A Complete Rwenzori Hiking And Gorilla Trekking Safari Itinerary For Beginners

13-Day Rwenzori Hiking And Gorilla Trekking Overview

A Complete Rwenzori Hiking And Gorilla Trekking Safari Itinerary For Beginners. Visit Uganda for a perfect Rwenzori Hiking And Gorilla Trekking Tour Experience.

Discover the magic of Uganda with our 13-Day Rwenzori Hiking And Gorilla Trekking adventure, explicitly designed for beginners seeking an unforgettable encounter with nature. Begin your journey with a guided trek through the misty Rwenzori Mountains, known for their breathtaking alpine scenery and unique wildlife. With beginner-friendly trails and expert guides, you’ll safely experience the beauty of Africa’s third-highest mountain range while learning about its rich biodiversity and cultural significance.

After conquering the Rwenzori slopes, transition into the heart of the jungle for a once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Led by experienced rangers, you’ll track and observe endangered mountain gorillas in the thick forests, a truly humbling and awe-inspiring moment. Perfect for first-time adventurers, our 13-Day Rwenzori Hiking And Gorilla Trekking package combines gentle challenge with profound reward, offering a seamless introduction to Uganda’s most iconic experiences.

Detailed Itinerary: Rwenzori Hiking And Gorilla Trekking

Day 1: Transfer To Kasese

You will be picked up from your hotel in Entebbe and driven to Kasese, with stops along the way at the Uganda Equator and for lunch.

Day 2. Hike to Sine Camp 2596 meters

After breakfast, you’ll head to Trekkers Hostel (1,450 m) for a briefing before starting your hike. The trek ascends through Afro-Montane forests to Sine Hut (2,596 m) and then to Kalalama Camp (3,134 m), with the option to continue to Mutinda Camp (3,975 m) for spectacular views. Along the way, spot blue monkeys, Colobus monkeys, and possibly L’Hoest monkeys or wild chimpanzees. The lush forest is rich in bamboo, moss-draped vines, flowers, and fungi. Near Sine Hut, Enock’s Falls offers a perfect photo opportunity. At Sine Camp, wooden cabins nestled among towering trees offer a peaceful overnight stay. Birdlife abounds, and guests often relax by the fire, chatting with guides. Fit trekkers may attempt Mutinda Lookout the following day.

Day 3. Hike to Mutinda Camp 3588 meters.

Your trek begins at 8:30 a.m., leading straight into the steep, muddy Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone. The trail ascends 551 meters over 1.8 km to Kalalama Camp in the Heather-Rapanea Zone, where you can enjoy tea or coffee. You’ll cross streams, mossy waterfalls, and ridges before descending and climbing again. The trail follows a mossy river surrounded by Giant Heather trees draped in Usnea lichen, creating a mystical atmosphere. The valley’s lush flora adds to the enchanting scenery. In the afternoon, an optional hike to Mutinda Lookout (3,925 m) offers stunning views of the Rwenzori Mountains, Kasese town, and Lake George. This climb helps with acclimatization for higher summits like Margherita. Overnight at Mutinda Camp, perched at 3,582 meters, surrounded by the magic of Rwenzori’s alpine beauty.

Day 4. Hike to Bugata Camp 4100 meters.

During the rainy season, the path to Bugata Camp gets very muddy, but you may avoid getting buried by hopping from tussock to tussock. You must first cross the Mutinda valley, which is covered in tussock grass and perennial flowers combined with several Giant Lobelias, before arriving at the Namusangi Valley (3,840 meters), which boasts breathtaking waterfalls and breathtaking vistas of the Mutinda Peaks in the distance. The trail gradually rises from the bottom of Namusangi Valley to Bugata Camp, which is 4,100 meters above sea level.

Day 5. Hike to Hunwick’s Camp 3974 meters.

Hunwick’s Camp can be reached via the Bamwanjarra Pass. After climbing a hill from Bugata Camp, it’s a short downhill to Bamwanjarra Pass, where we have a cabin at 4,450 meters. The pass offers stunning views of the three main peaks on a clear day. The trail meanders through the bottom sections of the valley, avoiding the edge of several bogs and a thicket of evergreens, including lobelia, giant groundsel, and moss. The Malachite Sunbird is reported to breed here and is most likely to be spotted among the profusion of lobelia flowers. Eventually, you’ll reach Hunwick’s Camp, which sits above a deep valley and offers fantastic views of Mount Stanley, Mount Baker, Weismanns Peak, and McConnell’s Prong after a long ascent up and over a ridge.

Day 6. Hike to Margherita camp 4485 metres.

