17 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Rwenzori Mountain & Big 5 Safari

On this 17 days Uganda tour, you will visit Murchison Falls national park with a visit to Ziwa (en route). Continue to Kibale Forest National Park for chimp trekking before heading to the Rwenzori Mountain. You will trek the Rwenzori and then descend to Queen Elizabeth national park for game viewing.

You will also visit Bwindi national park, visit Mgahinga national park for the Batwa trail experience and Lake Mburo National Park for some game viewing. Return to Entebbe to catch flight back home.

Arrive in Uganda following the flight from your respective country of origin. You land at Entebbe International Airport which is the main gateway to Uganda where you will find a representative of your booked hotel and will offer you a courteous welcome.

The amazing weather and brightening atmosphere on the shores of Lake Victoria give you a remarkable first impression of Uganda. Connect to the respective hotel for  overnight stay on 17 Days Uganda gorilla trekking, primates & Big 5 safari.

Lodge: Karibu Guesthouse

Your driver will pick you from the accommodation and you will head out for Murchison falls. The highlights of this park include: the roaring rapids of the Murchison Falls, the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants.

Then surely you will be fascinated by the concentration of hippos and the Nile crocodiles here. For birders, Murchison Falls boasts of almost over 450 bird species including the dwarf king fisher and the Goliath heron among others.

En route, make a visit to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. You will have at least one hour of rhino tracking while here. Another stop will be in Masindi in order to enjoy your lunch. Continue to the park and check into your accommodation to relax for the Evening on 17 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Rwenzori Mountain & Big 5 Safari. 

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Fort Murchison

Have your breakfast, depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the opportunity of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo and elephants among others. For any birder, this area supports the secretary bird and black chested snake eagle to name a few. Return to your accommodation for some rest time and lunch.

After lunch you will head out for the boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to catch sight of more animals including Hippos and Crocodiles and several water birds. Continue with a hike (if you like) to the top of the falls. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top is unforgettable. Miss it only if you must. Return to your accommodation and have a relaxed evening.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Fort Murchison

After breakfast at your accommodation, depart right away for Kibale Forest National Park. The drive is a bit longer but incredibly scenic, passing through villages, lush green countryside and hills dotted with tea plantations which characterize this part of Uganda. You won’t get bored at all.

Kibale NP is popular for its primates like the chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L'Hoest's monkey, Uganda mangabey (Lophocebus ugandae). On your chimpanzee trails, these can be seen swinging in the forest trees and others feeding on the wild fruits. You will reach and do little but check into your accommodation where you will have dinner and the overnight rest on 17 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Rwenzori Mountain & Big 5 Safari.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Isunga Lodge

Have breakfast and head to the rangers’ point where you will receive some briefing on the dos and don’ts during chimp trekking. Thereafter, you will proceed to trek the chimps in the Kibale Forest. An experienced ranger guide will take you chimp tracking and you will be marveled by the sights of primates here.

Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will have a full hour with them. Return to the lodge for lunch and then embark on a transfer to Kasese Town situated at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains. You will arrive and do little but just check-in, relax and overnight at the booked accommodation.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Sandton Hotel Kasese

Have breakfast and drive to the rangers’ point (starting point for your trek). You will receive some briefing and then proceed with the hike to Sine Camp (at 2596m). The hike will take you through the tall forest trees of the Afro montane forest zone. This is a steady climb for about 6 kilometers then along a steep climb towards Sine hut.

The hike will offer you lots of plant and flower species to view, birds and a chance of seeing some animal species like colobus monkeys and the blue monkeys swinging in the trees. While here, some clients prefer to sit outside enjoying the warmth of the campfire and chat to the guides about the mountains and life in their community. You will be served the dinner and spend the night on 17 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Rwenzori Mountain & Big 5 Safari.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Sine Hut

After breakfast, trekking starts at 8.30am and you soon enter the bamboo-mimulopsis zone which is a steep climb with many high steps. After about 1.8 kilometers you reach Kalalama Camp (3.147m) which is located in the heather–rapanea zone. Here you will have a rest and a cup of tea.

From this point (Kalalama Camp), you proceed along the heather zone passing by several streams and even waterfalls – all covered by the typical green moss vegetation. You will see a lot of Giant Heather trees, sometimes in a misty atmosphere. The arrival point of the day is Mutinda Camp at (3.688m) named after the Mutinda Peaks.

From this point, you can climb further to Mutinda Lookout 3.925m which is about one hour and half walk plus one hour to descend back to the camp. The place is worth a visit as you stand on moss covered rocks with views across the Rwenzori Mountains, down to Kasese town and Lake George.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Mutinda Camp

The trail from Mutinda Camp is a bit boggy with the typical wet vegetation and tussocks. You will enter the Alpine vegetation zone with the presence of the giant lobelias (Lobellia gibberoa), the groundsel (Senecio adnivalis) and the everlasting flowers as you cross the Mutinda valley. Later, climb a steep section up to Namusangi Valley (3.840 m) where you will enjoy the best view of the Mutinda Peaks.

