16-Day Uganda Safari | Margherita Peak Summit, Wildlife & Primates
A 16-Day Uganda Safari | Margherita Peak Summit, Wildlife & Primates: Gorillas & Chimpanzees. Trekking chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth, and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest are all part of a grand 16-day safari adventure through Uganda that includes the summit of Margherita Peak in the Rwenzori Mountains.
For the most adventuresome safari goers, Uganda has it all: a technical climb of 5,109 m Margherita Peak in the Rwenzori Mountains, a chimpanzee trek in Kibale Forest, a classic wildlife safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and a gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The trek takes place over 16 days.
This schedule is not last-minute. The pace is designed to give you enough time to acclimatise, recover, and fully immerse yourself in the most famous landscapes and primates in Uganda.
In Kibale National Park in Uganda, you get the opportunity to go chimpanzee trekking and get up close and personal with chimpanzee families. After a briefing from their chimpanzee guide, visitors typically spend an hour with the animals, although they are welcome to remain longer if they choose for a more in-depth acclimatisation experience. Permits, which cost between $200 and $250 USD, are required of non-resident visitors due to strong demand. Because there are two departure times for the trek—8 am and 2 pm—pre-registration is also essential. An exciting prospect is a guided stroll through a verdant jungle, where you could encounter a variety of birds and primates. However, refrain from using flash photography and maintain a distance of at least 8 meters from the chimps.
Gorilla excursions in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a deep jungle in Uganda, show habituated mountain gorillas. Once you discover the gorillas, you are only allowed one hour of viewing time, and the trip can take all day or even longer. Foreign nationals may be required to pay approximately $800 for a gorilla trekking permit before they can go on a gorilla trekking adventure. You must be physically capable of navigating the steep terrain, and there are certain regulations that must be followed, such as the requirement to wear a mask and maintain a certain distance. Only ecotourists and animal enthusiasts should partake in this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
One of the most all-encompassing East African adventure safaris, this 16-day Ugandan safari journey combines high-altitude climbing with primate encounters and savannah wildlife.
16-Day Uganda Safari | Margherita Peak, Gorillas & Chimps Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe for Relaxation & Preparation
- Day 2: Transfer from Entebbe to Kibale Forest National Park (Primate Capital of the World)
- Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking & Transfer to the Rwenzori Mountains
- Day 4: Hike to Nyabitabba (2651m) from Nyakalengija
- Day 5: Trek to John Matte (3505m) from Nyabitaba
- Day 6: Hike to Bujuku Hut from John Matte Hut (3962)
- Day 7: Hike to Elena Hut (4541 m) from Bujuku camp
- Day 8: Summit Day, ascend to Margherita Peak (5,109 m) & back to Kitandara Hut.
- Day 9: Hike from Kitandara to Guy Yeoman via Freshfield Pass (3505m)
- Day 10: Acclimatization / Contingency Day
- Day 11: Descend Guy Yeoman to Nyakalengijja & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP
- Day 12: Queen Elizabeth NP, Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
- Day 13: Queen Elizabeth (Ishasha Sector), & Transfer to Bwindi Forest
- Day 14: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Day 15: Second Gorilla Trek (Optional but Powerful)
- Day 16: Transfer from Bwindi to Entebbe
A Detailed 16-Day Uganda Safari | Margherita Peak, Gorillas & Chimps
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe for Relaxation & Preparation
Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, a representative will be waiting to assist you with your transfer to the hotel located near Lake Victoria. So that you can rest after your long travel, we’ve purposefully kept this day light.
Upon your arrival, you have the option to unwind at the hotel, take advantage of the swimming pool, stroll along the shoreline, or just relax. Meet up with your guide in the evening for a quick orientation that will go over the upcoming adventure, go over gear checks, and answer any last questions you may have.
Overnight: The Boma Hotel, Entebbe
Meals: Bed & Breakfast
Activity level: Very light
Day 2: Transfer from Entebbe to Kibale Forest National Park (Primate Capital of the World)
It would take around five or six hours to drive west from Entebbe to Kibale Forest National Park, so plan to leave after breakfast. The path winds its way through rolling slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains, crater lakes, tea plantations, and rural Uganda.
