Seven days Mountain Rwenzori hiking tour
Overview.
During this rewarding seven day adventure of Rwenzori mountain climb, you will have a chance to go up to its snow caped peak. This encounter is followed by the only two great and engaging main trails in Uganda; the Kilembe Route and the Circuit Route, with the central circuit route being the most and the main route used by hikers. It is less challenging and easy for unfit hikers; it also has magnificent views to offer like the different gateway peaks of Baker, Speke and Stanley, vegetation cover, birds and so much more. The central circuit has a number of elevations at different heights you will have to trail till the top peak and they include;
- Nyakalengija elevation 1600 meters
- Nyabitaba elevation at 2651 meters
- John Matte elevation at 3505 meters
- Bujuku elevation at 3962 meters
- Elena elevation at 4541 meters’ ascent of Mount Stanley at 5109meters to Kitandara
- Kitandara hut elevation at 4023 meters
- Guy Yeoman hut elevation at 3505 meters
Activity: Hiking the Rwenzori Mountains
The to and from the peak through this peak is so rewarding due to diverging route that gives hikers an extended hiking and encounter of various parts of the mountain. There is a one route through the DR Congo that will lead you to the magnificent snowcapped mountain Rwenzori.
Day One: Transfer from Kampala to Kasese, South western Uganda
You will be picked by our experienced guide, who will drive you to Rwenzori Mountains. You will drive via Kampala-Masaka road, have a stopover at the equator for photography and then resume your journey. You will again have a stopover in Mbarara for lunch at the chosen restaurant. After lunch, you will then drive to Mount Rwenzori in Kasese, check in the chosen hotel, have dinner and overnight sleep there.
Day Two: Nyakalengija (1600m) to John matte (3420m)
In the morning after breakfast, you will go direct to the hiking point in Nyakalengija which is the head office where you will be briefed and then pick your hiking equipment, the guides will be ready and you will then start the hike passing through the local settlements, tropical rainforests, montane forests, bamboo forest and part of the alpine. During the hike, you will have a stopover at Nyabitaba for lunch after which you will proceed with hiking through the Schaffer Bridge that is at the conference of Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. You will then reach John Matte hut where you will have dinner and spend overnight.
In photos: The John Matte hut
Day Three: John Matte hut to Elena hut (4563m)
After breakfast at John Matte hut, you will pass through the rocky and slippery area as you cross different rivers and streams. Along this route, you will be able to spot the Margherita and Alexandra peaks at a distance. You will proceed with the hike through the Bigo bog where boards were put to make movement easier, you will spot different plants like giant
lobelia, groundsels, and everlasting flowers among others. You will hike through the rocky parts of Mount Stanley to Elena where you will have dinner and spend the night.
Destination guide: The Bigo bog pathway and Elena hut
Day Four: Elena hut to Bujuku camp (3920m) Hiking to the top
On this day, you will start the hike at around 8:00am get ready with your hiking gear and headlamps, you will hike through the rocky area and you will use the ropes as you hike to the same spots to the Stanley glacier. You will need the crampons. After the Stanley glacier, you will remove the crampons and continue with the hike through the rocks to the Margherita peak, which is the highest point of Rwenzori. You will then descent back to Elena hut where you will rest and have lunch. After lunch you will continue to descend to Bujuku camp where you will have dinner and spend overnight.
Epic: The apex of Mount Rwenzori and Bukuju camp hut
Day Five: Bujuku to Nyabitaba hut (2660m)
After breakfast at Bujuku, you will move through the upper Bigo bog. Continue the descent through the lower Bigo bog to John Matte where you will rest and have lunch. You will then proceed to Nyabitaba where you will have dinner and overnight.
Day Six: Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija
After breakfast, you will descend to Nyakalengija through bamboo forest. The path down can be slippery and muddy with little to hold onto and requires careful balancing over the vertical mud or slippery rocks. After about 5 hours of trekking, you will reach Nyakalengija and have a stopover for lunch; you will then descend for more three hours. Upon reaching Nyakalengija, it will be late evening; therefore you will have an overnight in Kasese town.
Lookout: Some of the beautiful mountain vegetation you will see during the hike
Day Seven: Transfer back to Kampala
In the morning after breakfast, you will be transferred back to Kampala either to the hotel or to the airport and your tour will have ended
End of tour
