9 Days Rwenzori hike and Gorilla trek-Rwenzori Experts

Day 1: Arrival and drive to the Rwenzori Mountains National park

Upon arrival, you will be picked up and welcomed by our company representative – driver guide who will give you a short brief about the trip and later drive to Rwenzori Mountains National Park – home to the highest point of Uganda. During the transfer, have different stopovers like for lunch, at the equator and tea plantations. Continue with the drive to the park where you will arrive in the late afternoon hours.

Overnight at Snow Height lodge

Day 2: Nyakalengija (1650) to Nyabitaba camp (2650m)

Start the day by approaching the Rwenzori mountaineering reservation officer early in the morning in order to hire equipments if so and arrange for guides, chef and porters at once hiking starts from the park gates to Nyabitaba a distance of 7km takes 5-6 hours and an ascent of 1200 meters. The trail at the beginning goes through homes and fields progressing through high elephant grasses and dense bush. You will climb over cliffs and bluffs crossing river Mahoma then ascending steeply into Nyabitaba camp. Certain animals can be spotted such as the white and black colobus monkeys, three horned chameleon and the Rwenzori Turaco birds.

Stay an overnight at the Nyabitaba camp

Day 3: Nyabitaba (2650) m to Johnmaate camp (3505) m

From Nyabitaba you descend to your right follow the trail that drops down through the forest for a half an hour to the Kurt Shafer bridge, just before the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers.

The walk is then easy going for a couple of hours passing through the bamboo forest and then becomes more difficult kind of like spelunking, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rocks. From the Nyamileju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant Heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach Johnmaate camp after passing through the tiring bog. While here, high chances of catching the nice views of Mount Stanley and margherita glacier

Dinner and overnight at the hut.

Day 4: Johnmaate camp (3505) m to Elena camp (4541) m

From Johnmaate camp 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, continuing on to the upper bigo bog you will follow the Bujuku river that sometimes runs underground from lake Bujuku, with views of mount Baker to the South and mount Stanley to the west. Take on the left as you reach Lake Bujuku and continue up to Elena camp 4541m and it takes 7 km 7 hours walk

Dinner and an overnight

Day 5: Elena hut (4541) m to Margherita peak (5109) m and back to Johnmaate

camp (3505) m

For those aiming at reaching Margherita Peak, continue to the base of Stanley glacier. To reach the summit of margarita, the climb takes about 5-7 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you through 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. Climbing on to the glaciers, cross the Stanley plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and colly weather. Scramble up to the summit of margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori. Given the high altitude and the tough conditions even if you don’t reach the peak, don’t get disappointed. Prepare for your return through the Irene lakes where there are spectacular views of the Bujuku lake, mount speke, Mount Stanley and down the Johnmaate camp. After the trail that passes you through the Alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend passed the Bujuku lakes and continue down to Johnmaate for dinner and an overnight at Johnmaate camp 3505m

Day 6: Johnmaate camp 3505m to Nyabitaba camp 2560m for lunch and continue

down to nyakalengija for transfer to the next destination.

The descend to Nyabitaba takes around 6-7 hours but with an early start and it’s possible to make it all the way down to nyakalengija. Below Johnmaate, the route descends the cliffs of Nyamileju, taking you through the Heather forest zones down to Nyabitaba for either dinner and an overnight stay or lunch and continuing down to Nyakalengija for hot showers.

Overnight at Snow Height lodge

Day 7: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

In the morning, after breakfast, check out of the lodge for your transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. You will pass via Isasha sector and arrive at the hotel of your booking in the late afternoon hours.

Accommodation;

Midrange: 4 Gorillas Lodge/Gorilla mist camp

Day 8: Gorilla trekking experience

After your early morning breakfast, your guide will drive you to the Park Headquarters for a briefing and join others for a briefing before heading into the forest for your gorilla trek. This trek can last for between 30 minutes to 7 hours, depending on the location of the mountain gorilla family on that particular day. Once you find the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them while observing their behaviour, taking photographs, before you return to the Park Headquarters for your certificate that confirms that you have tracked gorillas in Uganda.

Day 9: Drive back to Entebbe

After your breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet the guide for your transfer back to Entebbe International Airport for your transfer flight.