You can go chimpanzee trekking in Uganda’s Kibale National Park and get close to families of chimpanzees. Visitors usually spend an hour with the chimpanzees after being briefed by their chimp guide, but they can stay longer if they want a more in-depth chimpanzee habituation experience. Due to high demand, non-resident visitors must obtain permits, which range from $200 to $250 USD. It is also important to book ahead of time, as treks leave at 8 am and 2 pm. You may look forward to a guided walk through a lush rainforest where you might see other primates and birds. But please stay at least 8 meters away from the chimps, and don’t use flash photos.
16 -day Margherita Peak Summit, Chimpanzee & Gorilla Trekking Safari.
An epic 16-day Uganda adventure combining the Margherita Peak summit in the Rwenzori Mountains, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest, wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth, and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
This 16-day Uganda adventure is designed for travelers who want it all: a technical summit of Margherita Peak (5,109 m) in the Rwenzori Mountains, immersive chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest, classic wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and unforgettable gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
It is not a rushed itinerary. It is intentionally paced to allow proper acclimatization, recovery, and profound engagement with Uganda’s most iconic landscapes and primates.
This journey blends high-altitude mountaineering, primate encounters, and savannah wildlife into one of the most comprehensive adventure safaris in East Africa.
Gorilla treks through Uganda’s dense rainforest reveal habituated mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The trek can last anywhere from an hour to a full day, and there is a strict one-hour gorilla viewing limit once you find them. To go gorilla trekking, you’ll need a gorilla trekking permit, which can be around $800 for non-residents. You’ll also need to be physically fit for the steep terrain, and you’ll have to follow strict rules like wearing a mask and keeping your distance. This wildlife experience is truly profound and should be experienced by travelers who are passionate about tourism and conservation.
Safari Highlights by Days: 16-day Margherita Peak Summit, Chimpanzee & Gorilla Trekking Safari.
- Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe for Relaxation & Preparation
- Day 2: Transfer from Entebbe to Kibale Forest National Park (Primate Capital of the World)
- Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking & Transfer to the Rwenzori Mountains
- Day 4: Hike to Nyabitabba (2651m) from Nyakalengija
- Day 5: Trek to John Matte (3505m) from Nyabitaba
- Day 6: Hike to Bujuku Hut from John Matte Hut (3962)
- Day 7: Hike to Elena Hut (4541 m) from Bujuku camp
- Day 8: Summit Day, ascend to Margherita Peak (5,109 m) & back to Kitandara Hut.
- Day 9: Hike from Kitandara to Guy Yeoman via Freshfield Pass (3505m)
- Day 10: Acclimatization / Contingency Day
- Day 11: Descend Guy Yeoman to Nyakalengijja & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP
- Day 12: Queen Elizabeth NP, Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
- Day 13: Queen Elizabeth (Ishasha Sector), & Transfer to Bwindi Forest
- Day 14: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Day 15: Second Gorilla Trek (Optional but Powerful)
- Day 16: Transfer from Bwindi to Entebbe (End of Safari)
Detailed (Day by Day) of the 7 Days Rwenzori Trek (Central Circuit Trail)
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe for Relaxation & Preparation
Our representative will meet you at Entebbe International Airport and transfer you to your hotel near Lake Victoria. We intentionally keep this day light to allow you to recuperate from your international flight.
Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at the hotel, enjoy the swimming pool, take a short walk along the lakeshore, or simply rest. In the evening, you may meet your guide for a brief orientation covering the journey ahead, gear checks, and any last-minute questions.
Overnight: The Boma Hotel, Entebbe
Meals: Bed & Breakfast
Activity level: Very light
Day 2: Transfer from Entebbe to Kibale Forest National Park (Primate Capital of the World)
After breakfast, depart Entebbe and drive west toward Kibale Forest National Park, a journey of approximately 5–6 hours. The route passes through rural Uganda, tea plantations, crater lakes, and the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Lunch is taken en route in Fort Portal, a scenic town surrounded by fertile countryside. After lunch, continue to your lodge near Kibale Forest.
The afternoon is free for relaxation, short nature walks around the lodge, or simply enjoying the forest atmosphere as preparation for chimpanzee trekking the following day.
Overnight: Kibale Tourist Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Activity level: Light travel day
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking & Transfer to the Rwenzori Mountains.
After an early breakfast, take a short drive to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking. Rangers explain trekking rules, chimp behavior, and safety guidelines.
You will then enter the forest with guides to track chimpanzees. Trekking duration varies from 1 to 4 hours, depending on the movement of the chimps. Once located, you spend one hour observing them feeding, calling, grooming, and moving through the canopy.
After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, drive to Nyakalengijja, the main trailhead of the Rwenzori Mountains. This transition marks the shift from wildlife safari to mountain expedition.
Overnight: Snow Heights Lodge (Rwenzori foothills)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activity level: Moderate
Day 4: Hike to Nyabitabba (2651 m) from Nyakalengija at the foothills.
After breakfast, attend a park briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. Meet your mountain guides and porters, finalize load distribution, and begin the trek.
