13-Day Rwenzori And Chimpanzee Trekking Itinerary Guide
Set high in the East African highlands, Uganda is one of the continent’s most undervalued adventure destinations – lush, diversified and off the beaten path of the touristy safari route and the over-hyped lines of Kilimanjaro. From the volcanic vistas near the Rwandan border to the craggy peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains, this journey has all the characteristics of a classic Epic adventure.
Over the course of two weeks, we travel from Kigali into southwestern Uganda, where we settle in the town of Kisoro beneath the Virunga volcanoes. We next take on the hard, ladder-lined climb of Mount Sabyinyo, where you’ll stand in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC all at the same time. From here we travel north into the Rwenzoris for a multi-day journey through rainforest, bamboo and high alpine terrain, culminating at a summit with far-reaching views across the “Mountains of the Moon.”
Our last day in Kibale Forest is spent tracking chimpanzees before travelling back to Entebbe through Uganda’s undulating plains.
This trip has it all: a physical challenge, a chance to hang out with chimps up close, highland culture and just the right amount of unknown to make it a genuine adventure.
Join Epic Expeditions in Uganda for our inaugural trip on the African Continent. This is the kind of stuff adventure fantasies are made of.
13-Day Rwenzori And Chimpanzee Trekking Highlights
- Climb Mount Sabyinyo (3,669m) and be in three nations at one time
- Go deep into the Rwenzori Mountains, the “Mountains of the Moon” of Africa
- Climb a mountain over 4,600m for expansive alpine views
- Hike through rainforest, bamboo, bogs and alpine terrain
- Observe animals, including colobus monkeys and forest duiker.
- Track chimpanzees in Kibali forest
- Stay at tiny guesthouses and remote mountain refuges
- Explore the highland town of Kisoro under the Virunga volcanoes
- Crossing the Equator & Rural Ugandan Travel
- Try a difficult, off-the-beaten-track walk
- Travel in a small group with like-minded travellers from all over the world.
A Detailed 13-Day Rwenzori And Chimpanzee Trekking Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Day in Kigali
Our first group meeting & introductions in Kigali today
You’ll have the day to drive there, check into the hotel and get settled and then the whole group will meet for supper at a local restaurant.
In case you come early, you will have some free time, to explore some of the magnificent rooftop cafes in Kigali, the most calm capital city in East Africa, or visit the museums.
Note: We always recommend an early arrival, so you’ve got a little more time to get settled and shake off the jet lag before the journey begins.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kigali
Day 2: Travel from Kigali to Kisoro
Relaxed morning in Kigali, then go tomorrow morning for Kisoro. As we get near the border, you will see Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the peaks that form the Virunga Massif, a range of volcanic mountains straddling the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Weather permitting you will have your first look of Mt Sabyinyo, the peak we will be climbing from Kisoro!
Drive time: 5-6 hours, including border crossing.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kisoro
Day 3: Mgahinga National Park and Mt Sabyinyo
Trekking distance: 14 km
Trekking time: 7-9 hours
Altitude gain: 1,400 m up, 1,400 m down
Today we will climb one of the Volcanoes in Mgahinga National Park. The climb up Mt Sabyinyo takes you past bamboo forests and heather trees covered in lichen. Watch out for golden monkeys in the bamboo zone especially, and you might also see buffalo and other wildlife en route.
You will walk a difficult trail with views into Rwanda and DR Congo. This trail has a number of wooden ladders so be ready to do some climbing. Sabyinyo is known as “Old Man’s Teeth” in the local languages because the summit has a jagged shape contrasted to the other conical volcanoes in the vicinity.
The highest peak of our walk is the one of the 3rd and last mountain we reach, 3,669m. That’s a total of 14km round trip with a 1,400m elevation gain and drop. You can stand on the top of the mountain at the same time in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC because the peak is shared by the 3 countries. The average time for this full day walk is 7-9 hours.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kisoro
Day 4: Travel day from Kisoro to Kasese
Kisoro to Kasese, on our way to the famed Rwenzori Mountains, we are on the road again.
Take a scenic drive through the hills and highlands of southwestern Uganda, passing tea and matoke (green banana) plantations and tiny communities. Approaching Kasese we will drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park so keep a watch out for lions, elephants, buffalo, waterbucks and antelope. We will also make a short stop at the Equator monument before we arrive in Kasese.
Drive time: 7-9 hours depending on road conditions.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kasese
Day 5: Start of Multi Day Trek in the Rwenzori Mountains
Trekking distance: 9 km
Trekking time: 5-6 hours
Altitude gain: 1,200 m up
Camping elevation: 2,596 meters
Enjoy a full breakfast in Kasese and drive to Kilembe and the Trekkers Hut for a team meet and pre-hike briefing. We start the trip from the Trekker’s Hut at 1,450m, walking steadily uphill through the hamlet passing businesses, schools and coffee farms.
After crossing the national park boundary we will enter thick forest and there is a possibility of seeing many species of monkeys (black and white Colobus, blue-faced monkeys and more rare L’Hoest, chimpanzees are also in this area but not typically observed).
The whole walk is about 9km with 1,200m of elevation gain and should take about 5-6 hours. Before we reach the hut where we will sleep for the night we will come across a waterfall (Enock’s Falls), a nice area for a dip or shower once we have dropped our luggage at the hut.
