12 Days Mount Rwenzori Hiking & Queen Elizabeth Wildlife

12 DAYS
Category:
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The 12days tour offers the hike of Rwenzori the mountains of the moon the highest peak in Uganda. This hike takes between 7-9 days depending on the level of fitness for the climbers. After we shall visit queen Elizabeth national park, the second largest in Uganda for game drives searching for the big cats like lions, leopard and other mammals like elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and lots of birds found in this park. The highlight of this tour will be the amazing boat cruise on the Kazinga channel that joins the two lakes George and Edward, crocodiles, hippos, water birds, and lots of animals will be seen coming for water.

DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION Entebbe International Airport
DURATION 12 Days
HIGHLIGHTS
Reaching Mt. Rwenzori Summit Lobelias of Mt. Rwenzori
Spotting Wildlife on Mt. Rwenzori Game Drives
Launch Cruise on the Kazinga Channel

 

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Day 1: Hotel

On arrival at Entebbe Airport, a guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe town.

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Day 2: Departure

After breakfast you shall drive through Kampala to Kasese town located in western Uganda. In the evening, your guide will go to the mountaineering services offices to ensure that all is arranged for the following days’ trekking adventure.

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Day 3: Nyakalengija (1615M) – Nyabitaba Hut (2651M)

The Central Circuit starts at the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services offices at Nyakalengija. You will arrive in the morning to allow ample time to meet your guides and porters. The trail begins by passing through the farmland to the park boundary beyond which it follows the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma tributary before starting a long, steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut. The hike takes around 6 -7 hours. During this part of the trip you may hear chimpanzee and see black and white colobus, blue monkey and the brilliantly colored Rwenzori turaco.

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Day 4: Nyabitaba (2651M) – Mubuku River (2600M) John Matte Hut (3505M)

From Nyabitaba follow the trail that drops down through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Passing through the bamboo forest, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock. From the Nyamileju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach John Matte Hut after passing through the tiring bog, for Dinner and Overnight at the Hut.

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Day 5: John Matte (3505M) To Bujuku (3962M)

From John Matte Hut 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 below. The Upper Bigo bog gives way to Bujuku Lake, with views of Mt Baker to the South and Mt Stanley to the West. Bujuku Hut, well located in the shadow of Mount Baker and Mount Speke , is set in a narrow valley below Stuhlmann Pass. Dinner and overnight at Bujuku Hut.

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Day 6: Bujuku (3962M) To Elena Hut (4541M)

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical Groundsel Gully as it ascends to Scott-Elliot Pass at 4372m. At the head of the gully a metal ladder takes you over a steep section after which the trail is divided into two. The trail on your right leads up to Elena Hut and Mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders, while the trail on your left leads to Scott-Elliot Pass and down to Kitandara Lakes the trail on the left leads those who are not climbing Margarita Peak to Kitandara Hut. Those climbing the peak will have their Dinner and Overnight at the coolly and Icy Elena Hut.

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Day 7: Elena Hut (4541M) To Margarita Peak- Kitandara Hut (4023M)

For those aiming at reaching Margherita peak (5109m), continue to the base of the Stanley Glacier. To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 5-7 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you 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 coolly weather, scramble up to the summit of Margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori. Prepare for your return through the Scott-Elliot pass, where there are spectacular views back to Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke , up to Mount Stanley and down to the Kitandara Lakes. After the trail that passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara lakes for dinner and overnight at the Kitandara.

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Day 8: Kitandara (4023M) – Fresh Field Pass (4282M) – Guy Yeoman (3505M)

From Kitandara, take on the trail that ascends steeply up the head wall, spreading out from the base of Mount Baker and continuing along the south side of the mountain to Fresh field Pass. At this point you can view into the Congo to the west and Mount Stanley to the north. From the pass, take on the long trail passing the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906. Overnight at Guy yeoman.

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Day 9: Guy Yeoman (3505M) – Nyabitaba (2651M)

The descent to Nyabitaba takes around 6 -7 hours but with an early start it is possible to make it all the way down to Nyakalengija. Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu. Beyond Kichuchu the muddy path crosses the Mubuku River twice before climbing upwards to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit.

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Day 10: Nyabitaba (2651M) – Nyakalengija (1615M)

The descent from Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija takes 3 – 4 hours. Start hiking back and complete your trek by the evening. A warm, beer and celebration await you at local restaurant, before proceeding to your Hotel. You shall proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

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Day 11: To Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, you will have a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National park. Lying in the Rift valley, the park has a diverse array of ecosystems which include Savanna, Tropical Forests, lakes and wetlands making it a prime home to big game, ten primate species and over 600 Species of Birds. In the afternoon you shall have a boat ride on the Kazinga Channel.

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Day 12: Return

After breakfast you shall drive to Kampala crossing the equator along the way where you may have Souvenir Shopping before proceeding to the Airport to catch your flight back home or spend an extra night in Entebbe depending on your flight plan.

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