The trail follows the Mubuku River, passing through dense montane forest. Expect muddy sections, wooden bridges, and gradual elevation gain. Wildlife sightings may include monkeys and forest birds.
After several hours of steady ascent, reach Nyabitaba Hut (2,651 m), perched on a ridge with views of the valley below.
Hiking time: 6–7 hours
Overnight: Nyabitaba Hut
Activity level: Moderate–challenging.
Day 5: Trek to John Matte (3505m) from Nyabitaba
After breakfast, descend briefly to cross the Kurt Shafer Bridge at the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. The trail then climbs through a bamboo forest before entering a zone of slippery, moss-covered rock slabs.
Kurt-Scharffer Bridge
As altitude increases, vegetation changes to giant heather and lobelias. On clear sections, you’ll get your first views of Mount Stanley and Margherita Peak.
Arrive at John Matte Hut (3,380 m) in the afternoon for rest and acclimatization.
Hiking time: 7–8 hours
Overnight: John Matte Hut
Activity level: Challenging
Day 6: Hike to Bujuku Hut from John Matte Hut (3962m)
Today’s trek begins by crossing the Bujuku River and entering the famous Lower Bigo Bog. Wooden boardwalks lead through a surreal landscape dominated by giant lobelias.
After a gradual ascent through forested terrain, reach the Upper Bigo Bog, then continue to Lake Bujuku, dramatically set between Mount Baker and Mount Stanley.
The afternoon is free to rest and enjoy the alpine scenery.
Hiking time: 4–5 hours
Overnight: Bujuku Hut (3,962m)
Activity level: Moderate (important acclimatization day)
Day 7: Hike to Elena Hut (4541 m) from Bujuku camp
From Bujuku, begin a steep ascent through giant groundsels toward Scott Elliot Pass (4,372 m), the highest point of the Central Circuit before the summit attempt.
The trail is rocky and can be slippery in wet or icy conditions. Panoramic views open up over the Bujuku Valley, Mount Baker, Mount Luigi di Savoia, and Mount Stanley.
To get across the steep area at the top of the gully, you’ll need a metal ladder. The road then divides in two. The Elena Hut is reached by taking the trail on the right, which then leads to Mt. Stanley via a steep ascent over large rocks. Scott-Elliot Pass is the starting point for the left-hand path that descends to Kitandara Lakes. It is too cold to stay near her hut, which is located on the rocky side of Mount Stanley. From this vantage point atop the Rwenzori Mountains, you can make out Mount Baker and Mount Speke. Fog makes it nearly impossible to make out these two mountains.
Descend slightly to Elena Hut (4,541 m), the primary staging camp for Margherita Peak.
Hiking time: 5–6 hours
Overnight: Elena Hut
Activity level: Challenging
Day 8: Summit Day, ascend to Margherita Peak (5,109 m) & back to Kitandara Hut.
Summit day starts very early, usually between 2:00 and 4:00 am. After a light meal, you gear up with crampons, helmets, and harnesses.
Margherita Peak Climb
The climb involves:
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Glacier crossings
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Rope-assisted sections
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Exposed ridges and icy rock
Under guide supervision, you cross the Stanley Glacier, ascend the summit ridge, and reach Margherita Peak, the highest point in Uganda.
Time at the summit is brief due to cold and exposure. Descent begins immediately via Scott Elliot Pass, continuing down to the beautiful Kitandara Lakes.
Total duration: 10–16 hours
Overnight: Kitandara Hut (4,027m)
Activity level: Extremely demanding
Day 9: Hike from Kitandara to Guy Yeoman via Freshfield Pass (3505m)
After a slower morning, climb toward Freshfield Pass (4,282 m), then descend along high alpine trails on the southern side of Mount Baker.
Freshfield Pass
Fresh Field Pass starts at the base of Mount Baker and goes out into the distance. From the pass, the steep descent through the mud continues until it reaches the rock shelter at Bujangolo. The site was the Duke of Abruzzi’s base camp during his famous trip in 1906. This campsite is an excellent location to stop for dinner and spend the night after a trip that should take no longer than five to seven hours. The Guy Yeoman hut is on the banks of the Mubuku River.
Pass historic shelters used during early 20th-century expeditions before reaching Guy Yeoman Hut.
Hiking time: 6–7 hours
Overnight: Guy Yeoman Hut
Activity level: Challenging
Day 10: Acclimatization / Contingency Day
This day is reserved as a buffer for weather, recovery, or delayed summit attempts. In the Rwenzoris, flexibility is critical for safety and success.
Light walks, rest, and recovery activities are planned depending on conditions.
Overnight: On the mountain
Activity level: Light
Day 11: Descend Guy Yeoman to Nyakalengijja & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP
You can begin your journey to Nyabitaba at Guy Yeoman. The path descends through the bamboo trees. You must be careful on the way down because the ground is slippery and dirty, and there isn’t much to hold on to. After about five hours of hiking, you will have lunch at the Nyabitaba hut. We will be going down to Nyakalengija for the next three hours.
As soon as you get to Nyakengija in the late afternoon, meet your guide and vehicle, then drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a complete change of scenery from alpine wilderness to savannah.
