Elgon Trekking & Wildlife Adventure 16 Days – Rwenzori Experts
Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Source of the Nile
On this day, you will be met and picked up by our driver/company representatives from Entebbe International Airport. Have a briefing about the trip and introduction as you start on the journey to Jinja, the most beautiful city in Kampala. You will have an en route lunch and a stopover at Mabira forest for zip-lining or birding, and then proceed to Jinja directly. Upon arrival, check in the lodge, freshen up, and have an evening boat cruise to the source of the Nile, then return to the lodge for dinner and have a good night’s stay at 2 Friends Lodge, Jinja (mid-range), source of the Smile (budget)
Day 2: White water rafting
Have your breakfast at the lodge, check out and meet with the driver to transfer to Itanda falls where you will spend a full day taking part in white water rafting and other optional activities such as Kayaking, Bungee jumping, quad biking, spot fishing etc. after spending the full busy day, Then you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at 2 friends lodge jinja( mid range) source of the smile(budget)
Day 3: Transfer to Mount Elgon
Have your breakfast at the lodge and check out for your transfer to Mount Elgon National Park in Kapchorwa.
Day 4: Briefing and start the trek. Hike to Hunwick’s Camp at 2,882m.
Day one is a 7.4km walk with an altitude gain from Elgon Trekkers Base Camp above Bugiboni at 1,720m to Hunwick’s Camp at 2,882m, giving an altitude gain of 1,162 metres (if you slept in Mbale City at 1,150m the altitude gain in one day would be 1,732 metres) 4 to 5 hours. The trek starts at Elgon Trekkers Base Camp and crosses through coffee plantations to the Gasawa steel ladders just above Bugiboni Village with some steep sections above the ladders. It then flattens out to pass through the community where the main source of income is coffee, onions, potatoes and maize.
Or if it is not raining, you may save a bit of energy and time by getting a boda boda up to the Bugitimwa Sub-County Headquarters to start your hike. From here it is a steady walk up to the park boundary directly below Dirigana Falls, with a height of 61 metres, flanked by sheer cliffs. Within the park, the trail switches back and forth (switchbacks) to make it easier to climb, and as you climb, you get excellent views of the Dirigana waterfall, which has never been accessible to tourists before on the all-new Sasa Trail.
At 2,430 metres, you can take a short stroll of 328 metres across to the base of the falls, where you can stand below the falls to get fantastic photos before continuing to the top of the escarpment, where you are treated to awesome views across the valley. The trail crosses directly above the falls as you enter the montane forest with huge Podocarpus trees and thick vegetation. You continue up the Dirigana valley before crossing the river, where there is a fantastic rest spot next to the river for a short break and something to eat before a steady climb up to the Mukoola Ridge and Hunwick’s Camp @ 2,882 metres. A short climb to the top of the hill from Hunwick’s camp, you get fantastic views across the hills and valleys to Mbale City, Sironko, and other towns. At night, you see the lights of towns far away. It is also the site for our dining hut, from where you may experience excellent views up to Masaba Peak and Masaba Table, where our next camp is situated.
Overnight stay at: Hunwick’s Camp 2,882m.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 5. Hike to Masaba Camp at 3745 metres.
Day two is a 7.4km steady climb/walk from 2,882 metres to Masaba Camp at 3,745 metres, total height gain of 863 metres, taking around 4 to 5 hours, easy going all the way. Continue climbing up through the montane forest to 3,200m when you enter open ground. This used to be the bamboo zone which due to heavy exploitation by the communities for bamboo shoots and building materials it is almost none existent. However, as you continue climbing, you will see new bamboo shoots and hope of recovery. Together with Uganda Wildlife Authority, we will be implementing a programme to propagate the indigenous bamboo and replant the affected areas so future generations will be able to enjoy the beauty of the bamboo. At around 3,000 metres to 3,300 metres, you walk through a newly discovered Giant Heather zone (Erica arborea) after which is breaks into the Heath or
Moorland Zone which is open high-altitude grasslands and wildflowers with scattered areas of Giant Heather and rolling hills. We take a short break at a rest point in the upper levels of the Heather Zone before walking the last two kilometres to Masaba Camp @ 3,745 metres. You get excellent views from Masaba Camp across the high altitudes’ grasslands, the stunning forests and the foothills. At night, you see the lights of Mbale City in the distance.
At present the facilities are basic and accommodation is camping however we will soon be constructing huts and other accommodation. After lunch you may decide to climb 1.2km climb to the top of the Masaba Table which is flat rock with vertical cliffs all around averaging 70 to 90metres above the surrounding moorland grasses studded with the giant lobelia and groundsel plants. Masaba Table is one huge rock 700 metres long and 200 metres wide and an average height above sea level of 4,000 metres and offers exceptional views.
