11 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Hiking Mount Rwenzori.

This 11days Rwanda Gorillas and Rwenzori hiking safari is a perfect plan for adventure lovers, especially those who wish the experience the Virunga volcanoes in Rwanda, a country commonly referred to as “The Land of a Thousand Hills”, and the Rwenzori Mountain ranges in Uganda, “The pearl of Africa”.

This safari is a true reflection of the true African wilderness and a balance from the most sought-after wild endangered apes, the mountain gorillas, and the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountain ranges, with Mount Stanley’s Margherita peak as the highest at 5,107 meters above sea level, making it the third highest point of Africa.

Trip Summary of the 11 days Rwanda Gorillas and Rwenzori hike

  • Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
  • Day 2: Gorilla trekking
  • Day 3: Transfer to Mount Rwenzori
  • Day 4: Nyakalengija (1615m) – Nyabitaba camp (2651m)
  • Day 5: Nyabitaba (2651m) – John Matte camp (3380m) via Mubuku river
  • Day 6: John Matte camp (3380m) – Bujuku (3962m)
  • Day 7: Bujuku (3962) – Elena Hut (4541m)
  • Day 8: Elena Hut (4541m) – Margherita (5109m) – Kitandara (4027m)
  • Day 9:  Kitandara (4027m) – Nyabitaba (2651m)
  • Day 10: Nyabitaba (2651m) –   Nyakalengija and proceed to the accommodation
  • Day 11: Departure

Detailed  travel schedule/ itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Volcanoes National Park

On this first day of your 11 days Rwanda gorillas and Rwenzori hiking safari, you will be picked up from either the airport or your hotel. Have a briefing about the whole trip and a simple Kigali city tour where you visit a few places like the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, and craft centres in Kigali.  After the visits, you will have lunch at a restaurant in the city – enjoy local or continental meals.

After lunch in Kigali, embark on the scenic journey to the home of the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.  Arrival will be after driving for 2:30 hours, check into your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Gorilla trekking

Start your day with an early breakfast. Depart for the park headquarters for a briefing from the ranger guide. The ranger guide will share some of the gorilla trekking tips. You will be allocated to a gorilla family with others in groups of eight. After this, your tour guide will transfer you to the starting point to start your trek. You are allowed 1 hour with the gorillas.  After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch, relaxation, and the next day’s long drive to Mountain Rwenzori.

Day 3: Transfer to Mount Rwenzori

After an early morning breakfast, meet up with your driver and embark on the day’s journey to Mount Rwenzori. The journey takes 6- 9 hours, depending on the time spent at the border crossings and the varying road conditions.

Check in at the preferred accommodation.

4: Nyakalengija (1615m) – Nyabitaba camp (2651m)

Meet your guide, who will transfer you to the briefing center at the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services offices at Nyakalengija. Here you will have instructions from the park rangers and an introduction to the route.
as well as meeting with your guides and porters. After that, you will embark on a journey through a dense forest along the Mubuku River, crossing its tributary, the Mahoma River. After a long climb to the massive ridge, you will reach the Nyabitaba hut. Along this part of the hike, you can hear chimpanzees and see black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and the Rwenzori turaco.

Duration of the hike: 6-7 hours.

Overnight at Nyabitaba

Day 5: Nyabitaba (2651m) – John Matte camp (3380m) via Mubuku river

After breakfast at Nyabitaba hut, you will follow a trail that goes down through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the point where rivers   Mubuku and Bujuku meet. Next, we will pass a bamboo forest and a long, strenuous stretch of slippery mossy crags. From the Nyamuleju rock shelter, you will see Mount Stanley and Mount Speke. From here you will go through the zone of giant heather, lobelia and agriculture. Finally, reach John Matte’s hut for dinner and overnight.

Duration of the hike: 7-8 hours.

Overnight at John Mattes’ camp.

