Day One
Meet and greet at Entebbe International Airport by a Guide who will warmly welcome you and facilitate seamless arrival formalities. After a short transfer to your hotel you will be briefed about you safari. Depending on the time of arrival e.g. if your flight arrives in the morning, you are advised to have money changed this day. To get to know Kampala, you can visit some of the landmarks in town with the help of our driver/guide. Overnight at either Lake Victoria Serena Resort for up market accommodation or Cassia Lodge for Medium range accommodation, or Namirembe Guest House for Low budget accommodation. BB
Day Two
Depart Kampala in the morning after breakfast and go through Uganda’s beautiful green countryside. Watch out for the Equator en-route as well as plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits. Proceed to the Queen Elizabeth National Park arriving in time for lunch. After lunch proceed for an evening game drive where you will also see the crater Lakes. Overnight at Hotel margarita
Day Three
This morning, you will begin your hike by leaving the park head quarters (5400ft 1,646 m), walking past typical “ wattle and mud” Buhonjo homes and gradually moving upward through elephant grass and garden plots. It takes approximately forty minutes to reach the National Park boundary (which can be a pleasant half or one day trip for someone not going further ).The trail then follows the Mahoma River after about two and a half hours. After crossing the River, you will have a very steep climb through open bracken fern slopes and Podocarpus forest up to Nyabitaba Hut ( 8,700 ft/ 2,652) reached about an hour and a half past the Mahoma River crossing. During this part of the trip, you may be able to see Chimps and some times behind the Hut you can see Black and White Colobus and Blue monkeys and catch glimpses of the brilliantly -colored Rwenzori Touraco ( a bird of the tree tops). Over night at Nyabitaba hut. F/B.
Day Four
This involves a demanding 7 hours hike to John Matt Hut. The central circuit starts a few hundred meters beyond Nyabitaba where the trail divides the right fork leads to the peaks up the Bujuku valley while the path on the left is used for subsequent descent.
The trail leads to the Kurt Shafter Bridge which crosses the Mubuku valley just below the river’s confluence with the Bujuku valley. Beyond the river, a muddy, slippery trail climbs steadily up through bamboo forest. The final hour’s walk too John Matte hut passes through a challenging bog full of extraordinary plants. Overnight at John Matt hut.
Day Five
The route fords the Bujuku River as you cross the lower Bigo bog; a steep climb follows to reach the upper Bigo bog where a board walk has been constructed to assist walkers. In clear weather, there are superb views of Mt. Stanley at the head of this cavernous, glacier- carved valley. Above the bog, after a long steady climb over glacial moraine, criss- crossing the river, the trail reaches the lake Bujuku. The last stage of the hike is perhaps the muddiest stage of the expedition. Overnight at Bujuku hut
Day Six
To continue the circuit, you leave directly west from Bukulu hut on a newer trail, which rises and falls twice before finally climbing steeply through magical moss- draped Groundsel Gully towards (14,345ft/4,372m) Scott Elliot pass. At the head of the gully is a short, strong ladder at a particularly steep section, after which a right hand branch would lead to Elena Hut (14, 700ft/4,430m). This is a steep, rocky trail which when wet or icy is treacherously slippery. Continuing straight, and a few steps below the pass there is a sheltered spot for a break, from here there is a second trail to the right to Elena is the Base Camp for climbing. Margherita peak in the Mt. Stanley complex, which would require an additional day or two and can only be attempted with ice axe, mountain boots, crampons, ropes and prior arrangements with RMS guides. Over night at Kitandara Lake Hut. F/B
Day Seven
Arise in the morning and head to the margarita peak. You will afterwards return to Elena hut for a cup of hot tea as you relax, then head to the Hut beside lower Lake Kitandara, a beautiful site surrounded by towering peaks.
Day Eight
Fresh field is a long traverse through tracts of fabulously colorful moss (and more mud) below which the descent to Nyakalengija begins. The trek to guy Yeoman hut takes around 5 hours. The hut enjoys a lovely location close to Mubuku River with terrific views of the looming Mt.Baker to the north.
Day Nine
With an early rise you will be able to descent all the way back to Nyakalengija where you will be met again by your driver guide, report to the park office and later transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park.Overnight at either Kyambura Lodge for up market accommodation, or Ihamba Lodge for medium range or Albertine Rift Safari Camps for Low budget accommodation. FB
Day Ten
Transfer back to Kampala.Overnight at either Lake Victoria Serena Resort for up market accommodation or Cassia Lodge for Medium range accommodation, or Namirembe Guest House for Low budget accommodation. BB
Day Eleven
Depending on the time of your flight, the guide will drop you at Entebbe ready to depart.