While travelling, stop in the picturesque village of Fort Portal for lunch. It is surrounded by lush farmland. Make your way to the resort close to Kibale Forest after lunch.
In preparation for our chimpanzee trekking adventure the next day, you can spend the afternoon lounging around the resort, doing short nature excursions, or just taking in the forest scenery.
Overnight: Kibale Tourist Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Activity level: Light travel day
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking & Transfer to the Rwenzori Mountains
A briefing on chimpanzee trekking can be had at the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre, which is a short drive away after an early breakfast. Rangers provide information on how to stay safe when trekking, as well as how chimps behave.
Guides will accompany you into the jungle so you can follow chimpanzees. The amount of time spent trekking ranges from one to four hours, all dependent on how the chimps are behaving. Finding them is the first step; after that, you get an hour to watch them as they forage, call, groom, and move through the trees.
Get back to the resort in time for lunch after your walk. Get in the car and proceed to Nyakalengijja in the afternoon; it’s the Rwenzori Mountains’ primary trailhead. Here we leave the realm of animal safaris and enter the realm of mountain expeditions.
Overnight: Snow Heights Lodge (Rwenzori foothills)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activity level: Moderate
Day 4: Hike to Nyabitabba (2651 m) from Nyakalengija at the foothills
Rangers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority will be giving a park briefing after breakfast. Gather with your porters and mountain guides, divide up your loads, and set out on your journey.
Through thick montane forest, the trail follows the Mubuku River. In addition to a slow ascent, you can anticipate muddy stretches and wooden bridges. Primates and avian species are among the possible wildlife sightings.
Reach Nyabitaba Hut (2,651 m), situated on a ridge with views of the valley below, after several hours of continuous elevation.
Hiking time: 6–7 hours
Overnight: Nyabitaba Hut
Activity level: Moderate–challenging.
Day 5: Trek to John Matte (3505m) from Nyabitaba
Plant life shifts to lobelias and gigantic heather as one ascends in elevation. When the weather is nice, you can see Margherita Peak and Mount Stanley for the first time.
Get some rest and acclimatise at John Matte Hut (3,380 m) when you arrive in the afternoon.
Hiking time: 7–8 hours
Overnight: John Matte Hut
Activity level: Challenging
Day 6: Hike to Bujuku Hut from John Matte Hut (3962m)
To start today’s walk, you’ll have to ford the Bujuku River and then enter the world-famous Lower Bigo Bog. Giant lobelias dominate the otherworldly scenery as wooden boardwalks wind their way through it.
Reach the Upper Bigo Bog after a gentle climb over wooded terrain. Onwards to Lake Bujuku, which is impressively situated between Mount Stanley and Mount Baker.
Spend the afternoon lounging around and taking in the breathtaking mountain views.
Hiking time: 4–5 hours
Overnight: Bujuku Hut (3,962m)
Activity level: Moderate (important acclimatization day)
Day 7: Hike to Elena Hut (4541 m) from Bujuku camp
To reach Scott Elliot Pass (4,372 m), the last stop on the Central Circuit before reaching the summit, start your trek from Bujuku over a rocky path through enormous groundsels.
There is a risk of slipping on the rough terrain if it gets wet or ice. Mount Baker, Mount Luigi di Savoia, Mount Stanley, and the Bujuku Valley are all visible in the expansive panorama.
A metal ladder is required to traverse the steep terrain at the gully’s peak. The road splits in half after there. If you take the right-hand path that climbs steeply over big rocks up Mount Stanley, you’ll eventually reach the Elena Hut. You can begin your descent to Kitandara Lakes on the left-hand trail at Scott-Elliot Pass. Her shack sits on the steep slope of Mount Stanley, and the weather is too chilly to remain there. Perched high in the Rwenzori Mountains, this vantage point offers a view of Mount Speke and Mount Baker. These two mountains are almost unrecognisable due to the thick fog.
Elena Hut (4,541 m), the main staging camp for Margherita Peak, is a little further down the mountain.
