9 Days Hiking Tour and Safari in Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda

Mesmerizing Uganda Safari

Trek into the Rwenzori Mountains, the fabled ‘Mountains of the Moon’ to summit Mount Stanley’s snow-capped Margarita Peak, the fourth highest peak in Africa. Hike through montane forest, lobelia gardens, and spotting monkey troops, disks, and chameleons to reach the summit. With stunning views over glaciers, forest valleys, and the savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park below, this is one of East Africa’s premier hiking routes!

Highlights

• Hiking tour
• Wide range of wildlife
• Summiting Margherita Peak
• Fantastic views of waterfalls and lakes
• Panoramic views of snow-capped peaks
• 8 nights' accommodation
• Airport transfers
• Meals

Day 1: Montane forest and monkeys

The trek starts at Rwenzori International Hotel. You walk 2.2 kilometers to the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers post at 1,727 meters, which takes about one hour. At the gate, the rangers will brief you on the rules of the national park. You start by walking along the valley floor through tall forest trees of the afro-montane forest zone. This is a steady climb with a multitude of birds and a chance of seeing wild chimpanzees or blue monkeys scampering off through the forest. At times, visitors can also see troupes of 15 - 20 colobus monkeys racing through the treetops, as well as the chance of a sighting of the L’hoest monkeys, which is part of the Bakonzo cultural emblem and are, protected by the virtue of the Omusinga (king). There are wide varieties of plant species from forest trees to bamboos thickets, low shrubs, flowers, fungi, and with many moss and lichen covered vines hanging from the tall trees, creating an amazing appeal. Enoch’s Falls are just 200 meters from Sine Hut and well worth the short stroll after your long day trekking to experience the white water as it streams down the mountainside. The wooden cabin at Sine Hut will be your first accommodation on the trek. It contains 10 beds and is set between tall forest trees on a narrow ridge, with a verandah where you may sit and enjoy the beauty of the afro-montane forest.

Distance: 9.2 kilometers

Accommodation: Sine Hut - wooden cabin

Day 2: Bamboo forests and waterfall

After a hearty breakfast, your day of trekking begins at 08:30 and you will soon enter the bamboo-mimulopsis zone. It will be a steep climb with many high steps. In the wet season, the bamboo area is rather muddy making the going slow. However, the atmosphere and the forest are beautiful as you climb 551 meters in altitude and a distance of 1.8 kilometers to Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters. Here you will reach the heather-rapanea zone where you can take a rest and a quick cup of tea or coffee before heading on to Mutinda Camp.The trail then meanders up and over several small knolls along a ridge top then drop down the side of the valley before climbing again. In doing so, you cross several small streams and pass close to moss covered waterfalls. As you continue, you climb steadily alongside a beautiful mossy river, which tumbles down over the rocks where giant heather trees, whose trunks are covered in green moss and old man beard hanging from the branches overhead. The trail twists and turns as you climb up the deep valley, which has an enormous variety of plants and flowers. This valley is unique with an abundance of giant heather trees creating a beautiful atmosphere, often shrouded in mist. Once you reach Mutinda Camp, which is set near a small waterfall, you may have a chance to wash, refresh, and relax. Or you may wish to climb up to the top of the Mutinda lookout (one and a half hours up and one hour down). The view and the atmosphere are amazing as you stand on moss covered rocks at 3,925 meters with views across the Rwenzori Mountains, down to Kasese Town and even Lake George on a clear day.

Distance: 7 kilometers

Accommodation: Mutinda Rock Shelter - permanent tent

Day 3: Weismann’s Peak view

In the alpine zone, the trail is boggy, particularly in the wet season, but you can step from tussock to tussock to make the going easier. You will cross Mutinda Valley through the tussock grass and everlasting flowers interspersed with many giant lobelias. Then you climb a steep section up to the Namusangi Valley at 3,840 meters, which ends abruptly with sheer waterfalls and fantastic views of Mutinda Peak. Namusangi Valley is wide and undulating and you need to cross several bogs as the trail climbs steadily. Bugata Camp is situated way up Bamwanjara Pass high above Bugata Lake with views across Lake Kopello to Weismann’s Peak, which is often covered with snow. Down the valley, you will get views of Lakes Africa and Kanganyika and the many small peaks towards Mutinda Camp. There is also plenty of red forest duiker, a sub-species only found in the Rwenzori Mountains. In the dryer season, you may choose to walk directly up the valley but a more scenic trail meanders along the hilltops with fantastic views of Lake Nusuranja from Plozza Rock. From Plozza Rock, you also get fantastic views down the valley across nine lakes, ringed by rugged peaks and ridges. Bugata Camp has good facilities, solar lights, good toilets, and bathrooms where the guides will prepare some warm water in a basin for you to wash.