Along the Namusangi Valley, you cross various bogs as you climb to Bugata Camp at 4.062 m – the arrival point of the day. You will have a view of the Weismann’s Peak of Mount Luigi of Savoy which is often covered by snow. The vegetation area is covered with tussock grass, everlasting flowers, giant groundsel and giant lobelia. From the nearby Plozza Rock you will get fantastic views of nine lakes down the valley and Lake Nusuranja on 17 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Rwenzori Mountain & Big 5 Safari.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Bugata Camp

Have breakfast and proceed for the Weismann peak. The trek starts by walking across the hillside below high cliffs above Bugata Lake. Continue around a ridge point to Lake Kopello where you will walk along the edge of the lake which according to researchers the water temperature averages 2˚C. As you climb, you will get excellent views of the four lakes along the valley below.

The last section to the peak is steep on solid rock and can be difficult when snowing (iced up) and it may be necessary to use ropes for safety. On a clear day, you get fantastic views of all the main peaks, Mt Stanley, Mt Speke and Mt Baker. The top of Weismann’s Peak is relativity flat or dome shaped with deep moss growing on the rocks creating a beautiful atmosphere.

It is also possible to visit Stella Peak before descending to the camp. Thereafter, you start to descend through a different route which makes the loop. Thus, you will descend down the Nyamwamba valley to Kiharo Camp (at 3460m) for the night.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Kiharo Camp

Have breakfast and proceed down to the base camp where you will find the driver/guide waiting for you. Thereafter, you will be transferred to the booked accommodation inside Queen Elizabeth NP. Queen, one of the country’s most frequented tourist destinations.

The park features diverse ecosystems called home by a variety of wildlife species - ten primate species (including chimpanzees), more than 600 bird species, and classic big games. You will arrive and just check-in and have some good rest after (of course) very strenuous days trekking the Rwenzori mountain on 17 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Rwenzori Mountain & Big 5 Safari.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Irungu Forest Safari Lodge

Be up early and have your breakfast. Proceed for a morning game drive to the Kasenyi plains and look out for wildlife such as: Lions, Elephants, Bush bucks, Cape Buffaloes, Defassa Waterbucks, Giant Forest Hogs, Uganda kob, among others. Return to your accommodation for some rest time and lunch.

After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel which connects Lakes George and Edward and you will surely be fascinated by the concentrations of giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. You will have dinner and overnight at your accommodation.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Irungu Forest Safari Lodge

The day begins early when we start with a morning game drive and head to the mating ground of the Uganda Kobs. We search for lions, elephants, buffaloes and other wild animals in their natural habitat and later we continue to Ishasha to search for lions in the trees.

Thanks to the abundant birdlife that is sighted, and the elephants, buffaloes and hundreds of hippos that are cooling off at the hippo pool, this part of the park will definitely be one of the highlights of your safari.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Enjojo Lodge

Have breakfast then set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park – famously known for its resident tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 70% though sometimes they are really hard to spot (most especially when they’re down in the grassland looking for prey). Hoping you get the chance to spot them, the sight will be spectacular!

Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi is a big habitat for mountain gorillas in Uganda (harboring an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population) including several habituated groups, which can be tracked. With a strenuous day ahead, you will do less on arrival but just check in your accommodation, relax as you prepare for the Bwindi gorilla trekking experience the following day on 17 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Rwenzori Mountain & Big 5 Safari.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Bwindi Forest Lodge

After an early breakfast and a briefing by a ranger guide, you will enter the gorilla sanctuary for your adventure. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular! The area offers dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists.

The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you locate a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle and endangered giants is an awesome, exciting experience to be long savored.

Return to your lodge for some rest time and lunch. Thereafter, embark on a transfer to Lake Chahafi Resort for relaxation and the overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Lake Chahafi Resort

After breakfast transfer to the Mgahinga National Park headquarters for briefing and later begin the hike over the volcanic terrain in search for Golden Monkeys in the bamboo forests.

Mgahinga National Park shares borders with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo. The park is also the most scenic as it stands at three volcanoes of Muhavura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo. 

You will be allowed only one hour with the golden monkeys. Return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Lake Chahafi Resort

Have breakfast and set off to Lake Mburo NP. Drive past the intensely terraced Kigezi hill slopes into Mbarara town and finally Lake Mburo NP. Arrive in the park in the early afternoon and take some rest before proceeding out for the late afternoon (evening) game viewing. On the game drive, expect to see the gigantic eland antelopes, zebras in big numbers, topis, impalas, warthogs, Uganda kob and Cape buffalos among others. Later, relax at the accommodation where you will spend the night.

Optional: In case you’re interested, you may go out for the breathtaking Mburo night game drive. During the night game drive, expect to sight nocturnal creatures including huge snakes, python, hyena, owls and the elusive leopard (on a lucky day) among others. However, the cost for the night game drive is excluded and payable on the ground (as may be specified).

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Rwakobo Rock

Enjoy your early breakfast and proceed for the Mburo morning park/nature walk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger/guide. On this early morning guided walk, you often encounter hyenas that are returning to their dens after a night of being on the prowl.

Also, you will have the opportunity to encounter (at close range): Zebras, Giraffes and Eland, Topi and other antelopes, Cape buffaloes among others. Take the Trail to the top of the hills and see Lake Mburo and beyond.

From this vantage point, you will have a great view of 9 of the twelve lakes surrounding Lake Mburo NP. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for checkout and then hit the road to Entebbe airport for your flight out on 17 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Rwenzori Mountain & Big 5 Safari.