11 Days Rwenzori Hiking Tour

The Ruwenzori, also spelled Rwenzori and Rwenjura, are a range of mountains in eastern equatorial Africa, located on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The highest peak of the Rwenzori reaches 5,109 meters (16,762 ft), and the range’s upper regions are permanently snow-capped and glaciated. Rivers fed by mountain streams form one of the sources of the Nile. Because of this, European explorers linked the Ruwenzori with the legendary Mountains of the Moon, claimed by the Greek scholar Ptolemy as the source of the Nile. Virunga National Park in eastern DR Congo and Rwenzori Mountains National Park in southwestern Uganda are located within the range. The mountains formed about three million years ago and are the result of an uplifted block of crystalline rocks including gneiss, amphibolite, granite and quartzite.

Pic: The Ruwenzori or the legendary Mountains of the Moon

The Rwenzori mountains are the highest non-volcanic, non-orogenic mountains in the world. This uplift divided the paleo lake Obweruka and created three of the present-day African Great Lakes: Lake Albert, Lake Edward, and Lake George.

The range is about 120 kilometers (75m) long and 65 kilometers (40m) wide. It consists of six massifs separated by deep gorges: Mount Stanley (5,109 meters (16,762 ft)), Mount Speke (4,890 meters (16,040 ft)), Mount Baker (4,843 meters (15,889 ft)), Mount Emin (4,798 meters (15,741 ft)), Mount Gessi (4,715 meters (15,469 ft)) and Mount Luigi di Savoia (4,627 meters (15,180 ft)). Mount Stanley has several subsidiary summits, with Margherita Peak being the highest point.

What to look out for on this trip:
1.The distinctive glacial peaks are visible for miles around, but the slopes above 1,600m are the preserve of Hikers, who rate the Rwenzori Trek to be the most challenging of all African mountain hikes.

2.The Ruwenzori Mountains is a World Heritage Site of outstanding natural beauty ranging from glacier and snow which is found at the top of the peaks which are right at the center of the range.

3.And finally the culmination of the Ruwenzoris: the snow-capped peaks, of which the highest is Margherita Peak at over 5000 m, by the way, Africa’s third highest mountain peak.

Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Hotel in Entebbe.

Whatever time you will arrive at Entebbe international airport, you will be met and warmly welcomed by a driver guide from Zootopia Game Drives who will shortly brief you and transfer you to a hotel in Entebbe or Kampala for a rest.

Day 2: Transfer to the Rwenzori Mountains After breakfast at 9:00am on the same day of your arrival, you will embark on a 6-7 hour drive to the western part of the country at the slopes of Mountain Rwenzori as you pass through tea estates before you arrive in Fort Portal town. On arrival in Fort portal you will have lunch at Gardens Restaurant or Dutch’s Restaurant and guest, later at 2:00pm proceed to Rwenzori Mountains for accommodation.

Day 3: Transfer to Nyakalengija (1615m) and Hike to Nyabitaba Hut (2651m On this day after breakfast at 9:00am you will meet all the guides, potters, chefs and you will check on the hiking gears to ensure that you have received the equipment’s of your size during the summiting day.

After, your driver together with the guides will drive you to the Uganda wild life Authority headquarters/Rwenzori gate. The guide will introduce you to the park warden and receive an induction, briefing and registration before starting the trek.

​Thereafter, you will officially begin the hike by passing through farmland to the park boundary, which follows along the Mubuku River. You will cross the Mahoma tributary before starting a long steep ascent onto a giant ridge until you reach Nyabitaba Hut at 2651m. During this part of the trail you will pass in the grass land, Montana forest zone and heather which are tropical rain forests, on the right hand side you will see Portal peaks, you may be lucky enough to hear or see chimpanzees calls and to see Black and White Columbus monkeys, Blue monkeys, and the brilliant Rwenzori Turaco and see different chameleons, you will pass through different rivers and waterfalls until you reach Nyabitaba Camp.

Hike duration: 5 -6 hours. Elevation height: 1,036m

Day 4: Nyabitaba (2651m asl.) – John Matte Camp (3505m asl.)

