This 21-Day Mount Rwenzori Primates and Wildlife Safari in Uganda is a fantastic way to rediscover the magnificent wonders of the Pearl of Africa.
It combines encounters with the mighty mountain gorillas found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga’s Golden monkeys, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park, nature walks in Semuliki Reserve, epic wildlife viewing, and luxurious boat safaris on Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, the Zebra sanctuary, as well as R&R sessions on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi.
21-Day Rwenzori, Primates & Wildlife Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park & Evening Boat Safari
- Day 2: Game Drive and Evening Cultural Tour
- Day 3: Travel to Lake Bunyonyi. Sunset Canoe Cruise
- Day 4: Boat Trip and Drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Day 5: Golden Monkey Trekking & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 6: Gorilla Trekking and Evening Community Walk
- Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha Sector
- Day 8: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
- Day 9: Travel to the Base of Mount Rwenzori. Visit Rwenzori Bronze Casting Center en-route
- Day 10: Begin the Hike: Nyakalengija (1600m) – Nyabitaba Camp (2650m)
- Day 11: Trek from 2650 meters (Nyabitaba Camp) – John Matte Hut (3380 meters)
- Day 12: John Matte Camp (3380m) – Bujuku Camp (3972m)
- Day 13: Trek from Bujuku Hut (3972m) – Elena Hut (4541m)
- Day 14: Elena Camp (4541m) to Margherita Peak (5109m)
- Day 15: Kitandara Camp (4023m) – Guy Yeoman Camp (3261m)
- Day 16: Guy Yeoman Hut (3261m) – Nyabitaba Camp (2650m)
- Day 17: Nyamitaba Camp (2650m) to Nyakalengija Base Camp
- Day 18: Fort Portal Tour and Transfer to Semuliki National Park. Visit Sempaya Hot Springs and Evening Nature Walks
- Day 19: Nature Walks and Travel to Kibale Forest National Park
- Day 20: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk
- Day 21: Return to Kampala/Entebbe Airport
Detailed 21-Day Rwenzori, Primates & Wildlife Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park & Evening Boat Safari
On this first day of your 21-Day Mount Rwenzori Primates and Wildlife Safari in Uganda, we shall pick you up from Kampala after your well-deserved breakfast. Drive southwest to Lake Mburo National Park, located only 240 km away from Kampala, between Mbarara and Masaka towns. Make a brief stop at the equator in Kayabwe for memorable pictures and an experiment proving the Earth’s division into south and north poles.
Enjoy a cup of coffee and continue the drive to Lake Mburo National Park, entering through either Nshara gate or Sange gate.
Proceed to the Rwonyo jetty on the shores of Lake Mburo. Have lunch at an onsite restaurant and await the 2 pm boat safari.
Enjoy a 3-hour boat cruise along Lake Mburo, exploring scenic areas filled with abundant wildlife, birdlife, and unique flora. Return to the lodge after the boat cruise in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Game Drive and Evening Cultural Tour
Have breakfast and embark on a 3-hour game drive in Uganda’s smallest Savannah National Park, rich with wildlife such as Zebras, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes, and predators like lions, spotted hyenas, and leopards.
Return to the lodge for a late breakfast and relaxation. In the afternoon (4-5 pm), take a cultural tour to experience Ankole traditional lifestyle, daily activities like grazing and milking. Return to the lodge in the evening for overnight stay and dinner.
Day 3: Travel to Lake Bunyonyi. Sunset Canoe Cruise
After breakfast, continue driving southwest. Journey across Mbarara and Ntungamo scenic highlands, stopping at the Satelite museum for a short cultural excursion or lunch.
Located 8 km from Kabale town, Lake Bunyonyi is Uganda’s most beautiful place with 29 islands, each with unique history. Enjoy a sunset canoe cruise exploring popular islands, islanders’ lives, and the scenic beauty.
Day 4: Boat Trip and Drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Enjoy breakfast at the lake shores or take a pre-breakfast cruise on a traditional motorboat. A sunrise boat trip offers a beautiful view as fog lifts from the lake, making the waters clearer.
The boat takes you to inner islands for unique stories and species. Return to the lodge, have a late breakfast, and begin the journey to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Located in Kisoro district, Mgahinga is home to endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Arrive at the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 5: Golden Monkey Trekking & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Discover Mgahinga’s endemic wildlife, the rare golden monkeys. They are critically endangered and can only be found in Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park.
The golden monkey trekking briefing starts from 7:00 am to 8:00 am. Trek into the jungle to find these primates, an experience lasting 2-5 hours.
Return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the evening, check out and transfer to Ruhija, eastern Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, for overnight stay before gorilla trekking the next day.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking and Evening Community Walk
Enjoy an early breakfast and assemble at Ruhija briefing point for pre-trekking briefing by the head guide. Allocation of gorilla families and trekking guidelines are provided.
Start the trek into the impenetrable forest to search for gorillas, lasting 2 to 6 hours through slippery, foggy, and rocky jungles. Spend an hour with the gorilla group, observing their feeding and interactions.
