6 Days 5 Nights Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tour / Rwenzori Mountains Climbing

6 Days / 5 Nights Gorilla & Chimpanzee Tour

Day 1: Entebbe International Airport - Kampala
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, meet & greet with a Trek East Africa representative and thereafter transfer to Cassia Lodge/ Hotel Africana (Up market) or Fairway Hotel / Makerere University Guest House (Budget) for overnight stay. Meal Plan: Dinner.

Day 2: Kampala - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Set off by 7:30 am for Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park. The drive is long but enjoyable with a stopover at the Equator and for lunch enroute. After lunch drive on to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - home to the endangered Mountain Gorillas.

Bwindi Forest not only offers dramatic steeply forested landscape but is also incredibly dense though crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. Overnight stay (subject to family to be tracked) at Buhoma Lodge / Gorilla Resort/ Gorilla Safari Lodge / Ruhija Gorilla Lodge or Buhoma Community Bandas. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Early breakfast then report at the UWA information office where you will be fully briefed on the do's and don'ts while in the forest. With your packed lunch set off with your guide (s) for the adventure. The track may take anywhere from 30 minutes to 7 hours but from the time the first Gorilla or Gorilla family is spotted, you are only allowed to spend a maximum of one hour with them as they go about their activities. The experience of observing these endangered gentle giants is a humbling and exciting adventure.

Return to your camp/ lodge from where you will relive those special moments with friends over a drink. Overnight stay at Buhoma Lodge / Gorilla Resort/ Gorilla Safari Lodge / Ruhija Gorilla Lodge or Buhoma Community Bandas. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 4: Bwindi Forest - Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, drive northwards through Ishasha (If over night was at Buhoma - Bwindi) where you will take on a game drive prior to heading for Queen Elizabeth National Park. This park boasts of a variety of big game like; Elephants, Buffaloes, lions, buffaloes, the elusive leopard and Hippos. Overnight stay at Jacana Safari Lodge / Mweya Safari Lodge or Simba Safari Camp. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park
After early breakfast, drive to Kyambura Gorge where you will partake in a thrilling Chimpanzee safari trek (subject to permit availability). This guided safari walk in search of Chimpanzees may also yield sightings of baboons, red tailed and Colobus monkeys.

In the afternoon take on a unique launch cruise along Kazinga Channel - one that joins Lakes George and Edward.The launch cruise passes through presumably the highest concentration of hippo in Africa and other mammals are a common sight as they drink at the water's edge.

The birdlife is abundant and colourful. Later return to the lodge. Overnight stay at Jacana Safari Lodge / Mweya Safari Lodge or Simba Safari Camp. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park - Entebbe International Airport
Rise early and take on a morning safari game drive. Look out for lions, Elephants, buffaloes, hyenas, the comical warthogs, Antelopes and with luck the elusive Leopard could be spotted. Return to the lodge for late breakfast.

Check out and start the drive to start the drive to Entebbe with a stopover for lunch enroute and other places of interest like souvenir selling points along the highway. Arrive Entebbe in the evening in time for your late outbound flight. Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch.

10 Days 9 Nights Mt. Rwenzori Mountains Climbing

Day 1: Entebbe International Airport - Kampala
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport we welcome you and transfer to Kampala for overnight BB at the hotel, Capitol Palace Hotel. BB

Day 2: Kampala - Rwenzori Mountains
In the morning after breakfast you depart Kampala and head Westwards in the direction of Fort Portal where you will arrive in time for lunch. Later on proceed through the Mubuku valley up to the village of Ibanda. While you relax in the montane atmosphere of the hotel, meet your guides and start arranging for the next day trekking.
Dinner and overnight at Tours Holiday - Rwenzori Base Camp Base. Full Board

Day 3: Stage 1: From Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba Hut, 2.652 m.
After breakfast proceed to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park head quarter in Nyakalenjija, 1615 m. You receive the briefing from the officials; you can hire equipment for the trekking as you wait for the preparation of luggage and porters.
The hike starts through the plantations and homes of the Bakonjo, the people of the Rwenzori. Follow the Mobuku River inside the mountain forest up to the first hut, Nyabitaba, 2.652 m which is the arrival point for the day. During the day you might see the black and white colobus, the blue monkeys or hearing the chimpanzees.

Typical is the colourful Rwenzori Turaco. From Nyabitaba, you are facing on the North the Portal Peaks, 4.627 m, and in front Mount Kyniangoma. Dinner and overnight at Nyabitaba Hut. This day hike can take up to 4/5 hours.
Hiking time: 5 hours - Habitat: montane forest - Altitude level: 1.037 m.

