15-Day Margherita Peak Trek & Gorilla Trekking Adventure

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts cannot be arranged by this operator.

Arrival

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be greeted by your guide who will assist with your transfer to a nearby hotel. This marks the beginning of your 15-day journey to conquer Margherita Peak. After a smooth transfer, you'll have time to settle into your hotel, unwind, and soak in the atmosphere.

Your evening will be all about relaxation, allowing you to recover from your journey and prepare for the adventure ahead. A delicious dinner will be served at the hotel, giving you a taste of local or international cuisine, depending on your preference. You can take this time to ask your guide any final questions about the trek and make sure you're fully prepared for the days to come.

Main Destination:

Entebbe (City)

Accommodation:

K Hotels

• Mid-range hotel located in Entebbe (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Transfer to Fort Portal

Begin your day with a hearty breakfast before setting off on a picturesque drive to Fort Portal. Along the way, you'll be treated to stunning views of the surrounding landscapes, passing through charming local villages and expansive tea plantations. The scenic journey offers plenty of opportunities to take in Uganda's natural beauty.

There will be a stop for lunch en route, allowing you to recharge before continuing your journey. Upon arrival in Fort Portal, you'll check in to your lodge, where you can relax and unwind after the day's travel. A delicious dinner awaits, followed by a comfortable overnight stay, preparing you for the adventures ahead.

Main Destination:

Fort Portal (Town)

Accommodation:

Mountains of the Moon Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Fort Portal (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Trek to Sine Camp(2596m) 9km 5-7 hrs

We begin the day with an early departure from Fort Portal, heading to Kyanjuki (1450m) near Kilembe, the starting point of our trek. Here, we’ll meet our mountain guide for a full briefing before beginning a 2.2km walk (about 1 hour) to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) ranger post at 1727m. After some formalities, we officially start the trek, accompanied by a mandatory park ranger and guide.

The trail winds through tall grasslands and pristine forests filled with diverse plant and bird species. We steadily ascend, crossing streams and rivers, with our guide providing trail options depending on conditions. One path climbs along a ridge where we may spot primates like Colobus Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, and possibly chimpanzees.

We'll stop for lunch before continuing to Sine Camp (2596m), set between towering forest trees on a ridge. The camp overlooks Enock's Falls, and we can relax on the verandah, soaking in the beauty of the Afro Montane forest as we prepare for the adventure ahead.

Main Destination:

Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Trek to Mutinda Camp Via Kamusoni Valley(3688m), 8km, 4-5hrs

After breakfast today's trek begins with a steep climb and many high steps into the Bamboo Zone. In the wet season the bamboo area is muddy and slippery making the going slow. Your gaiters will come in handy here or you may even like to wear your rubber/gum boots. Occasionally unwary trekkers have sunk up to their knees. The atmosphere of the forest is beautiful as we climb 551m and approx. 1.8km to Kalalama Camp (3147m). In the Heather- Rapanea Zone we can take a rest and a quick hot drink here before continuing towards Mutinda Camp, which is our final destination today. The trail meanders up and over several small knolls along a ridge then drops down the side of a valley before climbing again, crossing several small streams and passing close to moss covered waterfalls. We then climb steadily beside a beautiful mossy river which tumbles over rocks under Giant Heather trees whose branches are covered in "old man beards" (Usnea Lichen).

Main Destination:

Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Trek to Bugata Camp 4062m, 5km, 4-5 hrs

Today, as we climb steadily higher, we will enter the Alpine Zone. The trail this morning is again boggy, but with a little skill we can step from tussock to tussock to make the going easier. We cross the Mutinda Valley through the tussock grass and everlasting flowers interspersed with many Giant Lobelias before we climb a steep section up to the Namusangi Valley (3,840m), which ends abruptly with sheer waterfalls and fantastic views of Mutinda Peaks. The Namusangi Valley is a wide valley with many ups and downs and several peat sections. The trail then climbs steadily to Bugata Camp (formerly known as Camp at 4,062m. Bugata Camp is situated part way up Bamwanjara Pass, high above Bugata Lake, with views across Lake Kopello to the often-snow- covered Weismann's Peak. There are also spectacular views down the valley over Lake Africa, Lake Kanganyika and the many small peaks towards Mutinda Camp from whence we came.

Main Destination:

Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Trek to Hunwick's Camp(3974m), 6km, 5-6 hrs

To start the day, we climb towards Bamwanjara Pass. The area is covered by everlasting flowers and Giant groundsel with tussock marshland typical of the region. Giant Lobelia are again seen here, its nectar being the main food source of the Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird, another species endemic to the Rwenzori Mountains. As we climb, we can look back to see many glacial lakes far below. At the top of Bamwanjara Pass (4450m) there is a small shelter where we can rest while enjoying the superb views of all the main peaks: Mt Stanley, Mt Speke and Mt Baker. We can also see McConnell’s Prong named after a British explorer and geologist. The view is truly spectacular. From the Pass, we descend steeply to Kachope Lakes. The trail is often very muddy but affords fantastic views of the lakes and McConnell's Prong. The Kachope Lakes area is one of only three areas where, on a misty day, it is possible to catch a rare glimpse of the Rwenzori leopard.

