Journey time: Approx. 1 Hour

Upon arrival at Entebbe Int. Airport, you will be received by our guide and transfer to the hotel in Kampala City. Based on arrival time, a city tour is available on request basis.

Overnight:

Midrange: Gazelle Guest House – or similar

Luxury: Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort – or similar

Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Journey Time: Approx. 7 Hours

Pickup Time: 07:00AM. Have breakfast at the hotel. Meet your guide at the lobby and kick off with your journey to Kasese via the Equator. You will make a stopover at the Equator for a few pictures – Proceed to Mbarara for lunch at Igongo Cultural Center. After lunch continue with the rest of the journey – Arriving to check-in at the lodge to refresh and be at leisure to be ready for the trek. Dinner included at the lodge.

Overnight:

Midrange: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge – or similar

Luxury: Buffalo Safari Lodge – or similar

Meal Plan: Half Board

Today after breakfast, you will be transferred to Trekkers Hostel in Kyanjuki, Kilembe, 12 kilometers from Kasese town. It is best to start the trek by 9 am but you can leave as late as 11am. You walk 2.2km to the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers post at 1,727 meters, which takes about one hour. Here you pay the gate entrance fee and the rangers brief you on the rules of the National Park. Guides generally brief clients the night before the trek.

You will start by walking up the valley floor through tall forest trees of the Afro Montane Forest Zone. This is a steady climb. You will see many birds and blue monkeys scampering off through the forest. At times you may see troupes of 15-20 colobus monkeys swinging through the tree tops. The flora is also beautiful. You will sleep at Sine Camp at 2,596 meters’ altitude in wooden huts set between tall forest trees on a narrow ridge where you may sit and enjoy the beauty of the Afro Montane forest while you look down at the fantastic Enoch Falls just 200 meters from Sine Hut, crashing over the rocks far below. Sine is just below the bamboo zone and the area around has many different bird species. Those who are fit and want to proceed to Kalama Camp at 3,134 meters may do so and apart from the fantastic views gives you more time at Mutinda Camp where you may climb up to Mutinda Lookout at 3,975 meters.

Overnight: Mountain Camping

Meal Plan: Full Board

After a sumptuous breakfast, trekking starts at 8.30am and you enter the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone which is a steep climb with many high steps. In the wet season the bamboo zone is rather muddy and slippery therefore the walk is slow and careful. However, the atmosphere and the forest is beautiful as you climb to Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters which is in the Heather-Rapanea Zone where you can take a rest and a quick cup of tea or 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 crosses several small streams and passes 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 hanging from the branches. This valley is unique with many Giant Heather trees creating a beautiful atmosphere often shrouded in mist. In the afternoon you may wish to 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.

Overnight: Mountain Camping

Meal Plan: Full Board

The trail here is boggy, particularly in the wet season but with a little skill you can step from tussock to tussock to make the going easier. Several boardwalks are set across the worst of the bogs to make walking easier. You 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, St John’s Wort, giant groundsel and giant lobelia. Bugata Camp has good facilities, solar lights, good toilets and bathrooms where you can have warm water. Bugata also has a helipad for rescue purposes.

Overnight: Mountain Camping

Meal Plan: Full Board

Today, you will trek to Hunwick’s Camp via Bamwanjara Pass. As you leave Bugata Camp you pass up a ridge then drop down slightly before ascending to Bamwanjara 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. Further 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, Weismann’s Peak and McConnell’s Prong.

Overnight: Mountain Camping

Meal Plan: Full Board

From Hunwick's you will pass down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitandara which is very stunning with deep water and beautiful vegetation. From here you climb up Scott Elliott's pass then up the ridge to Margherita Camp 4,485 meters 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 during his climb to Margherita Peak in 1906.

Overnight: Mountain Camping

Meal Plan: Full Board

Today you will wake up at 2am and grab 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 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. Due to weather patterns a strict turnaround time of 10am is followed, so if the peak is not reached before 10am you must turn around regardless, 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. Much of the blacker has melted underneath causing caves under the ice.

Follow guide’s advice about where to pass. For those with less mountaineering experience, 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 meters you then pass directly down to Hunwick's Camp at 3.874 meters.

Overnight: Mountain Camping

Meal Plan: Full Board

Trek Duration: 6 – 7 Hours from Hunwick’s Camp you will start the day by climbing 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 meters. The distance from Hunwick’s Camp to the top of Oliver’s Pass is 3km. The trail then cuts across below Weismann’s Peak to the confluence of the Nyamwamba River which flows down through Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elisabeth National Park. If you wish to climb Weismann’s Peak 4,620 meters you can continue through Oliver’s pass. 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 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 leaving a pile of rocks and debris.

Overnight: Mountain Camping

Meal Plan: Full Board

Today you will descend from Kiharo Camp to the park gate (5 to 8 hours). The trail down 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. The moss-covered rocks along the river, cascading waterfalls, deep valleys and forests are the best in the Rwenzori Mountains. A few kilometers from Kiharo Camp the path turns off to the right along the river. At the bottom you meet at Riverside Rock Shelter where you will have lunch. After crossing a small stream, climb up a gentle slope as it is way too steep close to the river. The forest along this section is truly beautiful with many birds, primates, duikers and hyrax.

