12 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Rwenzori Mountain
This 12 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Rwenzori Mountain Safari takes place in Uganda and will take you on an adventurous expedition as you travel to Bwindi Impenetrable national park in search for endangered mountain gorillas and also climb the renowned Rwenzori Mountains. You will also be visiting world famous Queen Elizabeth National Park- home to the tree climbing lions of Ishasha.
Highlights for 12 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Rwenzori Mountains Safari.
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable National Park (Appx. 9 hours)
Day 2: Gorilla trekking – Bwindi
Day 3: Climb – to Nyabitaba (2650m) through Bakonjo homestead
Day 4: John Matte hut (3350m)
Day 5: Bujuku Hut
Day 6: Mount Stanley
Day 7: summit Margherita
Day 8: Climb Mt Stanley to Guy Yeoman Hut (3260m)
Day 9: Climb Nyabitaba (2650m)
Day 10: Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 11: Game drive and launch cruise
Day 12: Transfer Back to Kampala
Detailed Itinerary for 12 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Rwenzori Mountains Safari.
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable National Park (Appx. 9 hours)
On arrival, you will be met by our company representative and your driver guide and start on your long journey to Bwindi with a stopover at the Equator for photography and the experiment. Proceed to Bwindi driving past Lake Mburo National park and another stopover in Mbarara town for lunch while on a Uganda Safari.
Proceed to Bwindi arriving late afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Buhoma Haven Lodge.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking – Bwindi
Enjoy early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with packed lunch for briefing by the ranger guides and later head into the forest for the trek. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi can last anywhere between 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas.
On finding them, visitors are allowed 1 hour to view and take photos of these gentle primates and later return to the starting point where a certificate is awarded and meet the driver / guide and transfer back to the lodge. After trekking you will have lunch and then visit Bigodi wetland well known for various bird species and later transfer to Kasese town in preparation for the next day’s ascent. Dinner and overnight at same lodge as above.
Day 3: Climb – to Nyabitaba (2650m) through Bakonjo homestead:
Have breakfast and then drive to Nyakalengija trailhead (1600m) where you will start hiking up to Nyabitaba hut; walking through the banana sambas on the side of the steep foothills, past the typical Bakonjo homesteads! Follow the trail along the Mubuku River, through landslides and up and down rocks and bluffs, Cross the Mahoma River and climb steeply through break fern slopes and podocarpus forest to Nyabitaba Hut for overnight.
Day 4: John Matte hut (3350m):
From Nyabitaba follow the trail that drops down through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Passing through the bamboo forest, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock. From the Nyamileju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. You will reach John Matte Hut after passing through the tiring bog, for Dinner and Overnight at the Hut.
Day 5: Bujuku Hut:
After John Matte Hut, the trail drops to cross the Bujuku River. The upper Bigo Bog gives way to Bujuku Lake, with views of Mt Baker to the South and Mt Stanley to the west. Bujuku Hut, well located in the shadow of Mount Baker and Mount Speke, is set in a narrow valley below Steinmann pass.
Day 6: Mount Stanley:
Leaving Bujuku, the trail climbs the steep slopes west of the lake, passing through the magical Groundsels Gully as it ascends to Scott-Elliot Pass at 4372m. At the head of the gully a metal ladder takes you over a steep section after which the trail splits into two. The right leads up to Elena Hut and Mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders. The left path leads to Scott. Elliot passes and down to Kitandara Lakes.
Day 7: summit Margherita
When climbing Margherita peak (5109m), continue to the base of the Stanley Glacier. It can be a four to seven hour walk to the summit of Margherita. It is only for the physically fit and is a technical climb which requires roping up, crampons and appropriate equipment for cold, windy and icy conditions. It is best to attempt the final climb in a minimum group of 4- two climbers and two guides; climb on to the glacier, cross the Stanly Plateau and proceed with the ascent. Returning to Scott- Elliot pass, descend to the Kitandara Hut for overnight, past the Kitandara Lakes.
Day 8: Climb Mt Stanley to Guy Yeoman Hut (3260m)
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 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.
Day 9: Climb Nyabitaba (2650m)
The path down can be slippery and muddy with little to hold on to and requires careful balancing over the vertical mud or steep rock. An overnight stop at the Nyabiaba Hut.
Day 10: Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Descend Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija, about 3 hours. At Nyabitaba starts the 40 minutes trial to see Lake Mamoha and back to the hut for descending to the Park Head Quarter. Transfer to Queen Elizabeth for dinner and overnight at Elephant Hub/ Enganzi Game Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day 11: Game drive and launch cruise- Queen Elizabeth National Park
Enjoy an early morning a game drive in the Kasenyi sector, you may spot various animals like the elephants, Uganda kobs, leopards among others. Return to the lodge for late breakfast and in the afternoon, you will go for a launch cruise on Kazinga Chanel where you will spot various animals including Hippos and crocodiles, the cruise will also enrich you with various birds along the sand banks. Dinner and overnight at Elephant Hub/ Pumba Safari Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day 12: Transfer Back to Kampala
Enjoy breakfast and transfer to Kampala with lunch en-route in Mbarara town and a stopover at the equator for photography and the experiment. Proceed to Kampala arriving in the late afternoon. Proceed to your hotel or transfer to Entebbe airport for your onward flight. End of Uganda Tour