Main Destination:

Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Via Scott Elliot, Pass to Margherita Camp(4460m), 5km, 5hrs

Today is a relatively easy walk past Kitandara Lakes with an enjoyable climb through Scott Elliott Pass (4335m) to our base at Margherita Camp (4485m). The camp is below Elena Hut and is sheltered with a ring of high rocks from the original camp used by the Italian Prince Luigi Amadeo di Savoia, Duke of the Abruzzi, who led an expedition in 1906 of biologists, surveyors, a geologist and a photographer. The team opened a new chaptering mountaineering and exploration in Africa and some of the peaks still have the names, which the duke chose to honor the Italian Kingdom and Queen Margherita. The camp is in a flat sheltered position suited to attempting a good sleep before climbing any of the peaks on the Mt Stanley range including Margherita Peak. There are more great views, this time of Mt Baker, Scott Elliot Pass and some of the high glaciers on Mt Stanley.

Main Destination:

Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Summit Margherita Peak (5109m), Descend to Margherita Camp, 9km, 9-12hrs

We wake very early (between 1:00 - 2:00 am), have a hot drink and a light, high energy snack before setting off. It takes about one and a half hours to reach Elena Hut (4540m) which we bypass on the way to the peaks. After Elena, the climb is steep and can be tricky if covered in ice but is firm underfoot as the trail is on hard rock. Margherita Peak is a technical summit and we will use ropes, harnesses, carabiners, ice axe, helmets, ice screws, figure 8's, ascenders and slings. At the edge of the glacier (4765m) we will need to put on crampons and harnesses and walk at set distances apart. There are not many crevices but it is important here to follow instructions from the guide closely. The scenery is spectacular as the sun begins to peep over the horizon near the upper areas of the glacier, affording fabulous photographs of the sun-tipped main peaks - Alexandra and Margherita. The climb down to Margherita glacier can be challenging as we shall descend to Margherita camp.

Main Destination:

Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Descend to Hunwick Camp(3974m)

Wake up in the morning for breakfast, and prepare to descend to Hunwick camp. This will be a short trek approximately 3 hours, we will descend to Hunwick’s camp where we will rest for the evening as the walk to Kiharo and the final day are long days.

Main Destination:

Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Descend to Kihoro Camp at 3450m, 7km, 4-5 hrs

From Hunwick’s Camp we start the day by climbing up a ridge towards McConnell’s Prong where you get the best views of all three peaks and Scott Elliott’s Pass before reaching Oliver’s Pass at 4,505 meters. The distance from Hunwick’s Camp to the top of Oliver’s Pass is 3km the trail then cuts across below Weismann’s Peak to the confluence of the Nyamwamba River which flows down thought Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elisabeth National Park. If you wish to climb Weismann’s Peak 4,620 meters from Olivers pass you may do so at an extra cost of $20 each. On a clear day, you get fantastic views of Margherita and Mt Stanley, Mt Speke and Mt Baker.

After crossing the confluence, the trail meanders down the valley to Kiharo Camp which is situated in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation.

Main Destination:

Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Descend Down to Basecamp at 1450m and Transfer to the Hotel

Distance Kiharo Camp to the park gate 12.2km and another 2.8km down to Trekkers Hostel, time to walk 5 to 8 hours
The trail down the Nyamwamba Valley is mostly downhill and absolutely stunning with beautiful views, moss covered rocks along the river, cascading waterfalls, deep valleys and forests are possibly the best in the Rwenzori Mountains. This part of the trail took us six years to find a way through and a route which is easy enough for tourists to use. In 1937 the explorer and geologist McConnell tried to find a way up this valley but failed and have to turn back and search for another route up the mountain but now you can experience this truly beautiful valley.

Main Destination:

Fort Portal (Town)

Accommodation:

Mountains of the Moon Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Fort Portal (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Wake up and have breakfast from the hotel. You will depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park as you enjoy scenic views along the way passing through rolling hills, local villages, and tea plantations. Arrive and check in the lodge for relaxation.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Best Time To Visit June to August and December to February (Gorilla trekking is easiest)

High Season June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce)

Best Weather June to July and December to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP

GorillaCommon

ChimpanzeeRare

ElephantRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

LionNone

Show more

GiraffeNone

LeopardNone

CheetahNone

BuffaloNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Rushaga (Bwindi Impenetrable NP)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Gorilla Trekking Adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After having breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing before embarking on an unforgettable gorilla trekking experience. Hike through the dense forest, guided by rangers, to encounter a family of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Spend up to 1 hour observing these gentle giants before returning to the lodge to rest.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Rushaga (Bwindi Impenetrable NP)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Transfer to Kampala

After having breakfast from the hotel, begin your journey back to Kampala. Enjoy the sights of rural Uganda as you drive through the countryside. Arrive in Kampala in the evening and check into your hotel or lodge, where you can relax after your adventure.

Main Destination:

Kampala (City)

Accommodation:

Four Points by Sheraton Kampala

• Luxury hotel located in Kampala (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Departure

Wake up at leisure and have breakfast, enjoy a leisurely morning in Kampala before being transferred to Entebbe International Airport. You can choose to take a walk and shop for some souvenirs. Take with you the incredible memories of your Rwenzori Mountain climbing. Safe travels!

Main Destination:

Entebbe (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation cannot be arranged by this operator.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.