Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide, and be transferred to the Hotel for dinner and overnight at The Boma Entebbe. HB

Day 2: Kibale Forest National Park
Awake to a morning breakfast and depart to Kibale Forest National Park, a home for the primates with over 13 Primate species. Kibale Forest is a haven for the chimpanzees living in their natural wild. In the afternoon take a nature walk in Bigodi Swamp with lots of birds and monkeys to see, its also a good chance to walk in the local communities. Dinner and overnight at Kibale Forest Camp/ Kyaninga Lodge. FB

Day 3: Chimp Tracking | Mt Rwenzori National Park

After breakfast, you head to the park headquarters for briefing, and also get a ranger assigned to your group that will lead you in the forest to track the chimpanzees in their natural home, the exercise may take anywhere from 2 hours to more depending on the movemenets of these primates, Man’s closest relative, with over 98% DNA as that of a human, you will have 1 hour of full observation standing a stone’s throw distance, watching them go about their life, as they feed, play, interact with each other, move, it’s an thrilling experience. Proceed to Mt Rwenzori National park with dinner and overnight at the Camp or Sandton Hotel. FB

Day 4: Mt Rwenzori Hiking - Margherita Peak
Day one of the 7/8 Days of Hiking Mt Rwenzori.
After breakfast, hike from the trekkers at 1,450 meters and sleep at Sine Hut at 2,596 meters being a height gain of 1,146 meters, or those who are fit may proceed to Kalalama Camp at 3,134 metres( This gives you more time at Mutinda Camp where you may climb up to Mutinda Lookout at 3,975 metres.

Start the hike by walking to the valley floor encountering the afro montane forest zone with the chance to spot birds, monkeys like the colobus, L’Hoest, chimpanzees. You will be treated to beautiful sceneries of Enock’s Falls that is colse to Sine Hut Camp.

The Sine Hut Camp at 2,596 metres have wooden huts set between tall forest trees on a narrow ridge offering a good chance to view the spectacular Afro Montane forest and the Enock waterfalls that is few meters away. Overnight will be spent at Sine Hut Camp; or proceed to sleep at Kalama Camp at 3,134 metres, the advantage of staying at Kalama, is you  get more time at Mutinda Camp where you may climb up to Mutinda Lookout at 3,975 metres with great views. Meals in the Mountain.

Day 5: Mt Rwenzori Hiking
Day two of Mt Rwenzori Hiking, Have a heavy breakfast and embark on the hike again, where you come to the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone; it’s a steep climb (In the wet season the bamboo zone is rather muddy and slippery making the going slow). Here the atmosphere and the forest is beautiful as you climb 551 metres altitude walking a distance of 1.8km to Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters. The camp is in the Heather-Rapanea Zone, you are here to take a rest and a quick cup of tea/ coffee before heading on to Mutinda Camp. The trail meanders up and over several small knolls along a ridge top then drops down the side of the valley before climbing again, and in doing so cross several small streams and pass close to moss covered waterfalls. You then climb steadily along the side of a beautiful mossy river which tumbles down over the rocks under the Giant Heather trees whose trunks are covered in green moss with old man beards (Usnea lichen) hanging from the branches. The trail twists and turns as you climb up the deep valley, which has an enormous variety of plants and flowers. This valley is unique with many Giant Heather trees creating a beautiful atmosphere often shrouded in mist. 

In the afternoon, you may climb up to the top of the Mutinda Lookout (one to two hours up and one hour down) The views are amazing as you stand on moss covered rocks at 3,925 meters with views across the Rwenzori Mountains and down to Kasese town and Lake George.  This is also a goos spot to acclimatize. Sleep at Mutinda Camp at 3.582 metres. Meals in the mountain.

