where you will find the guide waiting for you to transfer you to the hotel for hot lunch before proceeding to cross to Uganda's famous Gorilla park of Bwindi via Cyanika Border.

Dinner and overnight at Ichumbi Lodge , Rushaga gorilla Camp , Gorilla Mist Camp.

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking  & Transfer to Rwenzori Mountains National Park

You will wake up early morning , enjoy break fast and drive to the park headquarter for briefing about the Gorilla trekking rules and regulations, history of Bwindi , people around Bwindi , Gorilla families and later you will be allocated a particular gorilla family and drive to the starting point of the gorilla trekking, enter into the jungle to search for the mountain gorillas , upon which you will find them , you will be granted one hours of watching the Primates ( Mountain Gorillas) and later you return back to the lodge , have simple lunch and start to drive to Rwenzori Mountains National Park where you will be checked in at Queen Elizabeth Safari Lodge or Aardvark lodge  The drive from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park takes 5-6 hour.

Recommended Hotel close to Rwenzori Mountains is the Snow Height lodge which is a luxury Accommodation.

Day 5: Nyakalengija (1615m) – Nyabitaba Camp (2651m)

You will have a short drive from your hotel to the  Nyakalengija( Rwenzori mountaineering Services office ) where briefing is done and  selection of porter and Mountaineering guides is done. Later start on your unique Rwenzori  trek passing through the Bakonjo farmlands to the park boundary at the main gate, beyond which it follows a thick forest along the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma River tributary before starting a long, a steep hike up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut. Chances are high that you may hear chimpanzees and see black and white colobus, blue monkeys and the brilliantly colored Rwenzori turaco.

This hike takes approximately 5-7 hours depending on the hikers’ physical strength.

Day 6 : Nyabitaba Camp - John Matte Camp (3505m.)

After Breakfast, descend through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Traversing through the bamboo forest, pass through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock to Nyamileju rock shelter, where clear views of Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach John Matte Hut after passing through the tiring bog, for dinner and overnight.

The hike takes an about of 6- 8 hours.

Day 7: Johnmate camp (3505)m to Bujuku camp (3900)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 Bujuku hut well located well located in the shadows of mount Baker and speke,is set in a narrow valley below stulman pass. Dinner and an overnight

Day 8: Bujuku camp (3900)m - summit Mount speke (Victoria emanuelle peak)

you will base from Bujuku Camp and summit to Speke Mount and come back to bujuku for dinner and an over night. The Summit will take place in the early morning and its expected to be between day time and you will descend back to Bujuku camp.

Day 9: Bujuku hut (3900)m to Elena hut (4541)m

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog,while climbing up the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical groundsel gully as it ascends to Scot Eliot pass at 4372m. At the head of the gully a metal ladder takes you over a steep section after which the trail is divided into two. The trail on your right leads up to Elena hut and mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders. while the trail on your left leads to Scott Eliot pass and down to Kitandara lakes,the trail on the left leads those who are not climbing margherita peak. Those climbing up the peak will have their dinner and overnight at the coolly and icy Elena hut.

Day 10: Elena hut (4541)m to Margherita peak (5109)m and back to Kitandara lakes camp (4022)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 cold 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 Scot Eliot pass where there are spectacular views of the Bujuku lake,mount speke, mount Stanley and down the Kitandara lakes. After the trail that passes you through the Alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend passed the Kitandara lakes for dinner and an overnight at Kitandara lakes camp.

Day 11: kitandara lakes camp for acclimatization

You will have a relaxing day at Kitandara Camp as you prepare for the next day hike to Mount Baker with your  certified Local Mountaineering Rangers and porters. Dinner and an overnight at Kitandara lakes camp.

Day12 : Kitandara lakes camp 4022m - summit Mount baker and continue down to Guyeoman camp 3505m.

The trail ascend steeply up the head wall, spreading out from the base of mount Baker and continuing along the South side of the mountain to fresh field pass 4280m. At this point you can view into the Congo to the west and mount Stanley to the north. From the pass ,take on the long trail passing the rock shelter of bujongolo the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906. Overnight at Guyeoman camp.

Day 13: Guyeoman 3505m to Nyabitaba camp 2560m for lunch and continue down to nyakalengija for transfer to the next destination.

This is the longest day on your Rwenzori Hike ( 3 peaks Adventure in Rwenzori Mountains) The descend to Nyabitaba takes around 6-7 hours , you will follow the route descends the cliffs of kichuchu and takes you through the bamboo forest zones down to Nyabitaba for either dinner and an over night or lunch and continue down to nyakalengija for hot showers.

Day 14: Transfer to Murchison falls National Park

After Morning breakfast at the lodge you will start on the journey connecting to Murchison Falls National Park that is the largest wildlife park in Uganda where you will enjoy the game drives and boat cruise the next day.  The route goes through Kasese Fortportal Hoima and cross to Masindi then access the park .

Dinner and overnight Paara Safari lodge or Pakuba lodge or Murchison falls River lodge.

Day 15: Game drive and boat cruise, Hike to the top.

Prepare for an early start today, as the early morning hours are when wildlife is most active, the sun is not too harsh, and temperatures are cooler. After an early breakfast, embark on a game drive to explore the northern part of the park. This is the prime time for spotting African wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, various antelope species, and a plethora of tropical birds.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat safari along the Nile River to Murchison Falls. As you cruise, keep an eye out for crocodiles, numerous hippos, buffaloes, waterfowl, monkeys, and other thirsty wildlife that are drawn to the Nile's waters. Later hike to the top of the falls where you will be picked up by the Safari guide and transfer back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 16: Transfer to Kampala via ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

After breakfast, you'll set off for Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an hour of on-foot rhino tracking  Following the tracking, Later you will proceed to drive to Kampala, Lunch will be en route . You will arrive in Kampala or Entebbe in the evening hours , check in at the hotel  for dinner and overnight at Santa Marie Hotel or No 5 Boutique.

Day 17 : Entebbe airport drop for flight back home.

You will have a relaxed morning where you will explore entebbe town , craft shops and later drop

End of the 17 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari.