12 Day Rwenzori Mountains Hike & Mountain Gorilla Trek.

Our representative will be waiting to welcome and cheer you up arrival at Entebbe international airport and thereafter transfer you to your hotel for an overnight stay as you wait to kick off your adventurous trip across Uganda with major focus on Rwenzori Mountains hike and Mountain Gorilla Trekking.ACCOMMODATION| Papyrus Guest HouseMEALS| Dinner

After breakfast, transfer to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park (also known as the Mountains of the Moon). The drive will take approx. 7 hours. We will have lunch in Fort Portal and proceed to Mihunga for overnight. The equatorial snow peaks include the third highest point in Africa; Margherita (5109 meters), Alexandria (5083 meters) and Albert (5087 meters).ACCOMMODATION| Ruboni Community CampMEALS| Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The central circuit starts at the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services offices at Nyakalengija. You need to arrive in the morning to allow ample time to rent equipment and meet your guides and porters. The trail begins by passing through farmland to the park boundary beyond which it follows a thick forest along the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma River tributary before starting a long, steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut. During this part of the trip, you may hear chimpanzee and see black and white colobus, blue monkey and the brilliantly colored Rwenzori turraco. The hike takes between 2-3 hours. Retire the day at Nyabitaba hut overlooking the Portal Peak.ACCOMMODATION| Nyabitaba HutMEALS| Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 Nyamuleju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach John Matte Hut after passing through the tiring bog, for dinner and overnight at the hut. Hike time is between 7 - 8 Hours.ACCOMMODATION| John Maate HutMEALS| Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

From John Matte Hut the trail drops down to cross the Bujuku River and enters Lower Bigo Bog, the home of giant lobelias. Jumping from tussock to tussock, the bog is finally crossed but rarely without the feet sampling some of the freezing ooze below. 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 Stuhlmann Pass. This camp is good for acclimatization for clients attempting the summits of peaks Mount Stanley and Mount Speke. Dinner and overnight at Bujuku hut.The hike takes an average of 4 – 5 hours.ACCOMMODATION| Bujuku HutMEALS| Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical and forest of Groundsel Gully. Turn to your right up to Elena Hut and Mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders, while the trail on your left leads to Scott-Elliot Pass and down to Kitandara Lakes the trail on he left leads those who are not climbing Margherita Peak to Kitandara Hut. Those climbing the peak will have their Dinner and overnight at the coolly and Icy Elena Hut. The hike is between 5-6 hours.ACCOMMODATION| Elena HutMEALS| Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Very early in the morning, you attempt climbing the highest peak, Margherita of Mount Stanley. To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 4 -5 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace. This tough walk takes you over three glaciers, slippery rock, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides. Climbing on to the glaciers, 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 Rwenzori. The descend from Margherita peak back to Elena Hut will take you about 2 – 3hours.After your lunch at Elena hut, descend to the Scott-Elliot pass (4372m asl.), where there are spectacular views of Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke. After, the trail passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight at the Kitandara camp.The descend takes an average of 3 – 4 hours.ACCOMMODATION| Kitandara HutMEALS| Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

From Kitandara, take on the trail that 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 4282m asl. At this point you can view into the Congo to the west and Mount Stanley to the north. From the pass, take on the long high alpine mossy. Thereafter start the descend through steep rocky trails and the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906 and then an overnight at Guy yeoman camp. The hike take 6-7 hours.ACCOMMODATION| Guy Yeoman HutMEALS| Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu. Beyond Kichuchu the muddy path crosses the Mubuku River twice through a bamboo forest before climbing downwards to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit.Continue descending Nyabitaba Camp and complete your trek by the evening at Nyakalengija, the base camp. Check in at your lodge and enjoy a lazy eveningThe descent takes 7 – 8 hours.ACCOMMODATION| Ruboni CampMEALS| Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Start the day at leisure with a hot breakfast. Enjoy the cool morning at the foot of Rwenzori mountains with sights and sounds of the Mubuku meandering river. Later in the day with lunch break en route, get read for a driver to Bwindi which is the home of Mountain Gorillas. Check in at the lodge and the spend the evening at leisure.ACCOMMODATION| Ride 4 A Woman Guest HouseMEALS| Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, trek through the park’s dense vegetation, traveling up and down its steep slopes in search of the resident mountain gorillas. Your guides use their experience, knowledge of the gorillas’ habits and information from the previous day to locate them. Once the gorillas are spotted, observe their subtle social interactions, remarkable behavior closely resembling our own. Later in the day transfer to spend the night in the middle of Lake Bunyonyi at the famous Kyahugye Island.ACCOMMODATION| Lake Bunyonyi Eco ResortMEALS| Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early start of the day as we will go for a guided boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi as we learn more about the different islands on the lake. Later transfer with a drive to Entebbe for your late evening departure.MEALS| Btreakfast, Lunch