Snow Capped Peaks & Mountain Gorillas

Trek the Rwenzori Mountains where forests morph into ice-clad mountain peaks, cut through jungle thickets to hang out with mountain gorillas, and finish your trip relaxing lakeside amongst the staggering beauty of Lake Mutanda. This is Uganda.
15 Days
$5,041

Snow Capped Peaks & Mountain Gorillas - 15 - $5,041

Trip Summary and Itinerary Map

As the sunlight beams down onto the convex glaciers of the Rwenzoris, there is a clear division in the mountains. The lower foothills are alive with vibrant greens that slowly morph into whites and greys as you ascend past 4,000 metres. There is nothing quite like this scene, where the warmth of the green forests gives way to a much colder world above. For now, you are planted between them. 

Start from Entebbe and end at Entebbe

Landmarks potentially visited on Snow Capped Peaks & Mountain Gorillas

Itinerary

Day 1: The adventure begins

Fly into Entebbe International Airport. Upon landing, clearing Immigration and collecting your luggage, leave the airport to meet your driver waiting outside for the short private transfer to your guest house where you will relax, enjoy dinner and spend your first night in Uganda.

Overnight: Karibu Guesthouse

Meals: TBD

Day 2: Rwenzori Mountains

Transfer back to the airport for the early morning scheduled light aircraft flight from Entebbe to Kasese. Upon landing and collecting your luggage, you will be picked up and transferred to Trekkers Hostel, Kilembe the base camp at 1450 meters. There you will receive your trek briefing from the guides and start the trek to sleep at Sine Camp 2596 meters following a height gain of 1146 meters. 

Overnight: Sine Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Rwenzori Mountains

Hike to Mutinda camp at 3,588 meters, giving you a height gain of 992 metres. in the afternoon at Mutinda one may wish to climb up Mutinda look out at 3,975 metres of which apart from offering breathtaking views it also gives you good acclimatization since you would be continuing higher to the summit of 5,109 metres. 

Overnight: Mutinda Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Rwenzori Mountains

Hike to Bugata camp at 4,062 meters, with a height gain of 412 meters through the valley of amazingly unique beautiful plant species streams and waterfalls, while we head to Bugata camp at 4,062 meters the trek gets tougher and exhausting with the steep ridges,mud and boggy sections, high steps but the rewards are enormously beautiful.

Overnight: Bugata Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Rwenzori Mountains

Hike to Hunwick’s camp at 3974 meters, via Bamwanjara pass at 4450 meters having excellent views of the main peaks whilst the trek.

Overnight: Hunwick's Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Rwenzori Mountains

Hike to Margherita camp at 4,485 meters, passing down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitandara which is very stunning with deep water and beautiful vegetation while climbing through Scoot Elliot pass to Margherita camp. 

Overnight: Margherita Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Rwenzori Mountains

Wake up at 2:00am and have an early breakfast and set off to climb Mt Stanley going through it's glaciers to the summit of Margherita peak at 5109metres. After the summit we will descend  down to Hunwick's camp at 3,974 meters for the night. This is the longest day.

Overnight: Hunwick's Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Rwenzori Mountains

Descend down to Kiharo camp at 3,430 meters through Oliver’s pass. overnight at Kiharo camp set in a deep valley with high cliffs and a dense vegetation. 

Overnight: Kiharo Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Rwenzori Mountains

Descend down hill past the moss covered rocks along rivers and beautiful forests back to the basecamp in Kilembe. Debrief  and transfer to Margherita hotel Kasese refresh and relax.

Overnight: Sandton Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Transfer to Kasese airport for the scheduled, shared, light aircraft flight (15kg luggage allowance PP) to Kisoro, the entry to the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.  Met upon landing by a driver from your lodge, you will be driven 1.5 hours to Nkuringo Lodge for a 3 night stay.

Overnight: Nkuringo Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The Big Day arrives! Up early for breakfast and the short transfer to Park HQ for the 9am trek briefing. Meet your guides and take on a porter if you wish (payment made locally). Then the trek begins. Be prepared to be walking through forest, up and down steep slopes, for on average 3 hours. Once contact is made, controlled by the trackers, you will have up to one hour with these wonderful animals. 

Overnight: Nkuringo Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

This day is currently kept free - but could be used for a second gorilla trek either in Nkuringo or neighbouring Rushaga ($700 pp). Alternatively, you could visit the local Batwa community for a glimpse of an old way of life (paid directly through the lodge).

Overnight: Nkuringo Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Lake Mutanda

After breakfast, you will be transferred by a lodge vehicle 1.5 hours by road to the beautiful Lake Mutanda for a short period of well-earned R&R. 

Overnight: Mutanda Lake Resort

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14: Lake Mutanda

Day at leisure on Lake Mutanda - perhaps organise a canoe excursion or visit the local communities.

Overnight: Mutanda Lake Resort

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15: Lake Mutanda

Transfer by lodge vehicle 1.5 hours to Kisoro airstrip for the shared, scheduled, flight to Entebbe to connect to your international flight home.

Overnight: Mutanda Lake Resort

Meals: TBD

Prices, Departures and Inclusions

  • Prices are per person based on two people travelling together.
  • Prices shown are based on low season rates. Peak season costs increase by about 20%.
  • All Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) permits are included at the documented UWA rate and are not subject to a mark up.

Includes

  • Fully supported Rwenzori trek, including guiding services, equipment, accommodation, meals, mineral water and fees.
  • Accommodation based on two people sharing a double room.
  • Park entry fees.
  • Lodge and airport transfers.
  • Board basis: all meals.
  • 1 gorilla trek permit.
  • Flying doctors evacuation insurance.
  • Scheduled domestic flights.

Excludes

  • International flights.
  • Uganda tourist visa.
  • Any activities and excursions not included in the itinerary.
  • Drinks (away from the Rwenzoris).
  • Personal travel insurance.

Questions about this Trip?