We travel from Hunwick’s to the beautiful and deep Lake Kitendara, which is encircled by lush, green mountains, via the valley bottom and downhill. Proceeding up Scott Elliott’s pass and up the ridge, where it is tucked away among enormous rocks that offer wind protection, will bring you to Margherita Camp at 4,485 meters. When the Duke of Abruzzi visited Margherita Peak in 1906, he stayed here.

Day 7. Summit Margherita peak 5109 metres.

Begin your summit attempt of Mount Stanley at 2:30 a.m. after an early breakfast. Weather can shift quickly, with dense clouds and snowfall often rolling in between 1 and 4 p.m., even in the dry season. In early 2017, climbers were caught in sudden snowstorms, forcing late returns to camp. To ensure safety, a strict turnaround time of 10 a.m. is enforced—those not at the summit by then must descend. The Margherita Glacier is retreating, making the ice steeper and more dangerous, with sections reaching over a 60% gradient. Ice is also collapsing from beneath. Clients must follow the guide instructions closely. Less experienced climbers are advised to hike to a scenic viewpoint on Stanley Glacier instead. After summiting (5,109 m), descend directly to Hunwick’s Camp (3,874 m).

Day 8. Descend to Kiharo Camp at 3640 meters.

The trek from Hunwick’s Camp to Kiharo Camp covers 11 km and takes 4–7 hours. The day begins with a climb along a ridge to McConnell’s Prong, offering views of all three summits and Scott Elliott’s Pass, then continues to Oliver’s Pass at 4,505 meters. From there, you can opt to ascend Weismann’s Peak (4,620 m) for an extra $20, with stunning views of Mounts Margherita, Stanley, Speke, and Baker. The trail then descends through the Nyamwamba Valley, which drains into Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kiharo Camp lies in a lush valley surrounded by towering rocks. Along the trail, you’ll pass glacier-formed ridges and cross bogs, confluences, and scenic, stone-strewn terrain shaped by ancient ice movement.

Day 9. Descend to the Basecamp 1450 meters.

The final trek from Kiharo Camp to the park entrance is 11.2 km, plus 2.8 km to Trekkers Hostel, taking 5–8 hours. You’ll spend the night at Buffalo Safari Lodge near Queen Elizabeth National Park. The trail descends through the stunning Nyamwamba Valley, featuring moss-covered rocks, cascading waterfalls, dense forests, and deep valleys. Once unexplored, after a failed 1937 attempt by explorer McConnell, it took six years to make this route accessible. The trail follows the river briefly, offering views of nocturnal duikers and other wildlife. Due to dangerous waterfalls downstream, hikers leave the river for a narrow ridge before rejoining it near a large rock shelter. The final stretch winds through lush forest filled with birds, primates, and hyrax, an awe-inspiring end to an incredible Rwenzori adventure.

Day 10: Full Day Relaxation

Reflect on your previous 8-day hike, relax as you enjoy the scenes around your hotel.

Day 11: Transfer To Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

After an early morning break, first, you will be transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where you will check in at your lodge for relaxation.

Day 12: Gorilla Trekking Experience

• Morning: After an early breakfast, you’ll head to the park headquarters for a briefing by experienced rangers. Your adventure begins as you embark on a trek through dense forests, misty hills, and valleys in search of the mountain gorillas.
• Trekking Time: Depending on the location of the gorillas, the trek can take 2-6 hours.
• The Gorilla Encounter: Once you find the gorilla family, you’ll have the extraordinary opportunity to observe them for an hour. Watch as they play, eat, and interact with each other—an emotional and humbling experience.
• Afternoon: Return to the lodge for a well-deserved rest and a hearty meal.
• Evening: Reflect on your incredible day as you enjoy an evening around the lodge with fellow adventurers or a Batwa cultural visit.

Day 13: Transfer To Entebbe Airport / Kigali Airport

• Morning: After breakfast, bid farewell to Bwindi and return to Entebbe/Kampala or use Kigali International Airport in Rwanda. Alternatively, opt for a domestic flight back for convenience.

End of the 13-Day Rwenzori Hiking And Gorilla Trekking Itinerary

Inclusions: 13-Day Rwenzori Hiking And Gorilla Trekking Tour

• Entrance Fees
• Hiking Fees for 8 Days
• Hiking Gear
• Transportation
• Accommodation & meals as specified
• English-speaking Guide
• Gorilla Trekking permit of $800 per person

Exclusions: 13-Day Rwenzori Hiking And Gorilla Trekking Tour

• Visa and flights
• Tipping
• Insurance
• Alcoholic drinks
• Any other activity not mentioned

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