These legendary "Mountains of the Moon", described as such by Ptolemy in AD150, reach an elevation of 5,109m and are among Africa’s three highest mountain ranges. Many hikers confess that the Rwenzoris are the most challenging of all of Africa’s mountains. Majestic scenery and varied vegetation are just a few of the treats in store here. Trails lead you through rain forest that is brought alive by monkeys and birds, then through tall bamboo forest, before emerging on the high-altitude moorland zone, a landscape of giant lobelias, towered over by black rock and white snow, where you get ready for a challenging, but spectacular, adventure.
Tour Itinerary: Day 1: Arrival, pick up from Entebbe Airport and transfer to the Boma Hotel or Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel for dinner and overnight. Meal Plan BB. Transit time: 5min. Day 2: Pick up from your overnight accommodation in Kampala and depart for Kasese. Have Lunch in Fort Portal town. Your cook will purchase final fresh fruits and vegetables in Kasese before transfer for dinner and overnight at the Margherita Hotel. Meal Plan Lunch and dinner. Meal Plan FB. Day 3: Transfer in the morning to Nyakalengija for weighing and porter allocation. Hiking begins here at the park headquarters (5400ft), walking past typical "mud and wattle" Bakonzo homes, the trail follows the Mubuku river. After crossing the river there will be a steep climb through open bracken fern slopes and podorcarpus forest up to Nyabitaba Hut (8,700ft). During this approximately 5 h hike you will be able chimpanzees, and sometimes you can see black and white colubus and Blue monkeys. Behind the hut, catch glimpses of the brilliantly colored Rwenzori Turaco. Meal Plan FB. Day 4: From Nyabitaba hut, the trail drops past the Kurt Shaffer Bridge, crossing below the confluence of the Bukuju and Mobuku rivers, the slippery trail the climbs through bamboo forest. The trail also goes past giant lobelia and groundsel zone, this remarkable vegetation type is found nowhere else in the world except high altitude tropical African mountains. The path then ends at the John Matte hut (11,200ft), taking about 7 h. Meal Plan FB. Day 5: Leave the John Matte hut to cross the Bukuju River and enter the lower Bigo bog, where your first experience of jumping from tussock to tussock on a grassy bog begins. A beautiful narrow stream at the upper end of this bog makes a good lunch break. Beyond the north end of the lake is a rock shelter called Cooking pot and a short distance further is Bukuju hut (13,000ft), taking 3 -5 hrs. From here, if one moved around on a nature walk, the chances of seeing Red duikers are high, and at night, calls of the Rock hyraxes are common. Meal Plan FB. Day 6: Breakfast at leisure and proceed on a muddy hike through steep cliffs. This is a section of Giant Groundsels and Lobelias that characterized the higher section of the Mountain. Ascend further to Elena Hut which acts as a base for the final assent of the highest peak of the Rwenzori Mountains. Meals and overnight at Elena Hut (4541m) - Meal Plan FB. Day 7: Rise up very early before sunrise and walk through the snow to Margherita peak (5109m). If whether conditions are favorable, sunset would find you at the peak where you would take pictures. From here, descend to the Kitandara hut. Meals and overnight at the Kitandara Hut 4,023m. - Meal Plan FB. Day 8: The descent gets you through beautiful views of the Congo and the alpine moss. The trail then leads through the Bujongolo and Kabamba rock shelters. This trip takes an average of 6 hours to Guy Yeoman Hut, 3.261 m. Meals and overnight at Guy Yeoman Hut (3260m). Meal Plan FB. Day 9: The trail descends past Kichunchu paralleling and twice crossing the Mubuku River. Late evening walking can be good for watching birds and you may sight the occasional Blue tailed monkey. It takes you about 5hrs from Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba hut. Meal Plan FB. Notes:
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