This 10 days Rwenzori mountains hiking safari is a 9nights/10 days Rwenzori Mountains climbing Uganda trekking tour that takes you to the third highest point in Africa that is Margherita Peak (5109m) in Rwenzori Mountains-a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site since 1994.
Rwenzori meaning ‘rainmaker’ in the local language is befitting as the range is notorious for being one of Africa’s wettest places.
For the local Bakonjo people, the mighty Rwenzori is a throne of their God, Kitasamba and there are a few simple rituals to follow while on this mountain, for example, don’t speak about rain, don’t eat the blackberries, and don’t have sex.
Since the dawn of civilization, one of man’s biggest mysteries was where the source of the Nile – the world’s longest river that runs through the hottest desert on earth – received its water. Around 150AD, a renowned Greek geographer Ptolemy wrote of the great lakes of Africa that flowed into the Nile and were fed by water that came from snowcapped mountains that he famously referred to as the ‘Mountains of the Moon’.
Our 10 days Rwenzori Mountains climbing safari adventure starts and ends in Kampala and follows the Central Circuit. The trek to Margherita Peak offers a truly fantastic and unique African mountain climbing safari experience.
It involves hiking through the tropical montane rainforest on lower slopes ranging from 1,800m – 2,500m inhabited by shy forest elephants, chimpanzees, three-horned chameleons, a wealth of monkeys and bird species, then beautiful bare black rocks and tussocked moorland studded with surreal giant lobelias and groundsels on the mountain’s upper slopes.
On reaching the summit you will be fascinated by a series of craggy black peaks coated in permanent equatorial snow and ice.
In fact, summiting the Margarita allows you to follow the footsteps of the great Duke of Abruzzi Luigi de Amadeo who was the first to submit it at 9:30 am on June 18th, 1906.
Please contact us for a memorable Rwenzori Mountains trekking safari at an affordable price and hike with the experts!
Hike/climb the UNESCO World Heritage listed Rwenzori Mountains
Marvel at views from the summit of Margherita Peak (5109m)
Discover the spectacular glacial landscapes
Experience pristine tropical rainforests
Trek through Giant Lobelia forests
Delight in the diverse flora of the region
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Rwenzori Mountains
Day 2: Climb from Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba hut (2,652m)
Day 3: Hike from Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte Hut at 3.414 m.
Day 4: Hike from John Matte Hut to Bujuku Hut at 3.962 m.
Day 5: Hike from Bujuku to Elena Hut (4,430m)
Day 6: Summit the Margarita Peak and descend to Lake Kitandara hut
Day 7: Descending from Kitandara Hut (4,023m) to Guy Yeoman Hut (3,505m)
Day 8: Descend from Guy Yeoman Hut back to Nyabitaba Hut at 2.652 m.
Day 9: Descend from Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija.
Day 10: Transfer back to Kampala
At around 6.00 am, after breakfast at your place of stay in Kampala, we will embark on a 440km (7-8hours) drive to the legendary Rwenzori Mountains. We will pass through impressive rural landscapes of Uganda with a lush green cover, scattered human settlements, towns, and markets where you will see people going on with their daily life.
Here you can make a stop and take a photo or buy a snack. You will also see several impressive natural features such as the Inselbergs of Mubende and the scenic views of the Fort Portal area before being welcomed by the towering Rwenzori Mountains. You retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Equator Snow Lodge
Moderate/Mid-range:- Sandton Hotel Kasese
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: Approx. 440km or 7-8hours
Activities & Services:-
At around 6.30 am, you set off from the Rwenzori Mountains National Park Headquarters at Nyakalengija standing at 1,615m following briefing from the Rwenzori Mountaineering services in conjunction with Uganda Wildlife Authority.
At this point, you have the opportunity to hire the mountaineering equipment if you didn’t have any. The hike commences with an encounter of the Bakonzo farmlands – the famous mountain people traversing their garden plots and the elephant grass.
You will then pass through the forest which hosts several animal species such as Elephants, Chimpanzees, Angola colobus, Black-and-white colobus, blue monkeys, bushbucks, and unusual reptiles such as the three-horned chameleon.
It is also home to some of the bird species including Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori turaco, strange weaver, Archers’ Robin-chat, and Rwenzori batis, and several others as well as various tree and plant species.
You will expect to see some of them.
It’s about 10km from the trailhead at Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba hut at 2,651m. You will have dinner and overnight at Nyabitaba hut.
Accommodation:-
Hiking distance and time: – Approx. 1615m -2651m or 5 hours
Altitude gain: – 1,036m
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities and services:-
At around 7 am after breakfast, depart Nyabitaba hut. This is the longest and most strenuous day’s hike. From Nyabitaba hut, you will the hiking trail descends through the forest for a short time before it crosses the Bujuku River at Kurt Shaffer Bridge.
Between the bridge and Nyamileju hut, the path is good for the first couple of hours, but it becomes steeper and very rocky as you enter the moorland zone where the impressive heather plants are prolific.
After about 5 hours you will emerge at Nyamileju where the little-used hut is supplemented by a rock shelter, and we will have a lunch stop here. From Nyamileju, we will hike through a giant heather forest and follow the Bujuku River for 2 hours to John Matte Hut which is in good condition and stands about 200 meters from Bujuku River, where water can be collected.
Here you will have a view of the Margherita glacier which is on mount Stanley between Alexandra and Margherita peaks. You will have dinner and overnight stay at John Matte hut.
