Gorilla Trekking & Rwenzori Mountain Hiking tour

After breakfast at the camp, you will go to RMS headquarters where you will be briefed about the whole hike. Start the hike from Nyakalengija through the Bakonzo settlements to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park gate where you will be registered before entering the park. You will start the central circuit trail trek through the thick tropical forest with high elephant grass and dense bushes. This forest is home to various animal species like forest elephant, chimpanzee, hyrax, black-and-white colobus, L'Hoest's monkeys, duiker, and three-horned chameleon among many more. Some of the bird species include Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Long-eared Owl, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Strange Weaver, Archers’ Robin-chat, Rwenzori Batis among many others as well as various tree and plant species. You will probably see some of them on the way.

You will move through the forest about half an hour to the Kurt Shafer bridge, the confluence of Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Then through the bamboo forest. Slippery moss-covered rocks for a couple of hours. Proceed to Nyamulenge rock shelter where you will have a view of mount Stanley. Then you will reach John Matte hut where you will spend the night. This place will offer you a beautiful view of mount Stanley and Margherita glacier.

After morning breakfast, Move from John Matte hut across the Bujuku River to the lower Bigo bog. A steep section past the hut leads to upper to Bigo and half of this a boardwalk has been constructed. You will have a lunch break at a beautiful narrow stream at the upper end of this bog. The southern end of the lake is in a majestic setting, with Mt. Baker to the South, Mt. Stanley to the west and Mt. Speke to the north. Dinner and overnight stay at Bujuku Hut.

Have breakfast at Bujuku hut and then continue with the hike to Elena hut, which is 5-7 hours hike. You will move through the sides of the upper Bigo bog. You will then hike through the steep slopes of Lake Bujuku. Elena hut is at the rocky part of Mount Stanley and the area is too cold. At this point, you are at the highest mountain of the Rwenzori and you will have a direct view of Mount Baker and Mount Speke. Sometimes it is hard to view these two mountains because they are covered by fog. Have dinner at Elena hut then spend the night.

This day you will have to wake up as early as 2 am, have breakfast at Elena hut, and then hike to the top of Mount Stanley, Margherita peak, through the Stanley plateau and Margherita Glaciers. The guide will teach you how to use the equipment while on the ice. At the top, you will have a view of Irene Lake, Mount Speke, and the surrounding environment. Then descend to Elena Hut for Lunch and later proceed to descend to Kitandara through the Scott Elliot pass to Kitandara. This is the most beautiful point of the Rwenzori. Have dinner at Kitandara and then spend the night. If the group is big, you might spend another night at Elena hut and continue the following day.

If you are aiming at Margherita peak (5109m), you will continue to the base of the Stanley Glacier. To reach the summit of Margherita, it will take you about 5-7 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you over three glaciers, slippery rock, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides. Note that this climb is for only physically fit and technical climbers. Climb on to the glacier, cross the Stanley Plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and coolly weather, scramble up to the summit of Margherita, the highest peak of the Rwenzoris. Given the high altitude and the tough conditions even if you do not reach the peak, don’t get disappointed. Prepare for your return through the Scott-Elliot pass, where there are spectacular views back to Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke and down to the Kitandara Lakes. After the trail that takes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight stay at the Kitandara Hut

Have breakfast at Guy Yeoman hut and then descend back to Nyakalengija which is about 6 hours. The Safari Guide will be ready to pick you up from Nyakalengija and transfer you to Kibale Forest National Park, passing through the crater lakes and arriving at the hotel in the late evening. Dinner and overnight at Kibale Forest Camp.

On this day, you will drive to Kibale Forest National Park headquarters after breakfast at the lodge where you will be briefed about chimpanzee trekking and the park in general. Most tourists visit the park to see chimpanzees. Apart from the chimps, the forest is home to other primates like monkeys, mangabey, baboons, wild pigs, various fish species among others. Chimpanzee trekking can be done in the morning, at 8 am; mid-morning, at 11 am; and in the afternoon, at 2 pm. You will then start the trek through the forest to look for the chimps. Unlike gorillas, chimpanzees keep moving around the forest and jump from one tree to another as they go about their daily life, so do not expect to find them in one place. As you trek, you will expect to see other primates that live in the forest as well as various bird species like the great blue turaco. You will then return to the lodge to refresh and have lunch. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After Morning breakfast, you will start the journey back to Kampala. You will arrive at Kampala or Entebbe in the afternoon.