Day 1
You will be met by a representative of our company at Entebbe International Airport or at your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala. He will drive you west of the capital Kampala to Kasese town for an overnight at hotel while enjoying the views of the cloudy Rwenzoris from the balcony of your hotel or the clear views of the savannah Queen Elizabeth National park below Kasese town before your trek to Rwenzori mountain the next morning. A drive to Kasese takes 5-6 hours via Kampala to Fort-portal road which is 372 Km or 6-7 hours drive via Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara highway which is 422 Km. Along the way you will have a stopover for lunch either in Fort-portal or Mbarara either way before proceeding to Kasese town for an overnight.
Day 2
The central circuit starts at the Rwenzori Mountain National park gate at Nyakalengija (1615 m). Your driver guide will drive you from your hotel in Kasese to Nyakalengijja for briefing and organising climbing equipment before the trek commemces. The trail begins by passing through farmland to the park boundary beyond which it follows a thick forest along the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma River tributary before starting a long, steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut (2651 m). During this part of the trip you may hear chimpanzee and see black and white colobus, blue monkey and the brilliantly coloured Rwenzori turraco. Hike duration: 6 -7 hours. Elevation height: 1036 m
Day 3
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 (3505 m) after passing through the tiring bog, for dinner and overnight at the hut. Hike duration: 7 - 8 hours. Elevation height: 854 m
Day 4
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 (3962 m), 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. Hike duration: 4 – 5 hours. Elevation height: 457 m
Day 5
Early in the morning start the hike through Stullmans pass (4192m asl.) and spectacular views of Virunga National park of DR Congo to Mt Speke (Victorio Emanuele peak, 4890 m). Ascend duration: 4 – 5 hours. Elevation height: 230m. Prepare to descend back to Bujuku camp from Victorio Emanuele with views of Bujuku valley and Bujukulake, Margherita and Albert peaks on Mount Stanley, and Mount Baker for an overnight at Bujuku Camp. Descend duration: 3 – 4hours.
*Attention!
The tour price includes only the approach to Mount Speke. Climbing to the top of Speke (Victorio Emnuele peak, 4890 m) is negotiated and agreed in advance before the start of the tour.
Day 6
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 (4541 m) 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 he 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. Hike duration: 5 – 6 hours. Elevation height: 579 m
Day 7
Very early in the morning, you attempt climbing the highest peak, Margherita (5109 m) 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. The 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 (4372 m), 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 for dinner and overnight at the Kitandara camp (4430 m). Descend duration: 3 – 4 hours.
Day 8
The ascend starts early morning from Kitandara Camp through Fresh Field pass (4215m asl.) with views of DR Congo up to Mt Baker (Edward peak, 4843 m). Ascend Duration: 5 – 6 hours. Elevation height: 413m. From Edward peak descend back to Fresh Field pass and then back to Kitandara camp for an Overnight. Descend duration: 3 – 4 hours.
*Attention!
The tour price includes only the approach to Mount Baker. Climbing to the top of Baker (Edward peak, 4843 m) is negotiated and agreed in advance before the start of the tour.
Day 9
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 (4282 m). 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 (3261 m). Hike duration: 6 – 7 hours.
Day 10
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 from Nyabitaba Camp (2651 m) and proceed downwards to the park gate at Nyakalengijja (1615 m) where you will meet your driver guide for transfer to Kasese for an overnight or transfer to Kampala/Entebbe for your departure flight. Descent duration: 7 – 8 hours
- more information about Uganda in our article - Read