9 Days Rwenzori Trekking Safari

 

9 days Rwenzori trekking safari  

This 9 days Rwenzori trekking safari  starts and ends at Entebbe International Airport the hike takes you to Nyakalengijja, Nyabitaba, John Matte, Camp Bujuku, Camp  Elena, and Finally at  Camp  Margherita peak at 5109m above sea level

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

On this day, you will be welcomed by our company representative at the airport and drive to the hotel in Entebbe for your refreshments, dinner, and overnight.

Accommodation at Santa Maria Lodge

Day 2: Fly from Entebbe – Nyakalengijja – Nyabitaba  

Have your breakfast at the lodge and drive to the airport for your flight to Kasese. You will arrive at Kasese airport in 2 hours and be picked up by our mountaineering representative for your transfer to the starting point. The central circuit starts at the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services offices at Nyakalengijja. You need to arrive in the morning to allow ample time to rent equipment and meet your guides and porters. 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. During this part of the trip, you may hear chimpanzees and see black and white colobus, blue monkeys, and the brilliantly colored Rwenzori turaco.

The hike takes an average of 6 -7 hours.

Day 3: NYABITABA – JOHN MATTE CAMP (3505m.)

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.

The hike takes an average of 7 – 8 hours.

Day 4: JOHN MATTE – BUJUKU CAMP (3962m.)

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.

The hike takes an average of 4 – 5 hours.

Day 5: BUJUKU – ELENA CAMP (4541m)

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical 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.

The hike takes an average of 5 – 6 hours.  

Day 6: ELENA HUT – MARGHERITA PEAK (5109m) – ELENA HUT

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 that are open on many sides. Climbing onto the glaciers, cross the Stanley Plateau, and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness, and cool weather, scramble up to the summit of Margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori.

Later after the exploration of the peak, the descent from Margherita peak back to Elena Hut where you will have your delicious lunch and overnight will start. After your lunch at Elena’s hut, you will have some rest at the hut as you wait for another descent on the next day. Dinner and overnight at Elena Hut.

The descent takes an average of 3 – 4 hours. 

Day 7: ELENA HUT – KITANDARA – GUY YEOMAN (3261m.)

In the morning, you will depart from Elena hut descending to the Scott-Elliot pass (4372m.), 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 and have some stopover at Kitandara huts for lunch. 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. At this point, you can view the Congo to the west and Mount Stanley to the north. From the pass, take on the long high alpine moss. Thereafter the descent 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.

The hike takes an average of 6 – 7 hours. 

Day 8: GUY YEOMAN – NYABITABA – NYAKALENGIJA (1615m.)

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 trek by the evening at Nyakalengijja, the base camp. Drive to the hotel in Kasese for your overnight.

Accommodation at Sandton Hotel

Day 9: Drive/ Fly back to Entebbe

In the morning after breakfast, start your transfer back to Entebbe International Airport for your flight. You will have a drive to various hotels for a checkup and later continue with the transfer. Or

Have your breakfast at the lodge and drive to Kasese Airport for your flight back to Entebbe Airport for your departure flight.

Contact us for more information about booking 9 days Rwenzori trekking safari