15 Days in Uganda with Rwenzori Mountains hike allows you explore some of Uganda’s most beautiful attractions. The trip will take you to Murchison falls national park, Uganda’s largest park for wildlife viewing and a boat cruise of Africa’s longest river the Nile River. You will also track the chimps in the primate capital of the world Kibale forest national park, view the wildlife in Queen Elizabeth national park, and then hike up the Rwenzori Mountains of the moon.
Day 1: Travel to Murchison falls national park
At the aiport, you will be received by our driver guide, or in the morning you will be picked from the hotel where you slept the previous night. Be briefly taken through the whole trip and then start the journey to Murchison falls national park.
The first stop will be at Zziwa Rhino sanctuary in Nakasongola district. This is the only home of Rhinos in Uganda. Tracking these huge land mammals’ exposes you to the first set of the big five family before you finally meet the big four in Murchison falls national park. From here proceed to Masindi for lunch and then drive directly to Murchison falls national park, a home to over 75 mammal species and the Nile’s strongest point.
Day 2: Morning game drive and Boat cruise on the Victoria Nile
Have breakfast and head out for a morning game drive in the park. This is one of the best game drives you will ever enjoy in Uganda. With huge extensive savanna grasslands that allow you to clearly spot several wildlife species, you will surely see the lions, elephants, oribis, topis, buffalos, leopards, warthogs and many others.
In the afternoon after lunch, have a boat ride on the Victoria Nile. River Nile is Africa’s longest river flowing and giving life to over four countries. A boat cruise here will take you so close to the bottom of the falls, giving you sights of the several aquatic animals like the crocodiles, hippos and numerous bird species. Later return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale forest national park
Early morning, have breakfast and travel to Kibale forest national park. This is the primate capital of the world with over 1000 primates calling a home. You will have a lunch stop in Hoima and then proceed to Kibale through Fort Portal, the once cleanest town of East Africa. Arrival is in the evening to just check in, dinner and sleeping.
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi wetland
On having an early breakfast, set to the park headquarters for a simple briefing from the local ranger guide about the dos and donts of chimp tracking. Now start the search for man’s nearest cousins in the wild. Chimp tracking involves walking through the thick forest, following the chimps, sometimes even running as it’s hard for the chimps to settle in a place. You will watch them play from tree branch to the other, feed and carry on their normal lives. Take countless pictures as long as the camera has no flash.
In the afternoon after lunch, visit the Bigodi wetland for a nature walk that takes you so close to even the smallest insights of nature like the tiny insects. Here you also have a chance of spotting some primates like baboons and monkeys.
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
On this day waking up will be at your convenience, have breakfast and drive to Queen Elizabeth national park, a medley of wonders. The journey gives you spectacular views of the Rwenzori range. You will reach at the lodge in the afternoon for lunch and some relaxation.
Day 6: Morning game drive and a boat cruise on Kazinga channel
Have a morning game drive to watch numerous wildlife species. Game drives in Queen Elizabeth national park expose you to the more than 70 mammal species that call it a home. Be sure of sighting the buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, antelopes and so many others. The drive will also give you awesome views of the beautiful landscape dotted with craters and crater lakes.
In the afternoon you will cool off with a boat ride on Kazinga channel, arguably the world’s longest channel joining Lake George and Lake Edward. The cruise gives you sights of more wildlife species, the crocodiles, hippos and elephants, buffaloes, warthogs among others that come around for drinking water in the afternoon.
Day 7: Drive to Mountain Rwenzori
Still wake up at your convenience, have breakfast and travel to Mountain Rwenzori national park. It’s a short journey that furnishes stunning views of the Rwenzori Mountain, the green lush along the highway and beautiful people walking in the sides of the road.
Day 8: Climb to Nyabitaba (2650m) through Bakonjo Homestead
Have an early breakfast and then drive to Nyakalengija trailhead. This is the starting point for the Rwenzori hike, you will have some simple briefing from the local tourist guide and then start on the hike to the top this third highest mountain in East Africa. This trail takes you through the banana sambas, past the Bakonjo homesteads. Walk along River Mubuku, through rocks and bluffs across Mahoma River and then climb steeply through fern slopes and podocarpus forest to finally reach Nyabitaba Hut for an overnight.
Day 9: Climb to John Matte Hut (3380m)
Cross the Bujuku and Mubuku rivers, turning right the bridge. Then start to climb up a central circuit, this is one of the challenging and scary trails while summit the Rwenzori Mountains of the moon. Climb steadily through the bamboo forest. The hike to John Matte hut takes roughly five hours. Having reached the hut, you will stay here for dinner, relaxation and an overnight.
Day 10: John Matte to Bujuku hut (3962)
From John Matte Hut, move cross Bujuku River to the lower Bigo Bog. Just after the hut, a steep section leads upwards to Bigo, here you will have a half board walk that has been constructed to ease the hike at that point. You will have a lunch stopover at the upper end of the Bog, with beautiful sights of an amazing stream. Here you will also have clearer and sweeter views of the Mountain Baker in the south, Mountain Stanley in the west, and Speke Mountain in the north. You will have dinner and overnight at Bujuku hut.
Day 11: Elena or Kintandara Hut (4023m)
From Bujuku, walk through more bog as you climb up the steep slopes besides the lake, going through the beautiful Groundsels Gully ascending to Scott Elliot Pass at an altitude of 4372m. Towards the end of this amazing gully, climb up a steep section on a metal ladder as you hit down to Kitandara lakes. Hikers spending a night at Elena Hut should be prepared for a cold and Icy night.
Day 12: Climbing to Margerita Peak
This is a tough walk over almost three glaciers, slippery rock exposed to ice yet areas very open to many sides. It is right to say that this hike to Margherita peak is only for the physically fit and hikers here need technical requirements like crampons, appropriate equipment for coldness and the health should be able to sustain the very low temperatures.
This final attempt to Summit Margherita peak is best done in a minimum group of four hikers and two guides. Climb up the glacier, across the Stanley plateau, and then scramble up the top of Margherita. Because of the altitude that creates tough conditions, not all hikers will make it to the top, so let it not hit by surprise if you don’t make it. Once at the top, you will have exceedingly spectacular views of Speke and Stanley mountains, then walk through the alpine zone of sparse vegetation and descend to Kitandara Hut for an overnight.
Day 13: Guy Yeoman Hut (3260M)
From Kitandara, the trail ascends steeply, spreading out from Mountain Baker’s base. Continue along the south side of the mountain to the Fresh field pass. Pass through the long muddy descent via the rock shelter at Bujangolo; the historical camp of the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906.
Day 14: Travel Lake Mburo national park
Waking up will be very early in the morning to travel to Lake Mburo national park. This is Uganda’s smallest savanna park but with so much to behold. You will have amazing views of the Kigezi highlands, have a stopover in Mbarara town for lunch, visit Igongo cultural center; Uganda’s largest museum and then drive to the park.
Day 15: Morning game drive and Departure
Wake up to a delicious breakfast and have a morning game drive through the park. Zebras are a guaranteed sight on a game drive. Other species to spot are the giraffes, warthogs, duikers, elands, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, elephants and so many others. From the drive you will drive back to Kampala, either to a hotel of your choice or straight to the hotel.