Overnight: Elephant Hab Lodge, Queen Elizabeth NP
Activity level: Moderate descent and transfer
Day 12: Queen Elizabeth NP, Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise.
Morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, home to elephants, buffalo, antelope, and predators.
In the afternoon, enjoy a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, famous for hippos, crocodiles, birds, and close-up wildlife viewing.
Overnight: Elephant Hab Lodge, Queen Elizabeth NP
Activity level: Light–moderate
Day 13: Queen Elizabeth (Ishasha Sector), & Transfer to Bwindi Forest
Drive south to the Ishasha sector, searching for tree-climbing lions resting in fig trees. Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Buhoma Sector, home to mountain gorillas.
Overnight: Buhoma Gorilla Camp, Bwindi
Activity level: Light travel day
Day 14: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest
After an early briefing at the Bwindi Park headquarters, trek into a dense forest to track a habituated gorilla family. Trekking time varies greatly.
Once found, spend one unforgettable hour observing the gorillas.
Overnight: Buhoma Gorilla Camp, Bwindi
Activity level: Moderate
Day 15: Second Gorilla Trek (Different Family)
A second gorilla trek allows you to experience a different gorilla family, terrain, and behavior, making this a completely new experience rather than a repeat.
Overnight: Buhoma Gorilla Camp, Bwindi
Activity level: Moderate
Day 16: Transfer from Bwindi to Entebbe (End of Safari)
After breakfast, drive back to Entebbe with stops at the Equator or Igongo Cultural Museum for lunch and souvenir shopping. Arrival in Entebbe is in the evening for onward travel.
End of Safari
What’s Included in the Safari Fees
- Professional mountain guides
- Porters
- All meals on the mountain
- Accommodation
- Technical summit equipment (Ropes, ice axes, helmets, harnesses)
- Free use of rubber boots
- Gorilla Trekking Permit
- Chimpanzee Permit
- Safari Vehicle and Safari Guide
Not Included in the Package Fees:
- Tips & gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Medevac and Evacuation insurance
- Flights
ANY QUESTIONS?
If you need any clarification about a Rwenzori trek, contact one of our trekking experts to start planning your journey today.
A 10% percentage of your safari proceeds goes to supporting the local Bakonjo Communities (orphans, schools & homes)
The Rwenzori Travel Guide.
- Rwenzori Mountains National Park
- Getting to Rwenzori
- Best Time to Visit the Rwenzori’s
- Things to do/Activities in the Rwenzori Mountains
- Things to See/Attractions in the Rwenzori Mountains
- Rwenzori Trekking Routes
- Central Circuit Trail
- Kilembe Trail
- Bukulungu Trail
- Rwenzori Trekking Safaris
- The Cost of Climbing the Rwenzoris
- Accommodations inside & outside the Rwenzori Mountains.
Rwenzori Trekking Tours 2025/26
- Mount Speke & Mount Stanley Trek – Rwenzori Expedition
- 2-Day Rwenzori Mountains Hike to Lake Mahoma
- 5 Days Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari.
- 2-Day Rwenzori Trek to Sine Camp
- Rwenzori & Karisimbi Trekking
- 4-Day Rwenzori Waterfalls Hike – Kilembe Trail
- 6 Days Rwenzori Mountaineering
- 10 Days Rwenzori Tetra, Bernard, Agart Trek
- 5 Days Climbing Magheritah Peak
- Climbing Mount Elgon
- Rwenzori Kilembe Trek (10 Days)
- 16 Days Uganda Gorillas & Rwenzori Climbing
- 6-Day Rwenzori Portal Peaks Hike.
- 18 Days Rwenzori Trek (8 Peaks)
- 5-Day Mount Speke Hike
- 6-Days Wiseman Trekking Trip
- 7 Days Rwenzori Mountaineering Safari (Central Circuit)
- 5-Day Rwenzori Hike to Bujjuku
- 8-Day Rwenzori Trekking Expedition.
- 7-Day Mount Emin Hiking Itinerary
- 12 Days Rwenzori & Gorilla Trekking
- Rwenzori Hike, Primates Trek, and Big Five Safari
- Rwenzori 5-Day Trek to Edward Peak | Mount Baker & Freshfield Pass Trek
- 7-Day Mount Gessi Trek (4,798m)
- 7 Days of Rwenzori Trekking to Mount Baker & Weismann Peak.
- 3-Day Mahoma Loop Hike
What to Pack:
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Warm sleeping bag (0–10°C rating)
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Rain gear (jacket & pants)
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Sturdy hiking boots
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Thermal layers
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Refillable water bottle
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Trekking poles
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Headlamp
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Snacks & energy bars
- Camera, power bank
Our Popular Rwenzori Treks
Magheritah Peak (8 Days Kilembe Trail)
$1705 Per Person
Mutinda LookOut (4 Days)
$645 Per Person
Short Magherita Hike (5 Days Central Circuit)
$1200 Per Person
Rwenzori Hike (7 Days Central Circuit)
$1400 Per Person
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