9 Days Rwenzori Trekking Adventure
Day 1: Kampala – Rwenzori Mountains
After your morning breakfast, our guide will pick you from hotel of residence depart from Kampala drive Westwards via Mityana-Mubende highway.
Stopover to Tanda village, Mubende local market and shop local snacks and then to Nakayima tree which has lived for good historical years and thereafter proceed to Fort Portal for your en-route lunch.
Later on proceed through the Mubuku valley up to the village of Ibanda. While you relax in the montane atmosphere of the hotel, meet your guides and start arranging for the next day trekking. Dinner and overnight at Holiday Camp Base. Meal plan: Half-Board.
Day 2: Nyakalengeja-Nyabitaba Hut
After breakfast proceeds to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park head quarter in Nyakalengeja, 1615 m. prepare for the briefing from the officials; hire equipment and porters before you start the experience.
The hike starts through the plantations and homes of the Bakonjo, the people of the Rwenzori. Follow the Mubuku River inside the mountain forest up to the first hut, Nyabitaba, 2.652 m which is the arrival point for the day.
During the day you might see the black and white Columbus, the blue monkeys, hearing the chimpanzees. Typical is the colorful Rwenzori Turaco.
From Nyabitaba, you are facing on the North the Portal Peaks, 4.627 m, and in front Mount Kyniangoma. Dinner and overnight at Nyabitaba Hut. Meal plan: Full-Board
Day 3: Nyabitaba Hut-John Matte Hut.
From the Nyabitaba Hut take the trail that leads westwards to the Kurt Shaffer Bridge, which crosses the Mubuku River just below its confluence with Bujuku River. Here is where the proper “central circuit” starts, and you will take the right side (while you will descend from the left side).
The vegetation zone is now the bamboo forest. You reach up to a steep rock which leads to Nyamuleju Hut, the beginning of the groundsel zone. Follow a swampy bog full of extraordinary plants and giant lobelias.
The arrival point for the day is John Matte Hut, 3.505 m. For dinner and overnight. From this location you can enjoy for the first time the view of the snow capped peaks of Mount Stanley. Meal plan: Full-Board.
Day 4: John Matte-Bujuku Hut.
From this point you will cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower “Bigo bog”, a grassy bog and experience how to jump from tussock to tussock. After a rocky climb you reach Bigo Hutand enter the upper “Bigo bog”.
From this extraordinary boggy valley you might have good view of the Mount Stanley. Finally you reach Lake Bujuku, then proceeding through a very muddy swampy area until Bujuku Hut, 3.962 m. This is where the alpine zone begins and the grass becomes scarce and smaller.
This day hike can take up to 5 hours. The hut is well positioned down the Mount Speke and on the trail to Congo. This hut provides view of Mount Baker and Mount Stanley. Meal plan: Full-Board.
Day 5: Bujuku Hut-Elena Hut.
After a muddy area, you start a steep climbing through a forest of giant groundsels up to the Groundsel Gully.
A branch in the trail leads to Elena Hut, 4.430 m, arrival point for the ones who intend to climb Margherita Peak. If you are only taking the central circuit, then the trail proceeds directly to Kitandara Hut.
You walk through Scott Elliot Pass, 4.372 m., the highest point during the central circuit, where you can enjoy stunning panoramic views down the Bujuku valley, of Mount Baker, Mount Luigi di Savoia and Stanley just above.
This is a steep, rocky trail which when is wet or icy can be very slippery. Dinner and overnight at Elena Hut. Meal plan: Full-Board.
Day 6: Elena Hut-Kitandara Hut.
From Elena Hut, ascend the last tract of rock and ice which leads to Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley, 5.109 m. You might take about 3 -4 hours to complete the climbing.
You need crampons, ice axe and rope as you walk through what remains of the glacier area of Mount Stanley. The peak was first climbed by Prince Luigi Amedeo the Duke of Abruzzi at 9.30 am on 18th June 1906.
The trail descends down to Upper Kitandara Lake and Lower Kitandara Lake, where is located Kitandara Hut, 4.023 m. arrival point for the day.
It can take approximately 3 hours walk. This is the best place for planning the ascent of Mount Luigi di Savoia and Mount Baker. Dinner and overnight at Kitandara Hut. Meal plan: Full-Board.
Day 7: Kitandara Hut-Guy Yeoman Hut.
From Lake Kitandara you climb to Fresh field Pass, 4.282 m, a long flat of high alpine mossy glades, before descending the circuit among rocky and boggy areas.
The panorama is dominated by the glaciers of Mount Stanley and Mount Baker. A rocky trail leads to Akendahi, Bujongolo and Kabamba rock shelters, where starts Kabamba valley before reaching Guy Yeoman Hut, 3.261 m.
This can take up to 5 hours. The hut enjoys a good panoramic location, nearby the river Mubuku and with views of Mount Baker. Dinner and overnight at Guy Yeoman. Meal plan: Full-Board.
Day 8: Guy Yeoman Hut-Nyakalengeja
From Guy Yeoman final descent to Nyakalengeja, almost 7 hours walk. Otherwise, you can decide to spend another night in Nyabitaba Hut. The trekking follows the Mubuku and Kichuchu rivers, with all the plants of the heather zone before reaching the bamboo forest.
Kabamba falls are seen on the way. From Nyabitaba Hut starts the short trekking to see Lake Mahoma.
As you arrive down in Nyakalengeja we shall transfer you back to the hotel in Ibanda or, according to the time, in Fort Portal. Dinner and overnight at Holiday Camp Base. Meal plan: Full-Board.
Day 9: Rwenzori-Kampala.
After breakfast, embark our safari van and drive back to Kampala with lunch en-route. You can take a night in Kampala and then tomorrow transfer to the Entebbe International Airport and board your flight back home.
The safari includes:
- Accommodation in Mountain huts and camps/Hotels
- Transfers with 4wd vehicle
- Park Entrance fees
- Professional Guide fees
- Porters 25kg per person
- Professional cook
- Rescue fees in case of emergency rescue on Rwenzori Mountains
The price excludes:
- Flight fares
- Personal insurance
- Equipment for the hike
- Extra Luggage (extra 25kg per person)
- Any changes in the program itinerary while in the Rwenzori.
- Important:
- Climbers must be prepared to walk for up to 8 hours every day via steep cliff and muddy paths.
- Climbers must bring along their own climbing gear or hire it at the base camp.
- Our porters carry 8 kg of personal climbing gear
What to bring:
Sleeping bag, rucksack, sleeping mat, good hiking gumboots, water proof trousers, rain coat, heavy worm jacket, hand gloves, scarf and cup, jumper, torch, Light changeable clothing, sweaters, insect repellents’, sun cream, sun glasses, hat, binoculars, and cameras etc.