10 Days Hiking And Wildlife Tour

10 Days

This gorilla trekking and hiking wildlife Tour / Wildlife safari incorporates game viewing inside Queen Elizabeth as well as chimpanzee tracking within Kibale Forest. This 10 Days Uganda Hiking, Gorilla Tour and Wildlife Safari commences and finishes in Kampala. The safari will take you to 4 of Uganda’s national parks: Mt Rwenzori, Bwindi Gorilla Forest, Kibale Forest and Queen Elizabeth. Packed with adventure and discovery, you will surely be mesmerized!

Overview

  • Hiking Mt Rwenzori
  • Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest
  • Game drives in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National parks
  • Boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National park
  • Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National park

Itinerary

After an early breakfast, drive North West to Fort portal which is the largest city in the western region. Arriving in time for healthy lunch in Fort Portal, after which you will have an opportunity of visiting the three surrounding explosion craters. This is a unique place in western Uganda that most find most enjoyable and is a combination of a nature walk, cave exploration and local culture as portrayed in the folklore that you will hear from your guide. Time permitting; you will also have a chance of visiting the famous Amabere Caves with an interesting folklore behind it. Drive to your lodge for dinner and relaxation.

Dinner and over night at Kyaninga Lodge (High-end) or Primate Lodge (Midrange) or Primate Sky Tree House (Budget-end).
Meal plan (Dinner)

Start the day with an early breakfast and thereafter drive to Kibale National Park which is home to over 1000 chimpanzees including the black and white colubus monkey, grey cheeked Mangabey and red tailed monkey.

Here you will be allowed to spend some time with these mesmerizing creatures, as you observe them swing from one tree to another, feed, play around or progress steadily on the ground right in front of you. Return to your lodge for lunch and thereafter drive south west to Mt Rwenzori National Park.

Dinner and over night at Equator Snow Lodge (High-end) or Hotel Margherita (High-end) or Sandton Hotel Kasese (Midrange) or Rwenzori Trekkers Hostel (Budget-end).
Meal plan (Dinner)

The trek starts at Trekkers Hostel in Kyanjiki 12 kilometers from Kasese past Kilembe.
Best to start by 8.30am but can leave as late as 10am. Meet your guides and briefing. You walk 2.2km to the UWA rangers post at 1,727metres.

Here the rangers brief you on the day’s activities and rules of the National Park.
Today’s walk 8.6 km expected time 5 to 6 hours Start height is 1,667 meters climbing to 3,171 meters

The first two kilometers climbs steadily through pristine montane forest, with tall trees thick undergrowth and a multitude of different species of birds and primates. Then a fairly strenuous climb up a main ridge with few rocks and firm footing except immediately after a heavy downpour climbing to your first night at Samalira Camp.
As you leave the rangers post you walk along a path through tall grassland and ferns which gives way to magnificent pristine forests. As this is a new route the forests are untouched and carry a wide variety of trees and plants.

Many species of birds can be heard and seen in this rich environment. The first few kilometers climb steadily crossing several small streams and rivers then we start climbing the ridge. As we climb the trees become taller and straighter and it is common to see and hear many types of primates, on the left you may hear troupes of chimpanzee echoing around the valleys. Particularly around our lunch spot at 2,570m it is possible to see troupes of 15 to 20 black and white Colobus monkeys or Blue monkeys as they dash through the trees.

After lunch we continue to climb steadily passing a rock shelter (2,785m) previously used by poachers to hunt primates and dika (small antelope) after the rock shelter the climb enters the bamboo zone and becomes steeper.
As we near the top we break out of the bamboo to fantastic views of the valleys and hills below looking across to Lake George and Queen Elisabeth National Park in the distance. The equator lies just north of Lake George. Samalira Camp is at 3,147 meters, meaning views or lookout and offers great views of the surrounding landscape and Kasese town.

(Mobile network available at this camp) Dinner and overnight at Samalira Camp.

6.9 kilometers for 4 to 5 hours. After a hearty breakfast we commence walking at 8.15am and initially climb steadily then cross a small stream and the climb becomes steep for about 200 meters up a narrow moss covered ridge. The thick moss covering the ground and rocks under the giant heather trees is spectacular and we ask you to help preserve this pristine environment by keeping to the pathway. The views give us the impression that we could fly as we look across the many ridges and valleys far below.

You can see Kilembe village deep in the valley and across Lake George. After a relatively short climb the trail becomes less steep as we reach Chavumba (meaning heaven) at 3,316m then walk down to a small valley where you may see Giant lobelias (lobelia gibberoa).
From here we continue climbing passing through trees covered with deep green moss and a host of plants which thrive is the ever misty environment to 3,515 meters where we take a left turn on a path leading to trail to Kalalama.

At Kalalama Camp we prepare our evening meals while overlooking Kasese and Lake George from a different perspective. To the south is the rugged cliff faces of Rwatamaguta and Karasimbi rising far above us and creating the wonder of the diversity of the Rwenzori Mountains.

Dinner and overnight at Kalalama Camp.

