Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori hike and Kibale Chimp trek
Home »This 16-days safari takes you to the misty Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is home to more than half the population of the remaining 720 Mountain Gorillas in the world. Gorilla tracking is the most enchanting experience in this forest. You will have an experience of a life time as you watch at close range these majestic apes feed, play and relax. It also includes a visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s second largest national park, with plenty of wildlife, birds and primates. This Park also has spectacular scenery including Crater Lakes and rolling savannah plains overlooking the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountain ranges. You will enjoy game drives and a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. You will conclude this tour with a visit to Kibale Forest National Park with several spectacular crater lakes and swamps which are home to hippo, buffalo and some elephant, and the forested areas are the natural habitat of our chimpanzees, occasionally lion and leopard can be spotted as they sleep through the midday sun.
Safari Highlights
- Gorilla trekking
- Rwenzori hike
- Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Parks
- Launch cruises on the Nile River and Kazinga Channel
- Equator experience
- Chimpanzee trek
Day 1- Arrival at Entebbe
Upon arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will be received by our company representative who will be your driver guide for this trip. You will be transfer to your accommodation to rest. Dinner and overnight at
- Gorilla Guest House.
Day 2- Transfer to Kasese – Briefing
After a morning breakfast, you will be picked up by your driver guide and you will checkout of your accommodation and embark on your transfer to Kasese with a stopover at the equator and en-route lunch arriving later in the evening, check in with our accommodation, you will later receive a briefing on the hiking activity that we follow on the next day. Dinner and Overnight.
- Magharita Hotel
Day 3- Nyakalengija(1648) – Nyabitaba (2651)
You will have early morning breakfast and head to the briefing point for the hiking regulations and later start the hike at around 8am through the bamboo, high elephant grass and dense bushes. You will climb some rocks and bluff, crossing river mahoma then to nyabitaba hut where you will spend the night. Expect to see some animals like white Columbus monkeys, blue monkeys, three horned chameleon and the Rwenzori turaco along this route. The journey will take you 4-5 hours. Later reach the Nyabitaba Hut.
- Nyabitaba Hut
Day 4- Nyabitaba – John matte(3503m)
You will move through the forest about half an hour to the hurt shafer bridge, the conference of mubuku and bujuku rivers.then through the bamboo forest. Slippery moss covered rocks for a couple of hours. Proceed to Nyamulenge rock shelter where you will have a view of mount stanely and mount speke. Then you will reach john matte hut where you will spend the night. This place will offer you a beautiful view of mount stanely and margherita glacier
- John Matte Hut
Day 5- John matte – Bujjuku (3900m)
After Morning breakfast, Move from John Matte hut across the Bujuku River to the lower Bigo bogo. Your real first experience for jumping from tussock will begin from here. A steep Section past the hut leads to upper to Bigo and half of this a boardwalk has been constructed. You will have a lunch break at a beautiful narrow stream at the upper end of this bog. The southern end of the lake is in a majestic setting, with Mt. Baker to the South, Mt. Stanley to the west and Mt. Speke to the north. Dinner and Overnight stay at John Matte – Bujuku Hut – 3962 m
- Bujuku Hut
Day 6- Bujuku – Elena
Leave Bujuku hut to a newly newer trail. This trail raises and falls twice before finally climbing steeply through magical moss draped groundsel vegetation about 14,345ft (4,372 m) to Scott Elliot Pass. While at the steepest section a short strong ladder after which a right hand branch will lead to Elena Hut 14,700 ft (4,430 m). It is the steep rocky trail which when hot can be slippery. You will then continue straight, a few steps below the pass, there is a sheltered spot for a very good break before Elena Hut. It is the base camp for climbing 16,763 feet and 5,109m to margherita peak in the Mt.Stanly Complex and requires an additional day. In case the weather is bad, the rain, snow and wind can occur in any season.
- Elena Hut
Day 7- Elena Hut – Margherita Peak
Set off aiming at Margherita peak (5109m), you will continue to the base of the Stanley Glacier. To reach the summit of Margherita, it will take you about 5-7 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. Note that this climb is for only physically fit and technical climbers. Climbing on to the glacier, 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. Given the high altitude and the tough conditions even if you do not reach the peak, don’t get disappointed. Later descend back to Elena Hut
- Elena Hut
Day 8- Elena Hut – Kitandara
From Elena hut descend through the Scott-Elliot pass, where there are spectacular views back to Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke and down to the Kitandara Lakes . After the trail that passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight stay at the Kitandara Hut.
- Kitandara Hut
Day 9- Kitandara Hut – Guy Yeomun Hut
From Kitandara, the trail ascends steeply up the headwall, spreading out from the base of Mount Baker and continuing along the south side of the Rwenzori Mountain to Fresh field pass. From the pass, the long muddy descent continues, passing the rock shelter at Bujangolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906.
- Guy Yeoman Hut
Day 10- Guy yeoman – Nyakalengija
Today, from Guy Yeoman, 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. 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 trail passing the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906. Transfer back to your accommodation
- Margherita Hotel
Day 11- Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast at your Hotel, transfer to queen Elizabeth National park arriving at the park in the morning hours for a morning game drive, an awesome experience to spot the animals in natural habitats. Expect to see the famous Big Five; Elephant, Buffalos, Lions, Bush bucks, Kobs, Giant Forest hog, Hyenas, leopards, antelopes, and Waterbucks as well as birds. You will later head to your lodge check-in and enjoy your lunch and relax. In the afternoon after relaxing head out for another but yet exciting game drive in the park after which retire at your lodge.
- Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 12- Full Day Game Drive at Queen Elizabeth National Park
After and early morning breakfast, go for a morning game drive in the park later in the afternoon return to the lodge for your lunch and relax. In the afternoon you will take a launch cruise along the amazing Kazinga channel to see, at close range, the water animals to include Hippos, Buffalos, Crocodiles and elephants bathing on the channel banks. There is also a variety of bird species on the water banks especially the pelican and Jacana. The boat will return at around 04:00pm, we will drive towards lake Katwe and also the crater lakes region, you will be able to see various salt pans around lake Katwe, this is Uganda’s oldest salt mine. Thereafter return for dinner and overnight at
- Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 13. Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After an early morning breakfast, check out of your lodge and embark on your transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park arrive in the afternoon check into your accommodation and enjoy your lunch and relax. Later in the evening go for an evening community walk/ batwa and later return to your lodge for. Dinner and Overnight.
- Gorilla Forest Camp
Day 14. Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After an early morning breakfast around 6:30 am you will be driven to the park headquarters for briefing on the do’s and don’ts during gorilla tracking and thereafter you will proceed to the gorilla trail. Gorilla tracking normally lasts between 2 to 8 hours or even a day to encounter the gorillas. However, you will be allowed to stay in the presence of these awesome apes for at least an hour. I advise you take the longest group of track considering that you have a lot of time relaxing at your lodge.
- Gorilla Forest Camp
Day 15. Transfer to Kampala/ Entebbe
After an early morning breakfast, checkout of your lodge and head back to Kampala with lunch en-route arriving late evening and check in to your hotel to relax and enjoy your dinner.
- Forest Cottages
Day 16- Mabamba Swamp tour and Departure
After you early morning breakfast go for a birding tour on mabamba swamp on a boat tour where you will be able to view a number of birds with the shoebill being the main focus because it is one of the most unique birds found here. Later return to Entebbe for your flight marking the end of our trip.