15 Days Gorillas, wildlife & Rwenzori Trekking
Day 1: Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Upon arrival in either Kampala or Kigali, you will meet our driver / guide who will brief you about your scheduled 15-day gorilla trekking, wildlife trip then embark on your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where you will spend a night. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla Mist Lodge
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and drive to Lake Bunyonyi
Early morning rise with a briefing at the park headquarters prior to the gorilla search in the forest under the guidance of the ranger guides, the trek will take you about 30 minutes to 6 hours including an hour of habituation with gorillas. After an hours’ encounter, you will then return to the headquarters to receive your gorilla trekking certificate, after which you will be driven back to your hotel/lodge for lunch as you prepare for your check out to Lake Bunyonyi.
Overnight at Bunyonyi Overland.
Day 3: Full day relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi
Have your breakfast at the lodge and go for village walk and cultural experiences. During the walk, you will interact with different locals as you enjoy their lifestyles like dancing, cooking and others. After, you will proceed to an afternoon canoeing where you will explore different islands. Later, drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early morning breakfast, we depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park known for famous for the tree climbing lions at Isasha, you will encounter the tree climbing Lions, as you head to the Northern side where you will check in your Hotel/lodge. Have dinner and an overnight at Eshama game lodge
Day 5: Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Ride
When breakfast is done, you will embark on your morning game drive along Kasenyi track in search of animals such as Lions, Lions, Cape Buffalos, Elephants, Warthogs, Waterbucks, Spotted hyenas, Mangoose, Kobs and if you are lucky enough, you may spot leopards, not forgetting various bird species. Return for lunch at your lodge, after which you will go for yet another exciting moment of boat riding along the Kazinga channel, where you will watch wild animals and various bird species on a much closer distance. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 6: Transfer to Kasese
As you watch the sun rise in the morning, you will go for a morning game drive to explore the crater lakes, salt lakes and other wild animals. With a lunch en-route, you will proceed to Kasese Town and Proceed to your lodge/hotel/camp in Kilembe for Dinner and an overnight at Trekkers Guest House
Day 7: Kilembe Camp to Kalalama camp
Depending on where you have spent your night before ( Most Recommended is Trekkers Guest House) you will head to the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarter for briefing, and start on the trek through various vegetation covers with chances of encountering various bird species and monkeys. Troops of monkeys are seen hanging or jumping from one tree branch to another. There is a steep climb with many high steps as you enter the Bamboo zone, which is muddy and slippery, thus making movements so slow. You will stop at Sine for lunch and later proceed to trek upto Kalalama Camp for the dinner and overnight: Dinner at Kalalama Camp (3147m).
Day 8: Kalalama Camp (3.147m) to Mutinda Camp (3.688 m)
After an early morning breakfast, you will set off for trekking through the Bamboo Zone comprising of steep climb with many high steps, and later reach the resting point where you will enjoy half day’s lunch and later continue along the heather zone, and trek through several streams, waterfalls, and the typical green moss vegetation. You will also walk through Giant heather trees, and arrive at Mutinda camp at 3.688m, which is also named after the Mutinda Peaks. It is from this point that you can hike up to the Mutinda Lookout, at 3.925m which is a 90 minutes walk , plus 60 mins descent to the camp. You will later arrive at the camp for dinner and an overnight.
Day 9: Mutinda Camp to Bugata Camp (4.062 m)
Trek through the boggy terrain with the typical wet vegetation and tussocks, after then you will enter the Alpine Vegetation Zone with the Presence of the giant lobelia, the groundswell and the everlasting flowers while crossing the Mutinda Valley. Hike up the steep section to Namusangi Valley, crossing various bogs as you ascend to Bugata Camp at 3.062m where you will have your dinner and an overnight. You have dinner and spend the night. You will be briefed about the following day and then retire to your cabins for the night.
Day 10: Bugata to Hunwick’s Camp (3.974 m)
After an early morning breakfast, you will proceed with your trek to Hunwick’s Camp. Hike along the steep slopes, as you walk across various bogs to Bamwanjara pass at 4.405n. Enjoy breathtaking views of the snow caped peaks, while you head on to rest in a small shelter for a lunch break. This Trek takes you through the lower and Upper Kachope lakes and McConnell’s Prong which are mostly muddy and steep. Arrive at Hunwick’s camp in the evening for dinner and an overnight.
Day 11: Hunwick’s Camp to Magherita Camp
After your morning breakfast, Start your day with walking along the ridge, crossing several wet areas and small rivers flowing from both Mount Baker and the fresh fields pass. Trekking up Scott Elliott Pass is amazing as you walk through and rising up the ridge of Mt Stanley to Margherita Camp at 4,485 meters which is below Elena Hut of the Rwenzori mountaineering services. The Magherita camp which is sheltered with a ring of rocks, was once used by an Italian Prince Luigi Amadeo di Savoia, and Duke of the Abruzzi.
you are expected to arrive late in the evening. Dinner, preparations for the next day and an overnight stay in at the camp.
Day 12: Magherita Camp to the Summit.
You will wake up at 2:00am for your early morning breakfast, after which you will set off for the longest and strenuous walk to the summit of Magherita which will start at 3:00am The early movement to Magherita peak of Mount Stanley is mainly aimed at reaching the glaciers before sunrise since the heat from the sun causes the glaciers to melt, thus making the roots to be totally impassable.
Hiking through the steep heights to Magherita peak requires enough physical strength. Proceed with your hike over the glaciers close, after then you will climb to an exposed section of the rock, which is bolted and roped, to get on the ridge running up to the top of the Margherita peak at 5,109 meters.
Upon reaching the peak, you will be endowed by the beautiful scene of the whole country, as you are now at the highest point of the country. Lunch will be served at the peak, after which you will descend to Hunwick’s camp for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 13: Magherita Camp to Kiharo camp
You will start your day by climbing up bridge towards McConnell’s Prong, where you will be rewarded with impressive views of the three peaks of Mount Stanley, mount Baker and Speke as well as the Scott Elliot pass before reaching Oliver’s pass at 4,505m. The total distance between Hunwick’s Camp and Oliver’s pass is 3km. The confluence then meanders down the valley to Kiharo camp, which is established in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.
Day 14: From Kiharo Camp to the base
From Kiharo camp, the path turns off to the right pass along the river. Spot Duikers as you pass along the river otherwise trek down the river itself jumping across the rocks as you pass down. The trails becomes steep with multitudes of waterfalls after a few kilometers down the river, which is why you will have to move away from the river and follow a narrow ridge to bypass steep sections.
You will again meet the river where there is a huge rock shelter and a place to rest for a lunch break, after which, you will cross a small stream as you climb up gentle slopes before turning back down to the river to avoid another set of waterfalls which are impassable.
Day 15: Drive back to Entebbe
On this day, wake up for your breakfast and meet the driver guide for your transfer back to Entebbe airport for your departure flight.