This safari will take you to the Margherita Peak, Africa's third highest. Located on Mount Stanley in the Rwenzori Mountains, it stands at 5,109 meters (16,762 feet). Witness majestic gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, track playful chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, wildlife viewing in Ishasha sector and lake Mburo national park, offering an unforgettable experience in the heart of East Africa.
On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport (EBB), you will be met by our guide/driver who will brief you on the trip. Drive westwards toward Fort Portal to the Kibale Forest National Park (about 5 hours). Assemble at the park headquarters for a briefing and then go for the most popular activity in this park, chimpanzee tracking. After you will have lunch and drive to Kasese. Start at Trekkers at 1,450 meters and sleep at Sine Hut at 2,596 meters. Trekking starts at 8.30am and almost immediately you enter the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone. The trail to Bugata Camp is boggy particularly in the wet season. Trek to Hunwick's Camp via Bamwanjarra Pass at 4,450 meters. From Hunwick's we pass down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitendara, then climb up Scott Elliott's pass to Margherita Camp 4,485 metres, the very spot where the Duke of Abruzzi camped when making his climb to Margherita Peak in 1906. Wake up at 2am and catch an early breakfast before heading off to climb Mt Stanley at 2.30am. We have set a strict turnaround time of 10am so if you do not reach the peak before then you must turn around in the interests of safety.
From Hunwick's Camp we start the day by climbing up a ridge towards McConnell's Prong before reaching Oliver's Pass at 4,505 metres, then transfer to queen Elizabeth national park for Overnight. You'll wake up to an early breakfast, check out of the accommodation, and travel to the southern area of the park called Ishasha. This area is popular for the tree-climbing lions. You'll have lunch in Ishasha, thereafter travel southwards to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You'll wake up to an early breakfast at 6:30 am, pick up a packed lunch, and transfer to the park offices for a briefing by the rangers. You are allowed no more than an hour with the mountain gorillas. You'll get to Lake Mburo in time for lunch, then later go for an afternoon game drive in the park. You'll wake up for an early morning nature walk into the park for a chance to catch some nocturnal wildlife at close encounter, led by an armed ranger, then travel back to Entebbe with a stopover at the Equator point for some picture moments.
Kibale Forest National Park is one of the great African rainforest research reserves, famed for the variety of primates found here and a terrific area for birds. The Rwenzori climb crosses Mutinda valley, Namusangi Valley, Bamwanjarra Pass, Lake Kitendara, and Scott Elliott's pass to Margherita Camp, then Oliver's Pass toward Kiharo and the Kilembe gate.
Ishasha is the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park for tree-climbing lions. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park holds the gorilla morning. Lake Mburo National Park closes with a nature walk led by an armed ranger and the Equator stop on the Entebbe road.
The Margherita Peak hike is a serious alpine route with steep bamboo, bog, glacier grades over 60 percent in places, and a 2am start. Weather can close the mountain in snow even in the dryer season, as in January and February 2017. You must accept the 10am turnaround.
Chimpanzee and gorilla days are forest walks. Gorilla trekking is for travellers aged 15 and over. Discuss altitude, crampons, and insurance with us, and carry passport, boots, and rain protection.
Our team of experienced Verdoro guides, drivers, and travel specialists bring not only professionalism and years of field expertise but warmth, storytelling, and genuine hospitality. They are custodians of our landscapes and ambassadors of our culture, whether you are on the Margherita trail, in Kibale Forest, or among the gorillas of Bwindi.
We are a locally owned and community-driven tour operator, proudly based in Uganda the Pearl of Africa. We tailor each journey to match your interests, pace, and spirit, and we see ourselves creating collaborations that improve the quality of our services and inspire the conservation of nature.
On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport (EBB), you will be met by our guide/driver who will brief you on the trip. You will then transfer to your hotel for relaxation, dinner and your overnight stay as you relax from the jet lag and wait for the next day's countryside adventure.
Depending on time you can do a Kampala city tour or visit Ewaffe cultural village before setting off the following morning.
Drive westwards toward Fort Portal to the Kibale Forest National Park (about 5 hours), traveling on both asphalt and unpaved roads. You arrive at Fort Portal for lunch, then continue toward Kibale Forest, one of the great African rainforest research reserves.
This forest is famed for the variety of primates found here and it is a terrific area for birds. Overnight stay at kibale forest camp (FB).
Assemble at the park headquarters for a briefing and then go for the most popular activity in this park - chimpanzee tracking. Chimpanzees are man's closest cousins, though they are one of the most threatened primate species. More primates like the black and white colobus monkey, L'Hoest's monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkey, bushbaby, and potto can be seen, plus birds such as yellow-spotted nicator, rumped tinker bird, little greenbul, green-breasted pitta, crowned eagle, and black bee-eater, and mammals like elephants.
After you will have lunch and drive to Kasese.
Start at Trekkers at 1,450 meters and sleep at Sine Hut at 2,596 meters being a height gain of 1,146 meters, or those who are fit and want to proceed to Kalalama Camp at 3,134 metres may do so.
