15 Days Rwenzori Hiking, Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Safari
Welcome to your 15 days Rwenzori Hiking Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking safari in Entebbe, home to the iconic Airport and much more. Reaching the snow-capped peaks of Africa’s third highest peaks, getting up close and personal with humanity’s closest relatives in the animal Kingdom, and meeting face to face with the mountain gorillas are the cherries on top of this epic multi-day hiking through Rwenzori Mountains slopes, chimpanzee and gorilla safari through some of Uganda’s unmissable safari destinations. This 15-day adventure focuses on the trek through Bwindi Forest to search for mountain gorillas, trek through Kibale Forest to search for the endangered chimpanzees, and hike through various vegetation zones and altitudes while heading into the thin air of the top of the Mountains of the Moon. Along the way, you will cross rivers, massive glaciers, and pass ancient forests while relishing epic views.
Highlights of 15 Days Rwenzori Hiking Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Safari
- See diverse animals and natural habitats in the three National Parks of Uganda.
- Watch the endangered chimpanzees swing through the Kibale Forest National Park trees.
- Track and spend quality time with the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
- Spot lots of bird species during the guided treks/hikes.
Brief Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe, Hotel transfer.
- Day 2: Road transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 3: Bwindi Gorilla trekking adventure and community walk.
- Day 4: Road transfer from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to Kasese Town.
- Day 6: Start the Rwenzori hiking adventure: Climb to Mutinda Camp.
- Day 7: Proceed to the Alpine zone at 4062 meters.
- Day 8: Continue climbing to Hunwick’s Camp at 3874 meters above sea level.
- Day 9: Hike to the Margherita Camp at 4485 meters above sea level.
- Day 10: Ascend to Margherita peak at 5109 meters
- Day 11: Describe Kiharo Camp at 3430 meters above sea level.
- Day 12: Have the Final descent to Kilembe.
- Day 13: Undertake the thrilling Crater Lake hike in Fort Portal and Transfer to Kibale Forest NP
- Day 14: Kibale Chimp tracking adventure and Bigodi swamp walk.
- Day 15: Head back to Kampala/Entebbe, departure.
Detailed Itinerary of 15 Days Rwenzori Hiking Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Safari
Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe, Hotel transfer
A Native Africa Tours safari guide will wait for you at Entebbe International Airport and transfer you to the hotel for the night.
- Overnight Accommodation at: Hotel Number Five (luxury), Boma Guesthouse (midrange), or Papyrus Guesthouse Entebbe (budget).
Day 2: Road transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, you will head towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. Along the 9-hour scenic drive, you will stop at the Equator crossing for a coffee break and photography. You can continue the journey until the next Town of Mbarara for lunch, before reaching your final destination in the evening. Here you will get settled in and enjoy a relaxed dinner, allowing time for rest before the next day’s adventure.
- Accommodation at: Buhoma Lodge (luxury), Engagi Lodge (midrange), or Gorilla Bluff Lodge (budget).
Day 3: Bwindi Gorilla trekking adventure and community walk
Prepare yourself for the start of your unforgettable gorilla trekking adventure. Before starting the trek, UWA Park Rangers will take you through the dos and don’ts during a 30-minute briefing session to ensure your safety and that of the Giant Apes. The actual gorilla trek lasts between two and six hours, including the one hour allocated for watching and taking photos of the Giant Apes as they go about their riveting daily routines.
For most people, this is the highlight of the 15 days Rwenzori Hiking, Chimpanzee, and Gorilla Trekking Safari. Watch the Giant Apes while following guidelines such as maintaining a distance of 7 meters from them, avoiding using flash cameras, avoiding abrupt movements, and eating/drinking/smoking in their presence.
Your afternoon is for immersing in the rich cultures and traditions of the surrounding tribes- Bakiga and Batwa.
- Accommodation at: Buhoma Lodge (luxury), Engagi Lodge (midrange), or Gorilla Bluff Lodge (budget).
Day 4: Road transfer from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to Kasese Town
For an unforgettable hiking adventure, this day takes you to Kasese, home to Rwenzori Mountains National Park. The Rwenzoris, dubbed the “Mountains of the Moon,” lie in western Uganda along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its peaks include Africa’s third-highest point, while its lower slopes are covered with rich montane, moorland, and bamboo forest. Transfer to the hotel, whose surroundings are delightful and have superb weather.
- Overnight Accommodation at Snow Height Lodge (luxury), Kikorongo Safari Lodge (midrange), or Sandton Hotel (budget).
Day 5: Start the Hike to Sine Hut at 2596 meters above sea level
After breakfast at the Hotel in Kasese, you will drive to the base Camp, where you will meet the porter and crew members before starting the Hike. Later, you will begin to stroll up the lush valley floor, passing through the towering forest trees of the Afro-Montane Forest Zone. This is a steady and rewarding ascent, with many bird species and primates (especially wild chimpanzees and blue monkeys) scampering off through the forest.
