12Days Nature Encounter in Bwindi National Park and Mt. Rwenzori
per person
12Days Nature Encounter in Bwindi National Park and Mt. Rwenzori is mindblowing for a tourist seeking nature adventure. Uganda is an amazing Country and the only country among the three countries in the World that offers Mountain gorilla tracking.
However Uganda holds 50% of the Wolds mountain gorilla . Get ready to have the best experience in the 12 days nature encounter in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mt. Rwenzori in Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was gazetted as a national park in 1991. In 1994, Bwindi was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to its ecological importance. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is not only a sanctuary for the endangered mountain gorillas but also a treasure trove of biodiversity and natural beauty.
It’s a place where conservation and tourism go hand in hand. Offering visitors a chance to experience one of the world’s most ancient and biologically rich habitats.
On a good day , beside gorilla tracking, you will be able to see animals like olive baboon, black and white colobus monkey, forest elephants and duikers. During the 12 days Nature Encounter , you will be able t o reach Mt. Rwenzori national park.
Rwenzori mountains
Mt. Rwenzori is the second highest mountain in East Africa and the highest horst mountain in Africa. The Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the Mountains of the Moon, are a stunning mountain range. Located on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Rwenzori Mountains are situated in southwestern Uganda, near the equator. It was gazetted as a national park in 1991 and in 1994 described at a UNESCO heritage site as well.
The highest peak is mount Stanley, with its summit, Margherita peak, reaching 5,109 meters (16,762 feet). Other notable peaks include Mount Speke (4,890 meters), Mount Baker (4,843 meters), and Mount Emin (4,798 meters). Get prepared by getting some good hiking shoes for the 12days nature encounter in Uganda.
Safari Highlight
- Day1:-Arrival
- Day2:-Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day3:-Gorilla tracking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day4-11:-Hiking Experience
- Day12:-Departure
Details of the 12Days Nature Encounter in Bwindi National Park and Mt. Rwenzori
Day1:Arrival
On arrival at Entebbe International airport,be picked by our experienced driver guide who will brief you through the whole adventure. You will be driven to the lodge where you will have dinner and rest for the next days activity.
Destination: Entebbe
Accommodation: Vivia Guest House
Meal plan: Dinner
Day2:Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Wake up early and have break fast. Drive to Bwindi impenetrable national park using Masaka- Mbarara road with a stop over at the equator. Get prepared to take enough pictures at the equator and buy some souvenirs for the journey. Have lunch in Ntungamo as you continue with the journey. on arrival in Bwindi impenetrable national park,check in to Bakiga lodge Ruhija sector and rest.
Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Accommodation: Bakiga lodge
Meal plan: Break fast ,lunch and dinner
Day3:Gorilla tracking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake up early in the morning around 5:00 am, have break fast as you prepare for tracking. Put on your good hiking shoes, have rain gears and do not forget your face masks. You will have packed lunch and enough water that you are going to use in the tracking process because is not a guarantee meeting the gorillas early.
Our driver guide will drive you to the park headquarters. Enjoy the briefing as you meet other visitors. Embark on the tracking experience. After tracking, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park ,check into the lodge and relax.
Destination:Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation: Buffalo lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast,lunch and dinner
Day4-11:Hiking Experience
On the fourth day, get prepared for the 8 days trekking experience on Mt.Rwenzori.
Day1
Wake up very early in the morning and have a delicious relaxing morning break fast. Start the walk at 1,1450 meters through the valley floor to the tall trees of the Afro Montane Forest zone.This is a steady climb which offers you the opportunity to see multitudes of birds and blue monkeys.
At times visitors may see troupes of about 15 – 20 black and white Colobus monkeys as they swing through the treetops. There are rare sightings of the low hoest monkey which are part of the Bakonjo cultural emblems and are protected by the virtue of the King.
Hear wild chimpanzee in the distance. There is wide variety of plant species from forest trees to bamboos thickets, low shrubs, flowers, fungi. Have lunch break as you continue with the journey. Have an overnight at sine camp at 2596 meters and if you are still fit enough and energetic, sleepover at Kalalama camp at 3,134 meters.
Destination: Mt. Rwenzori National Park
Accommodation: At sine camp
Meal plan: Breakfast,lunch and dinner
Day2
Start your journey at 8:00am from where you slept off continuing with the hike. Enter Bamboo -Mimulopsis zone which is steep climb with many high steps.Though the atmosphere and the forest is beautiful as you climb 551 metres altitude and a distance of 1.8km to Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters. It is in the Heather-Rapanea Zone where you can take a rest and a quick cup of tea or coffee ere heading on to Mutinda Camp.
After lunch, you may wish to climb up to the top of the Mutinda Lookout for about 1-2 hours up and an hour down . Have an overnight at Mutinda Camp at 3.582meters.
Destination: Mt. Rwenzori National Park
Accommodation: Mutinda camp
Meal plan: Breakfast,lunch and dinner
Day3
At the sunrise, resume the trek to Bugata swamp. The trek to Bugata swamp is a bit boggy most especially during dry season which requires you to be careful while hiking. Cross Mutinda valley via the tussock grass before climbing a steep section up the Namusangi Valley at 3,840 meters.
Enjoy the view as you continue with the hike to Bugata camp at 4100 meters.