Day 6: Mt Rwenzori Hiking

Day three of the Mt Rwenzori Hiking. Third day in Mt Rwenzori,  it’s a 4.9km starting at 3,688 meters climbing to 4,062 meters

Today, cross the Mutinda valley through the tussock grass and everlasting flowers interspersed with many Giant Lobelias before climbing a steep section up to the Namusangi Valley (3,840 meters), which ends abruptly with sheer waterfalls and fantastic views of Mutinda Peaks. The Namusangi Valley is wide, with many ups and downs and crossing several bogs as the trail climbs steadily to Bugata Camp at 4,062 meters. 
Bugata Camp is situated way up Bamwanjara Pass high above Bugata Lake with views across Lake Kopello to Weismann’s Peak, which is often covered with snow then down the valley views of Lake Africa and Lake Kanganyika and the many small peaks towards Mutinda Camp. The area is covered with tussock grass, everlasting flowers (Helichrysum), St John’s Wort (Hypericum becquaeritii), giant groundsel (Senecio adnivalis) and Giant lobelia (Lobellia gibberoa).  There are a many Red Forest Duiker (Cephalophuc nigrifrons rubidus) a species endemic species to the Rwenzori Mountains. 

Bugata Camp has good facilities, solar lights, good toilets and bathrooms where the guides may prepare some warm water in a basin for you to wash. Bugata also has a helicopter pad (GPS reading N 18.312 E29 53.457) in case of any need for rescue by helicopter but be warned that a helicopter in Uganda costs around $10,000 per hour flying time which is way more than other countries so you need insurance in case of rescue.

Day 7: Mt Rwenzori Hiking

Day four of the Mt Rwenzori Hike, Hike to Hunwick’s Camp via Bamwanjarra Pass. As you leave Bugata Camp you pass up a ridge then drop down slightly before ascending to Bamwanjarra Pass at 4,450 meters where we have a hut should the weather turn bad. From the pass on a clear day you get excellent views of the three main peaks. The trail passes down the valley and around the edge of some bogs and thick ever green vegetation, moss. giant groundsel and lobelia. Here is possibly the best place in all the Rwenzori to observe the Malachite Sunbird as it feeds on the many lobelia flowers and a known breeding site. Farther on there is some steep sections before a steady climb up and over a ridge to Hunwick’s Camp which is situated on the top of a deep valley and has good views of Mt Stanley, Mt Baker, Weismanns Peak and McConnell’s Prong.

Day 8: Mt Rwenzori Hiking

Day five of the Mt Rwenzori Hike. Today trek from the Hunwick’s go across the valley floor to Lake Kitendara which is very stunning with deep water and beautiful vegetation. The hike up to Scott Elliott’s pass then up the ridge to Margherita Camp 4,485 metres which is situated between some huge rocks and offering some shelter from the strong winds. This is the very spot where the Duke of Abruzzi camped when made his climb to Margherita Peak in 1906.

Day 9: Mt Rwenzori Hiking

Day 6 of Mt Rwenzori Hiking, awake at 2am and catch an early breakfast before heading off to climb Mt Stanley at 2.30am. This is necessary as the weather has changed a lot and often even during the dryer season the mountain is closed in with heavy clouds and snow falls from 1 pm to 4pm and this happens within a short period of 10 to 15 minutes as the clouds rise up from the extensive Congo rainforests. Additional information: During January and February 2017 clients were closed in and unable to walk during heavy snow storms which previously were not heard of during the dryer season and arrived back at Margherita camp well after dark with one group arriving back at 11pm totally exhausted. There is now a strict turn around time of 10am so if you do not reach the peak before then you must turn around regardless of the disappointment in the interests of safety. Margherita glacier has also suffered with global warming and as the outer edges of the glacier recede the ice is becoming steeper with one section of about 200 meters more than 60% grade. 

For those hikers with less mountaineering experience we suggest that you stay on Stanley glacier and climb up to a good vantage point on a rocky outcrop on the southern edge of Alexandra Peak to enjoy fantastic views over Congo and the lower mountain ridges

After ascending the peak at 5,109 metres you then pass directly down to Hunwick’s Camp at 3.874 metres.

