12 Days Rwenzori Mountains Climbing Adventure
The 12-day Rwenzori Mountains Climbing Adventure takes you to conquer the summit of one of Africa’s most challenging mountains. Mount Rwenzori is the 3rd tallest African mountain after Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya respectively. Request a Quote Though it is the 3rd tallest mountain, it’s the most challenging to trek, due to the various zone levels and vegetation cover. The 8 days trek takes you through the central circuit, up to the Margherita Peak. There is a lot to discover during your hike, including many bird species that are sighted along the trek, and some primates as well. Take on “Pearl” and concur Rwenzori.
Day 1: Airport arrival.
Upon arrival at Entebbe airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our safari guide, who will brief you shortly and transfer you to your booked accommodation in Kampala/ Entebbe.
Day 2: Transfer you to Kasese.
After having your morning breakfast, you will have a short drive in the form of a Kampala city tour. Later, find your way to Kasese through Fort Portal town, where you will have your lunch as you proceed. You will have dinner and an overnight stay in Kasese to prepare for your next day’s trek.
Day 3, trek day 1: NYAKALENGIJA (1615m Asl.) – NYABITABA CAMP (2651m Asl.)
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 this it follows a thick forest along the Mubuku River.
Cross 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 monkeys, and the brilliantly colored Rwenzori turaco.
The hike takes an average of 6 -7 hours.
Day 4, trek day 2: NYABITABA – JOHN MATTE CAMP (3505m asl.)
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 a long 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 bog, for dinner and overnight at the hut.
The hike takes an average of 7 – 8 hours.
Day 5, trek day 3: JOHN MATTE – BUJUKU CAMP (3962m asl.)
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.
The hike takes an average of 4 – 5 hours.
Day 6, trek day 4: BUJUKU – MT. SPEKE – BUJUKU
Early in the morning start the hike through Stullmans Pass (4192m asl.) and find spectacular views of Virunga National Park of DR Congo to Victorio Emanuele peak.
The ascend to the peak takes 4 – 5 hours.
Prepare to descend back to Bujuku camp from Victorio Emanuele with views of Bujuku Valley and Bujukulake, Margherita, and Albert peaks on Mount Stanley, and Mount Baker for an overnight at Bujuku Camp.
The descent takes an average of 3 – 4 hours.
Day 7, trek day 5: BUJUKU – ELENA CAMP (4541m asl.)
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. The trail on your left leads to Scott-Elliot Pass and down to Kitandara Lakes. This left trail 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.
The hike takes an average of 5 – 6 hours.
Day 8, trek day 6: ELENA HUT – MARGHERITA PEAK (5109m asl.) – KITANDARA CAMP (4430m asl.)
Very early in the morning, you will begin climbing 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 the mountain. This tough walk takes you over three glaciers, slippery rock, ice, and very exposed areas that are open on many sides. Climb onto the glaciers, cross the Stanley Plateau, and proceed with the ascent. Once everyone is adjusted to the fog, cool weather, and potentially altitude sickness, 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, descend past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight at the Kitandara camp.
The descent takes an average of 3 – 4 hours.
Day 9, trek day 7: KITANDARA – MT. BAKER (4843M asl.) – Guy yoamann
The climb starts early morning from Kitandara Camp through Fresh Field pass (4215m asl.) with views of DR Congo up to Edward Peak.
The ascend to the peak takes about 3 – 6 hours.
From Edward Peak descend back to Fresh Field Pass and then continue to guy yoamann
From the pass, take on the long high alpine moss. 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.
The descent takes an average of 3 – 4 hours.
Day 10, trek day 8: GUY YEOMAN – NYABITABA – NYAKALENGIJA (1615m asl.)
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 through Nyabitaba Camp and continue to the base. You will meet your guide, waiting for you, and later transfer to your booked accommodation in Fort Portal. You may opt for a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, or even connect for a gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi. You can also connect to Kibale National Park, for chimpanzee trekking, the next day early morning before your transfer to Kampala.
Day 11: Transfer back to Entebbe.
After your relaxed morning breakfast, you will jump into your jeep and drive to Entebbe via Kampala, reaching in the afternoon in Entebbe, and spend your evening by the lake, to relax from the long trekking adventure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12: Airport transfer.
After having your morning breakfast, depending on your flight time, you will be transferred to the airport, to catch up with your flight back home, having concurred the summit of Mount Rwenzori. End of service!
Includes in 12 Days Rwenzori Mountains Climbing Adventure: Request a Quote
- Ground Transportation to and fro Mt Rwenzori
- Accommodation in the mountain huts and meals
- Park entry permits
- Trekking permit
- En route meals
- Guides and Porters
- Cook while on the trek
- Gas for fuel while on the trek
- Rescue while on trek
- Service of a professional driver guide
- Office support service
Excludes in 12 Days Rwenzori Mountains Climbing Adventure:
- Flight air tickets
- Personal health insurance
- Visa fees
- Climbing equipment (some can be hired locally)
- Wines and other beers
- Tips.