Overnight stay at: Masaba Camp 3,745m.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 6. Summit Wagagai peak 4321m, sleep at Mude Cave Camp
A 6.4km walk with an altitude gain of 576 metres up to Wagagai Peak at 4,321 metres then descend back to Mude Camp. As our trail passes close to the cliffs surrounding Masaba Table and just below Masaba Peak (Jackson’s Summit) you have the option of a 30-minute climb to summit Masaba Peak and enjoy excellent views across the caldera to the peaks in Kenya. Is best to start your journey from Masaba Camp by 6.30am or latest 7am to trek the 2.6km and be on top of Masaba Peak before the mountain fog closes in.
Overnight stay at: Mude Cave Camp 3,472m
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7. Descend down to Sasa River Camp at 2,880 metres.
On this day, if the client is of really good fitness the guides can take him down to the caldera and visits the hot springs which is 11km to the Caldera to the hot springs and 11km back to Mude Cave Camp and we spend a night here. Where they descend from on day 5 all the way to the basecamp, it’s a total of 14km down to the basecamp from Mude Cave Camp following the Sasa River Camp route.
OR
On the morning of day 4 after breakfast they can choose to descend down to Sasa River Camp for the night and the following morning on day 5 descend down to the basecamp. This would be 2 and half to 3 hours walk down to Sasa River Camp.
Overnight stay at: Sasa River Camp 2,880meters
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 8. Descend to the basecamp 1720m and continue to Ssipi falls
Descend through the forest along the original Sasa Trail before turning and cutting across to the top of Dirigana Falls through and area of Giant Tree Ferns and down to Elgon Trekkers Base Camp at Bugiboni. Upon arrival at the base camp, check out for your transfer to Ssipi falls, which is about a 1:30-hour drive.
Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 9: Hike to the Top of Sipi Falls and Coffee tours.
On this day, you will hike to the top of Sipi Falls, which offers breathtaking views of the falls and the surrounding area. The hike is challenging but rewarding, and you’ll have a chance to see various bird species, monkeys, and other wildlife along the way. After the hike, you can relax at your accommodation, and later in the afternoon, we shall go for a community walk in the village and visit a coffee plantation.
Day 10: Sipi Falls to Pian Upe Game Reserve
After breakfast, depart for Pian Upe Game Reserve, which is about 3 hours drive from Ssipi falls. Expect to arrive in the afternoon and check into your accommodation. Pian Upe Game Reserve is one of the largest and most remote protected areas in Uganda, with a diverse range of wildlife such as elands, leopards, Antelopes, giraffes and a haven for birdlife. In the afternoon, we shall head for a nature walks within the park and enjoy the stunning views of the flat lands at Napedet Cave (Elephant Rock)
Day 11: Full day game drive
After an early breakfast, you will go for a guided morning game drive. Look out for the early risers, including the hunting cheetah. Other animals you should be on the lookout for are; jackal, roan antelope, zebra, buffalo, dik-dik, hyena, baboon, patas monkey, and many others. Later, you will drive back to the lodge for lunch and then go for the sunset game drive.
Day 12: Drive from Pian Upe to Kidepo Valley National Park
After breakfast, continue north through remote Karamoja countryside. Along the way, observe traditional manyattas, cattle herds, and pastoral life that defines this resilient region. The sense of remoteness increases as traffic fades and the horizon stretches endlessly. Arrive in Kidepo Valley National Park in the late afternoon, check in at the lodge of your booking for refreshment and later depart for an afternoon game drive in the Narus Valley. Expect sightings of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hartebeest, zebras, and possibly predators as temperatures cool.
Day 13: Full day in Kidepo
Begin the day with an early morning game drive the prime time for wildlife activity. During the experience, you will spot animals like lions, large buffalo herds, and plains game move through Narus valley as golden light spreads across the savannah.
After, return to the lodge for breakfast and some resting. Later in the afternoon, choose a cultural visit to a Karamojong manyatta to learn about cattle traditions, social structures, and survival in a semi-arid environment. After, drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 14: Visit the hot springs
Today we set off for a game drive in the northern track, searching for ostriches and cheetahs. We proceed to Kanangorok hot spring which is near to the South Sudan border. We cross the kidepo river which had lots of birds and wild game to see. We return to the lodge for Lunch.
Day 15: Drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After an early breakfast, drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary via Kitgum and stop for lunch in Gulu town, a once war-torn town which has grown into a very big town now. Later, continue to lodge for dinner and overnight at the lodge near the sanctuary.
Day 16: Rhino tracking later off set to Kampala/ Entebbe
Today you have the opportunity to see white rhinos in the morning, after a morning breakfast.
This is the right time to track rhinos because they are still very active before the sunshine, a great hour with them is simply majestic, creating a good opportunity for photos as close as possible.