Entebbe, Uganda
The once-in-a-lifetime Rwenzori Summit Trek in the Rwenzori Mountain National Park is a stunning and challenging trek that takes between 7 and 8 days to complete. During this trek, we climb all the major peaks: Portal Peaks, Mt. Gessi, Mt. Emin, Margherita Peak, and Mt. Speke. Very experienced hikers can complete the trek in 6 to 7 days, however, for most others we factor in one day of rest to acclimatize to the altitude and finish the trek in 7 to 8 days.
Hotel
Sandon Hotel
After breakfast, transfer to the starting point of the hike at Nyakalengija.
Hike from Nyakalengija (1615m Asl.) to Nyabitaba Camp (2651m Asl.)
The central circuit starts at the Rwenzori Mountaineering services offices at Nyakalengija. 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 the 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 chimpanzee and see black and white colobus, blue monkey and the brilliantly coloured Rwenzori turraco.
Average hike period 6-7 hours.
Tented Camp
Nyabitaba Hut
Hike from Nyabitaba to 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 giant heather, lobelia, and groundsel zone. Finally reach John Matte Hut after passing through the tiring bog, for dinner and overnight at the hut.
Tented Camp
John Matte Hut
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.
Average hike period 4-5 hours.
Tented Camp
Bujuku Hut
Hike from Bujuku to 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.
Average hike period 5-6 hours.
Tented Camp
Elena Hut
Hike from Elena Hut to Margherita Peak (5109m Asl.) then to 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 onto 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. Descend Margherita peak to Elena Hut and this will take you about 2 to 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. 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.
Tented Camp
Kitandara Hut
Descend Kitandara to 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.
Tented Camp
Guy Yeoman Hut.
Decsend Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba then Nyakalengija (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 trek by the evening at Nyakalengija, the base camp.
B&B
Rwenzori View Guest House
No
13
Strenuous
No
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