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.

Pic: John matte camp

Hike duration: 7 – 8 hours. Elevation height: 854m

Day 5: John Matte (3505m asl.) – Bujuku Camp (3962m asl.)

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.

Pic: Bujuku Hut

Hike duration: 4 – 5 hours. Elevation height: 457m

Day 6: Bujuku (3962m asl.) – Elena Camp (4541m asl)

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 the 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.

Pic: Elena Camp

Hike duration: 5 – 6 hours. Elevation height: 579m

Day 7: Elena Hut (4541m asl.) – Margherita Peak (5109m asl.) – Kitandara Camp (4430m asl)

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 Mountains.

Pic: Margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori Mountains

Then 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.

Pic: Dinner and overnight at the Kitandara camp.

Descend duration: 3 – 4 hours.

Day 8: Kitandara (4430m asl.) – Guy Yeoman (3261m asl)

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.

Hike duration: 6 – 7 hours.

Day 9: Guy Yeoman (3261m asl.) – Nyabitaba (2651m asl.) – Mihunga Gate (1615m asl.)

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 Hike by the evening to park the gate to end your 7 days Rwenzori Margherita peak Trek.

Descent duration: 6 – 7 hours

Upon the arrival, you will be welcomed by the community with the traditional dance celebrating for your success on conquering Rwenzori Mountain that is topmost part of Uganda.

Day 10. Travel to Kampala -Entebbe for one day Rest and depart the next morning.

Other important information to Note:

1. Concerning Temperatures:

Temperatures around Nyabitaba camp 2651to 4000M mark around 10 to 15° Celsius.
during the day and 2 to 6 Celsius at night
Temperatures at either Bujuku hut or Elena hut 5degrees Celsius during the day can vary from +1 to +12
celsius during the day with temp dropping to minus 5 to +3 Celsius at night. On the peaks it can drop
to minus 2 degrees Celsius during the day but at times it can be +8 or 10 degrees Celsius.
It can also get windy on the peaks which brings in a chill factor in the bad weather but currently is
warm weather/dry season.

​2. Porters

Regarding potters each carry 25Kgs every day and each of our guest takes 3 potters for 7-8 days.

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However, you need hiking shoes that waterproof to fit in the crampons during the summiting day, Rubber boots that will be used during trek because some parts of Rwenzori are muddy and of course you need rain jackets, hiking pants, gaiters, warm sweaters or jackets and warm waterproof gloves.

3. Hiking Equipment’s
You need the following equipment’s on the summiting day: Crampons, harness, rope, Ice axe, helmet. These are part of the price quoted.

4. Meals

Regarding meals during the trek, the chefs will serve you healthy meals to keep you happy and well-
fed during the trek. You will have hot meals at breakfast and dinner, freshly prepared with Western
and locally-sourced ingredients.

We prepare all our food with strict hygiene standards, ensuring it’s delicious and safe to eat. Our
meals are made to be nutritionally-dense, with plenty of variety to cater to the energy demands of
the trekkers.
Our Breakfast is served porridge followed by sausage and eggs, toast and marmalade or jams and
hot drinks such as tea, coffee or chocolate. But you are advised to communicate with the chefs as
regards your appetites or we will provide much more foods as we can.

Lunch is usually a packed lunch that you will carry in your backpacker and sometimes it’s a hot lunch.
It normally consists of a boiled egg, some sandwiches, a chicken portion, fresh fruits and a cold drink.
At the end of the day’s walking, afternoon tea is served with biscuits, peanuts and, best of all, salted
popcorn and plenty of hot drinks.

Dinner begins with soup, followed by a main course including chicken or meat, a vegetable sauce,
some cabbages, and rice, pasta or potatoes, with fresh fruits for dessert.

We accommodate all dietary restrictions, please let us know if some of you have dietary issues, we
recommend you bring along some of your favorite “energy” foods, as some specialty ingredients
can’t be found in our markets.

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General Information:

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The price above includes everything and there is no extra cost will be needed from you.