Tour code B004

Tour highlights include: Rwenzori Mountain Climbing and Queen Elizabeth National Park

The Rwenzori ranges lie120km along the western border of Uganda and rise to a height of 1,500 meters. Walking tours on the lower slopes do not call for mountaineering experience, but only adept and properly equipped climbers should attempt the peaks, three of which rise above 500m.

Day one:
On arrival at Entebbe airport, you will be met by Breeze Travel representative who will assist you with clearing immigration and visa formalities.

Transfer: Transfer by air-conditioned bus to your 3star or 4 star hotels depending on arrival time.

Check-in: Our BTS tour Manager will assist you with check in at the hotel.

Evening: your guide will go to the park headquarters Rwenzori Mountaineering Services to arrange payments and rent equipment and select guides and potters for the next day’s journey.Overnight and Dinner: At your hotel----Margherita.

Day two:
After break fast the BTS Tour Manager will brief you about the journey and start to ascend one of the most challenging mountains in Africa. Walking pass through wattle and mud Bakojo homes and gradually moving upward through elephant grass and gardens. It’s about approximately forty minutes to reach the national park boundary. After crossing the Mahoma 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). Dinner and Over night at Nyabitaba hut.

Day three:
From Nyabitaba Hut that trail leads westward for a half km then drops north (right) steeply to Kurt Shafer Bridge, crossing below the confluence of Bujuku and Mubuku Rivers. By turning down the bridge you begin the circuit counter clock wise.
After crossing the Shafer Bridge, the muddy slippery trail climbs steadily up through bamboo forest. After one and a half hours you encounter an area of slippery boulder hopping which many hikers consider the most difficult and dangerous footing on the circuit.Dinner and Over night at Nyamileju Hut. Nyamileju means " a place of beards" referring to the lichen and spanish moss draping trees near by. On a rare day, Mts. Stanley and Speke can be seen from the top of the rock near the Hut.

Day four:
After breakfast, you will continue to John Matte Hut (11,200 ft3, 414 m) which is through a tiring bog full of these extraordinary plants and the slow pace can be a delightful chance to examine and photograph this unique environment. Well situated, John Matte is newly constructed, large and comfortable though muddy around the site. Hikers who feel they have reached their limits by this point should consider John Matte a reasonable stopping point. You can just enjoy the unique vegetation in the bog and the great views and the following day begin your return to Nyabitaba. Dinner and Over night at Nyabitaba.

Day five:
You leave John Matte Hut to cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower of the two Bigo Bogs, where your first real experience jumping from tussock to tussock in a grassy bog begins. The trail is very muddy and follows the left (southern) edge of Lower Bigo Bog until eventually it reaches the round metal "uniport" of Bigo Hut and it's rock shelter.
A steep section past the hut leads to upper Bigo Bog. In the last half of this bog a boardwalk has been constructed. Though some may think it an ugly intrusion, it makes walking easier and keeps hikers from further damaging the bog. An hour and a half beyond the upper bog, and after climbing through drier ground and crisscrossing the River, you reach Bukulu Lake. The southern end of the lake is a majestic setting, with Mt. Bakerto the south, and views west to Mt Stanley and north to Mt. Speke. Beyond the north end of the lake is a rock shelter called Cooking Pot and a short distance further is Bukulu Hut( 13,000ft/3,962m),favourably located for parties climbing Mt. Speke. Dinner and Over night at Bukulu 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. Dinner and Over night at Kitandara Lake hut.

Day seven:
Start hiking back to the park head quarters.
After breakfast, you will probably begin very early if you decided to make it all the way to the Park Headquarters and complete your trek (8 hours). The other alternative will be to spend a night at the Nyabitaba Hut. F/B.

Day eight:
Start hiking back and complete your trek by the evening. On arrival at the Park Office, visit a simple restaurant developed by a local ladies group for a beer and a luxurious candlelight meal. Dinner and Over night at Hotel Margherita.

Day nine:
After breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National park to end your trip with relaxation at Mweya safari lodge. Have an afternoon boat trip and later an evening game drive. Spend the whole evening relaxing by the swimming pool and dinner and over night at Mweya lodge. F/B.

Day ten:
Have a morning game drive and later transfer to Kampala and later catch your flight back home depending on International departure times. End of safari with Breeze Travel and Safaris ltd Bon voyage!

Package quotation:

2 pax on safari, the price per person will be US$1,670 for the whole trip.
4 Pax on safari, the price per person will be US$1,450 for the whole trip.
6 Pax on safari, the price per person will be US$1,250 for the whole trip.

Please note that the following is required for your mountain tracking.

• - Crampons
• - Sleeping bags
• - Sleeping mats
• - Rops - Available at Ushs5,000/= for the whole trip
• - Climbing boots
• - Rubber boats
• - Gaiter - Hired at Ushs5,000/=
• - Hanex - available at Ushs10,000/=
• - Rain gear
• - Snow glasses
• - Gloves
• - Food

Note:

Please note that the above cost includes all accommodation based on full board, a full time safari guide with his associated expenses, all ground transportation, and airport transfers, all entry fees and local entertainment, bottled water, tea or coffee while on road, all activities while on safari and the applicable Government Taxes.

Excluded are: Fuel: due to price change we will advice full package with fuel, Alcohol, tips, air fare, any extras outside the outlined itinerary, personal insurance, personal services like laundry, phone calls etc.

Please note that these are just sample itineraries we can design many more basing on individual clients needs, interests, time scale and budget. So why not tell us what you want for your trip!

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