Accommodation:-
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking distance and time: –
Approx. 2,651m -3,505m or 7hours
Altitude gain: – 854m
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities and services:-
At around 7 am, after breakfast at John Matte Hut you will cross river Bujuku and hike through forest to the lower Bigo bog. This used to be the hardest part for the Rwenzori since the area is so boggy. Currently, there is a walk board up to the end of the boggy area which makes the walk much easier for hikers. As you move you will expect to see giant lobelias, everlasting flowers, and groundsels.
You will then take a steep hike along a ridge which will lead you to the start of the upper Bigo bog. There is also a boardwalk up to Lake Bujuku. Lake Bujuku has a magnificent setting between mounts Stanley, Speke, and Baker.
The lake also acts as the beginning of the alpine savannah zone of little vegetation. You will eventually arrive at Bujuku Hut standing at 3.962 m. You will have dinner and overnight at Bujuku Hut
Accommodation:-
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking distance and time:
– Approx. 3,505m – 3,962m or 5 hours
-Altitude gain: – 457m
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities and services:-
After breakfast at around 7 am, you will depart Bujuku and continue with the hike to Elena hut, which takes about 5-7 hours. You will hike through the sides of the upper Bigo bog then through the steep slopes of Lake Bujuku.
As you climb Lake Bujuku’s steep slopes on the west, the trail ascends the 4,372m Scott-Elliot pass and you will pass through more swamps and the thrilling ground gully. You will go over a steep section at the top of the gully using a metal ladder.
The trail is then divided into two. The two trails, the left trail leads to Scott-Elliot pass descending to Kitandara Lakes while the right trail heads to the Elena Hut and on a steep trail above large boulders to Mt Stanley.
Elena hut is at the rocky part of Mount Stanley and the area is too cold. At this point, you are at the highest mountain of the Rwenzori and you will have a direct view of Mount Baker and Mount Speke. You will have dinner and an overnight stay at Elena hut.
Accommodation:-
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking distance and time:
– Approx. 3,962m-4,430m or 5-7hours
-Altitude gain: – 468m
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities and services:-
On this day you will have to wake up as early as 2 am, have breakfast at Elena hut, be ready in your warmest gear, put on your harness, warm hand gloves, and head sock, have your headlamps and helmets and make sure you have sunglasses in the day pack on. Hike to the top of Mount Stanley, Margherita peak, through the Stanley plateau.
On steep rocky areas, you will use the ropes to help you move. The guide will teach you how to use the equipment while on the ice.
After moving for a couple of hours after the Stanley plateau glacier, you will reach the bottom of the Margherita glacier. This is the most challenging part of the entire hiking Rwenzori experience. You will hike through this glacier up to the top of Mount Stanley, Margherita peak (5109m).
At the top, you will have a view of Ireen Lake, mount Speke, and the surrounding environment. Then descend to Elena Hut for Lunch and later proceed to descend to Kitandara. You will have dinner and an overnight stay at Kitandara hut.
Accommodation:-
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Ascent distance and time:
– Approx. 4,430m – 5,109m or 7-8 hours
-Altitude gain: – 679m
Descent distance and time:
5,109m – 4,023m or 2-3 hours
Decent: – 1086m
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities and services:-
After breakfast at around 7: 30 am, depart Lake Kitandara Hut to climb the fresh field pass standing at 4,282m traversing the extended flat of high alpine mossy glades before descending the circuit among the boggy and rocky areas. The panorama is greatly covered by the glaciers of Mount Baker and Mount Stanley.
The muddy trail takes you to Bujongolo, Akendahi, and Kabamba rock shelters where the Kabamba valley starts heading down to Guy Yeoman Hut standing at 3.261 m. The Guy Yeoman Hut is surrounded by impressive vegetation, mountains, and rivers. You will have dinner and overnight stay at Guy Yeoman hut.
Accommodation:-
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Descent distance and time:
Approx. 4,023m – 3,505m or 6-7 hours
Decent: – 518m
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities and services:-
From Guy Yeoman descend back to Nyabitaba Hut through the bamboo forests. The path down can be slippery and muddy with little to hold on to and requires careful balancing over the vertical mud or steep rock. After about 5 hours of trekking you will reach Nyabitaba hut for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation:-
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Descent distance and time:
Approx. 3,505m − 2,651m or 5 hours
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities and services:-
Here, you proceed on the descent back to Nyakalengija to mark the end of your experience. Upon arriving at Nyakalengija, you get to your vehicle and transfer to the lodge for relaxation and overnight. You will then continue to descend for more 3 hours to Nyakalengija.
Accommodation
Upmarket/Luxury: Equator Snow Lodge
Moderate/Mid-range: Ihamba Safari Lodge
Basic/Budget: Ruboni Community Camp
Descent distance and time:
Approx. 2,651m – 1,615m or 3 hours
Descent: – 1036m
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services
After a relaxed breakfast, embark on the transfer back to Kampala. Drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park with its impressive savannah and its game such as Elephants, Buffalos, Warthogs, antelopes, and several bird species, the Bunyaruguru crater field, the lush Kalinzu forest, Mbarara town before making a lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Center 12km from Mbarara for traditional lunch.
We will make another stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots, the water experiments to evidence the divide between the north and south spheres, and the purchase of memorabilia from any of the gift shops at the site. Continue for 77km arriving in Kampala in the evening to mark the end of the safari.
Meal plan: – Breakfast and lunch
Drive distance and time:
Approx. 440km or 7-8 hours
Activities and services
Full time English professional safari driver guide
4×4 safari van/ 4×4 Safari land cruiser with poop up roof for game viewing with functional A/C
Full board accommodation
Wi-Fi Internet on board the safari vehicle
Bottled water
International &domestic flight fees
Visa fees
Laundry services
Items of personal nature
Gratuities and tips
Other beverages/ drinks
Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above
Cate
Samuel
Robert
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