7 Days Queen Elizabeth and Mount Rwenzori hike
7-Day Queen Elizabeth and Mount Rwenzori hike
The 7 Days Queen Elizabeth and Rwenzori hike is an interesting adventure that will take you to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is the second biggest national park, and Mount Rwenzori National Park in the western part of Uganda.
During the 7 days Queen Elizabeth and Rwenzori hike, you will be able to engage in game drives and boat cruises where you will view different animals, including elephants, waterbucks, lions, leopards, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, Nile crocodiles, hippos, warthogs, topi, oribi, and bushbucks, among others.
You will also engage in an adventurous Rwenzori hike where you will be able to spot different bird species, enjoy the cool and quiet environment, and view different plant and tree species, among others.
Highlights of the 7-day Queen Elizabeth and Rwenzori hike
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kasese
Day 2: Nyakalengija (1600m) – Nyabitaba hut (2660m)
Day 3: Nyabitaba hut (2660m) – John Matte hut (3420m)
Day 4: Descend back from John Matte hut to Nyakalengija
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park – afternoon game drive
Day 6: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 7: Departure to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kasese
Depending on your location, you will be welcomed by our driver-guide, who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Kasese.
On the way you will have a stopover at the Equator in Kayabwe, where you will be able to take photos, buy souvenirs, and then continue the journey with another stopover for en route lunch and also enjoy spectacular views of the local people, farmlands, traditional homesteads, Rwenzori Mountains, tea plantations, among others.
Upon arrival in Kasese, you will connect to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Nyakalengija (1600m) – Nyabitaba hut (2660m)
Have an early breakfast, check out of the lodge, and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the Rwenzori hike to John Matte.
After the briefing, you will be allocated experienced park guides and porters and then start hiking from Nyakalengija, passing through the Bakonzo homesteads and tropical forest with lush bushes and elephant grass.
During the hike, you will be able to view some animals like elephants, duikers, and primates like chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, and black and white colobus monkeys and spot different bird species like the Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, and handsome francolin, among others.
The hike from Nyakalengila to Nyabitaba Hut is about 8 km, and upon arrival, you will have dinner and stay overnight at Nyabitaba Hut.
Day 3: Nyabitaba hut (2660m) – John Matte hut (3420m)
After an early breakfast, meet up with your guides and porters to continue the hike in the forest to Kurt Schuffer Bridge, which is located at the junction of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers and takes about a 30-minute trek.
You will proceed through the bamboo and montane forest with slippery rocks covered with moss, and you will be able to view various bird species. You will continue to the Nyamulejju rock shelter, where you will enjoy stunning views of Mount Stanley and Mount Speke on a clear day and also have a lunch break.
The Nyamulejju rock shelter is where the first hikers used to camp for an overnight, and after the lunch break, you will proceed through alpine forest to John Matte Hut, which is located near River Bukuku, where you will take a cold bath from if you want. The trek from Nyabitaba to John Matte Hut takes about 11 km, and upon arrival, you will have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 4: Descend back from John Matte hut to Nyakalengija
Take breakfast as you enjoy great views of Mount Stanley with Alexandra and Margherita peaks and later meet up with your guides and porters to descend back to Nyabitaba and, later, to Nyakalengija.
Upon arrival, you will check into the lodge for lunch, after which you will spend the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park—afternoon game drive
Have breakfast at leisure, check out of the lodge, and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Upon arrival, you will connect to your lodge for lunch, after which you will go for an afternoon game drive in the park where you will be able to view animals like buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, lions, leopards, bushbucks, and hyenas, among others.
After the afternoon game drive, you will drive back to the lodge for an evening of relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 6: Morning game drive/lion tracking experience and afternoon boat cruise
Morning game drive,
After an early breakfast, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a morning game drive/lion tracking experience in the Kasenyi plains.
During the game drive you will have great views of the sunrise, the big four mammals, which are lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes; other animals like waterbucks, bushbucks, and Uganda kobs; and views of different bird species, among others. After the game drive you will return to the lodge for lunch.
Afternoon boat cruise: After lunch you will go for an amazing boat cruise along Kazinga Channel, a 40 km long channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward.
During the boat cruise, you will be able to view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, view buffaloes, elephants, and warthogs drinking water along the banks, and view water birds, among others.
After the boat cruise you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Departure to Kampala
After a relaxed breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey back to Kampala with lunch en route on the way.
Upon arrival, your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight or drop you off at any place of convenience.
End of 7 days Queen Elizabeth and Rwenzori hike
Includes
- Lion tracking experience
- Park entrance fees/game drives
- Boat cruise fees
- Rwenzori hike fee
- Professional English-speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Ground transfers (in a 4WD vehicle)
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Excludes
- International air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others
