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MT. ELGON, LAKE VICTORIA & RWENZORI MOUNTAINS

Trip Overview

Travel Route: Nairobi – Nakuru – Sipi Falls – Mt Elgon Trekking – Jinja – Rwenzori Climb – Entebbe
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Duration 20 days 19 nights

Ideal For Adventurous guests interested in a journey with an expedition flavour that brings you close to millions of flamingos, to the fabled Source of the Nile, the most thrilling white water rafting and to the top of the third and sixth highest peaks in Africa.
Summary An amazing journey with an expedition flavour to it that brings you close to millions of flamingos, to the fabled Source of the Nile and grade 5 rapids, to spectacular waterfalls and quaint villages and to the top of the third and fifth highest peaks in Africa. Start your journey at the stunning Flamingo-covered Lake Nakuru. From here, you drive through scenic and rarely visited Western Kenya and cross the border to Uganda where you spend one night at the spectacular Sipi Falls before climbing Mt Elgon on the Kenyan-Ugandan border, a true off-the-beaten path destination with rewarding trekking options. To wash-off the dust, spend a couple of days in Jinja on Lake Victoria, the source of the Nile, which offers interesting glimpses at everyday life as well as exhilarating white water rafting before heading to Western Uganda for a multi-day climb of the Rwenzoris, the legendary Mountains of the Moon and third highest mountain range in Africa.
Services Included13 nights with fullboard accommodation,4 nights with halfboard accommodation and 2 nights with bed and breakfast, Top quality 4x4 safari vehicle and qualified English-speaking driver guide, Game drives in Nakuru, Guided trekking and mountain climbing on Mt Elgon and the Rwenzoris, Boat safari, village visit and 1 full day white water rafting in Jinja, All national park and conservation fees, Flying Doctor emergency evacuation cover, 24-hour point of contact in Kenya and Uganda.
Cost per Person:
From US$ 7,370

The price quoted above is an approximate.Price based on 2 people shairing a double or twin and traveling during high season (July to Oct).

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Nakuru
Day 1
Enjoy a scenic drive as you descend into the dramatic Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru (2-3 hours).
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Lake Nakuru is one of the alkaline Rift Valley lakes whose shores are populated by up to one million flamingos - probably one of the greatest bird spectacles on earth. Discover the beauty of Lake Nakuru, the wonderful birdlife and diverse wildlife including lions, rhinos and large herds of buffaloes and its striking and diverse landscapes.

One moment you find yourself only meters away from the lake shore and hundreds of thousands of flamingos, the next moment you are in dense forest amidst a troop of baboons, on a clearing you suddenly encounter rare rhinos and on top of a sheer cliff you marvel at the birds’ eye perspective of the lake and the flamingos which from up here will appear to you like a pink cover on top of the lake.

Accommodation: Flamingo Hill Camp or Lakira Camp

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Sipi Falls
Day 2
Your drive takes you over the border from Kenya into Uganda and onwards to Sipi Falls at the foot of Mt Elgon (7-8 hours).
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Experience the magnificent waterfalls and enjoy a walk through the small villages which gives you a glimpse of authentic everyday life in this fertile and densely populated part of Uganda.

Accommodation: Sipi Falls Lodge

Mt Elgon Trekking
Days 3 - 6
Today you begin your hike on Mt Elgon, with 4,321 meters the sixth highest mountain in Africa and the mountain with the largest base of any extinct volcano in the world.
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A lush mosaic of forest, grassland, moorland habitats and a huge caldera at the top surrounded by a series of rugged peaks makes this park a highly rewarding destination for hikers and other natural history enthusiasts. While ascending Mt Elgon's enchanting slopes, you will pass through dense Afro-montane forest and mixed bamboo belts teeming with birdlife.

You will then enter the fascinating heath and moorland zones containing several interesting endemic plant species while wildlife enthusiasts will be pleased to spot primates and hundreds of fascinating bird species. If you are particularly observant you can also see buffalo, duiker, hyena or even the elusive leopard.
While Mt Elgon is a worthwhile mountain in itself as it is quite pristine and you will hardly meet anyone else on your trek, it also serves as a great acclimatization mountain for a climb in the Rwenzoris

Accommodation: Tents

Jinja
Days 7 - 9
Drive past small villages and fields to Jinja at the source of the Nile (2 hours).
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Enjoy a boat excursion to the source of the Nile and get a glimpse at every day African life when walking through small villages where you may be invited to lunch in the house of your guide.

For the adventurous, Jinja is the East African counterpart to more southerly ‘adrenaline capitals’ such as Victoria Falls and Cape Town. Bujagali is the launching point for a white-water rafting route that ranks as one of most thrilling but also one of the safest in the world, passing through five heart-stopping Grade Five rapids in one day. Other activities include kayaking, mountain biking, quad-biking and a new 44 metre-high bungee jump from a cliff above the Nile.

Accommodation: The Haven

Rwenzoris - Ten Day Trek to Margherita Peak
Days 10 - 19
Your journey takes you across Uganda to the breathtaking Rwenzori Mountains (7-8 hours).
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The Rwenzori Mountains are located on the Uganda-Congo border just north of the Equator and are often referred to as the Mountains of the Moon due to their legendary beauty. The mountain range has six peaks, the highest of which is Margherita Peak, rising to 5,109 metres, making it the third highest in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. The mountains are covered in interesting flora and fauna, and there are many wild flowers and stunning birds as well as giant Lobelia and groundsel (up to 10 metres).

You will discover a remote and only recently opened Kilembe route to the Rwenzoris through the most beautiful section of the park. The incredibly beautiful Nyamwamba Valley will take your breath away.

Climbing Margherita Peak is more of a hard scramble than a climb and when it snows it is difficult and you will require crampons and ice axe but the rewards and exhilaration of reaching the top is enormous as you look across Albert Peak to the DRC (Congo) and east across the sprectra of the Rwenzori Mountains.

As the Kilembe route has only recently been opened, there are no mountain huts, unlike the standard Rwenzori circuit route. Therefore, accommodation is in 12x20 foot 8 person permanent tents with a ten foot annex. Stretchers and mattresses are provided but you need to bring a warm sleeping bag and clothes.
The best time to climb the Rwenzoris is from June through to August and from December to February.

Accommodation: Tents (first & last night in guest house)

Nairobi
Day 20
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If you are lucky, you catch a last glimpse of the Rwenzoris as you are driving back through Uganda’s scenic countryside to Entebbe for your journey onwards or flight back home.

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We at Enchanting-Africa have one main goal: To help you achieve authentic, individual travels to Africa.
Please contact us if you want to book this trip or have it adapted to your individual needs.

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