Rwenzori , Gorillas & Virunga Mountains – Rwenzori Experts
15 days Uganda safari
Day 1 of 2nd January 2027: Arrival and drive to the hotel
On this day, you will be received and welcomed by our company representative who will also be your travel guide. Depending your arrival time, you will be driven to the hotel in Entebbe for dinner and overnight.
Overnight at 2 Friends Hotel
Day 2 of 3rd January 2027: Arrival and transfer to Rwenzori mountains national park
You will be received and welcomed by our company representative who will also be your travel guide. You will start the journey to Rwenzori mountains national park with a stop at different attractions like plantations, valleys, and others. Arrive at the lodge in the late afternoon and check in at the lodge of your booking for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation at Snow Height lodge
Day 3 of 4th January 2027: NYAKALENGIJA (1615m asl.) – NYABITABA CAMP (2651m asl.)
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.
The hike takes an average of 6 -7 hours.
Day 4 of 5th January 2027: NYABITABA – JOHN MATTE CAMP (3505m asl.)
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 hike takes an average of 7 – 8 hours.
Day 5 of 6th January 2027: JOHN MATTE – BUJUKU CAMP (3962m asl.)
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 of 7th January 2027: BUJUKU – ELENA CAMP (4541m asl.)
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 of 8th January 2027: ELENA HUT – MARGHERITA PEAK (5109m asl.) – KITANDARA CAMP (4430m asl.)
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 of 9th January 2027: KITANDARA – GUY YEOMAN (3261m asl.
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 of 10th January 2027: GUY YEOMAN – NYABITABA – NYAKALENGIJA (1615m asl.)
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. Drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation at Snow Height lodge
Day 10 of 11th January 2027: Drive back to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
In the morning after breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge for your transfer Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Expect to arrive at the park in the late afternoon hours, check in at the lodge of your booking for refreshment, dinner and overnight.
Overnight at 4 Gorillas lodge
Day 11 of 12th January 2027: Gorilla trekking experience in Nkuringo sector
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. Later, drive back to the lodge for refreshment and lunch as you prepare for an optional village walk.
Day 12 of 13th January 2027: Second Gorilla trekking experience in Rushaga sector and drive to Kisoro
Wake up for your early breakfast at the lodge and drive to the park headquarters for registration and briefing about the gorilla trekking experience. After, you will proceed to the park rainforests in search of the apes and once found, you will be allowed to spend a full hour in their presence as you enjoy their lifestyles like playing, feeding, breast feeding and others. After, you will move to the park starting point for your trekking certificates and later drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight at Ikoro lodge
Day 13 of 14th January 2027: Mount Sabyinyo hike
In the morning after your breakfast, meet your guide with your packed lunch and transfer to Ntebeko park headquarters for a hiking briefing about the hike. After, you will be allocated a park guide and a walking stick. During the hike, you will pass through different vegetation zones including the bamboo, hypericum, sub-alpine zones and also several wildlife species like golden monkeys, gorillas, buffalos, elephants, and many others. While at the summit, you will be standing in three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. After a good moment at the summit, you will start off the descend to the starting point which takes about 4 hours. Meet your guide for a drop off at the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation at Ikoro lodge
Day 14 of 15th January 2027: Mount Muhabura hike
After the briefing, you will be driven to the trailhead at the base of the Volcano. This hike is a full day activity which takes between 7-9 hours depending on the hikers speed. You will be accompanied by armed park ranger guides (this is so to protect hikers from wild animals like Elephants and buffaloes, which are scared by shooting in the air) and tour guides. The hike is divided into two stops (each with a hut) before reaching the summit. The first stop is at 3116 meters and the second one being at 3855 meters. You will then proceed with the hike up to the peak which is at 4,127 meters (13,450), the top of this mountain has a crater lake. You will be among the victorious ones to reach up to the peak because some climbers/hikers stop at the first hut while others at the second. You will then descend back to the base. Dinner and overnight as above.
Day 15 of 16th January 2027: Drive back to Entebbe
After breakfast at the hotel, you will check out and then transfer back to Kampala with a stopover for lunch in Mbarara. The guide will drop you at your hotel in Kampala/Entebbe or at the airport for your late flight back home.