This 10 day safari takes you hiking the tallest mountain in Uganda, Rwenzori Mountain also known as the mountain of the moon which involves hiking, spotting the slippery moss-covered rocks, and the hike to the highest peak of margherita. Not missing the most popular rivers that flow from the mountain ranges like Mubuku, nyamwamba and Bujuku rivers.
Day 1: Arrival
Day 2: Transfer to Kasese
Day 3: Nyakalengija (1615m) – Nyabitaba Hut (2651m)
Day 4: Nyabitaba (2651m) – Mubuku River (2600m) John Matte Hut (3380m)
Day 5: John Matte (3380m) to Bujuku (3962m)
Day 6: Bujuku (3977m) to Elena Hut (4541m)
Day 7: Elena Hut (4541m) to Margherita peak– Kitandara hut (4027m)
Day 8: Kitandara (4027m) – Freshfi eld Pass (4282m) – Guy Yeoman (3450m)
Day 9: Guy Yeoman (3450m) – Nyabitaba (2651m)
Day 10: Nyabitaba (2651m) – Nyakalengija (1615m)
Day 11: Kasese – Entebbe
One of our company representatives will pick you from the Airport, meet and welcome you and transfer you to your place of accommodation
Early in the morning after breakfast, embark on a long journey to the Kasese town with a brief stopover for lunch along the way. You can also opt for cultural and archeological visits along the way. Arrive in Kasese in the evening. Relax and cool off from the long journey.
Have an early breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters at Nyakalengija.
The Central Circuit starts at the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services offices at Nyakalengija. You should 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 the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma tributary before starting a long, steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut. The hike takes around 6 -7 hours. During this part of the trip you may hear chimpanzee and see black and white colobus, blue monkey and the brilliantly colored Rwenzori turaco.
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 Nyamileju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and can be seen before passing into the zone of Mount Speke the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach the tiring bog, for Dinner and Overnight
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’s Pass.
Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical Groundsel Gully as it ascends to Scott-Elliot Pass at 4372m. At the head of the gully a metal ladder takes you over a steep section after which the trail is divided into two. The trail on your right leads 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.
For those aiming at reaching Margherita peak (5109m), continue to the base of the Stanley Glacier. To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 5-7 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. Note that this climb is for only physically fit and technical climbers. Climbing on to 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’s. Given the high altitude and the tough conditions even if you do not reach the peak, don’t get disappointed. Prepare for you return through the Scott-Elliot pass, where there are spectacular views back to Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke , up to Mount Stanley and down to the Kitandara Lakes . After the trail that passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight.
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. 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 trail passing the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906.
The descent to Nyabitaba takes around 6 -7 hours but with an early start it is possible to make it all the way down to Nyakalengija. Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu. Beyond Kichuchu the muddy path crosses the Mubuku River twice before climbing upwards to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit.
The descent from Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija takes 3 – 4 hours. Transfer to a hotel and reflect on your adventure. You can also choose a range of (optional) activities the next day like cultural encounters or a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National park to see lions, elephants, Uganda kobs and more wildlife.
After breakfast, we will check out of the lodge and transfer to to Entebbe airport or Kampala arriving in time for your departure flight with lunch enroute. The tour will end when our driver returns you to your drop-off point.