Return to the lodge for lunch. In the evening, join a cultural tour with the Batwa natives, historical residents of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and mountain gorillas.
Enjoy traditional songs, performances, and tales from elders.
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha Sector
After breakfast, travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Take a brief game drive in Ishasha sector to see tree-climbing lions and other wildlife like buffaloes, elephants, and antelopes.
Continue the transfer to your lodge in Queen Elizabeth NP for overnight stay and dinner.
Day 8: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
Start the morning with a game drive in Kasenyi plains, known for antelopes, elephants, and lions. Visit Katwe salty lake for traditional salt mining and crater lakes hosting over 500 bird species.
The game drive lasts 3-4 hours, showcasing savannah and woodland flora and wetlands.
In the afternoon, take a 2-hour boat trip on Kazinga Channel, known for hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and abundant birdlife. Return to Mweya jetty, drive back with game viewing enroute, and return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 9: Travel to the Base of Mount Rwenzori. Visit Rwenzori Bronze Casting Center en-route
Enjoy breakfast and drive leisurely to the Rwenzoris, west of Kasese town. Stop at the equator monument for pictures, optionally tour Kasese town, and visit Rwenzori Bronze Casting Center to purchase historical artifacts made of bronze.
Day 10: Begin the Hike: Nyakalengija (1600m) – Nyabitaba Camp (2650m)
Start the trek from Nyakalengija, Rwenzori Mountains National Park ranger station, with a pre-hike briefing at 7:30 am. Hire hiking gear and porters if needed.
Trek through nearby villages, plantations, and learn about the Bakonzo people. Follow Mobuku River to Nyabitaba Camp (2652m ASL), passing open fern slopes and podorcapus plantation.
Accommodation at Nyabitaba hut, a 5-6 hour hike offering views of Mount Kyniangoma and Portal summits, chimpanzees, Rwenzori Turaco, and various monkeys.
Day 11: Trek from 2650 meters (Nyabitaba Camp) – John Matte Hut (3380 meters)
Trek from Nyabitaba to John Matte Camp (3380m), a 4-5 hour trek. Descend along a ridge to R. Mobuku, ascend through bamboo forest to John Matte Camp amidst the Rwenzori.
Day 12: John Matte Camp (3380m) – Bujuku Camp (3972m)
Trek to Bujuku Camp (3972m) from John Matte Hut (3380m), encountering tough bogs and Uganda’s approach to the summits.
Trek through Bigo Bog along L. Bujuku, encountering the “everlasting flower.” Overnight at Bujuku Camp.
Day 13: Trek from Bujuku Hut (3972m) – Elena Hut (4541m)
Depart Bujuku Camp, trek to Scott Elliot Pass (4372m) and Elena Camp (4372m). Hike through moss-covered groundsel vegetation amidst Mount Stanley and Mount Baker. Overnight at Elena Camp.
Day 14: Elena Camp (4541m) to Margherita Peak (5109m)
Rise early to conquer Uganda’s highest point, Margherita Peak (5109m). Hike from Elena Camp via Elena glacier to Stanley plateau, requiring crampons.
Spend three hours hiking along Margherita glacier, take photos, descend to Elena Camp, and further to Upper L. Kitandara (4023m) for overnight stay.
Day 15: Kitandara Camp (4023m) – Guy Yeoman Camp (3261m)
Trek from Kitandara Hut through high montane mossy glades, descending to Guy Yeoman Camp (3261m). Enjoy views of Mount Stanley, Mount Baker, and Savoy glaciers during the 6-hour trek.
Day 16: Guy Yeoman Hut (3261m) – Nyabitaba Camp (2650m)
Trek 3 hours from Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba Camp, descending steeply via R. Mobuku. Overnight at Nyabitaba Camp.
Day 17: Nyamitaba Camp (2650m) to Nyakalengija Base Camp
Descend steeply from Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija Base Camp, a 2-hour trek through montane forest. Meet your guide, drive to Fort Portal for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 18: Fort Portal Tour and Transfer to Semuliki National Park. Visit Sempaya Hot Springs and Evening Nature Walks
After breakfast, tour Fort Portal town, Toro kingdom palace, local markets, and Amabere Ganyinamwiru caves. Proceed to Semuliki National Park for Sempaya Hot Springs, witnessing their formation and evening nature walks.
Day 19: Nature Walks and Travel to Kibale Forest National Park
Take morning nature walks in Semliki National Park, seeing buffaloes, forest elephants, and bird species like the shoebill stork. Drive to Kibale Forest National Park for overnight stay.
Day 20: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk
Embark on early morning chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest, watching these primates in their natural habitat.
Encounter other primates and mammals like forest elephants and hogs. Return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, visit Bigodi community for insights into community-based tourism and local crafts.
Day 21: Return to Kampala/Entebbe Airport
Check out from your lodge for a 6-hour journey back to Kampala. Stop at the equator for photos.
Be dropped off at Entebbe International Airport for departure or at your hotel for overnight stay.
End of 21-Day Mount Rwenzori Primates and Wildlife Safari in Uganda.