Day 6: John Matte camp (3380m) – Bujuku (3962m)

From John Matte Hut, move down along the trail to cross the Bujuku River and enter the Lower Bigo Bog, the home of giant lobelias. You will enjoy the beautiful but alluring boardwalk through the open valley. Transition through a steep forested section to the upper Bigo bog gives you way to Lake Bujuku, and the best sights of Mount Baker to the south and Mount Stanley to the west.

Bujuku is a good conformation for hikers who wish to summit Mount Stanley and Mount Speke.

Duration of the hike: 4-5 hours

Overnight at Bujuku camp

Day 7: Bujuku (3962) – Elena Hut (4541m)

 From Bujuku Hut, you will go through a muddy area, then start a steep hike through a forest of giant shrubs up to the Groundsel Gully. A right turn on the trail leads to Elena Hut, then the trail proceeds directly to Kitandara Hut. You walk through Scott Elliot Pass, which stands at 4.372 m and is the highest point of the central circuit, where you can enjoy breathtaking views down the Bujuku valley, of Mount Baker, Mount Luigi di Savoia, and Stanley just above.

Duration of the hike: 5-6 hours

Overnight at Elena hut.

Day 8: Elena Hut (4541m) – Margherita peak (5109m) – Kitandara (4027m)

This is a day for summiting to Margherita peak (5109m).  Continue to the base of the Stanley Glacier, summit to Margherita, the climb takes about 4-5hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing. This tough walk takes you over three glaciers, slippery rock, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides.

Note that this climb is for only physically fit and experienced climbers. Climb on to the glaciers, cross the Stanley Plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and cool weather, ascent up to the summit of Margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori ranges. Given the high altitude and the tough conditions even if you do not reach the peak, don’t get disappointed. Prepare for your return through the Scott-Elliot pass, where there are spectacular views back to Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke, up to Mount Stanley and down to the Kitandara Lakes. After the trail that passes you through an alpine zone with sparse vegetation and rough rocks, descend past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight at Kitandara.

Descending takes 3-4 hours.

Day 9:  Kitandara (4027m) – Nyabitaba (2651m)

Descend from Kitandara to Nyabitaba, this part of the journey is a bit lengthy but with an early morning start, you will make it to Nyabitaba. Start with a steep climb to the fresh field pass then continue down to Guy Yeoman Hut where you will have some rest as you enjoy clear views of Mount Baker. From Guy Yeoman, continue with the descent to Nyabitaba.

Overnight at Nyabitaba.

Day 10: Nyabitaba (2651m) – to Nyakalengija (1648) and proceed to the accommodation.

This is the final part of the trek.  It is about 10 kilometers through a mix of muddy sections, bamboo forests and river crossings. Expect to cross river Mubuku twice, after crossing the river, expect a simple hike   then proceed to Nyakalengija through Mihunga gate, to the park headquarters marking the end of your Rwenzori Mountain hike.

At the park center you will meet your driving guide to transfer you to accommodation for relaxation.

Day 11: Departure

Wake up at your leisure, have a relaxed breakfast, check out of the accommodation and travel to Kampala/Entebbe. On your way, you will have en route at Mubende then proceed to Kampala where your guide will drop you, either at the airport or any place of your convenience.

End of 11 days Rwanda Gorillas and Mountain Rwenzori hiking safari.

The package includes:

  • Rwanda Gorilla trekking permit
  • Ground transportation from Rwanda to Rwenzori and then to Kampala
  • Rwenzori days of hiking to Margherita peak (central circuit)
  • Accommodation and meals on full board in Uganda and Rwanda booked accommodations.
  • English speaking guide
  • Park entrance
  • Ice climbing equipment (ice axe, crampons, helmet, harness and ropes
  •  gumboots
  • Accommodation on the mountain (wooden hut).
  • Meals as you hike
  • 2 ranger guides
  • 2 porters
  • Chef/cook

The package excludes:

Flight tickets, visas, laundry, tips, hiking gear, and other personal expenses not included in the itinerary.