5 Days Rwenzori Hike

5 Days Rwenzori hike | Climbing Moutain Rwenzori

This 5 Days Rwenzori Margherita hike via Rwenzori Central Circuit the oldest trail that was used by the Abruzzi expedition in 1906 Rwenzori Trekking.

Day 1: Nyakalengija (1650) to Nyabitaba camp (2650m)

Start the day by approaching the Rwenzori expedition reservation officer early in the morning to allocate hiking equipment if so and arrange for guides, chef, and porters at once hiking starts from the park gates to Nyabitaba a distance of 7km and takes 5-6 hours, and an ascent of 1200 meters.

The trail at the beginning goes through homes and fields progressing through high elephant grasses and dense bush. You will climb over cliffs and bluffs crossing river Mahoma then ascending steeply into Nyabitaba camp. Certain animals can be spotted such as the white and black colobus monkeys, the horned chameleon, and the Rwenzori Turaco birds.

Stay overnight at the Nyabitaba camp.

Day 2: Nyabitaba (2650) m to Johnmaate camp (3505) m

From Nyabitaba you descend to your right and follow the trail that drops down through the forest for half an hour to the Kurt Shafer bridge, just before the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers.

The walk is then easygoing for a couple of hours passing through the bamboo forest and then becomes more difficult kind of like spelunking, traversing through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rocks. From the Nyamileju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant Heather, lobelia, and groundsel. Finally reach Johnmaate camp after passing through the tiring bog. While here, high chances of catching the nice views of Mount Stanley and Margherita glacier.

Dinner and overnight at the hut.

trekking rwenzori before gorillas in uganda
trekking rwenzori before gorillas in uganda

Day 3 of 5 Days Rwenzori hike : Johnmaate camp (3505) m to Elena camp (4541) m

From Johnmaate camp the trail drops down to cross the Bujuku River and enters lower big 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 oozes, continuing to the upper big bog you will follow the Bujuku river that sometimes runs underground from lake Bujuku, with views of mount Baker to the South and Mount Stanley to the west. Take on the left as you reach Lake Bujuku and continue up to Elena camp 4541m which takes a 7 km 7 hours walk.

Dinner and an overnight

Day 4: Elena hut (4541) m to margherita peak (5109) m and back to Johnmaate camp (3505) m

For those aiming at reaching Margherita Peak, continue to the base of Stanley Glacier. To reach the summit of Margarita, the climb takes about 5-7 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you through over three glaciers, slippery Rock, ice, and very exposed areas that are open on many sides. Note that this climb is for only physically fit and technical climbers.

Climbing onto the glaciers, cross the Stanley plateau, and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness, and cold weather. Scramble up to the summit of Margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori. Given the high altitude and the tough conditions even if you don’t reach the peak, don’t get disappointed. Prepare for your return through the Irene lakes where there are spectacular views of Bujuku Lake, mount Speke, Mount Stanley, and down the Johnmaate camp. After the trail that passes you through the Alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend passed the Bujuku lakes and continue down to Johnmaate for dinner and an overnight at Johnmaate camp 3505m

Day 5: Johnmaate camp 3505m to Nyabitaba camp 2560m for lunch and continue down to Nyakalengija for transfer to the next destination.

The descent to Nyabitaba takes around 6-7 hours but with an early start, it’s possible to make it down to Nyakalengija.

Below Johnmaate, the route descends the cliffs of Nyamileju and takes you through the Heather forest zones down to Nyabitaba for either dinner and an overnight or lunch and continues down to nyakalengija for hot showers.