Day One: Arrive at Entebbe and transfer
to Kasese through Fort portal. Overnight at Hotel Margherita.
Day Two: Travel to Nyakalengija. Start trekking to Nyabitaba hut 2650m.
The trek is through coffee plantations and crossing the Mahoma River travelling
through forest to the Nyabitataba hut set on forested ridge with a view of
portal peaks and Bujuku Valley.
Day Three: Trek to John Matte Hut, 7 hours walk 3550m our trail descends
through forest to cross to Bujuku river at Kurt Shaffer Bridge and through a
Giant Heath and Grounsel forest you will stop at Nyamileju hut "Place of Beards"
name that refers to the moss and lichen hanging from the trees. We carry on to
John matte which is close to the river in a grove of Giant heather.
Day Four: Trek to Lake Bujuku Hut.3900m. We travel through the two Bigo
Bogs to Bigo Hut, crossing Kibatisi Bog to cooking pot cave and on to the
beautiful set of Lake Bujuku (where Jesus learnt how to walk on the water) Here
you should be able to have a wonderful view of mounts stanley, Speke and Baker
and the incredible ice cave on Mount Speke should be clearly visible. You may
now chose to ascend to mount Speke.
Day Five: Trek to Elena Hut 4541m. Travelling through groundsel gully and
via Scott Eliot pass (highsest point of loop trail 4372m) we ascend to Elena
Hut.
Day Six: We climb Margherita peak 5109m, summit of the highest mountain
in the Rwenzori and descend to Kitandara hut.
Day Seven: We trek to Guy yeoman 3450m. 5 hours walk. we will make a
steep ascent to the fresh field pass 4282m and then descend to Bujonglo Cave.
3720m the base used for Duke of Abruzzi's 1906 expedition. We will pass the
kabamba cave 3450m the waterfall and rock shelter staying overnight at Guy
yeoman hut set in giant heather zone.
Day Eight: Descend from Guy yeoman to Nyakalengija to Mweya. Steep
descent through the Bamboo Zone via Lake Mahoma to the trail head at
Nyakalengija and continue to Kibale via Kasese and Fortportal. Overnight Ndali
Lodge.
Day Nine: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest to see Red tail monkeys,
Chimps, Baboons and other forest dwellers. Later transfer to the gorilla
sanctuary through this beautiful mountain scenery referred to as the little
Switzerland. Or though Ishasha if the road is ok. Dinner and overnight at Lake
Kitandara Tented Camp.
Day Ten and Eleven: After breakfast and briefing by park ranger guides.
Later with picnic lunch, start a 30 minutes - 8 hours trek to find the Mountain
gorillas. The tracking starts at the area where the gorillas were the previous
day. After a full hour with the gorillas, return to your accommodations for
dinner and overnight Lake Kitandara Campsite. On alternate days others will be
taking a forest walk to the Munyaga water falls.
Day Twelve: After breakfast, transfer to Mbarara arriving in time for
lunch at the Lake view Hotel, continue to Kampala to Hotel Africana
Day Thirteen: Optional white water rafting day.
Day Fourteen: Transfer to airport for flight out.
The best time for mountaineering is during the dry seasons from mid-December
to the end of March and from June through mid-August.
Includes: Accommodation, Transport, Airport Transfer, Trekking/Hiking fee,
Hotel meals, Mountain food, Park Entry Fee, Rescue fee, Tents, Mountain Fuel
(Charcoal), Guides fee, Porters fees (Food and wages).
You must come with Climbing
gear i.e Crampons, Ice axe, Snow glasses.
Location
The Rwenzori Mountains lie
along the western border of Uganda and rise to a height of 5,1OO metres. Here
are the legendary 'Mountains of the Moon', a World Heritage Site - and these
incomparable, beautiful, mist-shrouded peaks provide a unique backdrop to one of
our most magnificent national parks.
In the centre of the range, which boasts
Africa's third highest mountain, some of the peaks carry permanent snow and
glaciers, while the lower slopes are covered with dense forest. Walking trails
on the lower slopes do not call for mountaineering experience, although the
higher you go the fitter you need to be. Excellent walking routes, including the
Bujuku circuit, are provided through wonderful and unique scenery. For those who
want to attempt a climb, several peaks provide challenges that match those in
the Alps. These fabled mist-covered
"Mountains of the Moon," 120 km in length and 48 km in width, were
formed from a block which was thrust up during the creation of the western arm
of the Great East African Rift Valley. At the centre of the range, there are six
peaks carrying permanent snow, three with glaciers.
The highest of these peaks, and the third highest peak in Africa, is Mt.
