Gorilla and Rwenzori trip

12 days gorilla and Rwenzori trip

Day 1: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | Gorilla and Rwenzori trip

Upon your arrival, you will meet your driver for your transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a gorilla trekking experience. You will start the drive to the park with a stop at the equator for a photograph and breakfast and later proceed with the drive with an en route lunch. Arrive at the park in the evening hours and check in at the lodge of your choice for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Lodge

Day 2: Gorilla trekking experience and drive to Kasese

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, the trekkers will be awarded a certificate for the recognition. You will drive back to the lodge for lunch and later drive off to Kasese for your dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation at Snow Height Lodge

Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safaris Uganda Rwanda
Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safaris Uganda Rwanda

Day 3: NYAKALENGIJA (1615m) – NYABITABA CAMP (2651m) | Gorilla and Rwenzori trip

After breakfast, start your morning with a short drive from Kasese to Rwenzori Mountaineering Services headquarters for registration and then to Nyakalengijja which is the starting point of the experience for a briefing as well as allowance of enough time for renting equipment and allocation of porter and guides. After here, the trek begins by 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, 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 4: NYABITABA – 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 about 6- 8 hours.

Day 5: JOHN MATTE – BUJUKU CAMP (3962m.) | Gorilla and Rwenzori trip

Have an early morning breakfast and trek downwards to cross the Bujuku River and enter the Lower Bigo Bog also known as the home of giant lobelias. Jump from tussock to tussock, as you finally cross over the lower body region. The upper Bigo bog gives way to Bujuku Lake, with views of Mt Baker to the South and Mt Stanley to the West. Arrive at Bujuku Hut, which is suitably located in the shadow of Mount Baker and Mount Speke, in a narrow valley below Stuhlmann Pass. This camp is good for acclimatization for clients climbing to the summits of Mount Stanley and Mount Speke.

Dinner and overnight at Bujuku hut.

trekking rwenzori before gorillas in uganda
trekking rwenzori before gorillas in uganda

This day’s hike is quite short and it may take approximately 4 – 5 hours.

Day 6: BUJUKU to MT. SPEKE and back to BUJUKU

After Breakfast, embark on an early morning hike through the Stullmans pass (4192ml.) and enjoy the splendid views of Virunga National Park of DR Congo to Victoria Emanuele Peak.

The ascent takes about 4-5 hours, after which you descend back to Bujuku camp from Victoria Emanuele which offers views of Bujuku Valley and Bujuku Lake, Margherita and Albert peaks on Mount Stanley, and Mount Baker. Arrive at Bujuku Camp for dinner and overnight.

The descent to Bujuku hut, lusts for 3-4 hours.

Day 7: BUJUKU – ELENA CAMP (4541m.) | Gorilla and Rwenzori trip

From Elena’s hut, trek through more bog, as you climb the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical forest of Groundsel Gully. After which, you will trek towards your right up to Elena Hut and Mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders. You will have dinner and an overnight at Elena’s hut.

The trail on your left takes you to Scott-Elliot Pass and down to Kitandara Lakes then to Kitandara Hut.

The hike takes about 5 – 6 hours.

Day 8: ELENA HUT – MARGHERITA PEAK (5109m) – KITANDARA CAMP (4430m)

On this day you will wake up as early as 2:00 am, have your early morning breakfast, and embark on your hike to the top of Margherita Peak, which starts at 3:00 am. You will hike through the Stanley plateau to the top of Mount Stanley. Using ropes, you will hike through the steep rocky regions, while the crampons as well as the ice axe will be used on the glacial axe- as directed by the guide. This will take a couple of hours, after which you will arrive at the bottom of Margherita glacier-the most challenging part of the 7-day Rwenzori central circuit trekking experience. You will then proceed to the top of the peak of Mount Stanley (Margherita Peak at 5107m).

At the peak, you will enjoy the impressive views of Lake Ireen, Mount Speke, and the surroundings, after that descend to Elena hut for lunch.

Acclimatize to fog, altitude sickness, and cool weather, and scramble up to the summit of Margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori. The descent from Margherita Peak back to Elena Hut will take you about 2 – 3 hours.

After your lunch at Elena hut, descend to the Scott-Elliot pass (4372m.), 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 hut.

The descent takes an average of 3 – 4 hours.

Day 9: KITANDARA – MT. BAKER (4843M) – KITANDARA

After breakfast, start with an early morning trek from Kitandara hut through the Fresh Field pass (4215m) and enjoy the impressive views of DR Congo up to Edward Peak.

(ascent may take about5 – 6 hours).

From Edward Peak descend back to Fresh Field pass and then back to Kitandara camp for an Overnight (descent takes about 3 – 4 hours).

Day 10: KITANDARA – GUY YEOMAN (3261m) | Gorilla and Rwenzori trip

Have an early breakfast, and embark on your 9 days of trekking and hiking expeditions to Rwenzori mountains along the trail that ascends steeply up the headwall, spreading out from the base of Mount Baker and continuing along the southern side of the mountain to Fresh Field Pass (4282m.) At this point, you can view Congo to the west and Mount Stanley to the north. After that, take on the long high alpine mossy trek.

Thereafter start the descent 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 about 6 – 7 hours.

Day 11: 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. Descend further to Nyabitaba hut and later continue with your trek to Nyakalengijja, the base camp, which marks the end of the 9 day trekking and hiking expedition to the Rwenzori Mountains.

The descent takes about 7 – 8 hours.

Accommodation at Snow Height Lodge

Day 12: Drive back to Kampala

Wake up for your breakfast and start your journey back to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight. You will have an en route lunch and arrive at the airport in the late afternoon hours.