The 15 Days Rwenzori Hike & Masai Mara Safari will let you explore the famous Rwenzori Mountains also known as “Mountains of the Moon”. This is the highest mountain range in Africa straddling the Uganda and Democratic Republic of the Congo border. Its high elevation makes its peak permanently snow-capped.
The safari will also take you to encounter Masai Mara in Kenya, one of the best safari destinations in the world. While here you will meet Africa’s big five of the lion, buffalo, elephant, rhino and leopard. This will be supplemented with other species like the wildebeest, zebra, Masai giraffe, impala, and gazelles amongst others. The tour will offer you one of the best African adventures you will remember while in Africa.
Rwenzori Hike & Masai Mara Safari Highlights
- Day 1; Transfer from Kampala to the Rwenzori Mountains
- Day 2: Start hiking from Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba (2,652m)
- Day 3; Hike from Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte Hut.
- Day 4; Hike from John Matte Hut to Bujuku Hut.
- Day 5: Hike from Bujuku Hut to Kitandara Hut
- Day 6: Hike from Kitandara Hut to Guy Yeoman Hut.
- Day 7: Descend from Guy Yeoman Hut back to Nymabitaba Hut
- Day 8: Descend from Nyabitaba hut to Nyakalengija.
- Day 9: Transfer back to Kampala
- Day 10: Fly to Nairobi
- Day 11: Transfer to Masai Mara and Afternoon game drive
- Days 12 to 14: Full day game drives and exploring the reserve
- Day 15: Departure flight
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1; Transfer from Kampala to the Rwenzori Mountains
Embark on your transfer to the Rwenzori Mountains after breakfast at your hotel in Kampala which will be a 7 to 8 hours’ drive. Your transfer will take you through the busy and heavily populated urban and lead you through the stunning countryside’s of Uganda spewed with lush green vegetation and scattered settlements apart from the small towns you find on the way.
You will also encounter the impressive Isenberg of Mubende, and picturesque views of our tourist city “Fort Portal” before coming to the majestic Rwenzori Mountains. You will have en-route lunch along the way and upon reaching you will check in at the lodge, relax and chill while waiting for your exciting dinner.
Day 2: Start hiking from Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba (2,652m)
Following a good night’s rest you will wake up early for breakfast and head for the park the Rwenzori Park Headquarters at Nyakalengija. While here you will be briefed by a member of the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services co-operating with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. After the briefing, you will start on your hike up the Rwenzori Mountain and before leaving you can hire some hiking equipment if you didn’t carry any.
The hike starts in an area filled with Bakonzo farmlands. The Bakonzo are renowned mountain people that reside along the lower slopes of this mountain and take pride in their culture. The first trail follows River Mobuku before you cross over the Mahoma River. This stretch turns from well-kept farmlands to podocarpus forested slopes before reaching Nyabitaba Hut at an elevation of 2.652 m. This is the target for the day where we will set camp, rest and prepare for the following day. At Nyabitaba you have great views of the Portal peaks and will not miss the sounds of chimps and of sights of turacos and monkeys.
Day 3; Hike from Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte Hut.
After an early breakfast, get back on the track and leave Nyabitaba hut behind to reach John Matte’s hut later in the day. Our hike will take us across the Kurt Shaffer Bridge with the group maneuvering through a muddy section that goes through a bamboo forest. As the day goes on, you will come across a rocky and steep before reaching the Nyamuleju Hut.
At this point, you will encounter the stunning exotic looking impressive giant lobelia and groundsel vegetation. The hike continues through a swamp and along the Bujuku River. Eventually, we will reach our final destination John Matte hut for tonight’s camp standing at an elevation of 3,414m. Set camp, have dinner and call it a day.
Day 4; Hike from John Matte Hut to Bujuku Hut.
You will wake early as the previous days and have a reenergizing breakfast before breaking camp and setting off again. Your aim today will be to hike up to the Bujuku camp with hikers having to cross the River Bujuku and conquer the lower Bigo marsh which offers hikers an experience of hopping from one tussock to another.
As you proceed with the hike you will meet the Bigo hut before taking on the upper Bigo marsh. An hour or so of hiking will lead you right to the beautiful Lake Bujuku which acts as the beginning point for the alpine savannah vegetation. Later in the evening you will reach the Bujuku Hut and have views of the Speke, Stanley and Baker peaks. The Bujuku hut marks the beginning of the diversion trail leading to Mount Speke. For hikers whose goal is to reach Alexandria and Margarita its recommended to go past the Bujuku Hut and spend the night at the Elena Hut
Day 5: Hike from Bujuku Hut to Kitandara Hut
Rise up in the morning break camp and focus on our hike ahead. The morning breakfast and your company will help you go through the moss-covered groundsel vegetation up to the Scott Eliot pass the highest point on this loop trail. This section is remarkably steep, tricky and rocky. This calls for hikers to be more cautious while hiking as they come closer to the foothills of Mount Baker.
While here you will have sights of Margarita Peak, Mount Baker and not forgetting the Elena glaciers. The sights are indicators that you are closer to the Lake Kitandara hut and camp where we will spend our night. Upon reaching the hut refresh and recharge energy for the following day’s hike.
Day 6: Hike from Kitandara Hut to Guy Yeoman Hut.
Your fifth day of hiking will take you through one of the most beautiful parts of mountain Rwenzori. Leaving behind Lake Kitandara you will come across the plateau glades spewed with alpine moss before descending into the rocky but boggy areas. This section is mostly covered by the glaciers of Mount Stanley and Baker.
