11 Days Rwenzori Hiking Safari

Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Duration

11 days

Min Age

15+ Years

Trip Overview

The 11-day Rwenzori hiking safari is the ultimate mountain hiking adventure in Uganda. The Rwenzori Mountains are a range of block mountains along the Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo border. They are popularly known as the mountains of the moon and are among the few snow-capped mountains in Africa. Margherita is the highest point of the Rwenzori Mountains at 5,109 meters above sea level.  You will hike to this summit on this 11-day Rwenzori Hiking safari.

The slopes of Rwenzori are covered with various vegetation types that change at different altitudes. You will start your Rwenzori hiking adventure with a briefing at the park headquarters.  From here, proceed Journeying through the thick forests at the foothills of the mountains. These are home to a number of wildlife including primates and birds some of which you will see as you hike.

You will slowly hike past the montane forests to the bamboo forest slowly progress to Moorland and eventually reach the snow-capped mountains. Along this trail, you will see the various wildlife species and enjoy impressive scenic views of the mountain landscapes including glaciers, and lakes you can not experience in any other destination in Uganda.

Even though mountain hiking is physically demanding, in the 11 days of the Rwenzori Hiking safari you will have enough time to get from one point to another. The hiking time in between the different mountain points is enough for you to explore the different wildlife and have photography moments as this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You will be escorted by a team of well-trained ranger guides with all the information you need to know about the mountain. All the necessities you will need will be carried up the mountain.

Safari Highlights

  • Day 1: Arrival & Transfer to Your Hotel
  • Day 2: Transfer to Kasese
  • Day 3: NYAKALENGIJA (1615m asl.) – NYABITABA CAMP (2651m asl.) 6 -7 hours
  • Day 4: NYABITABA – JOHN MATTE CAMP (3505m asl.) 7 - 8 hours.
  • Day 5: JOHN MATTE - BUJUKU CAMP (3962m asl.) 4 – 5 hours.
  • Day 6: BUJUKU - ELENA CAMP (4541m asl.) 5 – 6 hours.
  • Day 7: ELENA HUT - MARGHERITA PEAK (5109m asl.) – KITANDARA CAMP (4430m asl.)
  • Day 8: KITANDARA – GUY YEOMAN (3261m asl.) 6 – 7 hours.
  • Day 9: GUY YEOMAN – NYABITABA - NYAKALENGIJA (1615m asl.) 7 – 8 hours.
  • Day 10: Relaxation
  • Day 11: Departure.

Full Tour Package

Day 1: Arrival & Transfer to Your Hotel

You will be picked up from the airport upon arrival and driven to your Hotel for rest. Overnight at 2 Friends Hotel; bed & Breakfast

Day 2: Transfer to Kasese

After breakfast at your hotel, you will have a relaxed drive to Kasese with en route stopovers for photography and a lunch break. Arrive in the afternoon for a rest at your lodge and relax ahead of your start of the Rwenzori mountain hike the following morning. Meals and Overnight at Ihamba Lodge

Day 3: NYAKALENGIJA (1615m asl.) – NYABITABA CAMP (2651m asl.) 6 -7 hours.

The central circuit starts at the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services offices at Nyakalengija. You need to arrive in the morning to allow ample time to rent equipment and meet your guides and porters. The trail begins by passing through farmland to the park boundary beyond which it follows a thick forest along the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma River tributary before starting a long, steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut. During this part of the trip you may hear chimpanzees and see black and white colobus, blue monkey and the brilliantly colored Ruwenzori turaco.

Day 4: NYABITABA – JOHN MATTE CAMP (3505m asl.) 7 - 8 hours.

From Nyabitaba follow the trail that drops down through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Passing through the bamboo forest, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock. From the Nyamuleju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach John Matte Hut after passing through the tiring bog, for dinner and overnight at the hut.

Day 5: JOHN MATTE - BUJUKU CAMP (3962m asl.) 4 – 5 hours.

From John Matte Hut the trail drops down to cross the Bujuku River and enters Lower Bigo Bog, the home of giant lobelias. Jumping from tussock to tussock, the bog is finally crossed but rarely without the feet sampling some of the freezing ooze below. The upper Bigo bog gives way to Bujuku Lake, with views of Mt Baker to the South and Mt Stanley to the West. Bujuku Hut, well located in the shadow of Mount Baker and Mount Speke, is set in a narrow valley below Stuhlmann Pass. This camp is good for acclimatization for clients attempting the summits of peaks Mount Stanley and Mount Speke. Dinner and overnight at Bujuku hut.

Day 6: BUJUKU - ELENA CAMP (4541m asl.) 5 – 6 hours.

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical forest of Groundsel Gully. Turn to your right up to Elena Hut and Mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders, while the trail on your left leads to Scott-Elliot Pass and down to Kitandara Lakes the trail on the left leads those who are not climbing Margherita Peak to Kitandara Hut. Those climbing the peak will have their Dinner and overnight at the coolly and Icy Elena Hut.

Day 7: ELENA HUT - MARGHERITA PEAK (5109m asl.) – KITANDARA CAMP (4430m asl.)

Very early in the morning, you attempt to climb the highest peak, Margherita of Mount Stanley. To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 4 -5 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you over three glaciers, slippery rock, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides. Climbing on to the glaciers, cross the Stanley Plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and cool weather, scramble up to the summit of Margherita, the highest peak of the Rwenzori. The descent from Margherita peak back to Elena Hut will take you about 2 – 3 hours.

After your lunch at Elena hut, descend to the Scott-Elliot pass (4372m asl.), where there are spectacular views of Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke. After, the trail passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descending past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight at the Kitandara camp.

The descent takes an average of 3 – 4 hours.

Day 8: KITANDARA – GUY YEOMAN (3261m asl.) 6 – 7 hours.

From Kitandara, take on the trail that ascends steeply up the headwall, spreading out from the base of Mount Baker and continuing along the south side of the mountain to Fresh field Pass 4282m asl. At this point you can view into the Congo to the west and Mount Stanley to the north. From the pass, take on the long high alpine mossy. Thereafter start the descent through steep rocky trails and the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906 and then an overnight at Guy yeoman camp.

Day 9: GUY YEOMAN – NYABITABA - NYAKALENGIJA (1615m asl.) 7 – 8 hours.

Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu. Beyond Kichuchu the muddy path crosses the Mubuku River twice through a bamboo forest before climbing downwards to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit. Continue descending Nyabitaba Camp and complete your trek by the evening at Nyakalengija, the base camp. You will then transfer to your lodge for a rest. Meals and overnight at Ihamba Lakeside Lodge

Day 10: Relaxation

You will spend this day relaxing at the lodge and if not tired can go for a nature walk in Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth NP. Meals and overnight at ParkView safari Lodge

Day 11: Departure

After breakfast, you will have a relaxed drive back to Kampala arriving in the afternoon for a drop-off at the Hotel or airport for departure depending on the schedule.

End of Safari

Included | Excluded

  • Rwenzori Hiking fees
  • Park entrance fees
  • Nature walk
  • Transport costs
  • 10 nights 11 days accommodation
  • Meals as per the itinerary
  • Full-time English-speaking guide and his allowances.
  • Bottled drinking water while on safari
  • Any other activity indicated in the itinerary.
  • Airport transfer.
  • Meals in Kampala/Entebbe Hotels
  • Visa fees
  • Flight fares, beers and liquors, beverages and extra drinks at lodges
  • Laundry
  • Tipping of staff
  • Other costs of personal nature.
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