The experience of the trekking if mostly the itinerary of 7 days known as “Central Circuit” trial, which gives you the possibility to see closely the main mountains and peaks, and to climb Margherita and Alexandra peak.
The trekking is actually not highly demanding, in other words is accessible to whoever with some physical training on mountaineering. The final climbing to the main peak is optional, therefore it is possible to proceed along the trial without ascending Mt. Stanley.
The Central Circuit passes via five different vegetation zones, from the tropical and bamboo forests to the alpine zone, with an elevation of 2.800 m. up to 3.500 m. if you climb the peaks. The itinerary is designed to allow for acclimatisation, so that normally there has not been registered any phenomenon of altitude sickness.
The alpine guides provided by “Rwenzori Mountaineering services” are well trained for guiding and supporting the climbers. The porters will help the trekkers so that the weight of the bag would not exceed 10 to 15 Kg. The overnight is arranged in the Huts managed by the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services, where it is possible to cook and arrange for eating.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: On arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be transferred to Kampala for dinner and overnight at Hotel Africana or Ivys Hotel.
Day 2: From Kampala the visitors reach Rwenzori. Lunch at Mbarara. Dinner and overnight at Ibanda, Tour Holiday Inn.
Day 3: Stage 1: From Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba Hut, 2.652 m. From the Rwenzori Mountains National Park Head Quarter at Nyakalengija, 1.646 m., you will receive the briefing from the guides, with the possibility of hiring equipment. The hike starts through the plantations and homes of the Bakonjo, the people of the mountain, gradually reaching garden plots and elephants grass.
You follow the Mobuku river, until crossing the Mahoma river. The trail passes through an open bracken fern slopes and Podorcarpus Forest, up to Nyabitaba Hut, 2.652 m., which is the arrival point for the day. This will take from 5 to 6 hours. From the location, you are facing on the North the Portal Peaks, 4.627 m. and in front Mount Kyniangoma. During the day, you might see monkeys, the Rwenzori Turaco and hearing the chimpanzees.
Day 4: Stage 2: From Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte Hut, 3.414 m. From Nyabitaba Hut you cross the Kurt Shaffer Bridge, through a muddy area along the Mubuku river. Then the trail climbs up through the bamboo forest. You reach a steep rocky area, which leads to Nyamuleju Hut. This point marks the start of the giant lobelia and groundsel zone.
The way proceeds through a bog full of typical plants along the Bujuku river. The final point is John Matte Hut, 3.414 m. for spending the night. From Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte it can take approximately 6 hours. Enjoy the view of Mount Stanley and snow capped Margherita and Elena Peaks.
Day 5: Stage 3: From John Matte Hut to Bujuku Hut, 3.962 m. From John Matte Hut you cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower Bigo bog, a grassy bog where you experience how to jump from tussock to tussock. You reach Bigo Hut and enter the upper Bigo bog, proceeding to Lake Bujuku, where it is starting the alpine savannah zone of little vegetation. You finally arrive at Bujuku Hut, 3.962 m. This day hike can take up to 5 hours. There you have a view on the peaks of Mount Stanley, Mount Baker and Mount Speke.
Day 6: Stage 4: From Bujuku Hut to Elena Hut, 4.540 m. From Bujuku Hut you climb through moss draped groundsel vegetation, to Scott Elliot Pass, 4.372 m., between Mt. Baker and Stanley. Here you divert to Elena Hut, 4.540 m. for spending the night before climbing Mt. Stanley.
Day 7: Stage 5 From Kitandara Hut to Guy Yeoman Hut, 3.261 m. From Elena Hut you ascend the last tract of rock and ice which leads to Margherita Peak on Mt. Stanley, 5.109 m. Time to complete the climbing about 3 hours. The peak was first climbed by the Duke of Abruzzi at 9.30am on 18th June 1.906.
After you descend to Upper Kitandara lake and through thick mud to Lower Kitandara lake where is located Kitandara Hut, 4.023 m. Time to complete the hike about 3 hours more. From Kitandara Hut you can proceed for climbing Mount Baker or Mount Luigi di Savoia and the peak Vittorio Sella. Enjoy the view of Mt. Luigi di Savoia.
Day 8: Stage 6: From Kitandara Hut to Guy Yeoman Hut, 3.261 m. From Lake Kitandara you climb to Freshfield Pass, 4.282 m., a long flat of high alpine mossy glades, before descending the circuit among rocky and boggy areas. The panorama is dominated by the glaciers of Mounts Stanley and Baker and Mount of Savoy.
A muddy trail leads to Akendahi, Bujongolo and Kabamba rock shelters, where starts the Kabamba valley down to Guy Yeoman Hut, 3.261 m. This can take up to 6 hours. The hut is surrounded by a beautiful landscape of mountains, vegetations and rivers.
Day 9: Stage 7: From Guy Yeoman Hut back to Nyakalengija. Final descent back to Nyakalengija. The trial is attractive along the valley of the Mobuku and Kichuchu rivers, rich in plants and flowers of the heather zone before reaching the bamboo forest. See Kabamba falls on the way. Time to reach Nyabitaba Hut is about 4 hours.
From Nyabitaba starts the 40 minutes trial to see Lake Mahoma and back to the hut for descending to the Park Head Quarter. The trial takes more 2 to 3 hours. Transfer to Kasese for dinner and overnight at Margherita Hotel.
Day 10: Drive back to Kampala.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Tariff per person for the Rwenzori trekking:
- Each of 2 people sharing 1.460$
- Each of 4 people sharing 1.270$
- Each of 6 people sharing 1.200$
- Each of 8 people sharing 1.160$
- Each of 10 people sharing 1.140$
* Single room supplement: 50$ (Kampala, Kasese)
* Supplement for climbing Mt. Stanley: 125$
* Other peaks: Monte Speke 89$, Monte Baker 89$, Mt. Luigi di Savoia 118$
The price includes:
- Full board and meals during the hike
- Accommodation in huts and hotels
- Transfer with 4x4 land cruiser or minibus
- Guide and porters, cooker
- Park Entrance fees
- Rescue fees in case of emergency rescue on Rwenzori Mountains
The price excludes:
- Flight and tourist insurance
- Equipment for the hike
- Alcohol, tips, cigarettes, laundry
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Uganda
Hiking & Trekking
Ecotourism
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