Accommodation: Mountain Hut
Day 6: Sine Camp to Mutinda Camp
Trekking distance: 7.5 km
Trekking time: 5-6 hours
Altitude gain: 1,100 m up 100 m down
Camping elevation: 3,688 meters
Our aim today is to go from Sine Camp to Mutinda Camp.
The walk begins in the tropical forest and takes you into the transition zone with the bamboo forest, then into the heather zone with moss and lichens on heather trees and gigantic lobelia gardens. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a vanished planet filled with prehistoric-looking vegetation.
The last leg into camp is on wooden boardwalks that roll with the landscape. Total walk is about 7.5km with 1100m of elevation gain and 100m of elevation loss and is likely to take some 5-6 hours. On arrival at camp you can rest by the river and adjacent waterfalls or take an optional walk to Mutinda Lookout for views across the mountain range and back to Kasese and Lake George.
This optional hike to the lookout takes ~3 hours roundtrip and goes up to nearly 4,000m.
Accommodation: Mountain Hut
Day 7: Mutinda to Bugata Camp
Trekking distance: 5.5 km
Trekking time: 5-6 hours
Altitude gain: 600 m up 100 m down
Camping elevation: 4,100 meters
Walk from Mutinda to Bugata camp. The walk today will be half on boardwalk and half on marshy paths.
On the first leg of the walk, you may watch dozens of brightly-colored sunbirds darting around and perching on the lobelia. Once you get going your reward is fantastic views and passing beautiful waterfalls before you approach the marshy moorlands to camp; From the camp you can see Lake Bugata farther below, Lake Kopello and Weismann’s Peak in the distance.
There are several red forest duiker in this area as well. Total walk is 5.5km long with 600m of ascent and 100m of descent and should take approx 5-6 hours to complete.
Accommodation: Mountain Hut
Day 8: Weismann’s Peak Summit
Trekking distance: 8.5 km
Trekking time: 6-8 hours
Altitude gain: 650 m up 650 m down
Camping elevation: 4,100 meters
Summit Day!!
The day opens with views of the four lakes spread out across the valley below. We’ll hike around the lakes, dropping down a little from camp, then up the rocky terrain to Oliver’s Pass, at 4,505m. From the pass it’s just another 30-45 mins to the peak over rocky and mossy terrain.
Weismann’s Peak is 4620m high. On a clear day, experience breathtaking views of the Rwenzoris’ greatest peaks and tropical glaciers including Margherita Peak, Mt Baker and Mt Speke. You can even see the trekking huts on the Congo and Uganda sides on the peaks.
The overall walk is approx 8.5km with 650m of elevation gain and 650m of elevation loss and should take 6-8 hours.
Accommodation: Mountain Hut
Day 9: Bugata Camp to Forest View Camp
Trekking distance: 18 km
Trekking time: 9–12 hours
Altitude gain: 390 m up, 1,870 m down
Camping elevation: 2,580 m
A good night’s sleep after the great effort to the summit and today we start the walk out of the Rwenzoris. We’ll cross the muddy moorlands once more from Bugata Camp, going on trails and boardwalks in turns. We’ll ascend to Hunwick’s Pass before embarking on a hard descent to Kiharo Camp and then on to Forest View Camp at 2,580 meters, where we’ll spend the night.
Accommodation: Mountain Hut
Day 10: Hike out and drive to Fort Portal
Trekking distance: 13 km
Trekking time: 7-8 hours
Altitude gain: 200 m up, 1,700 m down
Today we continue our walk out of the Nyamwamba River crossing a few more minor waterfalls.
We will link up with the route we came in on and make our way to the park gate and then through the community to the Trekker’s Hut.
Then we will go to Fort Portal for a celebratory dinner and unwind in our nice hotel.
Total distance 13km with 200m of elevation gain, 1,700m of elevation loss, 7-8 hours estimated time.
Next level shower & night in a comfortable hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel in Fort Portal
Day 11: Chimp Tracking in Kibale National Park
Today we shall go to Kibale National Park, and through the chimp habituation experience, we shall be able to see chimpanzees in their native habitat. This is a highly unique experience that can only be done in a select locations of the world lets just say today is going to be a day you will never forget.
We begin the day with a morning briefing with park rangers and then head off on our walk to a nearby monkey settlement. There are 13 chimp communities in Kibale National Park, 5 of which are habituated with a total of roughly 1450 chimps.
When we find the chimps, we get to spend 4 hours with them, watching them swing through the treetops, have breakfast, engage with each other and if we are lucky even see them up close on the ground relaxing and grooming each other. Chimpanzee habituation begins at 6.30am from Kanyanchu Visitor’s Centre and takes 5-6 hours Distance covered can vary but might go up to 6-8 miles on fairly flat ground Hotel chill after chimp hiking.
Accommodation: Hotel in Fort Portal
Day 12: Drive to Kampala / Entebbe and Final Team Dinner
Our last big push of journey back to Drive to Entebbe/Kampala. The drive will be 6-7 hours.
After settling into the hotel and some chill time, we will meet for our final team dinner to reflect the fantastic couple weeks we have just had together.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kampala
Day 13: Client Departure Day
Sadly our mega trip to Uganda has come to an end and the team must go their separate ways.
Check out time from the hotel is approximately 12 oclock noon. further than breakfast and airport transportation, this is a day when Epic offers no further group activities or services.
End of the 13-Day Rwenzori And Chimpanzee Trekking Itinerary