Ultimate 10-Day Volcanoes Gorilla Trekking And Rwenzori Hike

A Detailed 10-Day Volcanoes Gorilla Trekking And Rwenzori Hike

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali, City tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park

You will arrive in Kigali International airport where you will be welcomed by your driver guide. After a short briefing, you will embark on a short city tour in the bustling Kigali visiting major places including the Genocide memorial centre where you will discover a brief history about Rwanda. After the city tour embark on your journey to Volcanoes National Park driving through the beautiful landscapes of countless hills of Rwanda. Upon arrival in Musanze kinigi, you will check in at your accommodation and spend the rest of the day relaxing at the premises.

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Wake up early and have breakfast at your accommodation, you guide will be ready to transfer you to the park headquarters where you will have briefing about gorilla trekking. With other member, you will be allocated a gorilla family and team up with your ranger guide in search of the endangered species. Walking through the lush forests of bamboo, you will finally locate your gorilla family which you will take time to discover its history, members and how they behave by observing them. Within one hour you will take photos and then return to your guide who will transfer you back to your accommodation. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Day 3: Transfer to Kasese

After breakfast, you will check out of your accommodation and embark on a remarkable journey through Rwanda to Uganda, crossing the Cyanika border. You guide will help you with the process at the immigration office and continue driving through lush vegetations, villages and towns. Along the way you will have an enroute lunch and continue with the journey. you will arrive in the evening checking in at your accommodation at the footstool of the Rwenzori mountains. Enjoy Dinner and overnight at your lodge preparing for the adventure ahead.

Day 4: Nyakalengeji to John Matte

Your adventure for the next 6 days starts with breakfast at your accommodation after which you will head to the park gate for briefing about the mountain and adventure you are about to start. Meet your guides and ranger and embark on your journey with your guides taking the lead talling you about the various flora and fauna around you. The journey through the montane zone is made up of tall canopy green trees which welcome you along with sounds of chirping birds and you may also spot the playful colobus monkeys jumping from one tree to another. After hiking a steepy area, you will find yourself in Nyabitaba located within tall trees, enjoy lunch at the camp before you continue your journey to John matte camp. Crossing the Kurt scharffer bridge where River Bujjuku and Mubuku meet, the journey will take you through a steep sort of hill where you are welcomed into the bamboo zone. This area is dorminated by the bamboo trees and other trees. From here you will enter the heather zone dominated by heather trees before you start to walk along a muddy trail of the River Bujjuku. You are then ushered into John matte camp by a mossy covered sort of small forest. Enjoy dinner and rest at the camp.

Day 5: John matte to Bujjuku

From John Matte Hut, the trail descends crossing Bujjuku river leading you to the lower bigo bog known for its giant lobelias and tussocks. You will cross this swampy area on a thrilling adventurous board walk in the open valley. After navigating a steep forested section, you will be walk into the section of the upper bigo bog, here you must walk carefully as its slippery and the area is dominated with giant groundsells. After here you will find yourself at River Bujjuku walking along its shores jumping from one tussock to another , at this point you can clearly view Mount baker in the south and Mount stanely in the west as well Mount Speke which all for m a triangle in the very centre of Rwenzori mountains , this area is also known as the Bujjuku valley . You will then arrive at Bujjuku camp, and this is also the lauchpad for those who are to hike Mount Speke. Spend a night at the camp surrounded by towering peaks of the Rwenzori mountains.

Day 6: Bujjuku to Ellena

Starting from Bujjuku hut, you will set out for your next camp Ellena camp located within Rocks in the Alpine zone. Walking through a muddy area, after the camp, you will then encounter a steep climp through a forest of giant groundsels up to Grounsel guly. The trail branches off leading you to Ellena hut via Scott Elliot pass known for its unique vegetation of the everlasting flowers. Before you continue you can take time to view the beautiful bujjuku valley, mount Baker, Mount Luigi di savor and Mount Stanely. Continue walking through rocks until you reach Ellena camp. After arriving you rest and have dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Ellena to Margherita to Kitandara

Wake up in the wee hours to embark on the hike to summit Margherita peak, walking through the bouldering rocks to the base glacier of Stanley. The ascent to the summit takes some time, you will then use your crampons, axes, and joined together with ropes, walk on the glacier, the area is very sensitive with slippery rocks and exposed open areas. Cross the Stanely plateau and continue to the peak. There is one final push that you will hike after which you find yourself at the peak of Rwenzori mountains. Take time to celebrate your achievement of this great challenge, while enjoying the breathtaking views. You will then embark on a descent towards Kitadara via scott Elliot pass. Walking through sparse vegetation you will spot the two twin lakes of kitandara before you descend to the camp located on the shores of one of the lakes.

Day 8: Kitandara to Guy Yeoman

From Kitandara, the trail ascends steeply up the headwall very steep and slippery till finally you reach Fresh field pass. From the pass, you start walking through the mossy trail before descending huge rocks. The path is steep, then goes through various vegetation till the Bujongolo rock shelter also the base camp for the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906. Finally, you will reach Guy yeoman camp where you will spend a night before exiting the mountain the following day.

Day 9: Guy Yeoman to Nyakalengeji

On your final day in the Rwenzori mountains, start on your journey descending the cliffs of Kichuchu that presents a challenging yet rewarding trek. After the Kichuchu cliff, you will walk through boggy paths twice over the Mubuku River where you are required to jump from one tussock to another failure of which you find yourself in the bog. Crossing the bridge you will start walking into the bamboo forest, this trail then climbs till you reach nyabitaba hut where you will enjoy lunch. After lunch continue to the Mihunga gate, finishing your trek in Nyakalengeji. This is the end of your 6 days adventure through the vast rugged terrains of the Rwenzori mountains. Head to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Transfer to Entebbe

Finally, the 10 days Gorilla trekking and Rwenzori hiking safari comes to and end leaving you with unforgettable memories of a once in a lifetime experience of gorilla trekking and hiking the beautiful Rwenzori ranges. Start the day with breakfast, after which you will check out of the accommodation and embark on your journey to Entebbe international Airport for your return journey back home. Driving through the varying landscapes of Uganda’s villages and towns, you will also enjoy an enroute lunch. Continue with the journey and upon arrival at Entebbe you will arrive for your next destination.

End of the 10-Day Volcanoes Gorilla Trekking And Rwenzori Hike