11 DAYS RWENZORI MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

Itinerary Details

• Day
  1

  Arrival – Transfer To Kasese (8-9 Hours)

  Arrival at Entebbe Airport. Meet and greet with your guide and transfer to Kasese. Overnight at Trekkers Hostel in Kyanjuki. (L-D)

  ** Note: Guides generally brief clients at the start of the trek or the night before. **

• Day
  2

  Hike Rwenzori Mountains

  Steady walk with a steep climb for the last kilometer. Start at Trekkers at 1,450 meters and sleep at Sine Hut at 2,596 meters being a height gain of 1,146 meters.

  The trek starts at Trekkers Hostel in Kyanjuki, which is situated 1,450 meters above sea level and 12 kilometers from Kasese. It is best to start by 9.00 am. You walk 2.2 km to the UWA rangers post at 1,727 meters, which takes about one hour. Here you pay the gate entrance fee and the rangers brief you on the rules of the National Park.

  This is a steady climb through pristine forest with multitudes of birds and may be the chance of seeing a wild chimpanzee or blue monkey scampering off through the forest. The vegetation is wide variety of specie and with lichen covered vines brings the feel of the film Tarzan. Enockʼs Falls are just 200 meters from Sine Hut and offer a splendid opportunity to capture some of the most amazing photos.

  Dinner and overnight at the Sine Hut

• Day
  3

  Rwenzori Mountains

  After a good breakfast trekking starts at 8.30am and you soon enter the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone which is steep climb with many high steps. In the wet season the bamboo area is rather muddy and slippery making the going slow however the atmosphere and the forest is beautiful as you climb 551 meters altitude and a distance of 1.8km to Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters which is in the Heather-Rapanea Zone where you can take a rest and a quick cup of tea or coffee before heading on to Mutinda Camp at 3,925 meters with scenic views across the Rwenzori Mountains and the amazing views down to Kasese town and Lake George.

• Day
  4

  Rwenzori Mountains

  4.9km starting at 3,688 meters climbing to 4,062 meters

  The trail here is boggy particularly in the wet season but with a little skill you can step from tussock to tussock to make the going easier. We cross the Mutinda valley through the tussock grass and everlasting flowers interspersed with many Giant Lobelias before we climb a steep section up to the Namusangi Valley (3,840 meters), which ends abruptly with sheer waterfalls and fantastic views of Mutinda Peaks. The Namusangi Valley is a wide valley with many ups and downs and crossing several bogs as the trail climbs steadily to Bugata Camp at 4,062 meters.

   

  Bugata Camp is situated part way up Bamwanjara Pass high above Bugata Lake with views across Lake Kopello to Weismannʼs Peak, which is often covered with snow then down the valley views of Lake Africa and Lake Kanganyika and the many small peaks towards Mutinda Camp. The area is covered with tussock grass, everlasting flowers (Helichrysum), St John’s Wort (Hypericum becquaeritii), giant groundsel and Giant lobelia. From Plozza Rock you also get fantastic views down the valley of nine lakes ringed by rugged peaks and ridges.

  Bugata Camp has good facilities, solar lights, and you can get a warm bucket-shower. Bugata also has a helipad (GPS reading N 18.312 E29 53.457) in case of the need for rescue by helicopter. Dinner and overnight at the Buguta Camp

• Day
  5

  Rwenzori Mountains

  6.2km starting at 4,062 meters climbing over 4,450 meters sleeping at 3,974 meters

  Commence trekking at 8.30am to climb up Bamwanjara Pass, the trail climbs steadily with several long flat bogs. The area is covered by everlasting flowers and Giant groundsel with the bogs being mainly tussock grass and keep an eye on the most beautiful Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird feeding nectar from Giant lobelia, and they epidemic to the Rwenzori Mountains. As you climb you look back to see the glacial lakes far down in the valley. From Banwamjara Pass you get excellent views of all the main snowcapped peaks and at the shelter you catch your breath while you enjoy the scenery.

  Dinner and overnight at Butawu Camp (3,974 m) and enjoying the views of Butawu River Kitandara Lakes and the snowcapped Mt Baker.

• Day
  6

  Rwenzori Mountains

  4.2km starting at 3.974 meters climbing to 4.485 meters

  The walk up Scott Elliott Pass is enjoyable as you climb up over the rocks and up to Margherita Camp at 4,485 meters which is below Elena Hut and is sheltered with a ring of high rocks and the original camp used by the Italian Prince Luigi Amadeo di Savoia, Duke of the Abruzzi, who mounted a very powerful expedition in 1906, composed of biologists, surveyors, a geologist and a photographer. The Italian led team, between June and July 1906 climbed the mountains, opening a new page in the history of mountaineering and exploration in Africa, and providing an answer to the most unresolved geographical questions in the region for centuries. Some of the peaks still have the names, which the Duke chose to honor the Italian Kingdom and Queen Margherita hence our naming this camp Margherita Camp. From here you have great views of Mt Baker, Scott Elliot Pass and some of the high glaciers on Mt Stanley.

• Day
  7

  Rwenzori Mountains

  3.5km starting at 4,485 meters and climbing to Margherita Peak at 5,109 meters

  Then descend to Butawu Camp at 3,974 meters.

   

  Wake up at 4am have a quick snack and start climbing so as to get on the Stanley Glacier before sunrise. The climb up from Elena can be difficult if covered in snow and ice but it is classed as a difficult scramble. Once on the Stanley glacier the going is easy however the climb down to Margherita glacier can be challenging and slippery in bad weather. Rwenzori Trekking has recently installed a new fixed static rope with bolts every two meters leading down a ledge to the top of a six-meter aluminum ladder.

  The climb up Margherita glacier is steep with the first part around 30 degrees but the toe of the glacier is much steeper and requires effort. Generally we walk across the newly exposed rocks to the other side of the glacier where it is less steep. On getting near to the top of the glacier you then need to climb around an exposed section, which is also bolted and roped, to get on the ridge running up to the top of Margherita Peak.

  On a clear day the views from Margherita Peak are awesome and your goal is achieved! After summiting you then descend directly to Butawu Camp or in the case of bad weather, you may need to stay in Margherita Camp.

• Day
  8

  Rwenzori Mountains

  Late breakfast at 8.30am and start trekking by 9am. The climb up Bamwanjara Pass is step and in wet weather can be rather slippery making it slow going. While crossing the pass you get the chance to see hyrax sitting at the entrance to their rock shelter warming in the sun. Their main predator is the rear, dark Rwenzori Leopard. However on a rare occasion on a misty or overcast day, you may be lucky to see one briefly as they move between the rocks. Sleep at Bugata Camp and descend direct to base Camp in one day.

• Day
  9

  Rwenzori Mountains

  Descend to Base Camp. Overnight at Trekkers Hostel in Kyanjuki. (L-D)

• Day
  10

  Rwenzori Mountains – Entebbe (8-9 Hours)

  After breakfast our driver will be waiting for the transfer back to Entebbe with lunch en – route it has been adventurous experience having hiked the 3^rd highest Mountain in Africa. Arrival in Entebbe in the afternoon. Overnight at Karibu Guesthouse. (B-L)

• Day
  11

  Departure

  In time you will be transferred to Entebbe Airport for your outbound flight.

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