Apart from the fantastic views this gives you more time at Mutinda Camp where you may climb up to Mutinda Lookout at 3,975 metres.
Trekking starts at 8.30am and almost immediately you enter the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone which is steep climb with many high steps. In the wet season the bamboo zone is rather muddy and slippery making the going slow. However, the atmosphere and the forest is beautiful as you climb 551 metres altitude and a distance of 1.8km to Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters which is in the Heather-Rapanea Zone.
You can take a rest and a quick cup of tea or coffee before heading on to Mutinda Camp.
The trail to Bugata Camp is boggy particularly in the wet season but with a little skill you can step from tussock to tussock to make the going easier. First you cross the Mutinda valley through the tussock grass and everlasting flowers interspersed with many Giant Lobelias before climbing a steep section up to the Namusangi Valley (3,840 meters), with sheer waterfalls and looking back you get fantastic views of Mutinda Peaks.
The Namusangi Valley is wide, with many ups and downs as the trail climbs steadily to Bugata Camp at 4,100 metres.
Trek to Hunwick's Camp via Bamwanjarra Pass. As you leave Bugata Camp you pass up a ridge then drop down slightly before ascending to Bamwanjarra Pass at 4,450 meters where we have a hut should the weather turn bad. From the pass on a clear day, you get excellent views of the three main peaks.
The trail passes down the valley around bogs and thick evergreen vegetation, moss, giant groundsel and lobelia, possibly the best place in all the Rwenzori to observe the Malachite Sunbird. Farther on there are steep sections before a steady climb up and over a ridge to Hunwick's Camp on the top of a deep valley with good views of Mt Stanley, Mt Baker, Weismanns Peak and McConnell's Prong.
From Hunwick's we pass down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitendara, with deep water and beautiful vegetation. From here you climb up Scott Elliott's pass then up the ridge to Margherita Camp 4,485 metres which is situated between some huge rocks and offering some shelter from the strong winds.
This is the very spot where the Duke of Abruzzi camped when making his climb to Margherita Peak in 1906.
Wake up at 2am and catch an early breakfast before heading off to climb Mt Stanley at 2.30am. This is necessary as the weather has changed a lot and often even during the dryer season the mountain is closed in with heavy clouds and snow falls from 1 pm to 4pm. Due to this change in weather, we have set a strict turnaround time of 10am so if you do not reach the peak before then you must turn around regardless of the disappointment in the interests of safety.
Margherita glacier has also suffered with global warming and as the outer edges of the glacier recede the ice is becoming steeper with one section of about 200 meters more than 60% grade. Combined with this much of the ice has melted underneath causing caves, so it is necessary that clients understand and take advice of where the guides suggest to pass.
Distance to Kiharo Camp 11km, time taken to walk 4 to 7 hours. From Hunwick's Camp we start the day by climbing up a ridge towards McConnell's Prong where you get the best views of all three peaks and Scott Elliott's Pass before reaching Oliver's Pass at 4,505 metres.
The distance from Hunwick's Camp to the top of Olivers Pass is 3km. The trail then cuts across below Weismann's Peak to the confluence of the Nyamwamba River which flows down through Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elisabeth National Park.
Distance Kiharo Camp to the park gate 16km and another 2.8km down to Trekkers Hostel.
Transfer to queen Elizabeth national park for Overnight after you leave the mountain trail.
You'll wake up to an early breakfast, check out of the accommodation, and travel to the southern area of the park called Ishasha. This area is popular for the tree-climbing lions, and if you are lucky, you may see them. Other big game in this area includes elephants, topis, and buffalo, among others.
You'll have lunch in Ishasha, thereafter travel southwards to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
You'll wake up to an early breakfast at 6:30 am, pick up a packed lunch, and transfer to the park offices for a briefing by the rangers, and they will assign a gorilla group you shall track. At 8:00 am, you'll transfer to the start of the trek and head into the forest to find the mountain gorillas. You are allowed no more than an hour with them; return to meet your driver.
Optional: Batwa community to see the indigenous ways of living. You'll return to the lodge for dinner.
You'll have breakfast and check out, and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. You'll get to Lake Mburo in time for lunch, check in to your accommodation, and then have lunch.
After lunch, you'll relax, and then later go for an afternoon game drive in the park and get to see a really beautiful sunset in the plains.
You'll wake up for an early morning nature walk into the park for a chance to catch some nocturnal wildlife at close encounter. You are led by an armed ranger; after the walk, return to the lodge, check out and travel back to Entebbe. Lunch is en route.
You also get to make a stopover at the Equator point for some picture moments.
On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport (EBB), you will be met by our Verdoro guide/driver who will brief you on the trip, then transfer to your hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
The final morning is a nature walk in Lake Mburo, then the road back to Entebbe with lunch en route and a stopover at the Equator point. Share outbound flight times.
