Rwenzori Abruzzi Trek

Itinerary

Day 1: Drive to Kibale forest national park and nature walk

On the first day of the trip, our company representative your guide/driver will pick you up from the lodge/ Entebbe international airport for your transfer to Kibale forest national park.

The park is known for protecting the highest population of primate species and the breathtaking vegetation types. Arrive at the lodge for lunch and have a guided nature walk through the park rainforests. Later, check in at the lodge for dinner and overnight

Accommodation : Isunga safari lodge

Day 2: Bigodi sanctuary nature walk and night forest walk

Have your tasty breakfast at the lodge and proceed with a nature walk through Bigodi sanctuary. The sanctuary is known as the best destination for birding experience since it hosts over 138 birds. For the best encounter, move with a note book so as to record all these species. After the walk, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation as you wait for a night nature walk in the rain forests of the park.

Day 3: Walk to Mahoma waterfalls and transfer to Kasese

In the early morning, you will have your guided nature walk to Mahoma waterfalls where you will have amazing scenic views of the area as you take beautiful photographs for the falls. After, return to the lodge for lunch and later drive to Kasese for an overnight as you prepare for Rwenzori hiking experience the next day. Check on the Rwenzori Rental Equipments

Day 4: Nyakalengija – Nyabitaba camp (2651m.)

In the morning, you will be picked up from the lodge by our mountain representative to the starting point of the trek at the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services offices at Nyakalengijja. You need to arrive in the morning to allow ample time to rent equipment and meet your guides and porters. The trail begins by passing through farmland to the park boundary beyond which it follows a thick forest along the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma River tributary before starting a long, steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut. During this part of the trip you may hear chimpanzee and see black and white colobus, blue monkey and the brilliantly colored Rwenzori turaco.

The hike takes an average of 6 -7 hours and the hiking distance is 6.5 kilometres

Day 5: Nyabitaba – John matte camp (3505m.)

From Nyabitaba follow the trail that drops down through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Passing through the bamboo forest, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock. From the Nyamuleju rock shelter, 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 at the hut.

 The Distance is 7.5km

The hike takes an average of 7 - 8 hours and the

Day 6: John matte - Bujuku camp (3962m.)

From John Matte Hut 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 below. The upper Bigo bog gives way to Bujuku Lake, with views of Mt Baker to the South and Mt Stanley to the West. Bujuku Hut, well located in the shadow of Mount Baker and Mount Speke, is set in a narrow valley below Stuhlmann Pass. This camp is good for acclimatization for clients attempting the summits of peaks Mount Stanley and Mount Speke. Dinner and overnight at Bujuku hut.

The distance is 5km

The hike takes an average of 4 – 5 hours.

Day 7: Bujuku - Elena camp (4541m)

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical and forest of Groundsel Gully. Later, you have some rest at Elena Camp where you will have your dinner and overnight stays.  Dinner and overnight at the coolly and Icy Elena Hut.

The distance is 2.5

The hike takes an average of 5 – 6 hours.  

Day 8: Elena hut - Margherita peak (5109m)- kitandara

Very early in the morning, you attempt climbing the highest peak, Margherita of Mount Stanley. To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 4 -5 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you over three glaciers, slippery rock, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides. Climbing on to the glaciers, cross the Stanley Plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and coolly weather, scramble up to the summit of Margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori.

Later after the explore of the peak, the descend from Margherita peak back to Elena Hut where you will have your delicious lunch and later proceed to Kitandara Camp for an overnight.

The distance is 4kms

This is the challenging part on the Rwenzori mountain Summit.

The descend takes an average of 3 – 4 hours. 

Day 9: kitandara – Guy yeoman (3261m.)

In the morning after breakfast, you will descend from Kitandara to Guy Yeoman Camp and the descend will take you on the trail that ascends steeply up the headwall, spreading out from the base of Mount Baker and continuing along the south side of the mountain to Fresh field Pass 4282m. 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 high alpine mossy. Thereafter start the descend through steep rocky trails and the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906 and then an overnight at Guy yeoman camp.

Kitandara to Guy yeoman is 6kms

The hike takes an average of 6 – 7 hours. 

Day 10: Guy yeoman – Nyabitaba - nyakalengija (1615m.)

Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu. Beyond Kichuchu the muddy path crosses the Mubuku River twice through a bamboo forest before climbing downwards to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit. Continue descending Nyabitaba Camp and complete your trek by the evening at Nyakalengijja, the base camp.

The Guy yeoman to Nyabitaba camp is 6.5km and Nyabitaba camp to Nyakalengijja Camp is 6.5 km. You will then drive back to Trekkers guest house for your tasty lunch and overnight.

Day 11: Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park

Wake up for your breakfast at the lodge and prepare for your transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. The park is known for the best game viewing experience in Uganda hosting the four of the big five African wildlife. You will check in at the lodge with a game drive providing you with clear views of different wildlife species like elephants, lions, waterbucks, Uganda kobs and others. Drive at the lodge of your booking for lunch and later go for a boat cruise experience on Kazinga channel where you will view several wildlife and bird species. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight at Enjojo safari lodge

Day 12: Chimpanzee trekking experience and evening game drive

Have your early breakfast and then move to the park headquarters for pre-trek briefing experience about chimpanzee trekking experience. The activity involves hiking through the park rainforests in search of the shy apes and once found, you will be allowed to spend an hour in their presence. From the experience, you will return to the lodge for lunch and later go for an evening game drive where you will spot several wildlife species including the hunters like lions, leopards and hyenas as they are looking for their preys.

Day 13: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park

Wake up for your tasty breakfast at the lodge and then meet your driver/guide for your transfer to Lake Mburo national park. Check in at the lodge with a game drive exposing you to different animals like giraffes, elephants, kobs, zebras and many others. Check in at the lodge for lunch and later go for a 2-hour boat cruise on Lake Mburo where you will spot several bird species along the lake shores. Return to the lode for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation at Rwakobo Rock lodge

Day 14: Morning nature walk and drive to Entebbe International airport

Wake up for your early breakfast and later go for a nature walk at the park where you will closely enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the park. You will spot a number of wildlife species like zebras, giraffes, waterbucks, and others. After, you will walk back to the lodge for lunch and later check out of the lodge for your departure to Entebbe international airport for your flight.