Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe International airport.
Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by Primate Safari Experiences limited Safari guide and the handler who will brief you about the safari and later drive you to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and overnight at 2 friends’ hotel
Day 2: Transfer from Kampala/Entebbe to Kasese
In the morning after your breakfast, you will prepare for your transfer to Kasese where you will move to the Rwenzori Mountains for the challenging experience.
Overnight at Equator snow hotel
Day 3: Transfer to Rwenzori national park. – Rwenzori gate
The trail will be via Rwenzori Central Circuit that is managed by Rwenzori Mountaineering Services that is locally owned by the community. Dinner and overnight in the Rwenzori Mountains will be in the camp & Huts that are owned by Uganda Wildlife Authority which is our partner for climbing Rwenzori tours.
NYAKALENGIJA (1615m) – NYABITABA CAMP (2651m)
The central circuit starts 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 coloured Rwenzori turaco. A night at Nyabitaba Camp
The hike takes an average of 6 -7 hours.
Day 4: 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 John Matte Camp
The hike takes an average of 7 - 8 hours.
Day 5: 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 hike takes an average of 4 – 5 hours.
Day 6: 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. Turn to your right up to Elena Hut and Mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders, while the trail on your left leads to Scott-Elliot Pass and down to Kitandara Lakes the trail on he left leads those who are not climbing Margherita Peak to Kitandara Hut. Those climbing the peak will have their Dinner and overnight at the coolly and Icy Elena Hut.
The hike takes an average of 5 – 6 hours.
Day 7: ELENA HUT - MARGHERITA PEAK (5109m) – KITANDARA CAMP (4430m)
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. The descend from Margherita peak back to Elena Hut will take you about 2 – 3hours.
After your lunch at Elena hut, descend to the Scott-Elliot pass (4372m asl.), where there are spectacular views of Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke. After, the trail passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight at the Kitandara camp.
The descend takes an average of 3 – 4 hours.
Day 8: KITANDARA – GUY YEOMAN (3261m)
From Kitandara, take 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 asl. 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.
The hike takes an average of 6 – 7 hours.
Day 9: 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 Queen Elizabeth safari lodge
The descent takes 7 – 8 hours
Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
In the morning after your breakfast, you will make a transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park for gorilla trekking which is a unique Safari activity enjoy by travelers that select to combine gorillas and rwenzoris. The park is known for hosting half for the world’s mountain gorillas in its natural habitat. Expect to reach the booked lodge in the afternoon hours for lunch and relaxation.
Overnight at Ichumbi lodge or Rushaga Gorilla Camp check on accommodations in Bwindi
Day 11: Gorilla trekking safari
In the morning after your early morning breakfast, you will drive to the park headquarters for registration and briefing about the do and don’ts during the experience. After, you will move to the rain forests by the lead of the park ranger in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. Later, after the trekking, you will drive back to the lodge for evening relaxation.
Overnight at Ichumbi lodge or Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Day 12: Transfer from Bwindi Impenetrable N.P to Kampala
Wake up for your breakfast and prepare for your transfer to Kampala. Expect to have an en route lunch. Arrive in the evening hours and check in at Acacia lodge or Onomo Hotel.
Day 13: Drive to Jinja for water rafting and later transfer to the airport
Early morning transfer to Jinja town where you will have your breakfast for water rafting experience on the Nile. You will later drive back to the airport after your lunch in the evening hours for your departure flight.
Advised flight time to be from 10:00pm.