The murky trail leads you to the Kabamba, Bujongolo, and Akendahi rock shelters. The Kabamba Valley leads hikers to Guy Yeoman Hut which stands at a height of 3.261m above sea level. The Guy Yeoman Hut where we will spend the night is surrounded by beautiful vegetation dissected by numerous rivers and with stunning views of the surrounding mountain ranges.
Day 7: Descend from Guy Yeoman Hut back to Nymabitaba Hut
On your 7th day of the 15-day Rwenzori hiking and Masai Mara safari, you wake up to a quick breakfast and afterwards break camp and start on the descent to Nyabitaba Hut. This descent will take you through the Kichuchu and Mubuku River Valleys. These two are rich and diverse in terms of flora and filled with both bamboo and heather zones as you climb down the slopes of Rwenzori.
The descent is fair much easier than the ascent once and the pressure is off your shoulders off now. You will come across the Kabamba Falls and have a short stopover to capture some moments of these beautiful falls before proceeding and setting camp at the Nyabitaba hut for your overnight rest and dinner.
Day 8: Descend from Nyabitaba hut to Nyakalengija.
Wake up a little later unlike the previous days and after having your breakfast head for Nyakalengija where you started your hike from. You will arrive in the early afternoon and transfer to the park headquarters. From here refresh at your lodge have a very delicious lunch, relax, catch up with the group and wait for the evening.
This will mark the end of first half of your 15 days of Rwenzori and Masai Mara experience. Take some beverages to celebrate exploring the famous mountains of the moon. Have a wonderful dinner and call it a day.
Day 9: Transfer back to Kampala
After a leisurely amazing breakfast, start on your transfer back to Kampala. You will pass through Queen Elizabeth National Park with its famous beautiful savannah and its abundant game from elephants, Ugandan Kobs, gazelles, lions and elephants to mention a few. You will also drive past the lush Kalinzu forest, Bunyaruguru crater field, Mbarara town and subsequently make a stopover for lunch.
Have another stopover at Uganda Equator in Kayabwe for souvenir shopping, photo shoots, and water experiments that show the difference between the north and south spheres. While here purchase some souvenirs for your adventures in Uganda. After proceeding with the journey back to Kampala were you will spend the night.
Day 10: Fly to Nairobi
Wake up leisurely and check out of your hotel and set off for Entebbe Airport for your transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Nairobi Kenya). You will be received by our trusted local guide at the airport. You will exchange initial introductions and he will give you a briefing about the next five days exploring the Masai Mara national reserve.
This is one of Africa’s top safari destinations with guests having a huge variety of fauna & flora to explore. This includes wildebeest migration which is listed as one of the eight wonders of the world. Encounter different mammals like African big five – lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard.
After briefing, you will continue to your hotel, for check in, relax, and refresh while you wait for dinner later. Depending on your desire you could have a simple city tour with even an evening out to explore Kenya’s night life. Retire later to your hotel for overnight sleep.
Day 11: Transfer to Masai Mara and Afternoon game drive
Your friendly safari guide will fetch you and assist with your checking out from the hotel after a lovely breakfast. You will start on your transfer to the famous Masai Mara with your guide will expound on the details of your day-to-day game viewing itinerary and explain some of the few villages and sites you will come across before reaching the reserve.
After reaching the camp you will enjoy a mouthwatering lunch and later head out for an afternoon game drive to explore the gigantic Masai Mara National Reserve. You will retire to your lodge for an exciting sunset dinner enjoying the African sun glowing beautifully on the horizon.
Days 12 to 14: Full day game drives and exploring the reserve
The following 3 to four days will be some of the most exciting and most rewarding days you will have on any African safari. You will wake very early to a hearty breakfast before going to the different sections of this vast game reserve to explore the various wildlife and flora the park boasts of. The reserve is one of the largest protected areas for wildlife on the African continent.
The Masai Mara offers guests with chance of encountering all the big five of the leopard, buffalo, lion, rhino and elephant while on a game drive. On top of these guests can experience the impressive wildebeest annual migration that also involves other herbivores like antelopes, zebras and impalas. This is a grand sight to behold and so precious that it’s listed as one of the eight wonders of the world.
On these days you will have picnic lunches in the African wilderness to have more time to explore the park’s abundant opportunities. Incredible wildlife and iconic landscapes. You will also encounter the largest elephant population settlement of elephants, buffalo, lion, hippos, leopard and crocodiles. On top of this, you can also explore the more than 450 bird species.
Day 15: Departure flight
On your last day of the 15 days of Rwenzori hiking and Masai Mara safari you will wake up early for your final morning game drive in this amazing game Reserve. Following a wonderful breakfast you will check out of your room with the assistance of your guide and lodge staff and head out to catch the early morning sightings (this could be an arranged picnic breakfast in the wilderness to catch the rising sun glowing over the vast savannah and wildlife).
While heading out you might encounter the bigger cats including lion, leopard and cheetah on a morning hunt. If lucky you might chance them putting down a buffalo or impala a sight not to forget. After your game drives slowly to offer you opportunities of observing the wildlife longer head back to Nairobi for drop off. You will arrive in Nairobi in the late afternoon. You will either be dropped off at your hotel or airport based on your agreed arrangements. This will mark the end of your amazing 15 days amazing African safari.