Night one is your booked hotel after the Entebbe arrival. Overnight stay at kibale forest camp follows chimpanzee tracking, then the Margherita trail uses Sine Hut, Kalalama Camp, Mutinda Camp, Bugata Camp, Hunwick's Camp, Margherita Camp at 4,485 metres, and Kiharo Camp as height is gained and lost on Mount Stanley.
After the park gate you overnight in Queen Elizabeth National Park before Bwindi for gorilla trekking, then Lake Mburo National Park for the afternoon game drive and the early nature walk before the Equator stop and Entebbe transfer.
Pack mountaineering layers, waterproofs, sturdy boots, gloves, and a head torch for the 2am Mount Stanley start, plus closed shoes and rain protection for chimpanzee and gorilla forest days.
Bring binoculars, sunscreen, insect repellent, a reusable bottle, and dry bags for cameras on Ishasha and Lake Mburo game drives.
Gorilla trekking permits, chimpanzee permits, park entrance fees, the 8-day Margherita Peak hike, listed activities, meals as mentioned day by day, all accommodations, round trip airport transfers, a professional guide driver, listed transportation, and taxes sit in this bundle.
The published rate is per person sharing a twin or double room. Tell us if you need a single room so we can confirm availability across the forest nights and the mountain huts.
International flights, extra nights before and after the tour, tips, personal items such as visa fees and travel insurance, and government imposed increases of taxes sit outside the package.
Plan mountain clothing and insurance with evacuation cover suited to high altitude and glacier travel separately from the safari nights.
Trekking starts from Trekkers at 1,450 meters, with nights at Sine Hut, Kalalama Camp, Mutinda Camp, Bugata Camp, Hunwick's Camp, and Margherita Camp between huge rocks at 4,485 metres, the spot where the Duke of Abruzzi camped in 1906.
Summit day starts at 2am for Mt Stanley, with a strict turnaround time of 10am so if you do not reach the peak before then you must turn around in the interests of safety. Margherita glacier is becoming steeper as it recedes, and guides advise where to pass.
You assemble at Kibale park headquarters for a briefing, then go chimpanzee tracking. Chimpanzees are among the most threatened primate species, and the forest also holds black and white colobus, L'Hoest's monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkey, bushbaby, potto, and many birds.
After lunch you drive to Kasese, ready for the Rwenzori start the following day. That overnight puts you close to the trailhead so the climb can begin without a long morning transfer.
You wake for breakfast at 6:30 am, pick up a packed lunch, and transfer to the park offices for a briefing. Rangers assign a gorilla group, and at 8:00 am you transfer to the start of the trek. You are allowed no more than an hour with them.
An optional Batwa community visit can follow. Mountain gorilla trekking is for travellers aged 15 and over, matching how permits are issued for this forest morning.
This is a serious high-mountain itinerary with steep bamboo, boggy valleys, glacier travel, and a 2:30 am alpine start. Weather on Mt Stanley can close in with heavy clouds and snow from 1pm, even in the dryer season.
Chimpanzee and gorilla days are forest walks. Share altitude experience, crampon comfort, and any knee or lung limits when you book so guides can advise honestly.
Night one is your booked hotel after Entebbe. Kibale Forest Camp is named for the chimpanzee night. Mountain nights use Sine Hut, Kalalama, Mutinda, Bugata, Hunwick's, Margherita Camp, and Kiharo Camp as the trail dictates.
After the park gate you overnight in Queen Elizabeth National Park, then Bwindi for gorilla trekking, then Lake Mburo before the Equator road to Entebbe.
Meals are as mentioned day by day, including lodge dining off the mountain and hut or camp meals on the Margherita trail.
Tell us vegetarian, vegan, or allergy requirements when you book so kitchens and packed lunches can be planned across fifteen moving nights.
Pack mountaineering layers, waterproofs, sturdy boots, and gloves for the Rwenzori, plus a head torch for the 2am summit start, and closed shoes for chimpanzee and gorilla forest days.
Add binoculars, a reusable bottle, sunscreen, insect repellent, and dry bags for cameras on Ishasha and Lake Mburo game drives.
You'll wake to an early breakfast, check out, and travel to Ishasha, popular for tree-climbing lions, plus elephants, topis, and buffalo. You'll have lunch in Ishasha, thereafter travel southwards to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The following morning is mountain gorilla trekking, with an optional Batwa community visit, before the transfer to Lake Mburo for an afternoon game drive.
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About the centre
Entebbe
We arrange guided wildlife safaris, primate trekking, and canoe adventures across Uganda and neighbouring East Africa, from short national-park circuits to multi-day lodge-to-lodge journeys. Whether you are planning your first gorilla trek, a birding route through forest and savanna, or a river canoe trail, we shape the trip around how you like to travel and how much time you have.
Our team coordinates airport or hotel pickups, 4x4 road transport, park logistics, and hosting on the ground so you can focus on the experience. We give straight advice on trekking fitness, permit timing, and what to bring, and we stay in touch from your first enquiry through to departure.
Operated by Verdoro Safaris, a partner of adventuro.