Accommodation: Bugata camp
Meal plan: Breakfast,lunch and dinner
Day4
Wake up early on your hiking shoes as you embark the journey. Trek to Hunwick’s Camp through Bamwanjarra Pass. Leave Bugata Camp and pass up a ridge then drop down slightly before ascending to Bamwanjarra Pass at 4,450 meters. There is a hut for relaxation in case the weather not favorable.
Get good views of the three main peaks on a clear day. The trail passes down the valley and around the edge of some bogs and thick evergreen vegetation, moss. giant groundsel and lobelia.
Here is possibly the best place in all the Rwenzori to observe the Malachite Sunbird 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 McConnell’s Prong.
Accommodation: Hunwick camp
Meal plan: Breakfast,lunch and dinner
Day5
From Hunwick’s pass down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitendara. The place is very stunning with deep water and beautiful vegetation. From here you climb up Scott Elliott’s pass then up the ridge to Margherita Camp 4,485 metres. It is situated between some huge rocks and offering some shelter from the strong winds. This is the very spot where the Duke of Abruzzi camped when making his climb to Margherita Peak in 1906.
Accommodation: Margherita camp
Meal plan: Breakfast,lunch and dinner
Day6
Wake up at 2am and catch an early breakfast before heading off to climb Mt Stanley at 2.30am. This is necessary as the weather has changed a lot. Often during the dryer season the mountain is closed in with heavy clouds and snow falls from 1pm to 4pm. This happens within a short period of 10 to 15 minutes as the clouds rise up from the extensive Congo rainforests.
During January and February 2017 clients were closed in and unable to walk during heavy snow storms. This was not heard of during the dryer season and arrived back at Margherita camp well after dark with one group arriving back at 11pm totally exhausted.
Due to this change in weather we have set a strict turn around time of 10am. If you do not reach the peak before then you must turn around regardless of the disappointment in the interests of safety. Margherita glacier has also suffered with global warming. The outer edges of the glacier recede the ice is becoming steeper with one section of about 200 meters more than 60% grade. Combined with this much of the blacker has melted underneath causing caves under the ice and as it get thinner eventually caves in. So is necessary that clients understand and take advice of where the guides suggest to pass.
Clients with less mountaineering experience,it is better you stay on Stanley glacier. Climb up to a good vantage point on a rocky outcrop on the southern edge of Alexandra Peak to enjoy fantastic views over Congo and the lower mountain ridges.
After ascending the peak at 5,109 metres you then pass directly down to Hunwick’s Camp at 3.874 metres.
Accommodation: Hunwick camp
Meal plan: Breakfast,lunch and dinner
Day7
Distance to Kiharo Camp 11km and the time taken to walk is 4 to 7 hours. From Hunwick’s Camp we start the day by climbing up a ridge towards McConnell’s Prong. Get the best views of all three peaks and Scott Elliott’s Pass before reaching Oliver’s Pass at 4,505 metres.
The distance from Hunwick’s Camp to the top of Olivers Pass is 3km. The trail then cuts across below Weismann’s Peak to the confluence of the Nyamwamba River. The river flows down through Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
If you wish to climb Weismann’s Peak 4,620 metres from Olivers pass. It is done at an extra cost of $20 each. On a clear day you get fantastic views of Margherita and Mt Stanley, Mt Speke and Mt Baker.
After crossing the confluence ,the trail meanders down the valley to Kiharo Camp. The camp is situated in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation. On the way down the valley after each bog you will climb over a ridge of stones and earth. This seems out of place but actually was pushed there by slow moving glaciers . These glaciers eventually stopped moving, melted and left a pile of rocks and debris in front of where the glacier once stood.
Accommodation: Kiharo camp
Meal plan: Breakfast,lunch and dinner
Day 8
Distance Kiharo Camp to the park gate 16km and another 2.8km down to Trekkers Hostel. Time to walk 5 to 8 hours so those who need to connect to 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 a route which is easy enough for tourists to use. In 1937 the explorer and geologist McConnell tried to find a way up this valley but failed and have to turn back and search for another route up the mountain but now you can experience this truly beautiful valley.
A few kilometres from Kiharo Camp the path turns off to the right to pass along the river. In the clear areas you may catch a glimpse of a Duiker quietly feeding in small clearings as you pass along the river. This area is possible the highest population of Rwenzori Red Duikers anywhere in the National Park A few kilometres down the river it becomes steeper with multitudes of stunning waterfalls.
After the waterfalls we climb up and over a high ridge then down though the dense forests with stunning views of the valley below. We stop at Forest View Camp for lunch before proceeding back to Base Camp. A great experience and ending to a fantastic trek. You will have a drive back to buffalo lodge.
Destination: Kasese
Accommodation: Buffalo Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast,lunch and dinner
Day12: Departure
After morning break fast at the lodge, you will then set back to the airport.
Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch
NOTE: FOR THOSE CLIMBING MARGHERITA PEAK YOU MAY TAKE THE ADDITIONAL OPTION TO CLIMB MT BAKER (WHICH IS A DIFFICULT SCRAMBLE) ON THE DAY YOU TREK FROM HUNWICK’S CAMP TO MARGHERITA CAMP OR YOU MAY CLIMB WEISMANN’S ON THE WAY DOWN