Uganda is best explored on foot, walking through nature, past rural villages and through impenetrable rainforests. Uganda is one of Africa most diverse countries in terms of landscape. Because of all these diverse habitats, the country has a variety of wildlife that will amaze even experienced nature lovers.
Tulambule has put together this 15 Days Active Uganda Adventure full of various treks, where you go off the beaten track and are very active. Climb Rwenzori Mountains, Africa’s tallest mountain range at 5109 meters, and reach the Weismann peak at 4620 meters above sea level. Good fitness is need for this adventure. Of course, this 15 Days Active Uganda Adventure trip also takes you to the chimpanzees, Big Games, and mountain gorillas.
Highlights of this trip
- Spectacular walks and climbs
- The chimpanzees and gorillas in one tour
- Safari activities in Queen Elizabeth NP
- Completely off the beaten track to the most beautiful places in Uganda on foot!
- Climbing the mountains of the Moon, the Rwenzori Mountains
- Mountain bike safari in Lake Mburo National Park
- Relaxation at the beautiful shores of Lake Bunyonyi
Summary
Day 1: Welcome to the Pearl of Africa!
Day 2: Travel To Starting Point Rwenzori Trekking – Kilembe
Day 3: Start 5-Day Rwenzori Trekking
Day 4: Through Bamboo Forests and Heathland Landscapes to Mutinda Camp
Day 5: A Tough Climb to Bugata Camp
Day 6: To the Weismann Peak at 4620 Meters!
Day 7: Descent through the Nyamwamba Valley – To Kibale Forest
Day 8: Chimpanzee Trekking & Hike through Bigodi Wetlands
Day 9: Hike through Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 10: Game Drive and Boat Trip on the Kazinga Channel
Day 11: Tree-Climbing Lions And On To Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 12: The Great Gorilla Trek!
Day 13: Travel to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 14: To Lake Mburo National Park
Day 15: Mountain Bike Safari in Lake Mburo National Park and travel back To Entebbe
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to the Pearl of Africa!
Once you arrive at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by a driver guide who will transfer you to a guesthouse or hotel situated nearby in Entebbe Town. Here you can enjoy a drink under the African starry sky and a well-deserved night’s sleep.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Hotel No.5/Protea Hotel Entebbe/Lake Victoria Serena Resort
Midrange: 2-Friends Beach Hotel/Boma Hotel/Karibu Guest House
Budget: Airport Guest House
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Travel To Starting Point Rwenzori Trekking – Kilembe
Today you will be driven to the village of Kilembe. The drive takes you past roadside markets, quite rural villages, rainforests, tea fields and tea plantations up to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park. This is the starting point of the trek to Weismann peak.
You are here at the footslopes of the Rwenzori Mountains, at an altitude of 1,450 meters and you will spend the night in a simple attractive hostel.
Accommodation: Kilembe Trekking Hostel (Breakfast)
Day 3: Start 5-Day Rwenzori Trekking
You will hike via the montane forest zone of Rwenzori Mountains. En route, you will have an opportunity to encounter troops of Black-and-white colobus monkeys moving through the forest in groups of around 15-20 members. The lush flora in these montane rainforests is beautiful from tropical flowers to bamboo trees and moss-covered lianas. This seems like the setting for a jungle movie!
The Enock’s waterfall, near Sine Camp, your overnight stay camp, offers beautiful pictures and beautiful vistas from Sine camp. Today your hike will end at an altitude of 2596 meters above sea level and stay in a simple mountain camp. A delightful hot meal will be served to you as you listen to the exciting stories of the guides around the campfire.
Difficulty today: moderate
Height: Kilembe 1450 meters to 2596 meters Sine camp
Accommodation: Rwenzori – Shine Camp 2596 meters (Full board)
Day 4: Through Bamboo Forests and Heathland Landscapes to Mutinda Camp
After a good breakfast, you hike will continue and soon the landscape will change to the bamboo forest zone. During rainy season the Bamboo zone is mainly muddy and can be slippery.
You will therefore wear good hiking boots for some parts of this hike. A hot cup of Uganda coffee or tea is offered at the Kalalama camp which is located at 3147 meters. Here you can relax a bit, catch your breath and view the new vegetation zone you have entered, the heath zone.
After that, you will continue your hike to Mutinda camp. You will walk along a beautiful trail where you cross a stream multiple times. It is a wonderful heathland landscape with a variety rare endemic flowers and plants. You will spend your night at Mutinda camp which is situated at 3688 meters above sea level.
In the afternoon you will go for an acclimatization hike to the Mutinda viewpoint at 3925 meters. The hike will take about 1-2 hours up and 1 hour descent back to Mutanda camp. From this point you have a breathtaking view over the valley and you can see the town of Kasese and Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Acclimatization is crucial to avoid altitude sickness.
