12 Days Rwenzori Hiking and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari (Kyambura Gorge): The 12 days Rwenzori hiking and chimpanzee trekking Safari will take you through Mountain Rwenzori National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. This hike of Mountain Rwenzori will take about 8 days to ascend and descend back to the starting point. The hike will also take you through the highest mountain peak of Rwenzori known as Margherita Peak.
While in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will visit the New Equator Monument, game drive, boat cruise, chimpanzee trekking, and visit the Kasonga community. During the boat cruise, you will see several wildlife like hippos, elephants, crocodiles, lions, leopards, warthogs, buffaloes, and many others. Let us dive into a detailed 12 days Rwenzori hiking and chimpanzee trekking Safari.
Safari Summary
- Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Mountain Rwenzori National Park
- Day 2: Transfer to Nyakalengija and hike to Nyabitaba Hut
- Day 3: Hike to John Maate Camp
- Day 4: Hike to Bujjuku Camp
- Day 5: Climbing to Elena Camp
- Day 6: Hike to Margherita Peak
- Day 7: Descend to Guy Yeoman Hut
- Day 8: Descend to Nyabitaba Hut
- Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 10: Morning game drive and afternoon Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
- Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge and Kasonga Community Tour
- Day 12: Transfer back to Kampala – Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Mountain Rwenzori National Park
On your first of the 12 days Rwenzori hiking and chimpanzee trekking Safari. You will start with a transfer from Entebbe to Rwenzori National Park in western Uganda. The transfer will take about 6 to 7 hours of the day. Lunch will be along the way. You will enjoy driving through the endless rolling hills of western Uganda. Upon arrival check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Lunch and dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Nyakalengija and hike to Nyabitaba Hut
Today, you will start with an early breakfast and drive to Nyakalengija at the park headquarters for the briefing. During the briefing, you will be given the rangers and porters to take you through the hike for the rest of the day. The hike starts there and then. Walk through different vegetation zones as you climb. You will also enjoy scenic views of the surrounding areas. You will make your stop at Nyabitaba Camp. Set up a campfire, dine, and spend the night over.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: Hike to John Maate Camp
After your morning breakfast, you will start over by climbing to John Maate Camp. During the transfer, you will cross the Shaffer Bridge on the Mubuku River confluence. You will have your lunch at the Nyamuleju Camp where you will have the best views of Mount Stanley and Speke. Later on, you will ascend through the heath moss forests to John Maate Camp which is at an elevation of 3415 meters above sea level.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Hike to Bujjuku Camp
You will rise early morning where you will ascend through the large lobelias and the heath trees continue to the Big Bog and large groundsels. You will pass by Lake Bujuku which is within the mountain ranges. Then you will continue to the camp. Upon arrival, you will have dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5: Climbing to Elena Camp
While at Bujjuku camp, you will start your day with breakfast and then proceed to the climb to the Elena Camp. While in the Valley, you will have attractive sights of the Alps and many vegetation types. You will climb Mountain Speke which stands at an elevation of about 4890 meters above sea level and you will hike through the gorgeous sites of the Savoia and Elena glaciers. On arrival, you camp at Elena Camp for the rest of the night.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6: Hike to Margherita Peak
This is the day you have been waiting for on the 12 days Rwenzori hiking and chimpanzee trekking Safari. You will wake up early and proceed with a hike to the Margherita Peak which is the highest peak of Mountain Rwenzori. Congratulations, you have conquered Africa’s third-highest mountain. Then later in the day, you will continue to the Kitandara camp for an overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 7: Descend to Guy Yeoman Hut
Once you get done with breakfast, you will visit Lake Kitandara and continue to the fresh fields at the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Later on, you will continue ascending to the Guy Yeomen’s Hut. You will dine and camp at this camp for night and dinner.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 8: Descend to Nyabitaba Camp
Following the morning breakfast, you will go ahead with descending to the Nyabitaba camp. During this trek, you will see the River Mubuku’s initial joint point with the river Bujuku. On arrival at this camp, you will have dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will descend back to the starting point of the Nyakalengija. From here, you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Upon arrival in the park, you will transfer to an earlier booked lodge for lunch and relaxation. You will spend the rest of the day relaxing. You may choose to do a nature walk or evening game drive at your discretion.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner
Day 10: Morning game drive and afternoon Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
You will start your day with a delicious breakfast and then continue to the Kasenyi Sector for a game drive. In this game drive, you will see several wildlife like lions, leopards, elephants, Buffaloes, and many others. In the afternoon, you will proceed to Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise. On the boat cruise, several wildlife like hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and many others. Here, you will get a chance to interact with local fishermen. In the evening, you will return to your lodge for dinner and spend the night over.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge and Kasonga Community Tour
On the second last day of the 12 days Rwenzori hiking and chimpanzee trekking Safari, you will drive to Kyambura Gorge for the chimpanzee trekking. The activity will last for 2 to 4 hours of the day and then have 1 hour viewing the chimpanzee. Then after the trekking, you will transfer to the Kasonga community in Kasenyi within the park. Here, you will engage in several activities to learn about the lifestyle of the community. Some of the activities include basket making, local cuisine preparations, cultural dances, and many others.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 12: Transfer back to Kampala – Departure
On the last day of the safari, you will start with breakfast at your lodge. Check out and transfer to Kampala. The transfer will take about 6 to 7 hours of the day. You will enjoy scenic views of the neighboring villages, urban centers, and many more. Lunch will be along the way. Upon arrival, you will either be transferred to the hotel of your choice or the airport for your outbound flights.
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch
