12 Days Rwenzori Climbing and Wildlife Safari in Uganda

Overview

The 12 day Rwenzori Climbing and Wildlife Safari in Uganda combines the thrill of summiting Margherita Peak in Rwenzori Mountains National Park with unforgettable wildlife encounters in the mighty Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is the most visited protected area in the “Pearl of Africa.” The journey begins in the city center of Kampala and then heads to the Rwenzori Mountains for a great hike into the heart of the mystical ‘Mountains of the Moon’.

Then proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a wildlife encounter as you take a game drive, boat cruise, and chimpanzee tracking. Along the way, experience diverse landscapes, encounter flora and fauna, and enjoy scenic drives through Uganda’s beautiful countryside, hence creating memories.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival day in Entebbe, Uganda

On landing at Entebbe International Airport, meet and greet the assigned driver guide who will take you to the booked hotel in either Kampala or Entebbe. Have an optional tour in Entebbe where you visit places like the Uganda Wildlife Educational Center, the Entebbe botanical gardens, or Uganda Reptile Village. This will depend on the arrival time.

Day 2: Drive to Kasese through Fort Portal

After an early breakfast, head to Kasese to locate Rwenzori Mountains National Park. This scenic drive takes you through lush scenic countryside, small towns, roadside Markets, and rolling hills. Lunch will be served in Fort Portal town while sightseeing the Rwenzori mountain ranges. Proceed to Kasese town and spend a night at your booked lodge or hotel.

Day 3: Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba hut

Today marks the beginning of the Rwenzori mountain hike. Breakfast will be served, followed by a short drive to the starting point and which is Nyakalengija Gate. Go for briefing, registration, hiring of porters, and more. Begin the hike through the local communities before you enter a tropical forest. The trail meanders along the Mubuku River and gradually ascends into the forest rich in birds and primates. The trail will take you to Nyabitaba hut, standing at 2,651 meters above sea level.

Day 4: Hike to John Matte hut

Have breakfast and descend to Kurt Shafer Bridge, which crosses the Bujuku River. From here, start ascending through the bamboo zones, which then transition into heather and mossy forest. The trail is steep and muddy, which requires a walking stick to sight unique plant species and occasional glimpses of mountain peaks ahead. Arrive at John Matte hut located at 3505m above sea level.

Day 5: Hike to Bujuku hut

Today’s trek takes you through the scenic Bujuku bog. This section features along wooden boardwalk built to ease the hike through this swamp. Ascend steeply towards the glaciers carved Bujuku valley with a view of Mt Stanley and Mt Speke. In the afternoon, arrive at Bujuku hut located at the foot of Mt Baker with panoramic alpine views. Have rest, hydrate, and acclimate as you prepare for higher altitude.

Day 6: Trek to Elena’s hut

This is a shorter and more demanding trek day with a steep climb through rocky terrain and alpine vegetation as you make your way to Elena’s hut. Located on the Stanley plateau, Elena’s hut is the best for those aiming for the summit. The hut sits in the shadow of Mt Stanley’s glaciers, offering a raw and rugged mountain experience. Rest early and prepare for the long day of the summit attempt.

Day 7: Hike the Margherita peak, descend back to Kitandara hut

An early breakfast will be served, followed by a hike to Margherita Peak, the highest peak in Uganda and the third highest in Africa. The ascent allows the use of ropes and crampons, so good levels of fitness and alpine trekking experience are recommended. After enjoying the summit viewing, begin the descent via Scott Elliot pass, the Kitandara lakes. Arrive at Kitandara hut, where you will spend a night.

Day 8: Trek to Guy Yeoman Camp

After breakfast, head to Guy Yeoman camp as you pass through boggy valleys with views of mountain scenery and waterfalls. The vegetation zones keep changing into a heather zone, and on arrival, enjoy a peaceful stay at Guy Yeoman camp, located near the Mubuku River.

Day 9: Return to Nyakalengija and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Descend more to Nyakalengija gate to sign out and meet the driver guide who will take you to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is the most visited national park in Uganda, known to have abundant wildlife. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Rwenzori Mountains and endless savannah plains. Arrive at the lodge with an en route game drive dinner, and a night’s stay.

Day 10: Game drive and boat cruise

Have an early morning game drive which will take you into Kasenyi plains to watch early risers such as lions, hyenas, elephants, buffalos, duikers, bush bucks, water bucks, and more. The game drive will last for about 2 to 3 hours, and after your lunch, head for an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga channel where you spot animals like hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, warthogs, and many others. Birds will be spotted, including migratory birds such as pelicans, hamerkops, Egrets, and more. Return to the lodge for your dinner and overnight stay.

Day 11: Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge

Head to the park offices for a briefing after breakfast, and then start the search with the help of the park ranger. While in the forest, meet animals like the vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and many others. On spotting the chimpanzees, spend an hour following them as you learn about their behaviors. The overall experience takes about 4 to 5 hours of adventure. Return to the lodge for lunch and leisure.

Day 12: Transfer back to Kampala, Departure flight

Have breakfast and then transfer back to Kampala with an en route stopover in Mubende. Be dropped at the airport in Entebbe, and this marks the end of the safari.

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Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.Game drive security is assured.Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.