14 DAYS LUXURY GORILLA TREKKING & MOUNTAIN RWENZORI HIKING TOUR
Itinerary Overview
Enjoy stunning views of Mountain Rwenzori while challenging you to this 14 Days Gorilla Trekking & Mountain Rwenzori Hiking Tour in Uganda. Enjoy the beauty of Margherita peak standing at 5,109m, visit the misty Bwindi Forest for the Mountain Gorillas and a chance to spot the rare tree-climbing lions, elephants, warthogs, buffalos, zebras, Uganda Kobs and other animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The tour also offers a city tour in Kampala where notable places like Uganda national museum, local markets, Gadhafi Mosque and historical monuments will be visited.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick Up From Airport, Transfer To Hotel In Entebbe
When you arrive at the airport in Entebbe, you will be welcomed and transferred to a hotel in Entebbe. If time allows, we can take a walk around the botanical gardens, visit shopping malls in Entebbe and art and crafts shops.
Overnight:
Hotel No. 5
Day 2: Transfer To Kasese ; Western Uganda
After an early breakfast, your guide will pick you from your hotel and transfer to Kasese in western Uganda. Along the journey, we shall drive through roads with great scenery of the tea plantations, forests, Mountain Rwenzori ranges, roadside markets and more. We shall have enroute lunch in Fort Portal town and if time allows, we shall visit Tooro palace on Karuzika hill before we proceed to Kasese for an overnight.
Overnight:
Sandtone
Day 3: Hike From Nyakalengija To Nyabitaba Hut
After a hot cup of tea or coffee, we shall drive to Nyakalengija gate; the starting point of this adventurous hike to Margherita Peak. We shall be briefed about what to expect to meet, hire Porters, and register with the park warden and more. The hike will begin with fellow crew members and a park guide as you pass through the Bakonzo homesteads and then through the forest full of different primates, birds and other creatures. Arrive at Nyabitaba hut for dinner and an overnight.
Overnight:
Nyabitaba hut
Day 4: Hike To John Matte Through Mubuku River
On this day, we shall proceed with our hike by following the trail down into the forest after a mountain breakfast hiking for 5 to7 hours. This trail is a bit slippery as you pass through the bamboo forest crossing the Mubuku Bujuku River on Kurt Shafer Bridge. While on this trail enjoy the beautiful scenery of Mt Baker and Mt Speke and the unique plants of giant lobelia and groundsel as you pass through the tiring bog before reaching to John Matte hut where you will retire for the day.
Overnight:
John Matte hut
Day 5: Hike To Bujuku Hut
Another day to wake up to a mountain breakfast and after ascend more to Bujuku hut at a height of 3962m while enjoying another type of vegetation as you cross the Bujuko River home to giant lobelias in the big bog with views of Mt Bake and Mt Stanley and the beautiful Bujuko Lake. We shall break the day at Bujuku Hut.
Overnight:
Bujuku Hut
Day 6: Hike To Elena’s Hut
It is another lovely day in the mountains and the trails here take you more to the bog as you climb the steep slopes and ascend to sort Elliot. You meet a metal ladder which takes you higher in the mountains and is later divided into two directions. Take the right direction which leads you to Elena hut standing at 4541m where you will have an overnight.
Overnight:
Elena hut 4541m
Day 7: Hike To The Summit, Descend To Kitandara Hut
On this day, we shall wake up early enough with the help of the headlight lamp and by around 8am you will be on the summit enjoying the sunrise. The hike to Margherita Peak (the summit) takes about 5 to 7 hours depending on the weather and the Hiking pace. Enjoy the stunning views, take photos, shed tears of joy and after we start to descent back to Kitandara hut.
Overnight:
Kitandara hut
Day 8: Descend To Guy Yeoman
Descend more to Guy Yeoman’s hut a walk taking about 5 hours. This is a tremendous walk as you encounter the beautiful view side of Congo.
Overnight:
Guy Yeoman
Day 9: Descend To Nyabitaba Hut
The descent takes 6 to 7 hours as you pass through the Kichuchu, through the muddy path in Mobuku River. The walk will end at Nyabitaba hut standing at 2651m above sea level.
Overnight:
Nyabitaba hut 2651m
Day 10: Descend Nyakalengija Gate, Transfer To A Hotel In Kasese
Today, we finally mark the end of our hike in Mountain Rwenzori, we shall descend more to Nyakalengija gate to sign out, hand over the hire materials, jubilate and meet the driver guide ready to take you to the booked hotel in Kasese town.
Overnight:
Sandtone Hotel
Day 11: Game Drive In Queen Elizabeth NP, Transfer To Bwindi Forest NP
After our breakfast, we shall leave Kasese and start our journey to Queen Elizabeth NP for a game drive with chances to site wildlife such as elephants, lions, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, lions, hyenas, and baboons among others. Proceed with a drive passing through the Ishasha sector where you get a chance to meet the tree-climbing lions that are usually spotted resting in the fig trees. We shall then proceed with a journey to Bwindi Forest NP.
Overnight:
Buhoma Lodge
Day 12: Gorilla Trekking
After breakfast, we shall drive to the head to the park headquarters for a briefing about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking, get allocated a trekking group and assigned a ranger guide before you start the hike into the jungle to search for the magnificent mountain gorillas. In the forest, you have a chance to site other creatures like vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, colobus monkeys and more.
Once you meet the gorilla family, you will be allowed an hour to spend with the gorillas while watching them as they feed, and search for food while the Silverback practices leadership skills. You can take pictures and videos of these moments in the forest. After the trek, you will transfer back to the lodge for lunch and a relaxation.
Overnight:
Buhoma Lodge
Day13: Transfer Back To Kampala, Via The Uganda Equator
After a delicious breakfast, we shall bid farewell to the misty Bwindi Forest and embark on our journey to Kampala. It is a long day’s drive but we shall have some stopovers for stretching and lunch. We shall also stop by the Uganda Equator for some video and photo moment we can also buy some souvenirs and then continue with our journey to Kampala.
Overnight:
Hotel No.5
Day 14: Kampala City Tour, Transfer To Entebbe Airport
Wake up to an early breakfast in the heart of Uganda; Kampala City, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and prepare to go to for a Kampala city tour while visiting notable attractions like the Uganda Museum, local markets, historical monuments and Gadhafi Mosque to mark the end of our 14 Days Gorilla Trekking & Mountain Rwenzori Hiking Tour In Uganda. Transfer to Entebbe Airport for flights back home
