14 Days Uganda Adventure Wildlife and Primate safari

Day1: Arrival and transfer to Ziwa sanctuary for Rhino trekking

After an early breakfast you will check out and set off for the drive from Entebbe to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. Along the way you will make a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where rhinos are being reintroduced to the wild in Uganda so that you have a complete feel of the African Big five mammals as it is the Rhinos, out of the big five that are missing in Murchison Falls National park. Here you will go for a trek around the sanctuary on foot! You will have lunch at the sanctuary and some relaxation time at this lodge located in the middle of the jungle and you can as well have a short self-guided nature walk around. You will have dinner and overnight at Amuka Guest house

Day2: Visit Bakers Fort/Fort Patiko and Aruu falls plus Gulu local market

After having breakfast, check out of the lodge and transfer to Gulu in Northern Uganda. Once there, you will have a tour to the Fort Patiko which was a famous slave trade point in the Arabs’ era of slave trade in east Africa before colonial times. You will also visit the Aruu falls and later you possibly see the local market in central Gulu town. Dinner and overnight at Kakanyero Hotel

Day3: Transfer from Gulu to Murchison falls-Evening game drive

You will meet our professional driver guide at your Hotel in Gulu town and drive southwards to Murchison Falls National park reaching in afternoon at your hotel for lunch. After lunch, we depart for a game drive across the savannah in the northern part of the park. You will see abundant wildlife as the sun rises as Murchison Falls National Park is a home of game including Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Buffaloes, Hartebeests, Giraffes and a heaven of antelopes. Head back to the lodge and fro relaxation, dinner and overnight at Twiga Tales Lodge

Day4:Game Drive through the park, Boat Ride on the Victoria Nile and hike to the top of the falls

After an early morning warm up tea/coffee, you will transfer for a game drive to the northern bank in search of animals like: Lions, Giraffes, Oribis, Elephants, Jackson’s hartebeests, Uganda Kobs, Buffaloes among other animals and bird species. You will then return to the lodge in time for lunch and relax preparing for yet an exciting activity in the afternoon. After lunch, transfer for a three hours boat ride on the Nile River to the bottom of falls where you will have the opportunity to view animals like; crocodiles, hippos, in the water and some on the river banks, while; buffaloes, waterbucks, and elephants are often seen on the river bank grazing and drinking water. You will then have to hike to the top of the falls for a clear view of the falls. Return to your lodge for a relaxed evening, dinner and overnight at New Courtview Masindi

Day5: Transfer to Fort Portal –Crater Lakes zone

Have breakfast and depart with your packed lunch to Kibale National Park. You can have Punctuated stopovers in the far country side that offer us chances of viewing tea plantations along the drive as we check in late evening. Have a night in a beautiful area close to a crater lake bordering the nature reserve. On a clear day, the view on the top of the Albert rift is spectacular. Pass through Fort portal town arriving late in the evening for relaxation at the lodge. Dinner and overnight at Lake Nkuruba Campsite

Day6: Transfer to Fort portal-Mabere ga Nyinamwiru caves and hiking-Transfer to Mountain Rwenzori national park

After having breakfast, drive to the famous Mabere ga Nyinamwiru caves in Nyakasura-Fort Portal. It is nestled between several trees and beautiful water falls on some ones farm land which he has kept and preserved for tourism. Otherwise for the cultural tourism enthusiasts, this is home to a very rich cultural history attached to these rocks which form scenic caves with streams of water above them causing refreshing waterfalls for those who visit. The Batoro (the tribe located in this area) have a strong belief attached to these caves with an interesting myth told through the generations about them. You will end the trail with a hike to highest elevated hill in the zone. Drive to Kasese near Mounatin Rwenzori for dinner and overnight at Ruboni Community Camp

Day7 – Stage 1: From Nyakalengija (1600m) to Nyabitaba Hut, 2650 m.

After breakfast proceed to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park headquarters in Nyakalenjija, 1600 m. You receive the briefing from the officials and you wait for the preparation of luggage by porters.

The hike starts through the plantations and homes of the Bakonjo, the people of the Rwenzori. Follow the Mobuku River inside the mountain forest up to the first hut, Nyabitaba, 2650 m which is the arrival point for the day. During the day you might see the black and white colobus, the blue monkeys or hearing the chimpanzees, Rwenzori three horned Chameleon and the colourful Rwenzori Turaco. From Nyabitaba, you are facing on the North the Portal Peaks and in front Mount Kyniangoma. This day hike can take up to 4/5 hours. Hiking time: 5 hours – Habitat: montane forest – Altitude level: 2650 m. Dinner and overnight at Nyabitaba Hut

Day8 – Stage 2: From Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte Hut, 3350 m.

