Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale National Park

You’ll be received by the safari guide at the airport/hotel for briefing on the trip. Embark on the 340km via Mityana to Kabarole district with a scenic view of tea estates and transition of tribes Baganda (in Buganda) and Batooro (Fort portal). Arrive in the tourism city a gateway to over 50 crater lakes, and a home to the world’s youngest crowned king at 3years in 1995. Have your lunch and proceed to Kibale N.P, Check in at primate capital, chimpanzee forest lodge, chimpanzee guest house or similar.

Bigodi swamp walk

Head out in the afternoon and conduct a walk to Bigodi wetland sanctuary. This is a community based eco-tourism site connected ecologically to Kibale forest ecosystem. It is more than a swamp! It is a community conservation success story where wetlands, wildlife, tourism and local livelihoods are connected. Diverse mammals like L’hoest monkey, blue monkey, vervet monkey, red statunga antelope, bush pig, mongoose are key stone species the visitors encounter.

The wetland is a birding destination for the bird watchers with over 200 bird species. Your guide will help you look out for great blue turaco, papyrus gonolek (swamp endemic), papyrus canary, Ross’s turaco, yellow whiskered green-bul etc.

You will pass homesteads with banana plantations, local schools and traditional healers. Banana gin brewing will be illustrated. You can taste! Head back to your lodge for refreshment, dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Morning Chimpanzee trekking  

This day, you will have your early breakfast, catch up with the guide and drive to the forest by 7:00-7:30am. Arrive at Kanyanchu visitor center for registration and permit verification. You will be briefed on the chimpanzee behavior, safety and forest rules. Trek in the thick forest with the lead of a ranger guide as you search for chimps. The goal is not only to find them but to observe their natural/ behavior while minimizing our impact. The walk can take 2-3 hours or more depending on the location and the movement of the chimps. As soon as you find them, 1 hour will be recommended for observation, photos and videos. While in the forest, keep your eyes open for black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, forest elephants, forest birds and other small animals. Meet the guide, drive to the lodge, pick your luggage and transfer to Kasese.

Transfer to Kasese

Kasese is one of the western Uganda’s important tourism areas. Known as the gate way to Rwenzori mountains. The Rwenzori mountains contain some of Africa’s highest mountains, margherita peak rises to 5.109m, the highest point in Uganda. The area is also home to the Bakonzo people, whose culture is closely connected with the mountains. This gives you unique transition from forest zone to mountain zone with exposure to sun and cold winds. Arrive at trekker’s camp and check-in, have lunch and chill ahead of your dinner and overnight

Day 3: Transfer to the Base camp, briefing to sine camp 2,596 meters

Start at trekkers at 1,450 meters and sleep at sine hut at 2,596 meters being a height gain of 1,146 meters or those who are fit and want to proceed to Kalalama camp at 3,134 meters may do so and apart from the fantastic views gives you more time at mutanda camp where you may climb up to Mutinda lookout at 3,975metres

We start by walking up the valley floor through tall forest trees of the afro montane forest zone. This is a steady climb with multitudes of birds and a chance of seeing blue monkeys scampering off through forest. At times visitors may see troupes of 15 to 20 black and white colobus monkeys as they swing through tree tops. There are rare sightings of the L’hoest monkey which are part of the Bakonzo cultural emblems and are protected by the virtue of the king or Omusinga or you may hear wild chimpanzee in the distance. There is wide variety of plant species from the forest trees to bamboo thickets, low scrubs, flowers, fungi, and with many mosses and lichen covered veins hanging from the tall creating a new awesome appeal. Enock’s fall are just 200 meters from sine hut and offer a splendid opportunity to capture a great screen saver of your memories.

At Sine camp 2,596 meters we have wooden huts set between tall forest trees and a narrow ridge where you may sit to enjoy the beauty of the afro montane forest while you look down at a fantastic waterfall crushing over rocks far below. Some clients prefer to sit outside enjoying the warmth of the camp fire and chat to the guides about the mountains and life in their community. Sine is just below the bamboo zone and the area around has many different bird species. 150 meters from the camp is Enock falls which is set in livid green vegetation and hanging vine. Truly beautiful. Sleep at Sine camp 2,596 meters

Day 4: Hike to Mutinda camp 3,588 meters

Trekking starts at 8:30am and almost immediately you enter the bamboo-mimulopsis zone which is steep to climb with many high steeps. In the wet season, the bamboo zone is rather muddy and slippery making the going slow. However, the atmosphere and the forest are beautiful as you climb 551 meters altitude and distance of 1.8km to Kalalama camp at 3,147 meters which is in the heather-rapanea zone where you can take a rest and a quick cup of tea or coffee before heading to Mutinda camp. The trail meanders up and over several small streams and pass close to moss covered waterfalls.  You can climb steadily along the side of a beautiful mossy river which tumbles down over the rocks under the giant heather trees whose trunks are covered in green moss with old man’s beards (Usnea lichen) hanging from the branches. The trail twists and turns as you climb up the deep valley, which has an enormous variety of plants and flowers. This valley is unique with many giant heather trees creating a beautiful atmosphere often shrouded in mist.