If you’re a primate enthusiast, you will love this day as there are chances of seeing Black and white Colobus monkey troops scampering through the treetops. On this day, there are also L’Hoests monkeys along the trail. There is also a wide array of flora species, which include flowers, shrubs, forest trees, bamboo thickets, fungi, mosses, and lichen-covered vines hanging from the tall trees, creating a breathtaking appeal.
Please make sure to set your cameras ready. The stunning Enock’s Falls are only 200 meters from Sine Hut and provide a remarkable opportunity to capture a fantastic screensaver for your memories.
Set at 2585 meters above sea level, Sine is a wooden hut hidden between towering forest trees on a narrow ridge. It has a large verandah where you can relax with coffee and relish the jaw-dropping natural beauty of the lush Afro-Montane Forest and the spectacular waterfall crashing over the rocks far below. Several colorful bird species can be spotted around this Hut, just below the bamboo forest zone.
- Overnight Accommodation at: Sine Hut at 2585 meters above sea level.
Day 6: Start the Rwenzori hiking adventure: Climb to Mutinda Camp at 3688 meters above sea level
Today, you will head towards Mutinda Camp from Sine Hut. Kicking off at 8:30 a.m., you will enter the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone, a steep climb with many high steps. During the wet season, you need to be prepared for a muddy and slippery walk, which will slow your progress.
From here, you will climb 551 meters in altitude and travel 1.8 kilometers to Kalalama Camp, located at 3147 meters, with a calm atmosphere and stunning forests. Located in the Heather-Rapanea Zone, you will have enough time to unwind and grab a quick cup of tea/coffee to refuel before continuing to Mutinda Camp, at 3688 meters above sea level.
Go up and over several small knolls along a ridge top, then descend the side of the Valley before ascending again. En route, you must cross several small streams and pass close to moss-covered waterfalls.
Later, go steadily along the side of a spectacular mossy river that tumbles down over the rocks under the Giant Heather trees, covered in green moss with Usnea filipendula (locally referred to as the old man beards) hanging from the branches.
After this phenomenal uphill hike, you will arrive overnight at Mutinda Camp near a small river that drops off a waterfall and offers a chance to wash, refresh, and unwind. Nature and adventure enthusiasts can climb up to the top of the Mutinda Lookout, which takes one and a half hours to ascend and then one hour to descend.
You can stand on moss-covered rocks at 3925 meters above sea level to enjoy breathtaking views across the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, Kasese town, and Lake George.
- Overnight Accommodation at: Mutinda Camp at 3688 meters above sea level.
Day 7: Trek to the Bugata Camp (Alpine zone) at 4062 meters
From Mutinda Camp, you will head towards the Alpine zone while going through a boggy area, particularly in the wet season. However, with some skill, you can step from tussock to tussock to make the hike easier.
You will continue along the Trail, then cross the Mutinda valley, through the tussock grass, and an area of spectacular everlasting flowers interspersed with Giant Lobelias. Finally, you will make a steep ascent to the Namusangi Valley (3,840 meters), which ends abruptly with magnificent waterfalls and views of Mutinda Peaks.
The broad Namusangi Valley has many ups and downs, including several bogs, which allow you to climb steadily to Bugata Camp, 4062 meters above sea level.
You will see the stunning Bugata Camp above Bamwanjara pass, while enjoying views across the surrounding area to Weismann’s Peak, as you head towards Bugata Camp.
- Overnight Accommodation at: Bugata Camp.
Day 8: Continue the hike to Hunwick’s Camp at 3874 meters above sea level
From Bugata Camp, you will head towards Hunwick’s Camp today by climbing up Bamwanjara Pass. You will steadily go through several long, flat bogs and thick vegetation while enjoying views of the three prominent peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains range.
Known for its remarkable Malachite Sunbird populations and Lobelia flowers, you should be prepared to explore one of the steepest parts of the trek before ascending to Hunwick’s Camp. Finally, you will enjoy views of several peaks, especially Mount Stanley, Mount Baker, Weismanns Peak at 4620 meters, and McConnell’s Prong (a notable feature of the Mountains).
- Overnight Accommodation at: Hunwick’s Camp
Day 9: Hike to the Margherita Camp at 4485 meters above sea level
After climbing from Hunwick’s, go across the valley floor to Lake Kitandara through the beautiful vegetation. From here, you will ascend Scott Elliott’s pass and then up the ridge to Margherita Camp.
Situated at 4485 meters above sea level, the Margherita camp sits between huge rocks that provide shelter from strong winds. Known as a historical spot, this is where the Duke of Abruzzi stayed when making his ascent to Margherita Peak in 1906.
- Overnight Accommodation at Margherita Camp at 4485 meters above sea level.