Distance: 4.9 kilometers

Accommodation: Bugata Camp - permanent tent

Day 4: Glacial lakes and snow-capped peaks

This morning, you will commence trekking at 08:30 to climb up Bamwanjara Pass. The trail climbs steadily with several long flat bogs. The area is covered by everlasting flowers and giant groundsel with the bogs of tussock grass and giant lobelia. The nectar is the main food source of food for the scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird, which is common in this area and endemic to the Rwenzori Mountains. As you climb, you will look back to see the glacial lakes far down in the valley. On reaching the top of Bamwanjara Pass, you will get excellent panoramic views of all the main snow-capped peaks where there is a small shelter for you to rest for a while and enjoy the scenery. The walk down to Kacholpe Lake is steep and often very muddy but offers fantastic views of the lakes and McConnell’s Prong. Butawu Camp at 3,974 meters is set on a ridge high above Butawu River which flows down from Scott Elliott Pass through the Kitandara Lakes and has excellent views of the snow-capped Mount Baker.

Distance: 6 kilometers

Accommodation: Butawu Camp - permanent tent

Day 5: Butawu River and retracing history

This morning, you will walk back along the ridge before crossing several wet areas and small rivers coming from Mount Baker to join the Butawu River. The walk up Scott Elliott Pass is enjoyable as you climb up over the rocks and up to Margherita Camp at 4,485 meters. The camp is sheltered with a ring of high rocks and is the original camp used by the Italian Prince Luigi Amadeo di Savoia, Duke of the Abruzzi, who mounted an expedition in 1906, composed of biologists, surveyors, a geologist, and a photographer. The Italian-led team climbed the mountains, opening a new page in the history of mountaineering, and providing an answer to the most unresolved geographical questions in the region for centuries. Some of the peaks still have the names, which the duke chose to honor the Italian kingdom and Queen Margarita hence naming this camp Margarita Camp. From here, you have great views of Mount Baker, Scott Elliot Pass and some of the high glaciers on Mount Stanley. You need to sleep early at Margarita Camp to prepare for a very early start tomorrow!

Distance: 4.1 kilometers

Accommodation: Margarita Camp - permanent tent

Day 6: Summiting Margherita Peak

Rise early at 04:00, have a quick snack and start climbing so as to get onto the Stanley glacier before sunrise. The climb up can be difficult if covered in snow and ice and it is classed as a ‘difficult scramble’. Once on the Stanley Glacier, the going is easy, however, the climb down to Margherita glacier can be challenging and slippery in bad weather. Your guides and porters will be right beside you in case you require a helping hand. There is an installed fixed-static rope with bolts every two meters leading down a ledge to the top of a 6 meters aluminum ladder. There are a couple of steel steps or rungs on the trickier bit to assist when icy. All in all, this is a safe route and anyone with reasonable fitness is able to pass. It is not classed as ‘technical’ and it is easy in dry conditions. The climb up Margherita Glacier is steep with the first part around 30 degrees but the toe of the glacier is much steeper and requires effort. Generally, you walk across the newly exposed rocks to the other side of the glacier where it is less steep. On getting near to the top of the glacier, you need to climb around an exposed section, which is also bolted and roped, to get on the ridge running up to the summit of Margherita Peak. On a clear day, the views from Margherita Peak are truly splendid and your goal is hereby achieved. After summiting, you then descend directly to Butawu Camp or in the case of bad weather, you may need to stay in Margherita Camp but the following day, it will be necessary to pass Butawu Camp directly to Bugata Camp.

Distance: 11.2 kilometers

Accommodation: Butawu Camp - permanent tent

Day 7: Hyrax and hiking

Take a later start to the day with breakfast in the morning and start trekking by 09:00. The climb up Bamwanjara Pass is steep and in wet weather can be slippery making it slow going. While crossing the pass, you get the chance to see rock hyrax sitting at the entrance to their rock shelters warming up in the sun. Their main predator is the Rwenzori leopard, which is rarely seen, but occasionally people do get a fleeting glimpse. Do not worry, you are perfectly safe! Tonight, you will sleep at Bugata Camp and descend directly to the base camp in one day tomorrow.

Distance: 6 kilometers

Accommodation: Bugata Camp - permanent tent

Day 8: The final descent

This morning, you will rise early to take in the last sunrise of your time staying up in the Rwenzori Mountains. You can then take an early breakfast before you start on the long trek down to base camp at Kilembe. You will pass back through the montane forest, with its moss-covered trees and rocks with monkeys scampering through branches above you. Enjoy the fantastic views across the valleys and over the savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park. En route, you will be passing Kiharo and Samalira Camp, one of which you will be stopping off at for your lunch before you exit the national park. Once you reach the park boundary, you will be stopping off at the rangers’ station where you will be debriefed by the rangers before you make your way on to your base camp at a hotel / lodge. Distance: 22 kilometers

Day 9: Transfer to Kampala / airport

End of your safari.

Price includes;

• 8 nights’ accommodation
• Airport transfer and pick up
• All equipment to use
• All relevant government taxes in Uganda
• Drinking water
• Hiking cook/fee/guides
• Meals while on safari
• Porter x 2 per person
• Drinking water 1 Litre daily while on safari
• Procurement and registration relevant to wildlife permits

Price Excludes;

• Beverages
• Gratuities / tips
• International flights
• Laundry
• Items of a personal nature i.e. visas,sourvenirs