Thereafter transfer to the lodge and check-in to stay at leisure. Dinner included.    

Overnight:

Midrange: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge – or similar

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge – or similar

Meal Plan: Half Board

Pickup Time: 06:30AM. Early breakfast and go explore the park’s highlights with a boat trip. Start off with Guided Game Drive: Go explore the highlights of this wonderful national park. Expect to see a variety of flora and fauna. Enjoy a scenic view of several crater lakes like Nyamunuka; medicinal to the animals and Munyanyange; frequented by flamingosand other birds. Included is a visit to Lake Katwe for cultural interactions. Lunch at Mweya Safari Lodge before the boat. 

Next is Kazinga Boat Cruise – Cruising at dawn is an opportunity to feel the golden sunrise. From the boat spot a number of birds like; the African fish eagle, pelicans, flamingos, Hammerkop, egrets, the African fin foot, pied kingfishers, marabou storks, vultures, kites and many more, together with animals like hippos, buffalos, warthogs, crocodiles, and waterbucks as they get energized for the long day ahead.

From the boat, return to the lodge and stay at leisure to recuperate.

Overnight:

Midrange: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge – or similar

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge – or similar

Meal Plan: Half Board

Journey time: 6 – 7 Hours

Pickup Time: 07:00AM. Breakfast at the lodge and depart for Bwindi Impenetrable N. Park. Make a stopover at Ishasha Sector for a brief game drive: At Ishasha you may spot the Tree climbing lions (the chances are limited as animals move to distant places searching for food); however, this is the highlight of this section, thus its popularity in the entire national park. Tree climbing lions are spotted hanging up in acacia and fig trees, trying to avoid tsetse fly and other ground insect bites, and preying in the trees. Proceed to Ishasha Jungle Lodge for a hot lunch.

After lunch continue with the journey to Bwindi – Arriving to check-in and refresh to stay at leisure with dinner at the lodge.

Overnight:

Midrange: Four Gorillas Lodge – or similar

Luxury: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge – or similar

Meal Plan: Full Board

Pickup Time: 06:30AM. Early breakfast and be handed a lunchbox and mineral water to put in your backpack and proceed to the visitor Centre. Upon completing park formalities, you will embark on a once in a life time experience of tracking the elusive mountain gorillas. Once you meet the gorillas on a tracking adventure, you are allowed between 1 to 2 hours watching and photographing the gentle apes including the silverback. This is perhaps one of the most breath-taking wildlife experience on earth!!! You stare at each other blankly not knowing who to break the long silence first. These massive primates are extremely rare, with less than 700 living today, but you will get within meters with the gorillas in the process of creating a new family. Gorilla tracking may be fairly strenuous lasting an hour at a relatively high altitude. During the trek, your ranger guide will identify a safe and scenic spot for your picnic lunch after which you will proceed with the trek or back to the lodge (Subject to change). Come in hiking boots, trousers, and gloves for protection against stinging nettles as well as sufficient water. 

Optional Activity (at 30$ pp.): Batwa Cultural Trail – This 3-hour trail exhibits a mutual relationship between the Batwa and the jungle before their expulsion in the process of converting this forest into a protected reserve. Approach the Batwa settlement and observe how the women go about cooking and serving a traditional meal. Continue to visit herbalists so as to explore the various herbs plus medicinal significance, and listening to ancient legends alongside traditional songs. Dinner included at the lodge.

Overnight:

Standard: Bweza Gorilla Lodge – or similar

Midrange: Four Gorillas Lodge – or similar

Luxury: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge – or similar

Meal Plan: Full Board

Journey Time: Approx. 6 Hours  

Enjoy part of this morning at leisure with breakfast at the lodge. At 10:00AM depart for Lake Mburo National Park: Make a stopover En-route for lunch at a restaurant and proceed. Arrival at Lake Mburo is foreseen towards the evening with the rest of this time at leisure or go for an Ankole Cattle farm tour. Dinner served at the lodge.

Overnight:

Midrange: Rwakobo Rock – or similar 

Luxury: Mihingo Lodge – or similar

Meal Plan: Full Board (Dinner, Breakfast and Lunch)

Journey Time: Approx. 5 Hours

Pickup Time: 06:30AM. Early breakfast at the lodge and go for a guided walking safari. Lake Mburo Walking Safari experience – This foot safari kicks off at 07:00am lasting up to 2 hours – depending on your interest points. Unlike other Ugandan parks, Lake Mburo National Park is considered the safest since the only wild cat usually spotted here is the leopard and shy to humans. The walk starts from Rwonyo leading you all the way to the saltlicks; a spot frequented by grazers to supplement their diet on salty rocks and salty clay. Expect animals such as impalas, elands, zebras, buffaloes, Uganda Kob and the recently introduced giraffes. You will be seeing more animals on the way such as hippos returning from the lake to graze as well as hyenas returning to the dens. Hike to the hilltop view point from where you will spot 9 of the 14 magnificent lakes situated within the park.

Thereafter, transfer to Entebbe Airport for your onward flight (Lunch at the Equator).

Meal Plan: Breakfast + Lunch at a restaurant