Gorillas & Hiking Uganda's Rwenzori Mountains

You will be met at Entebbe International Airport by a a local YellowWood representative. You will be transferred to your hotel, Papyrus Guesthouse, and given any help you need to check in and settle. Your guesthouse is just a 10-15mins drive from the airport. To leave you flexibility to rest after your journey and acclimatise to Uganda, as well as to allow clients flying in from different countries to all arrive and settle, we leave this afternoon and evening free for you to do as you wish. We can advise you on where to eat, and if you would like some ideas of where to explore.

We have an early start this morning in order to transfer to the airport for a scheduled flight (Duration 1hr 35m - price included, max luggage 15kgs in a soft bag) departing at 07.00. Prepare to be struck by the beauty of the often mist-shrouded peaks of the Rwenzori mountains as you come in to land.On arrival you will be met by your local guide and transferred to Kilembe (Rwenzori Mountains National Park) and the Trekkers hostel / 'base camp' for your 3 days of trekking. Once checked in, you will have the rest of the day to spend at your leisure, before starting your hike tomorrow.

The trek starts at Trekkers Hostel Kyanjuki 12 kilometers from Kasese town past Kilembe Copper mines. You will meet your guides in the morning and run through the trek briefing. You start by walking 2.2km to the UWA rangers post at 1,727m.Your goal today is the Sine Camp (2596m), just below the bamboo line, reached by a walk along the valley floor through the Afro Montane Forest zone, rich with bird life and with the potential to see blue monkeys scampering through the canopy. You climb steadily during the first 6kms, and after a river crossing start the slightly steeper ascent to Sine Camp. The trek covers 9.5km, taking aprrox. 7-8 hours. The camp consists of wooden huts set between the trees, with a welcoming campfire, on a narrow ridge with long views. Enocks Falls are just 200m from the camp and offer a fantastic opportunity to breathe in the scenery and take photos of the bright green lichen growing on the many vines hanging from the trees.

From Sine Camp we start by climbing up through the bamboo forests which are quite steep, but very beautiful. As you climb through the upper part of the bamboo zone, there are small patches of mixed forest with trees that bear fruit that attract many different species of birds. You will hear the calls of the Rwenzori Turaco bird which has bright crimson wings, a magnificent sight as they fly between the trees. During the dry season, the female Malachite Sunbird comes down the mountain to feed on nectar producing flowers before heading back to the high altitudes to mate and rear their young.At about 3000 meters you reach the heather zone, where the giant heather trees reach 15 meters in height and are truly magnificent. At 3147 meters you find Kalalama Camp which is an alternative to sleeping at Sine Camp, and has stunning views of the valleys and across the foothills you can see Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National Park.From here we climb up a beautiful mossy ridge, before turning off to pass through more heather forests and then descend to a flat valley with many Lobelia plants and their beautiful flower stems. There is then a short climb to Kyalavula and a decent down a magnificent moss covered ridge to Samalira Camp (3170m) which has the most fantastic views.The trek today covers 4.1km, taking about 3 to 4 hours.

It is sadly time to re-join the 'real world'; we take a trail down the Nyamwamba Valley - a stunning descent from 3170m - 1450m, with incredible views for much of the way; the deep valleys, high cliffs and dramatic waterfalls are possibly the best in the Rwenzori mountains. The hike takes approx. 5-7 hours and covers 10kms. The trail you follow was discovered only 6 years ago, and is by no means a well trodden path. In 1937, the explorer and geologist McConnell tried to find a way up this valley and failed, but thanks to the work of local guides in evolving and maintaining the paths, we are now able to experience this valley. We start off following the river path as it flows down towards the valley, moving away when it becomes steeper, with waterfalls, to follow a narrow ridge for a while. We later re-join the waterway to pass back down through the bamboo forest and Afro Montane Forest zone, teaming with birds and primates - a suitably magnificent ending to a 'once in a lifetime' trek.Just below Omusita Rest Area you may either continue straight down or branch to the left to slope down to a trail along the Nyamwamba River where the trees and forest are truly beautiful and continue onto the park entrance and back to the basecamp.On our return we will transfer just under an hour to Kazinga Wilderness Safari Camp in Queen Elizabeth National Park, for a shower and delicious dinner.

We continue our travels south, down for another 225kms this morning (approx 3-4hr drive), arriving in Bwindi National Park, home to the Mountain Gorillas (gorilla beringei beringei), by lunch. Bwindi lies on the edge of the albertine Rift Valley, with mountains ranging in height from 1,160 - 2600m high. The forest itself dates back to the ice ages and is one of Ugandas oldest and most ecologically diverse. It is home to 23 endemic species of bird as well as a host of mammals that include the Gorillas of course, Baboons, Chimpanzees, Elephant and Antelope. After a pause to settle into the Gorilla Conservation Camp, run by the Conservation through Public Health NGO, we set off to visit a local coffee plantation, before returning to the lodge for dinner, and to stay overnight.