Margherita rising 5100 metre above sea level. The Rwenzori Mountains were gazetted as a
National Park in 1991. The Park covers 996 km2 of rugged mountain
terrain. Whether they are experienced climbers or casual day-hikers, Rwenzori
Mountain National Park offers visitors a unique experience of an Afro-Montane
rainforest.
The main attraction
is the luxuriant vegetation found above 3000 m which includes the giant forms of
Lobelia, Heather and Groundsel. Rwenzori Mountains National Park is also home to
the hyrax, blue monkey, chimpanzee, giant forest hog and many unique bird
species such as the Rwenzori touraco, the handsome francolin and the olive
pigeon.
Gorilla
Rules
A
maximum number of 6 visitors may visit a group of habituated gorillas in a day.
This minimizes behavioral disturbance to the gorillas and the risk of their
exposure to human-borne diseases.
Please
always keep your voices low. You will then also be able to observe the great
bird life and other wildlife in the forest.
DO
NOT leave
rubbish in the park. Whatever you bring into the forest should be carried back
out with you.
You
will be taken to where the guides observed the gorillas the day before. From
there you will follow the gorilla’s trail to find them. Look out for the
gorilla’s nesting sites along the way!
When
you approach the Gorillas, the guides will inform you when to get you cameras
ready
Always
wash your hands before you head out to the gorillas.
When
you are with the gorillas
Keep
a minimum of 5 meters (15 feet) from the gorillas. This is to protect them from
catching human diseases
You
must stay in tight group whey you are near the gorillas
Keep
your voices down at all times. However, it is OK to ask the guide questions
Do
not eat or drink while you are near the gorillas. Eating or drinking inevitably
will increase the risk of food/drink morsels/droplets falling, which could
increase the risk of transmission of diseases
Sometimes
the gorillas charge. Follow the guides example-crouch down slowly, do not look
the gorillas directly in the eyes and wait for the animals to pass. Do not try
and take pictures and do not attempt to run away. Running away will increase the
risk.
Flash
photography is not permitted! When taking pictures move slowly and carefully.
Do
not touch the gorillas. They are wild animals. They might look cuddly but…….
The
maximum time you can spend with the gorillas is one hour. However, if the
gorillas become agitated or nervous, the guide will finish the visit early.
After
the visit keep your voices down until you are 200 meters from the gorillas.
General
Health Rules
Remember
gorillas are very susceptible to human diseases. The following are ways to
minimize the risk your visit might pose to them:
Respect
the limits imposed on the number of visitors allowed with the gorillas each day.
This minimizes the risk of disease transmission and stress to the group.
If
you are feeling ill, or you are carrying a contagious disease, volunteer to stay
behind. An alternate visit will be arranged for you, or you will be refunded
your money.
If
you feel the urge to cough or sneeze when you are near the gorillas, please turn
your head away and cover your nose and mouth in order to minimize the spread of
bacteria or viruses.
Always
stay 5 meters (15 feet) away form the gorillas. The further back you are, the
more relaxed the group will be.
Do
not attempt to touch the gorillas.
Do
not smoke, drink or eat when you are with the gorillas.
Do
not leave any rubbish (eg. food wrappers) in the Park; foreign items can harbor
diseases or other contaminants.
If
you need to defecate, whilst in the forest, pleas ask the guide to dig you a
hole with his panga. Make sure the hole is 30cms deep and fill it in when you
are finished.
How
you are contributing to the conservation of the Mountain Gorillas:
The
mountain gorillas (Gorilla Gorilla Berengie), the world’s most endangered ape,
is found only in small portions of protected afro montane forests in northwest
Rwanda, southwest Uganda and eastern DRC. The mountain gorilla is one of many
species unique to these forests. The forests are also home to many wonderful
birds, primates, large mammals, reptiles, insects and plants and also ensure
continued water and medical plant resources for the local communities.
The
mountain gorillas are divided into two populations and current figures estimate
the total population to be about 600 individuals. One population is found in
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), in S.W. Uganda, covering about 330km2,
and the ecologically homogenous (salem flora and fauna), covering three
contiguous National Parks in three countries.; Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in
Uganda, Volcano National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the
Democratic Republic of Congo, covering an approximate total area of 300km2.
The
threats to the remaining gorilla population and its habitat are many. One of
these threats is the possibility of disease transmission form humans to gorillas
and vice versa. In order to address the issue of potential disease transmission
to the gorillas and to mitigate behavioral disturbances to this fragile
population, the gorilla rules have been developed.
By
following these rules and through the purchase of the permit, YOU too are
contributing to the conservation of the mountain gorilla. Uganda Wildlife
Authority uses the funds generated from the sale of this permit for the
management of the National Parks. A percentage of the funds raised from Park
entrance fees are also donated to local communities living adjacent to the parks
to contribute to their development and improve natural resource management in
the region.
Prices for-
Uganda Trekking and Wildlife Adventures