From Nyabitaba Hut take the trail that leads westwards to the Kurt Shaffer Bridge, which crosses the Mubuku River just below its confluence with Bujuku River. Here is where the proper “central circuit” starts, and you will take the right side (while you will descend from the left side). The vegetation zone is now the bamboo forest. You reach up to a steep rock which leads to Nyamuleju Hut, the beginning of the groundsel zone. Follow a swampy marshland full of extraordinary plants and giant lobelias. The arrival point for the day is John Matte Hut, 3350 m. where you have dinner and overnight. From this location you can enjoy the view of the snow-capped peaks of Mount Stanley. Hiking time: 6 hours – Habitat: bamboo forest and groundsel zone – Altitude level: 3350 m. Dinner and overnight at John Matte Hut

Day9 – Stage 3: From John Matte Hut to Bujuku Hut, 3900 m

From John Matte Hut you cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower “Bigo bog”, a grassy bog where you experience how to jump from tussock to tussock. After a rocky climb you reach Bigo Hutand enter the upper “Bigo bog”. From this extraordinary boggy valley you might have good view of the Mount Stanley. Finally you reach Lake Bujuku, then proceeding through a very muddy swampy area until Bujuku Hut, 3900 m. This is where the alpine zone begins and the grass becomes scarce and smaller. This day hike can take up to 5 hours. The hut is well positioned down the Mount Speke and on the trail to Congo. In front of the hut you can enjoy the best view of Mount Baker and Mount Stanley. Hiking time: 4 – 5 hours – Habitat: alpine zone – Altitude level: 3900 m. Dinner and overnight at Bujuku Hut

Day10 – Stage 4: From Bujuku Hut to Elena Hut, 4540 m.

From Bujuku Hut, after a muddy area, you start a steep climbing through a forest of giant groundsels up to the Groundsel Gully. A branch in the trail leads to Elena Hut, 4540 m, arrival point for the ones who intend to climb Margherita Peak. If you are only taking the central circuit, then the trail proceeds directly to Kitandara Hut. You walk through Scott Elliot Pass, 4540 m, the highest point during the central circuit, where you can enjoy stunning panoramic views down the Bujuku valley, of Mount Baker, Mount Luigi di Savoia and Stanley just above. This is a steep, rocky trail which when is wet or icy can be very slippery. Have dinner, you rest at Elena Hut and ascend to the next level in the early morning before sunrise. Hiking time: 3- 4 hours – Habitat: alpine zone – Altitude level: 4540 m.

Day11 – Stage 5 From Elena Hut to Margherita peak (5109 m) and descend to Kitandara Hut, 4023 m.

From Elena Hut you ascend the last tract of rock and ice which leads to Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5109 m. You might take about 3 -4 hours to complete the climbing. You need crampons, ice axe and rope as you walk through what remains of the glacier area of Mount Stanley. The peak was first climbed by Prince Luigi Amedeo the Duke of Abruzzi at 9.30 am on 18^th June 1906.

The trail descends down to Upper Kitandara Lake and Lower Kitandara Lake, where is located Kitandara Hut, 4023 m. arrival point for the day. It can take approximately 3 hours walk. This is the best place for planning the slope of Mount Luigi di Savoia and Mount Baker. Hiking time: 6 hours – Habitat: glacier/alpine zone – Altitude level: 4023 m. Dinner and overnight at Kitandara Hut

Day12- Stage 6: From Kitandara Hut to Guy Yeoman Hut, 3250m.

From Lake Kitandara you climb to Fresh field Pass, a long flat of high alpine mossy glades, before descending the circuit among rocky and boggy areas. The panorama is dominated by the glaciers of Mount Stanley and Mount Baker. A rocky trail leads to Akendahi, Bujongolo and Kabamba rock shelters, where starts Kabamba valley before reaching Guy Yeoman Hut. This can take up to 5 hours. The hut enjoys a good panoramic location, nearby the river Mubuku and with views of Mount Baker.  Hiking time: 5 hours – Habitat: alpine zone / groundsel zone – Altitude level: 3250 m. Dinner and overnight at Guy Yeoman Hut

Day13-Stage 7: From Guy Yeoman Hut back to Nyakalengija

Final descent back to Nyakalengija. The trial is attractive along the valley of the Mobuku and Kichuchu rivers, rich in plants and flowers of the heather zone before reaching the bamboo forest. See Kabamba falls on the way. Time to reach Nyabitaba Hut is about 4 hours. From Nyabitaba starts the 40 minutes trial to see Lake Mahoma and back to the hut for descending to the Park Head Quarter. The trial takes more 2 to 3 hours. At the finishing point your safari guides meets you and takes you to the lodge by Queen Elizabeth national park to rest after your adventure.  Dinner and overnight at Ruboni Commuinty Camp

Day14: Transfer back to Kampala

After having breakfast, you will check out and drive to Kampala with lunch en route where you will have a relaxed evening at Maries Royale hotel You can decide to extend your stay in Kampala or just proceed to Entebbe airport for your flight back home

The price includes:

• Transport in a 4×4 safari van
• Accommodation
• All meals
• Rwenzori hiking to the peak
• Park fees
• Rhino tracking
• Boat cruise on Murchison falls national park
• Boat fees
• Drinking Water on board.

The price does not include:

• Tourist insurance
• International flights
• Tourist visa
• Tips  and anything of personal nature
• Beverages