The excitement of seeing Mountain Silverback Gorillas up close in the wild will probably mean a light sleep, so it is no problem to arise early today for breakfast and to transfer to the park offices where we split into groups of 8, each with a Uganda Wildlife Authority tracking guide. Each group is allocated a gorilla family and the unforgettable experience begins to meet these gentle giants of Bwindi. Before your hike into the jungle starts, you will be given a briefing with information about your gorilla family as well as any health & safety considerations. You will enjoy a transfer to the trailhead but from there you will be hiking to track the gorillas who build new nests every day so are always to be found in a new place. Expect long distances, uneven ground, potentially muddy conditions with rain overhead, and steep gradients at times. Depending on where your gorilla family are found, you might be walking for between 2 and 8 hours. On sighting the gorillas you spend an hour with them as they go about their daily life; a totally unique and breathtaking experience. After the hour, your group will be guided back to the trailhead where a driver will be waiting to transfer you back to the Gorilla Conservation Camp for a well deserved shower and meal.

Echuya Batwa, commonly known as pygmies, are an endangered group of people around Echuya Forest Reserve in Kisoro and Kabale District of South Western Uganda. Originally forest dwellers, they have been almost entirely dispossessed of their land by the combined pressures of Government Gorilla conservation efforts and cultivators claiming land. Their home, before eviction, was the Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest of Uganda where they were hunter gatherers and had spiritual and religious ties with the forests. Specific sites are revered and considered central to their existence. This morning we have a fascinating tour by a Batwa guide to demonstrate their hunting techniques, gathering honey, pointing out medicinal plants and demonstrating how to make bamboo cups. Women of the community perform an emotive and traditional song and we gain an insight into the richness of this fading culture. Our accommodation this evening is 300kms (5hr drive) away, but we have much to reflect on from the last few days, and plenty to see en route. Lake Mulehe Lodge is a peaceful oasis with individual Twin and Double cottages that have en-suite facilities and views of the lake.

We enjoy a delicious breakfast, fueling up for our full day of hiking. All three volcanos in this park can be summited, but you have a choice of two hikes:Mount Sabinyo HikeMount Sabinyo, at 3669m, takes about 8-10 hours to cover the 14km round trip. It is an exciting route that takes us up and over 3 peaks with an ascent of 1300m. From the summit, you will be on the border between 3 countries: Rwanda, Uganda & the Democratic Republic of Congo! The trail to our first peak is a ridge walk with fantastic views, along the Eastern side of the mountain. Continuing to the second peak offers us breath taking drops into the gorges of Rwanda and Uganda. Our third and final peak is a steep hike with some technical aspects: ladders and some scrambling. Expect to see a diverse range of wildlife during the trek: duikers, Rwenzori turaco and sunbirds, as well as the endemic and endangered golden monkey (Cercopithecus minis kandti). Between 2 and 4000 individuals exist, living in troops of about 100, led by an Alpha male and feeding on bamboo shoots, seasonal fruits, flowers, leaves and small invertebrates. Mount Muhavura HikeMount Muhavura is the highest peak at 4127m and this 12km round trip takes around 8 hours. Once at the top, hikers are rewarded on a clear day with views of the Virunga Volcanoes, Lake Edward, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the peaks of Rwenzori Mountains.Towering above the land at an elevation of 1700m, this typical coned shaped volcano provides some of the best views in Uganda. The hike is steep, but very rewarding throughout. At the top you will find the most amazing view over the Congo and Rwanda.We return to Lake Mulehe Lodge for a welcome shower and dinner after a wonderful trek.

With some big distances to cover between Bwindi and Entebbe, today we reluctantly leave the sanctity of the lakeshore and start the journey Eastwards (250km approx. 5 hour drive). We are by no means winding down from your experience yet though - we drive this morning, until lunch, before entering Lake Mburo National Park for a wonderful game drive this afternoon. Although one of Uganda's smaller National Parks, it has a wonderful selection of African birds and mammals to spot: impala, warthog, zebra, buffalo and is particularly known for its hippos and African fish eagles. Tonight you stay in an eco friendly hotel
estaurant nestled on a scenic outcrop at the edge of the park: a secluded retreat in the Ankole ranch lands where we stay in comfortable and spacious 'cottages' dotted around the hill. During dinner the game spotting continues as herbivores often congregate at the water hole beneath the dining area.

We start our last full day in Uganda in the best way possible- with an early game drive to see the savannah awakening and the sun rising. Later, we transfer to Entebbe with a stop at the equator for photos and a little souvenir shopping (Approx 270km/5 hour drive). We will arrive in Entebbe during the afternoon, and check in at our familiar guesthouse located within easy reach of the airport for tomorrow's departing flight.

Depending on your flight departure time, after breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. Time to start planning the next adventure!