Combining Gorilla Trekking and Rwenzori Mountain Hiking
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains are two of the most visited places in Uganda, and it’s easy to see why. When visiting Uganda, many travelers find it advantageous to combine gorilla trekking and Rwenzori mountain hiking tours.
With its rich mountain gorilla concentration/population, nestled on the southwestern tip of Uganda along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, the 321-square-kilometer Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is consistently voted one of the most-visited safari destinations in Africa.
Meanwhile, the 5109-meter tall Rwenzori Mountain range is the ultimate mountaineering safari destination, home to the third highest peak in Africa and some of the most iconic mountain climbing experiences on the Continent.
As two of Uganda’s most popular safari destinations, both epic travel hot spots are on many adventure lovers’ bucket lists. After all, the combination of gorilla trekking and mountain hiking makes for the ultimate African adventure experience.
However, combining Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwenzori Mountains National Park into a single safari can seem a bit daunting given the problematic physical demands of the two activities (gorilla trekking and mountain hiking) and nearly 189 kilometers/117 miles between the two Protected Areas. However, don’t worry; this article brings you everything you need to know about combining these two thrilling and unmissable activities into one epic Ugandan adventure.
Why combine gorilla trekking and Rwenzori Mountain hiking?
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Rwenzori Mountains National Park are some of Uganda’s crown jewels.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the Continent’s only four gorilla trekking safari destinations, with over 25 habituated gorilla families distributed across its four trekking sectors/regions that include Rushaga and Nkuringo in southern Bwindi, Buhoma in the Northern side of the Park, and Ruhija industry in the Eastern side of the Park. With a gorilla permit (costing $800 per person for foreign non-residents, $700 per person for foreign residents, and shs. 300,000 for East African Citizens), you will visit one of the gorilla families, as long as you’re 15 years old and above.
In essence, you will embark on guided walks with experienced Park Guides and Rangers for as little as one hour to as much as six hours searching for a habituated gorilla family. This will climax with a one-hour encounter to take photos and observe their human-like behavior as explained by experienced Guides. You can top it off with an unforgettable photography session with the Giant Apes, a perfect opportunity to learn to keep memories of the safari alive.
On the other hand, the Rwenzori Mountains are the mountaineering hotspot of Uganda. Here, you can conquer one of the three main climbing routes on the Rwenzori Mountains- the Central Circuit trail that lasts 6-7 days to reach the peak, the Bukurungu Trail that lasts 7 days to get to the summit, and the Kilembe Trail that lasts 7-8 days to summit. By undertaking the Rwenzori Mountain hiking adventure, you really will get the authentic taste of the Protected Area’s flora and fauna, from mammals- Rwenzori duikers, bushbucks, hyrax, forest elephants, blue monkeys, Rwenzori Colobus monkeys, and the Black and white Colobus monkeys, Amphibians- such as the three-horned chameleons, birds- including Rwenzori double collared sunbird, handsome francolin, strange weaver, Rwenzori nightjar, Archer’s robin-chat and red-throated alethe among others).
How much time do you need to combine Gorilla Trekking and Rwenzori Mountain hiking?
The question should be, “How much time do you have for your gorilla trekking and Rwenzori Mountain hiking safari?” You will want all the time you can get there. Trust Native Africa Tours!
But as a minimum, you will want to spend one night in Entebbe/or Kampala on the arrival day, six to eight nights in the Rwenzori Mountains, and two nights in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. After all, there’s so much to do and explore!
In Rwenzori Mountains National Park, you will need 9 days/8 nights to the summit along the Kilembe Trail operated by Rwenzori Trekking Services (RTS), 7 days/6 nights to reach and return from Mount Stanley along the Central Circuit Trail operated by Rwenzori Mountaineering Services, or 7 days/6 nights to reach the summit via the Bukurungu Trail managed by Rwenzori Ranges Guides and Escort Association (RRHA). However, if you’re limited by time, you can choose shorter hiking trails such as the 2-day Nyakalengija trail to the scenic Mahoma Lake in a Bamboo forest, or the 1-day Kazingo Trail that traverses the North Rwenzori Ridge between the Fort Portal Plateau and Bundibugyo.
In Bwindi, the more time you spend, the better your chances of spending quality time with the Giant Apes in their natural habitat, hence learning more about them. If you choose a single gorilla trek, you will need 3 days/2 nights in the Park, but if you are hoping for a double gorilla trek, choose the 4 days/3 nights for your gorilla trekking adventure. Based on our experience, we promise you won’t regret extending your trip if you spend more time.
Uganda is a stunning and mesmerizing destination with various safari experiences, landscapes, ecosystems, and wildlife. We recommend spending as long as possible exploring this jaw-dropping country.
How to get from the Rwenzori Mountains National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (or the other way around)
What is the best way to travel between Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Rwenzori Mountains National Park? It is surprisingly straightforward despite the nearly 189 kilometers/117 miles distance.
You can drive from the Rwenzori Mountains National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (or vice versa) in three to four hours, although you might want to extend this drive time by exploring the breathtaking spots along the way.
What to pack when combining gorilla trekking and Rwenzori Mountain hiking
For your combined gorilla trekking and Rwenzori Mountain hiking adventure, we recommend packing light t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, at least six pairs of pants, comfortable walking shoes/hiking boots, comfortable long socks for walking, sunglasses, pair of binoculars, a rain jacket/poncho, a camera, a backpack, insect repellant, sunhat, flashlight for moving around at the Lodge, a scarf, and toiletries (deodorant, hand and body lotion, toothpaste, toothbrush, hair comb/brush, and hand sanitizer), and a medical kit.
When should you combine gorilla trekking and Rwenzori mountain hiking?
One of the most important, yet easiest parts of planning a combined gorilla trekking and Rwenzori mountain hiking safari is due to the almost similar climates and landscapes (rugged and mountainous) of these two extraordinary Ugandan safari destinations. So, when should you go for this adventure safari?
The best answer to this conundrum is to visit during the dry season months of June to September and December through February. The weather warms up at these times, and the harsh wet weather conditions start to subside. When it comes to Rwenzori Mountain hiking, you will notice that when the weather is stable with clear skies, reduced wind speeds, and warmer temperatures, this is the safest and most favorable time for a summit attempt.
The dry season is also incredible for gorilla trekking because lower rainfall levels mean forest trails are perfect for gorilla treks. Gorilla trekking trails are more accessible, and the weather is generally more pleasant with less rainfall. However, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a tropical rainforest; rain showers can occur anytime.
Conclusively, combining gorilla trekking and Rwenzori Mountain hiking is one of the best ways to experience Uganda’s unforgettable richness in a single trip. Please speak to one of our seasoned Tour Consultants today for help planning this unforgettable safari of a lifetime.