Day 10: Ascend to the stunning Margherita peak at 5109 meters
Today marks your summit bid, as you will arrive at the Margherita peak, 5109 meters above sea level. Wake up at 2 a.m. for breakfast before climbing Mount Stanley 30 minutes later. The early wake-up is necessary because the weather has changed a lot. Even during the dry season, the mountain often has heavy clouds, and snow falls between 1 and 4 p.m. This usually happens within 10 – 15 minutes as the clouds rise from the extensive Congo rainforests.
Enjoy a period of photography, then pass directly down to Hunwick’s Camp at 3874 meters.
- Overnight Accommodation at: Hunwick’s Camp.
Day 11: Describe Kiharo Camp at 3430 meters above sea level
After conquering the Hunwick’s Camp expedition, you will ascend a ridge towards McConnell’s Prong while relishing views of all three peaks and Scott Elliott’s Pass. You will proceed to Oliver’s Pass at 4505 meters and 3 kilometers from Hunwick’s Camp.
From Hunwick’s Camp, you will cross a trail, below Weismann’s Peak, to the confluence of River Nyamwamba flowing down through Kilembe and Kasese, to Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National Park. If you’re lucky, you will enjoy jaw-dropping views of Margherita and Mount Stanley, Mount Baker, and Mount Speke on a clear day.
From the confluence, the trek allows you to meander down the Valley to Kiharo Camp, situated in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation.
- Overnight Accommodation at Kiharo Camp
Day 12: Have the Final descent to Kilembe
Today marks your final day of Rwenzori hiking. Enjoy the sounds of chirping birds, especially the shrill calls of the Ruwenzori Turaco and many other bird species.
The route follows the Nyamwamba Valley down to Kilembe Base Camp, where you will spend your last night in the Mountains or Kasese Town. While on this trail, enjoy beautiful views of deep valleys, moss-covered rocks along the river, cascading waterfalls, and dense forests.
The trail becomes steeper with multitudes of stunning waterfalls, and as you climb up over a high ridge and down through the dense forests, expect more spectacular views of the valley below.
You can have a lunch break at Forest View Camp before you reach your final destination.
- Overnight Accommodation at Snow Height Lodge (luxury), Kikorongo Safari Lodge (midrange), or Sandton Hotel (budget).
Day 13: Undertake the thrilling Crater Lake hike in Fort Portal and Transfer to Kibale Forest NP
Today, make the 2-hour scenic drive to Fort Portal through the countryside, then take the short hike around some of the Crater Lakes in this area.
Soak up views of the Rwenzori range and later have lunch in Fort Portal. Afterwards, take the 2-hour drive to Kibale National Park (the Primate Capital of the World with 13 primate species). Besides the Primates, Kibale Forest is a bird Paradise with over 370 species of birds, including the Green-breasted Pitta and the beautiful Great Blue Turaco.
- Overnight Accommodation at: Ndali Lodge (luxury), Turaco Treetops Lodge (midrange), or Kibale Forest Camp (budget).
Day 14: Kibale Chimp tracking adventure and Bigodi swamp walk
Be up early this morning for a day spent tracking the endangered chimpanzees through Kibale Forest National Park. Meet your Ranger guides at 7:30 am for a briefing, then at 8:00 am go through the dense foliage and rugged trails to find these Great Apes, humanity’s closest relatives in the animal Kingdom. While on this chimpanzee trek, you will enjoy other species of primates such as L’Hoest’s, Red Colobus, Olive baboons, blue, red-tailed, vervet, and the grey-cheeked mangabey.
The experienced Park Rangers will provide detailed explanations on primates and all the forest fauna and flora species. They will ensure that your chimp trek is informative and enjoyable.
Upon sighting the Great Apes, you will spend 60 minutes with them before heading for your next adventure.
Lunch at Tinka’s homestead, then in the afternoon, you will visit the Bigodi Swamp, home to over 200 bird species and eight primate species. Later, return to your accommodation for dinner & overnight stay.
- Overnight Accommodation at: Ndali Lodge (luxury), Turaco Treetops Lodge (midrange), or Kibale Forest Camp (budget).
Day 15: Head back to Kampala/Entebbe, departure
Your 15-day Rwenzori Hiking, Chimpanzee, and Gorilla trekking safari ends today. After breakfast, you will begin the journey to Kampala or Entebbe in time to board your homebound flight. Kwaheri!
Inclusions;
- Park entry fees & levies.
- Gorilla trekking permit/s.
- Chimpanzee trekking permit/s.
- Ranger fees.
- Services of an experienced safari guide.
- Bottled water.
- Ground transportation by a 4X4 Safari vehicle.
- Relevant Government taxes and levies.
- 14 nights’ accommodation, including Camping on Mount Rwenzori’s slopes.
- Meals as per the itinerary.
- Community walks.
- Rwenzori hiking permit/s.
Exclusions;
- Laundry fees.
- Telephone calls.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
- Cigarettes.
- Visa fees.
- Airfares.