In the afternoon, you may wish to climb up to the top of mutanda lookout (one to two hours down). The views are amazing as you stand on moss covered rocks at 3,925 meters with views across the Rwenzori and down Kasese town and lake George. For those clients who climb to Margherita or any of the main peaks climbing Mutinda 3,975 meters is also an excellent way to acclimatize and reduce the risk of high-altitude sickness.

Sleep at Mutinda camp at 3,588 meters.

Day 5: Hike to Bugata camp 4.062 meters

The trail to Bugata camp is boggy particularly in the wet season but with little skill you can step from tussock to make the going easier. First you cross the Mutinda valley through the tussock grass and everlasting flowers interspersed with many giant lobelias before climbing a steep section up to the Namusangi valley (3,840 meters), with sheer waterfalls and looking back you get fantastic view of Mutinda peaks. The Namusangi valley is wide, with many ups and downs as the trail climbs steadily to Bugata camp at 4,100 meters

Day 6: Hike to Hunwick’s camp 3,974 meters

Trek to Hunwick’s camp via Bamwanjarra pass. As you leave Bugata camp you pass up a ridge then drop down slightly before ascending to Bamwanjarra pass at 4,450 meters where we have a hut should the weather turn bad. From the pass on a clear day, you get excellent views of the three main peaks. The trail passes down the valley and around the edge of some bogs and thick ever green vegetation, moss, giant groundsel and lobelia. Here is possibly the best place I the Rwenzori to observe the malachite sun bird as it feeds on the many lobelia flowers and a known breeding site, farther on there is some steep sections before a steady climb up and over a ridge to Hunwick’s camp which is situated on the top of a deep valley and has good views of mt. Stanley, Mt. Baker, Weismann’s peak and Mc Connell’s prong.

Day 7: Summit Mt. Baker 4,842m and sleep at Margherita camp 4485metres

4.3 kilometer climb 4 to 6 hours up and down 2 to 3 hours back down. Set off by 6:30am to climb the mt. Baker peak 4,842 meters. Ascent time from Mc Connell’s camp (Camp 4) to the top is 3-4hrs and descent 3 hours. This is a steep rocky climb where you need a good head for heights as some sections like the crevice climbing down to the glacier has a sizeable drop off the side. Although steep Mt. Baker is considered non-technical except in the snow season. (Wet season) of April-May and September-October when it is very slippery on the ice-covered rocks, nevertheless safety ropes will be used at all times on steep sections. After climbing up, you descend along a crack in the rock face to the glacier and a short 300 meters walk to the peak.

If we have fine weather or break in the cloud, the view of the main peaks of Margherita, Alexandria, Stanley plateau and the glacier are fantastic as you see the splendor of these beautiful snowcapped mountains. The view is awesome!! After absorbing this life time experience, walk back across the glacier, climb up to the crack in the rock face and ascend to Margherita camp, passing down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitandara which is very stunning with deep water and beautiful vegetation, climbing through scoot Eliot pass to Margherita camp.

Day 8: Summit Margherita peak 5,109 meters on Mt. Stanley

Wake up at 1:30am and catch an early breakfast before heading off to climb Mt. Stanley at 2:00am. Climb up to Stanley at plateau where you cross the first glacier before descending to the base of Margherita glacier. The lower part of the glacier is steep and low level technical hence using ropes and delays. On reaching near to the top of the glacier, you have some steep rocky climbs for about 60 meters to get to the ridge heading to Margherita peak at 5,109metres. Descending the glacier down past Irene Lake to Bujuku valley crossing along bog to the base of mt. Speke 4,890metres where you will rough camp in small rock shelter.

Day 9: Summit it Vittorio Emmanuel at 4,890m 0n Mt. Speke, sleep at Hunwick’s camp

Climb up to Mt. Speake 4,890 meters then return to cross Bujuku valley and climb up to Scott Eliot pass and down to Hunwick’s camp 3,974metres.

Day 10: Optional Summit to Weismann’s peak on mt Luigi di Savoia and hike down to Kiharo camp 3,430metres.

From Hunwick’s camp, we start the day by climbing up a ridge towards Mc Connell’s prong where you get the best view of all three peaks and Scott Elliot’s pass before reaching Oliver’s.