Difficulty today: semi-difficult
Height: Sine camp 2596 meters to Mutinda camp 3688 meters
Accommodation: Rwenzori – Mutinda Camp 3688 meters (Full board)
Day 5: A Tough Climb to Bugata Camp
The landscape is scattered with tussock grass, also called bunch grass. In the wet season, it is important to step on the bunch grass to avoid slipping. The rare giant lobelia plants are also well represented in the area and all this creates a magical landscape.
The first section of the hike climbs to the Namusangi valley at 3840 meters and then proceeds to the Bugata camp at 4062 meters. This day is possibly the toughest day of this entire 5-day Rwenzori Mountains trek. If this route becomes too difficult, you can still opt to hike through the Bamwanjara pass so that the route is less steep. The Bugata camp is the camp with the best facilities of all camps in Rwenzori Mountains National Park. There are solar lighting, good toilets, and a helicopter landing site.
Heaviness today: semi-heavy to heavy.
Elevation: Mutinda camp 3688 meters to Bugata camp 4062 meters
Accommodation: Rwenzori – Bugata Camp 4062 meters (Full board with drinks)
Day 6: To the Weismann Peak at 4620 Meters!
Today is the moment when you will reach the Weismann peak. After a hearty breakfast, put on your comfortable hiking boots again and hike along the edge of Bugata Lake and climb a distance of 9 kilometers. Weismann’s peak top is relative flat and thus has a good viewpoint.
If weather is clear, you can see the Mount Stanley, Mount Speke and Mount Baker. It is a wonderful moment to celebrate this blessing and to completely enjoy the feeling of standing on these mighty mountains. After visiting the peak, you will descend back to Kiharo camp at 3460 meters where you’ll spend the night. During the dry season you can hear the calls of the hyraxes that hide here at night.
Severity today: Moderate to semi-heavy.
Elevation: Bugata camp 4062 meters to Weismann peak 4620 meters to Kiharo camp at 3460 meters.
Accommodation: Rwenzori – Kiharo Camp 3460 meters (Full board)
Day 7: Descent through the Nyamwamba Valley – To Kibale Forest
After a good breakfast today, you will descend further through the Nyamwamba valley and the trail is largely a descent. Near the Kiharo camp, you will turn right and proceed to follow the river with beautiful views en route. This place hosts Rock Hyraxes and primates.
At the end of this trek you will have a pleasant lunch with your guide and porters to conclude this special adventurous safari experience. A driver from Tulambule with a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle will be waiting for you and you will travel to the nearby Kibale Forest national park. You will spend the night here at a very comfortable lodge. It is time to bounce back from this tremendous trial.
Difficulty today: moderate
Height: Kihoro camp 3460 meters to Kilembe 1450 meters
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge/Primate Lodge
Midrange/Budget: Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 8: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Swamp or Village Walk
It’s chimpanzee trekking day! After breakfast at 7 am, you will be transferred to park visitor centre for 8 am for your briefing, and then head out into the Kibale Forest National Park with your guide for this incredible chance to see chimpanzees – our closest living relatives – in the wild.
The chimp trek will take 2 to 4 hours and you will be one hour with the chimpanzees after encountering them. If you are lucky, they will come down to the forest floor, and you will be able to get within just a few metres of these African Great Apes. Read about the What Happens on a Chimpanzee Trekking tour In Kibale Forest National Park.
In afternoon you can relax at your lodge/camp or take a walk around the area. If you are still hungry for more adventures, head into the Bigodi Village for cultural walk or for a nature hike in the community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for chance to see more African birds and primates.
Accommodation Options: As on day Seven
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 9: Go for Hike through Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Kyambura Gorge
After your stay in the first rainforest jungle of Kibale National Park, you will embark on a drive through rural Uganda life, from the green hills full of tea plantations and crater lakes to the dry savannah of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most popular game park.
In the afternoon you will go for a fantastic hike through the Kyambura gorge, which is a crack of 11 km long, straight through the savannah of the Queen Elizabeth Park. Hidden in the gorge is a gorgeous piece of rainforest, which runs along the banks of the Kyambura River. This rainforest is the habitat of birds, bats, chimpanzees, monkeys, forest hogs, and other animal species.
