9 days climbing Mt. Rwenzori

Arrive at Entebbe Airport at 10.30am and Continue to Kasese Town enroute Fortportal
reaching late Evening.

Accommodation: Margarita hotel

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 chimpanzee and see black and white colobus,
blue monkey and the brilliantly coloured Rwenzori turraco.
The hike takes an average of 6 -7 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.
The hike takes an average of 7 – 8 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.
The hike takes an average of 4 – 5 hours.

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west
of the lake and through the magical and 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 he 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.
The hike takes an average of 5 – 6 hours.

Very early in the morning, you attempt 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 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 coolly weather, scramble up to the summit of
Margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori. The descend from Margherita peak back to
Elena Hut will take you about 2 – 3hours. 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 descend takes an average of 3 – 4 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 descend 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 hike takes an average of 6 – 7 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.
The descent takes 7 – 8 hours

This Morning is a Travel Day Back to Kampala or Entebbe reaching in the Evening.

All the Includes: UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) park entrance fees of USD35 per person
per day, Guides, porters, meals and accommodation while in the mountains,
Transportation and Accommodation on Day

Note: Climbing equipment can be hired at our head office separately