We slowly descend down through the bamboo forests. Here the bamboo zone is much wetter than the climb up to Samalira Camp as the trail is on the southern windward side of the mountain and gets much more rain.

At around 2,600 meters the bamboo gives way to afro montane forests as we pass just above Sine Rock Shelter. This rock shelter was the home to a gentleman called Sine who spent over thirty years in the mountains poaching animals. As we reach the bottom of the ridge we cross a rather large fast flowing stem and on the Musenge rock shelter.
Here we have lunch and a short break before we walk the final 6 km through thick mountain montane forest to the rangers post.
After a short debriefing, we sign off and walk the 1.2 kilometers to our waiting vehicles and down to Trekkers Hostel.

Dinner and over night at Hotel Margherita (High-end) or Sandton Hotel Kasese (Midrange) or Rwenzori Trekkers Hostel (Budget-end). Meal plan (Dinner)

After breakfast, early morning drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is Uganda’s most popular tourist destination. After relaxation, lunch will be served at the lodge and thereafter visit the famous bat caves at Maramagambo Forest.

The cave has a viewing room built through funding from the Center for Disease Control in which visitors can observe the bats as well as the pythons that live alongside them. Enjoy a guided nature walk through the forest and head back to the lodge.

Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge (High end) or Enganzi lodge (Midrange) or Simba Safari Camp (Budget end) Meal plan (FB)

With wonderful memories of the previous day, you will have an early breakfast as you prepare for a game drive in the Kasenyi area of the park. During the drive, you will be able to view and take photos of the Elephants, Lions, antelopes and buffalo among others. Return for lunch at your lodge. In the afternoon you will enjoy a 2 hour boat ride along the Kazinga channel which is an oasis for many of the fascinating species that inhabit the park, and taking a boat tour along it gives visitors the chance to cruise just meters from hundreds of enormous hippos and buffalos while elephants linger on the shoreline.

Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge (High end) or Enganzi lodge (Midrange) or Simba Safari Camp (Budget end) Meal plan (FB)

After breakfast, drive south to the Ishasha sector which is notably recognized for its resident Tree climbing lions that are an exceptional attraction and one among the highlights on all safaris taken within Queen Elizabeth National park. In addition to the fascinating population of the Tree Climbing Lions within the Ishasha visitor will also come across huge buffalo herds, numerous antelopes that keep crossing your path. After lunch, you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Lodge (High end), or Silverback Lodge (Midrange) or Buhoma Community Bandas (Budget end) Meal Plan (Full Board)

After an early breakfast, head to the Headquarters of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for an orientation plus meeting the guides as well as separation into the groups basing on which gorilla group you are to be tracking. From there you will set off for your thrill experience of the Gorillas in the Mist. Hiking within this mysterious and wonderful forest offers quite a lot to see as you make your way to see the Mountain Gorillas. The wildlife including additional primates, butterflies, mammals and birds, will certainly be very beautiful and really enhance this extremely special experience.

The tracking / trekking can entail some thorough climbing as well as hiking although when you come face to face with the tranquil yet potent Mountain Gorillas, watching them only a few meters away from you observing the group, the baby with the mothers, the gorillas partaking their every day routine just right in front of you is all very overwhelming.

You can never find any mountain gorillas living in the zoo, save for just in this not large area of Africa where a number of the remnant mountain gorillas can be seen. Luckily because of too many efforts, this population is thriving and well surviving within the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and visitors get the opportunity of observing them at close proximity.
Time permitting; thereafter visit the famous batwa community for a community and cultural experience. You will learn about the traditional lifestyle of the Batwa, from brewing of the local beer to medicines made from this very forest.

Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Lodge (High end), or Silverback Lodge (Midrange) or Buhoma Community Bandas (Budget end) Meal Plan (Full Board)

After breakfast, early morning drive back to Kampala with lunch en-route. Later proceed to Kampala or Entebbe to a place or hotel of choice where your guide shall drop you or be transferred to Entebbe International Airport to catch up with your out bond flight back home or to your next destination.

Meal plan (B & L)

End of Tour

Inclusions

  • Hiking Mt Rwenzori
  • 1 Gorilla permits per person Bwindi
  • 1 Chimpanzee permit
  • Batwa experience
  • 2 Game Drives (Ishasha section, Mweya section)
  • Boat trips as per the itinerary
  • Maramagambo forest visit
  • Lunch en-route
  • Park entry fees
  • Transportation on a 4×4 vehicle
  • English speaking Driver
  • Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
  • Potter Fees while hiking
  • Climbing ropes and harnesses with carabinas and crampons
  • Rubber boots free

Exclusions

  • Visa
  • International Flights
  • Airport transfers
  • Drinks
  • Cigarettes
  • Personal expenses
  • Activities not included in the itinerary
  • Personal Hiking gear like: Sleeping bag, Warm jacket/sweater, and Gloves

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

10 Days Hiking And Wildlife Tour

  • Uganda E-Visa
uganda visa, e-visa uganda