Pass at 4,505 meters. The distance from Hunwick’s camp to the top of Oliver’s pass is 3km. The trail then cuts across below Weismann’s peak to the confluence of the Nyamwamba river. You can opt to take on the summit of Weismann’s peak for those that will still be strong enough coming down and continue to Kiharo camp at 3,430 meters. Overnight at Kiharo camp, set in a deep valley with high cliff and dense vegetation.

Day 11:  Descend down to the basecamp

Distance Kiharo camp o the park gate 12.2km and another 2.8km down to trekkers hostel time to walk 5-8 hours so those who need to connect flights back to Kampala or travel on to other activities need to leave Kiharo early.

The trail down the Nyamwamba valley is mostly downhill and absolutely stunning with beautiful views, Moss covered rocks along the river, cascading waterfalls, deep valleys and forests are possibly the best in the Rwenzori mountains. This part of the trail took us six years to find a way through and route which is easy enough for tourists to use. In 1937, the explorer and geologist Mc Connell tried to find a way up this valley but failed and had to turn back and search for another route up the mountain but now you can experience this truly beautiful valley

Day 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

On this day, you will wake-up and have breakfast at 8:00am, checkout of your room with all your luggage and meet your guide. Transfer from the basecamp to Queen Elizabeth national park with a stopover at Kikorongo equator line, you will stand on the imaginary line at 0 degrees latitude that divides the earth into the northern and southern hemisphere. The equator is about 40,075 km around the earth at its widest point. Uganda is one of the African countries crossed by the equator, therefore Uganda’s location near the equator explains why much of the country has a tropical climate, although altitudes greatly affect temperatures.  A demonstration about water draining opposite directions on either side of the equator will be given by a site guide.

Proceed with the drive to your lodge and check-in at Kasenyi community camp, push pig lodge, Irungu forest lodge or Eshama lodge for a relaxation and lunch.

Afternoon boat

After your hot lunch, embark on the car and head to Kazinga channel for a 2pm boat cruise. This channel is the natural link between George and L. Edward. Famous for its concentration of wildlife along the water edge. As you cruise, keep your eyes open for pods of hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffaloes on the bank. Expect numerous bird species such as great white pelican, African skimmer, knob-billed duck, black crake, African fish eagle, African jacana and many more. Meet your guide and head back to the lodge for a relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Day 13: Morning game drive + tree climbing lions

You will raise up early on this day, have your breakfast, embark on the car at 6:30am and head out to Kasenyi open plains. This is the best productive time because many animals are active temperature are cool. The guide will help you lookout for lions while looking out for their prey or resting on the ground, leopards though they are difficult to find, African elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes and many savannah parks.

Tree climbing lions

Pick your packed lunch at the lodge and drive south wards to Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Enter Ishasha and begin the lion search. This is one of the most special sectors in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The lions here are famous for climbing and resting on trees. With the aid of your safari guide, you will explore the savannah looking for lions lying on branches of the fig trees. Also keep your eyes for the elephants, hyenas, topi, buffaloes, warthogs, kobs and many more species. So, the drive itself is part of wildlife experiences. Head back to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Day 14: Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe

Wake up early on this day for your breakfast, check out of your room with all your luggage, bootup and depart at 7:00am. You will hit the road for 397km. You will have a transition from the park to the plantations of tea and bananas, the rolling hills, homesteads and cattle of Ankole. Have a brief stopover at Igongo cultural for a solar eclipse monument. This occurred when the moon passes between the sun and the earth crossing temporarily blocks off the sun’s light. The monument stands on three pillars that mentioned the 3 royal ancestors of Bunyoro, Ankole and Buganda in the great lake’s region. It is believed that the king of Bunyoro-Olimi I abandoned all the cows, women and slaves he had looted from Rwanda during the reign of Umwami Ruganzu II during the solar eclipse. All these loots were inherited by Ntare I of Ankole. The cows were named “Empenda ya Munoni” and “Enduga Mwiguru” which are locally translated as “cows from Heaven” since he didn’t know where the cows came from.

Proceed with the drive and have another stop at Kayabwe equator point for your lunch and purchase of souvenir’s. Pursue your journey to Kampala or Entebbe for your drop off at your pre-booked hotel or at the Airport. End of Safari

Essential items for the safari

• Passport
• Hiking boats
• Warm and light clothes
• Camera with extra batteries
• Warm and light clothes
• Trekking gears
• Rain Jackets
• Pair of binoculars
• Sun glasses
• Insect repellents
• Sun cream
• Caps
• Other things of personal effect
• hat