Day 10  Mt Rwenzori Hiking
Distance to Kiharo Camp 11km Time taken to walk 4 to 7 hours
Day 7 of Mt Rwenzori Hiking; From Hunwick’s Camp hike up a ridge towards McConnell’s Prong where you get the best views of all three peaks and Scott Elliott’s Pass before reaching Oliver’s Pass at 4,505 metres. The distance from Hunwick’s Camp to the top of Olivers Pass is 3km The trail then cuts across below Weismann’s Peak to the confluence of the Nyamwamba River which flows down thought Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elisabeth National Park.

If you wish to climb Weismanns Peak 4,620 metres from Olivers pass you may do so at an extra cost . On a clear day you get fantastic views of Margherita and Mt Stanley, Mt Speke and Mt Baker.

After crossing the confluence the trail meanders down the valley to Kiharo Camp at which is situated in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation. On the way down the valley after each bog you will climb over a ridge of stones and earth which seems out of place but actually was pushed there by slow moving glaciers which eventually stopped moving, melted and left a pile of rocks and debris in front of where the glacier once stood.

Day 11 : Descend | Queen Elizabeth National Park

Distance Kiharo Camp to the park gate 16km and another 2.8km down to Trekkers Hostel.  Time to walk 5 to 8 hours.

The trail down the Nyamwamba Valley is mostly downhill and absolutely stunning with beautiful views, moss covered rocks along the river, cascading waterfalls, deep valleys and forests are possibly the best in the Rwenzori Mountains. A few kilometres from Kiharo Camp the path turns off to the right to pass along the river. In the clear areas you may catch a glimpse of a Duiker quietly feeding in small clearings as you pass along the river. This area is possible the highest population of Rwenzori Red Duikers anywhere in the National Park  A few kilometres down the river it becomes  steeper with multitudes of stunning waterfalls.  After the waterfalls we climb up and over a high ridge then down though the dense forests with stunning views of the valley below.  We stop at Forest View Camp for lunch before proceeding back to Base Camp. A great experience and ending to a fantastic trek.

Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Dinner & overnight at Elephant Plains/ Mweya Safari Lodge. FB

Day 12: Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today have an early breakfast and embark on morning game drive in search of the big cats, and a chance to view plenty of the wildlife inlcuding elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs, and lots of birds. Follow by an afternoon boat cruise on the kazinga channel that links Lake Edward to Lake George, a habitation for plenty of wildlife, densely populated with the Hippos. A boat cruise is a very perfect way to enjoy the game viewing in the park. Dinner and overnight at  Elephant plains/ Mweya Safari Lodge. FB

Day 13: Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast drive to Lake Bunyonyi,  the second deepest lake in Africa dotted with over 29 islands, each with a rich history. Relax by this lake as you gain for yet another demanding exercise that is gorilla trekking. Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Rock Resort. FB

Day 14: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Have a relaxed breakfast the depart to the park arriving in time for lunch, spend the rest of the day relaxing in the park, later do a community way to see the way of life of the local people. Dinner and overnight at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge/ Gorilla Safari Lodge. FB

Day 15: Gorilla tracking| Lake Mburo National Park

Have an early breakfast, and head to the park head quarters for briefing, have a ranger assigned to your group, who will lead you to  the gorilla tracking exercise, during the gorilla tracking, you get to experience the thrill of being close to these giant apes, you will have an one hour of full encounter as you watch the gorillas, play, feed, interact with each other in their family setting with an Silverback as head of the family, you will be excited to see playful babies swing in the tree branches with a protective mother by the side, gorilla tracking is one of the most interesting and memorable activity, you will then return to the lodge for lunch then depart to Lake Mburo National Park. Upon arrival take a boat ride on Lake Mburo for yet more wildlife viewing, what to see include the hippos, buffaloes, and lots of different bird. Take an enroute game drive as you drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight at Rwakobo Rock/ Mihingo Safari Lodge. FB

Day 16: Departure

Awake early for breakfast then take a morning game drive or do a nature walk, where you will see the rare impala, only found in lake Mburo National park and other signature wildlife like the zebras, elands, buffaloes, topis, bushbucks, jackals, zebras, and more. Drive to Entebbe International Airport for departure. HB

End of the Safari