10 Days Mountain Rwenzori Trekking and Wildlife Safari
This 10 Days Mountain Rwenzori Trekking and Wildlife Safari takes you to Rwenzori Mountain National park found in the south-western region of Uganda in one of Africa’s most mysteriously fascinating and attractive mountains known as Mountain Rwenzori which is famously branded as the Mountain of the Moon.
This park is famously known for its exceptional natural beauty, incomparable unique alpine flora, stunning waterfalls, lakes, snowfields, and glaciers. Trekking mountain Rwenzori is the highlight of this 10 Days Mountain Rwenzori Trekking and Wildlife Safari as you will have a great view of incomparable unique alpine flora, wildlife, birdlife, stunning waterfalls, lakes, snowfields, and lush valley glaciers. Your 10 Days Mountain Rwenzori Trekking and wildlife safari will end in Semuliki National park which is one of the finest top birding destinations in Uganda situated in the western region of Bundibugyo district mainly in Bwamba County. While in Semuliki national park, you will have a thrilling game viewing and birding experience on a game drive in the savannah plains and you will visit the Sempaya hot springs
Safari Highlights: 10 Days Mountain Rwenzori Trekking
- Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Mountain Rwenzori national park
- Day 2: Nyakalengijja to Nyabitaba Hut
- Day 3: Nyabitaba to John Matte Hut
- Day 4: John Matte to Bujuku Hut
- Day 5: Bujuku to Elena Hut
- Day 6: Elena Hut (4563m) to Margherita Peak- Kitandara (3979m)
- Day 7: Kitandara Hut to Guy Yeoman Hut (3505m)
- Day 8: Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba- Nyakalengija
- Day 9: Game drive in Toro Semuliki National Reserve and Sempaya hot springs
- Day 10: Return to Kampala
Detailed Itinerary: 10 Days Mountain Rwenzori Trekking and Wildlife Safari
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Mountain Rwenzori national park
Immediately after early morning breakfast, meet your safari driver for a briefing and embark on your 7-8 hours road trip from Kampala to Mountain Rwenzori national park in Kasese via Fort Portal. On your way, you will have a glimpse of Lake Wamala and Rwenzori tea plantations. Upon arrival at the fort portal, you will have lunch en route and afterwards proceed with your journey to Mountain Rwenzori national park where you will have dinner and a night stay.
Meal Plan: Dinner
Accommodation: Rwenzori International Hotel
Day 2: Nyakalengijja to Nyabitaba Hut
Breakfast will be served very early in the morning at the hotel and afterwards, you will go to the park headquarters for a briefing about hiking. The hike starts alongside experienced guides, park rangers and porters at Nyakalengijja gate where you will be registered and then proceed to the central circuit trail through the rain forest. The hike will take approximately 8 km to reach Nyabitaba hut where you will stop for dinner and spend the night.
Day 3: Nyabitaba to John Matte Hut
Enjoy your breakfast early in the morning and then head to John Matte Hut, you will pass through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bright which is a confluence of Mubuku and Bujuku Rivers. Proceed through the Bamboo forest and the moss-covered rocks up to Nyamileju rock shelter where you will have a lunch break as you enjoy the clear view of mount Stanley and mount Speke if by luck the weather is clear. Afterwards, you will continue with your journey through the afro-alpine forest to John Matte Hut where you will spend the night and have dinner.
Day 4: John Matte to Bujuku Hut
Have Breakfast early in the morning, and continue with your hike to Bujuku hut whereby you will cross Bujuku River to the land of the triffids in the lower Bigo bog which comprises a variety of unique rare triffid sized flora including Lobelias, Gnarled trees, the 6 meters (20 ft) tall heathers cover with moss and groundsels. You will then progress to Bujuku hut where you will have a clear view of Lake Bujuku, Mount Speke, Mount Baker and Mount Stanley. Dinner and overnight stay at Bujuku hut.
Day 5: Bujuku to Elena Hut
Depart for Elena’s hut immediately after your breakfast early in the morning which is likely to take approximately 7 hours. You will move through the land of the triffids as you hike through the steep slopes of Lake Bujuku in the west, pass through the astonishing groundsel gully to the metal ladder where the trail is split up into two trails with one being the right trail and the other being the left trail. You will follow the right trail because it leads up to Elena hut while the left trail leads down to the Kitandara lakes. While at the Elena hut, you will have a direct view of Mount Speke and Mount Baker when the weather is clear however sometimes it is hard to view them since they are always covered with fog. Dinner and rest at Elena’s hut.
Day 6: Elena Hut (4563m) to Margherita Peak- Kitandara (3979m)
On this 6th day, you will wake up very early in the morning, have breakfast and set off to Margherita peak on Mount Stanley which will approximately take 5 hours, this is the highlight of the safari however it requires physical fitness, a high level of vigilance, put on headlamps and helmets, you have to warm yourselves with head socks, gloves. You will hike to the top of Mount Stanley by crossing through the Stanley plateau and proceed to Margherita peak upon arrival, you will have time to relax and create memories by taking photos. After some time, you will descend to Elena hut where you will have a lunch break and later progress to Kitandara through the Scott Elliot pass which is the most beautiful point on Mountain Rwenzori.
Dinner and overnight at Kitandara.
Day 7: Kitandara Hut to Guy Yeoman Hut (3505m)
Enjoy your morning meal and afterwards depart for Guy Yeoman hut. You will ascend through the base of Mount Baker steeply up the headwall along the south side of mountain Rwenzori to the fresh field pass. You will pass the rock shelter at Bujangolo which will take approximately 7 hours to reach Guy Yeoman hut which is situated at the banks of river Mubuku. Dinner and overnight at Guy Yeoman hut.
Day 8: Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba- Nyakalengija
After breakfast, you will descend from Guy Yeoman through the bamboo forests to Nyabitaba. This trail requires you to be very careful over the vertical mud as well as the steep rocks as it is sometimes slippery and muddy. Upon arrival at the park headquarters, you will meet your guide who will transfer you to your lodge in Semuliki National park where you will have dinner and spend the night.
Meal Plan: Dinner
Accommodation: Semuliki Safari Lodge
Day 9: Game drive in Toro Semuliki National Reserve and Sempaya hot springs
After a peaceful morning breakfast, meet your safari guide and head out for a game drive in Toro Semuliki National Reserve in the Savannah grassland. During the game drive, you will be able to observe and spot a variety of wildlife, primates and bird species including African Elephants, buffalo, waterbuck, warthog, Uganda kob, hippopotamus, leopards, elusive bush babies, black and white colobus monkeys, Chimpanzees, Red tailed monkeys, Long-tailed Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Black-wattled Hornbill, African Piculet, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Blue-billed Malimbe, Yellow-throated Cuckoo and many more. Return in the late afternoon to the hotel for lunch and afterwards proceed to Sempaya hot springs found in a geothermal area formed by both female and male springs which is a bubbling boiling hot water which produces steam from within the ground. These hot springs are worth watching because they attract some wetland bird species and aquatic species. Retire to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Dinner
Accommodation: Semuliki Safari Lodge
Day 10: Return to Kampala
On this last day of your 10 Days Mountain Rwenzori Trekking and Wildlife safari, you will have breakfast before departing for Kampala. After breakfast, pack all your luggage and check out of the lodge, meet your safari driver who will transfer you from Semuliki national park. You will have lunch en route on your way and upon arrival in Kampala, your driver will drop you off at Entebbe International Airport for your flight back home.
End of the 10 Days Mountain Rwenzori Trekking and Wildlife safari