Rangers will help you spot the chimpanzees, but the chance of seeing them is around 50%. Therefore, above all, enjoy the hike itself, because it is one of the most beautiful walks you can take in Uganda. This is an adventurous hike that involves scrambling and climbing.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Elephant Plains Camp/Kyambura Gorge Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange: Enganzi Lodge/Bush Lodge/Parkview Lodge
Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 10: Game Drive and Boat Trip on the Kazinga Channel
Today, you will wake up at dawn for a sunrise game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Animals are more active in the cool hours of the day, so there is a decent chance you will see hyenas, hippos, buffalos, antelopes, elephants, and may be lions.
Then, in the afternoon, take a leisurely two-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This short, shallow river attracts a huge array of wildlife, including some of highest concentration of hippos in Africa. As a result, you are pretty much guaranteed some of the best animal spotting you are likely to experience anywhere in Uganda.
Accommodation Options: As on day nine
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 11: Tree-Climbing Lions And On To Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Back on the road again for the short drive to the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth NP and a chance to track for the famous lions that climb trees. This is the best place to see them in Africa. Spend about one and a half hours tracking and hopefully watching these rare creatures, before departing the park and heading on to the mysterious hills of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
Midrange: Have Lodge Buhoma/Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget: Buhoma Community Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 12: Gorilla Trekking and a Visit to the Batwa Pygmy Community
Today, you will encounter the number one tourist attraction of Uganda and what may well turn out to be the highlight of all highlights: mountain gorilla trekking.
Put on your strong hiking boots or shoes and pack a waterproof just in case, and then meet at the ranger station to be allocated your gorilla family. It can take 1 to 7 hours to find the mountain gorillas, and then you are permitted to spend one hour watching them from a safe distance. But I guarantee i will be one of the most memorable hours of your life.
If you still have time and energy, in the afternoon a local guide will take you to visit one of Bwindi’s Batwa pygmy villages. The Batwa used to reside inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest as hunter-gatherers until the forest was gazetted a national park and they were kicked out. Now they reside around the edges of the park, and earn income by welcoming tourists and demonstrating their traditions. A visit is a great way to learn all about them and help support the community.
If you want to know more, here is the article I wrote about the Batwa.
Accommodation Options: As on day eleven
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 13: Travel to Lake Bunyonyi
It’s time to leave Bwindi Impenetrable Forest behind and go for some relaxation at beautiful Lake Bunyonyi. It is only a short drive of about 1 ½ hour so you’ll easily be there before lunchtime, and will be able to spend the afternoon relaxing in an idyllic lakeside retreat. You can take a leisurely boat trip on the lake to learn some of the area’s weird history, do a village walk, go for a swim in the lake, or simply relax in a hammock with a book and a beer after all your exciting adventures so far.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Birdnest Resort
Midrange/Budget: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 14: To Lake Mburo National Park
By now you may feel like you’ve seen enough of Uganda’s, in which case you might want to spend a full day relaxing at Lake Bunyonyi rather than getting on the road again, and then tomorrow just drive all the way to Entebbe. But if not, hop back in the car for the drive to Lake Mburo National Park. There are no lions here, so this is the place where you can get active without fear of being eaten.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
Midrange: Rwakobo Rock/Kyagambira Lodge
Budget: Eagles Nest Mburo
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 15: Mountain Bike Safari in Lake Mburo National Park – To Entebbe
In the morning you can choose between a mountain bike safari and a game walking safari through Lake Mburo National Park. On a mountain biking tour, you will ride through the green nature of the park and surroundings. En route, you’ll encounter zebras, impalas and lyre antelopes, and you’ll also enjoy the views. On walking safari, you will be accompanied by a ranger and walk through the park in search of zebras, buffalos, eland antelopes and giraffes. This is also an excellent way for bird lovers to take beautiful photos because there are over 300 bird species in Lake Mburo National Park!
After your chosen morning activity and a (late) breakfast, you drive (across the equator) back to Entebbe. You will be dropped off at the airport in the early evening for your return flight home. This is the end of your journey through Uganda. We hope you had a blast!
Accommodation: Not Included
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
End of 15 Days Active Uganda Adventure
Inclusions
- Overnight stays according to itinerary
- Meals according to itinerary
- Almost all excursions
- All entrance fees to the national parks
- Suitable vehicle
- Professional guide/driver (English speaking)
- Park entrance fees Rwenzori and Queen Elizabeth NP
- Rwenzori Weismann peak ascent
- Professional mountain guides, porters and cook, Rwenzori
- Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking permits
- Bigodi Swamp, Kibale Forest area
- Gorge walk, Kyambura Gorge
- Boat Safari, Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Safari, Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Mountain bike safari, Lake Mburo National Park
Exclusions
- International flights
- Other meals and drinks
- Optional excursions
- Visa costs
- Single room surcharge
- Insurance repatriation from the mountain, Rwenzori Mountains
- Rent an extra warm sleeping bag up to -20, Rwenzori Mountains