Hiking time: 5–6 hours
Overnight: Elena Hut
Activity level: Challenging
Day 8: Summit Day, ascend to Margherita Peak (5,109 m) & back to Kitandara Hut
Starting between two and four in the morning is the customary time for summit day to begin. You put on your crampons, helmet, and harness after a quick lunch.
The climb involves:
- Glacier crossings
- Rope-assisted sections
- Exposed ridges and icy rock
Margherita Peak is the highest point in Uganda, and you can reach it under the guidance of a guide after you pass the Stanley Glacier and climb the summit ridge.
The cold and exposure make the time at the peak brief. The descent to the picturesque Kitandara Lakes starts right away as you go down Scott Elliot Pass.
Day 9: Hike from Kitandara to Guy Yeoman via Freshfield Pass (3505m)
Climb to Freshfield Pass (4,282 m) after a leisurely morning, and then descend the southern flank of Mount Baker along high alpine paths.
Beginning near Mount Baker’s foothills, Fresh Field Pass continues far into the distance. In order to reach the rock shelter at Bujangolo, one must continue the steep descent through the mud that begins at the pass. During his illustrious 1906 journey, the Duke of Abruzzi used this location as his base camp. You should be able to complete the journey in five or seven hours, so this campsite is perfect for a supper stop and a night’s sleep. Located beside the Mubuku River is the Guy Yeoman shack.
On your way to Guy Yeoman Hut, be sure to stop at several of the old expedition shelters from the early 20th century.
Hiking time: 6–7 hours
Overnight: Guy Yeoman Hut
Activity level: Challenging
Day 10: Acclimatization / Contingency Day
This day is set aside in case of inclement weather, recuperation, or postponed summit attempts. To stay safe and succeed in the Rwenzoris, you must be able to pivot quickly.
Depending on the conditions, planned activities include light walks, rest, and recovery.
Overnight: On the mountain
Activity level: Light
Day 11: Descend Guy Yeoman to Nyakalengijja & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
At Guy Yeoman, you can start your trek to Nyabitaba. Through the bamboo groves, the trail winds its way down. The descent is treacherous due to the filthy, slick surface and lack of suitable handholds. Lunch will be provided at the Nyabitaba cabin after approximately five hours of hiking. In the three hours that follow, we will descend to Nyakalengija.
Gather with your guide and vehicle upon arrival in Nyakengija in the late afternoon. Then, head to Queen Elizabeth National Park to experience a dramatic shift from the alpine wilderness to the savannah.
Overnight: Elephant Hab Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Natioanl Park
Activity level: Moderate descent and transfer
Day 12: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Early morning game drive over the Kasenyi Plains, a habitat that is rich with predators, antelope, buffalo, and elephants. Take a boat safari in the afternoon around the Kazinga Channel, a popular spot for spotting birds, crocodiles, hippos, and other animals up close.
Overnight: Elephant Hab Lodge, Queen Elizabeth National Park
Activity level: Light–moderate
Day 13: Queen Elizabeth (Ishasha Sector), & Transfer to Bwindi Forest
Find a group of tree-climbing lions relaxing in some fig trees in the Ishasha region as you head south. Keep on to the Buhoma Sector of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where you can see mountain gorillas in peace.
Overnight: Buhoma Gorilla Camp, Bwindi
Activity level: Light travel day
Day 14: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest
Set off on a hike through a thick jungle in search of a habituated gorilla family following an early morning briefing at Bwindi Park headquarters. Duration of a trek can vary substantially. After you find the gorillas, you should spend an unforgettable hour watching them.
Overnight: Buhoma Gorilla Camp, Bwindi
Activity level: Moderate
Day 15: Second Gorilla Trek (Different Family)
A second gorilla walk is unlike any other since you get to see a different family of gorillas, explore various habitats, and observe different behaviours.
Overnight: Buhoma Gorilla Camp, Bwindi
Activity level: Moderate
Day 16: Transfer from Bwindi to Entebbe
Return to Entebbe after breakfast, making lunch and souvenir stops at the Equator or the Igongo Cultural Museum along the way. For your next leg of the journey, you will arrive in Entebbe in the evening.
End of the 16-Day Uganda Safari | Margherita Peak, Gorillas & Chimps