Depart early for the Rwenzori Mountains National Park. This is largely a travel day from Entebbe to the western town of Kasese. Transfer by road from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese airfield at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains in western Uganda. Our guide will pick you up early so you can have a more comfortable 6-7 hour drive to the Rwenzori Mountains, also famously known as the Mountains of the Moon. Once in Kasese, check into your hotel to rest or explore town as you prepare for the next day’s start of the mountain trek.

Today is you embark on your hike into the Rwenzori Mountains National Park. After an early breakfast at your hotel in Kasese, your guide will drive you to the trek starting point at Trekkers Hostel at the foothills of the mountains.

The Rwenzori Mountains, often referred to as the “Mountains of the Moon,” offer a truly unforgettable mountaineering experience. These majestic peaks, second only to Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, are renowned for their stunning beauty, diverse ecosystems, and challenging terrain. Ascend through lush rainforests, traverse across glaciers, and summit towering peaks, all while being surrounded by breathtaking scenery. The Rwenzori Mountains offer a unique blend of adventure, natural beauty, and cultural immersion, making it a must-do for any avid mountaineer or nature lover.

Start Point: Trekkers Hostel, Kyanjuki (1,450 meters), 12 km from Kasese.
Begin your trek through the Afro-Montane Forest, home to a variety of birds and wildlife like blue monkeys and black-and-white colobus monkeys. There’s also a chance to spot L’Hoest monkeys and hear wild chimpanzees.

Along the way, you’ll pass through bamboo thickets and moss-covered vines. Don’t miss Enock’s Falls, just 200 meters from Sine Hut, a perfect spot for a photo.

Overnight: Sine Camp, with rustic wooden huts surrounded by tall trees, offering views of a waterfall.
Height Gain: 1,146 meters | Distance: 9.5 km

Hike to Mutinda Camp at 3,588 meters (11,752ft), giving you a height gain of 992m (3,255ft). The trek ends in Mutinda Camp, which sits near a small waterfall. You will be staying here for the night. You can now wash, refresh and simply enjoy being in the Mountains of the Moon.

Or if you do have what it takes, climb up to the Mutinda Lookout -3975m (13,041ft) – which is one and a half hours up, and one hour down. You will be rewarded with great views of Kasese town and on a clear day, even Lake George in the savanna plains farther away in the Queen Elizabeth National Park.

This afternoon trek is also good for acclimatization.

Start the day by climbing along a rocky riverbed and passing through boggy areas. You’ll reach the top of a high waterfall before descending through Hunwicks Pass. The trail leads through the Twin Peaks, where you can spot hawks, eagles, and possibly Hyrax or Red Diker. After crossing bogs and passing giant lobelias, you’ll arrive at Kiharo Camp at which is situated in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation.

On the way down the valley after each bog you will climb over a ridge of stones and earth which seems out of place but actually was pushed there by slow moving glaciers which eventually stopped moving, melted and left a pile of rocks and debris in front of where the glacier once stood.

Overnight: Kiharo Camp, located near a beautiful waterfall cascading down moss-covered rocks.
Height Gain: 387 meters | Descent: 545 meters | Distance: 5 km

It is time to say goodbye to Africa’s greatest secret and botanical garden. Enjoy the sunrise before breakfast and the trek back to base. The Nyamwamba Valley offers stunning scenery, with cascading waterfalls, moss-covered rocks, and some of the best forests in the Rwenzori Mountains. After passing several Duiker clearings and breathtaking waterfalls, you’ll climb up and over a ridge before descending through dense forest. Stop at Forest View Camp for lunch before completing the final leg of your adventure at Trekkers Hostel.

From Kiharo Camp, you’ll trek 16 kilometers downhill to the park gate, plus an additional 2.8 kilometers to Trekkers Hostel. It takes about 5 to 8 hours to do the trek. Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers will debrief you before you exit the national park.

Your guide will then transfer you to Kibale National Park, also fondly known as the “Primate Capital”. Kibale is home to the largest groups of chimpanzees that you can visit on a trek here. Rest in your comfortable accommodation as you prepare for next day’s chimpanzee tracking adventure.

Tracking chimpanzees in Kibale National Park is a thrilling and immersive experience, offering you the chance to observe these intelligent and charismatic primates in their natural habitat. Kibale National Park is renowned for its high population of chimpanzees, making it one of the best places in Africa for chimpanzee tracking.

The day starts with a pre-trek briefing by experienced guides. Once the chimpanzee community is located, visitors are allowed a limited time (usually one hour) to observe and enjoy the experience. Guides provide information about the chimpanzees’ behavior, social structure, and the surrounding ecosystem. You may witness various behaviors, including feeding, grooming, playing, and even vocalizations. Chimpanzees share a close genetic relationship with humans, and observing them can be a fascinating and sometimes emotional experience.

After chimpanzee tracking adventure, trans to the Clarke Farm and Coffee Estate. Nestled amidst serene landscapes, this idyllic retreat offers a perfect blend of relaxation and exploration. Immerse yourself in the art of coffee cultivation, learning about the farm-to-cup process and sampling freshly brewed Ugandan coffee.

Savor the tranquility and indulge in the flavors of Uganda’s renowned coffee, reflecting on the memorable adventure. This enriching experience offers a delightful introduction to the warmth and hospitality of Ugandan culture, and providing the perfect cup to toast your unforgettable adventure.

Break the morning with a cup of freshly brewed Ugandan coffee that was harvested from these same lands. Thereafter, take a coffee tour at the farm, learning about the bean-to-cup journey. There is no better way to toast to your Uganda safari than enjoying a coffee safari experience with the locals of the coffee estate. Over 800 individuals and families are positively impacted by this coffee plantation that shares its knowledge and expertise. One more mountain summit down, one community lifted up, you are now part of that positive change.

After a memorable safari experience, depart the coffee farm and transfer to Entebbe to the next destination.

Optional activities like a safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park or Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi can be arranged on request.