Day 4: Stage 2: From Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte Hut, 3.505 m.
From Nyabitaba Hut take the trail that leads westwards to the Kurt Shaffer Bridge, which crosses the Mubuku River just below its confluence with Bujuku River. Here is where the proper "central circuit" starts, and you will take the right side (while you will descend from the left side).

The vegetation zone is now the bamboo forest. You reach up to a steep rock which leads to Nyamuleju Hut, the beginning of the groundsel zone. Follow a swampy bog full of extraordinary plants and giant lobelias. The arrival point for the day is John Matte Hut, 3.505 m. where you have dinner and overnight.

From this location you can enjoy for the first time the view of the snow capped peaks of Mount Stanley.
Hiking time: 6 hours - Habitat: bamboo forest and groundsel zone - Altitude level: 762m.

Day 5: Stage 3: From John Matte Hut to Bujuku Hut, 3.962 m
From John Matte Hut you cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower "Bigo bog", a grassy bog where you experience how to jump from tussock to tussock. After a rocky climb you reach Bigo Hut and enter the upper "Bigo bog".

From this extraordinary boggy valley you might have good view of the Mount Stanley. Finally you reach Lake Bujuku, then proceeding through a very muddy swampy area until Bujuku Hut, 3.962 m. This is where the alpine zone begins and the grass becomes scarce and smaller. This day hike can take up to 5 hours.

The hut is well positioned down the Mount Speke and on the trail to Congo. In front of the hut you can enjoy the best view of Mount Baker and Mount Stanley.

Hiking time: 4 - 5 hours - Habitat: alpine zone - Altitude level: 457 m.

Day 6: Stage 4: From Bujuku Hut to Elena Hut, 4.430 m.
From Bujuku Hut, after a muddy area, you start a steep climbing through a forest of giant groundsels up to the Groundsel Gully. A branch in the trail leads to Elena Hut, 4.430 m, arrival point for the ones who intend to climb Margherita Peak.

If you are only taking the central circuit, then the trail proceeds directly to Kitandara Hut. You walk through Scott Elliot Pass, 4.372 m., the highest point during the central circuit, where you can enjoy stunning panoramic views down the Bujuku valley, of Mount Baker, Mount Luigi di Savoia and Stanley just above. This is a steep, rocky trail which when is wet or icy can be very slippery.

After dinner, you rest at Elena Hut before ascending in the early morning before sunrise.
Hiking time: 3- 4 hours - Habitat: alpine zone - Altitude level: 468 m.

Day 7: Stage 5 From Elena Hut to Kitandara Hut, 4.023 m.
From Elena Hut you ascend the last tract of rock and ice which leads to Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley, 5.109 m. You might take about 3 -4 hours to complete the climbing. You need crampons, ice axe and rope as you walk through what remains of the glacier area of Mount Stanley.

The peak was first climbed by Prince Luigi Amedeo the Duke of Abruzzi at 9.30 am on 18th June 1906. The trail descends down to Upper Kitandara Lake and Lower Kitandara Lake, where is located Kitandara Hut, 4.023 m. arrival point for the day. It can take approximately 3 hours walk. This is the best place for planning the ascent of Mount Luigi di Savoia and Mount Baker.

Hiking time: 6 hours - Habitat: glacier / alpine zone - Altitude level: - 1554 m.

Day 8: Stage 6: From Kitandara Hut to Guy Yeoman Hut, 3.261 m.
From Lake Kitandara you climb to Fresh field Pass, 4.282 m., a long flat of high alpine mossy glades, before descending the circuit among rocky and boggy areas. The panorama is dominated by the glaciers of Mount Stanley and Mount Baker.

A rocky trail leads to Akendahi, Bujongolo and Kabamba rock shelters, where starts Kabamba valley before reaching Guy Yeoman Hut, 3.261 m. This can take up to 5 hours. The hut enjoys a good panoramic location, nearby the river Mubuku and with views of Mount Baker.

Hiking time: 5 hours - Habitat: alpine zone / groundsel zone - Altitude level: - 762 m.

Day 9: Stage 7: From Guy Yeoman Hut back to Nyakalengija
From Guy Yeoman final descent to Nyakalenjija, which might take about 7 hours walk. Otherwise, you can decide to spend another night in Nyabitaba Hut. The trekking follows the Mubuku and Kichuchu rivers, with all the plants of the heather zone before reaching the bamboo forest.

Kabamba falls are seen on the way. From Nyabitaba Hut starts the short trekking to see Lake Mahoma.
As you arrive down in Nyakalenjija we shall transfer you back to the hotel in Ibanda.

Day 10: Ibanda - Entebbe
After breakfast, start the drive to Entebbe International Airport in time for connections with the international flights.

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