The Rwenzori hiking safari will give you an offer to explore the central circuit trail which begins in Nyakalengija and climb through Kilembe trail that starts from Kilembe. Enjoy hiking to the highest summit – margherita with great views of the beautiful vegetation, snow and massive lushes of green.
Highlights.
Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe airport to Rwenzori Mountain National Park
Day 2: Trek to Nyabitaba
Day 3: Trek to john matte hut
Day 4: Trek to Bujuku hut
Day 5: Trek to Elena hut
Day 6: Ascent of Mount Stanley to Kitandara hut
Day 7: Trek to guy yeoman hut
Day 8: Trek to Nyakalengija trail and transfer to Kampala
Detailed itinerary.
Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe airport to Rwenzori Mountain National Park
Our driver guide will pick you from Entebbe airport and you will commence on your Rwenzori Mountain Hiking Safari to the Rwenzori Mountain National Park trail head at Nyakalengija. Through Kampala to Fort Portal where you will stop over for an en-route lunch. Later proceed to a lodge to relax and prepare for your next day of hiking the Rwenzori.
Accommodation options: Equator Snow Lodge / Mihunga Lodge /Snow View Hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Nyabitaba Hut.
Have a morning breakfast and transfer to Nyakalengija trail where you will meet the park rangers to brief you about hiking of mount Rwenzori. Have a walk through the Bakonjo (pygmies) community in the steep foot hills and plantations of bananas.
Accommodation: Nyabitaba hut
Day 3: Trek to john matte hut
Depart from Nyabitaba early, after you breakfast in the wild, which is along a small trail dropping down through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the convergence of the Bujuku and Mubuku Rivers. The forest later turns into a bamboo zone where the path is quite slippery and entirely covered by moss. This area is characterized by lobelia vegetation and a small perch of ground vegetation emerges just before the Nyamileju rock shelter.
Accommodation: John Matte hut
Day 4: Trek to Bujuku hut
The trail crashes down to cross the Bujuku River and enters Lower Bigo Bog, home of giant lobelias. Cross the bog to the Upper Bigo bog before continuing to Lake Bujuku where views of the highest mountain – Stanley – to the west are to be seen.
Accommodation: Bujuku hut
Day 5: Trek to Elena hut
The boggy trail climbs the slopes west of the lake, after Bujuku, passing through the paranormal groundsel gully. Ascend to Scott-Elliot Pass. A metal ladder which will take you over an extremely steep division after which the trail branches, the right leads up to Elena Hut and Mt Stanley over a steep rocky trail, while the left heads down to Lake Kitandara at the base of the Stanley Glacier and to Scott-Elliot Pass.
Accommodation: Elena hut
Day 6: Ascent of Mount Stanley to Kitandara hut
After your breakfast, Climb a further three hours to Margherita peak and later down to Kitandara Hut. Trek to the Elena glacier, before moving on to the Stanley Plateau where you find Uganda’s highest point, Margherita peak at 5,109 meters above sea level. Use of ropes and Crampons may as well be necessary and be prepared for a tough, arduous time in the mountains. Return to the Scott-Elliot pass, view the magical Bujuku Lake and Mt Speke at a distance, continue to down to the Lake Kitandara
Accommodation: Kitandara Hut
Day 7: Trek to guy yeoman hut
After breakfast, a steep climb from the base of Mt Baker to the south side of the mountain to the Fresh Field Pass. Views into the Mt Stanley to the north are possible and Congo to the west. From the pass, the boggy trail continues downwards, passing the rock shelter at Bujangolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906.
Accommodation: Guy Yeoman Hut
Day 8: Trek to Nyakalengija trail and transfer to Kampala
Have a morning breakfast, and load all your hiking equipment. Later, you finally descend out of Rwenzori Mountains. Trekking will take 6 hours walk that goes past the nearby Lake Mahoma and Nyabitaba and passes through the heather area and the Moss Zones. This may be the final hut in the Rwenzori Mountains or you could exit all the way if you feel energetic. You will drive back to Entebbe airport to catch up your next flight back home hence making the end of this mountaineering experience.
