This hike the Rwenzori mountains safari lets you hike the Rwenzori Mountains for 7 days with the aim of reaching the highest peak; Margherita Peak. This is the highest point in Uganda! Our guide will take you to the base of the mountain and then a professional mountaineering team takes care of the hike. You will hike through changing landscapes and have breath-taking views in front of you.
After finishing the Rwenzori hike you have a day to relax by Queen Elizabeth National Park. During this day you enjoy a relaxed morning and then go for a boat-cruise on Kazinga channel with chance to see hippos, buffaloes, elephants and more.
We are happy to adjust the 10 days Rwenzori Mountains tour itinerary to fit your wishes.
THIS HIKE THE RWENZORI MOUNTAINS SAFARI INCLUDES:
- Rwenzori Mountains National Park for 7 days hike
- Queen Elizabeth National Park for boat-cruise
Learn more about Rwenzori Mountains National Park.
Day by day itinerary for our Hike Rwenzori Mountains safari:
DAY 1- TRANSFER FROM ENTEBBE/KAMPALA TO RWENZORI MOUNTAINS
Your guide picks you in the morning for the drive to Rwenzori Mountains national park as you start your Hike Rwenzori Mountains safari. Arrive with a flight early morning or add a night to arrive the day before. Along the way you will see Ugandan countryside passing by the windows. Reach the Rwenzori base camp in the afternoon.
Overnight Rwenzori base camp
DAY 2 – 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 Rwenzori mountains 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 3 – 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 4 – STAGE 3: FROM JOHN MATTE HUT TO BUJUKU HUT, 3.962 M
From John Matte Hut you continue the Rwenzori mountains hike by crossing 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 5 -STAGE 4: FROM BUJUKU HUT TO ELENA HUT, 4.540 M.
From Bujuku Hut you continue hike the Rwenzori Mountains with a 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 6 -STAGE 5 FROM ELENA HUT TO KITANDARA HUT, 4.023 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 where you will spend the night. 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 7 -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 8 – 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. By the base camp your guide meets you to take you to the lodge by Queen Elizabeth national park for the night as you have finished the Rwenzori mountians hike.
Overnight in Pumba safari cottages
DAY 9 – RELAXED MORNING AND BOAT-CRUISE IN AFTERNOON, QUEEN ELIZABETH NP
Enjoy a relaxed morning by the lodge to let the body rest after finishing hike the Rwenzori Mountains. Have breakfast overlooking the savanna of Queen Elizabeth national park and relax up to lunch time. After having lunch at the lodge you set off with your guide to go for the afternoon boat-cruise on Kazinga channel. This is a 2hrs boat ride on the famous 36km Kazinga channel linking Lake George and Lake Edward. From the boat you can see land and water adapted hippopotamuses yawning and some slashing canines to each other, the National Geographical society killing machine the Nile crocodile gaping along the banks, possibly elephants and savanna version of Pigs the Warthog- Pumba of the award winning Lion King.
Overnight Pumba safari cottages
DAY 10 – TRANSFER TO ENTEBBE/KAMPALA
After breakfast it is time to head back towards Kampala/Entebbe. Along the way you make stops for lunch in Masaka or Mbarara and at the Equator for some photo poses where the southern and northern hemisphere meets. Your guide drops you in Kampala /Entebbe at the end of your Hike Rwenzori Mountains safari. If flying out the same day plan for an evening flight.
‘IN CONSERVATION WE TRUST- DISCOVER YOUR TRAVEL DREAMS’
CLICK ON THE MAP TO ZOOM AND FOLLOW THE ROUTING OF THE SAFARI. EXACT ROADS USED CAN DIFFER DEPENDING ON THE GUIDES DECISIONS FOR BEST ALTERNATIVES AT THE TIME.
Useful Information
Reviews: See what our visitors think on TripAdvisor & Safaribookings
Tailor-made safaris: We work with private safaris that can be tailor-made to fit your wishes. Contact us and we adjust the itinerary to your preferences.
Price: The price depends on number of people and accommodation level. Contact us with your inquiry to get the best price for your safari.
Included: Accommodation, meals, safari car, fuel, guide, park entries, gorilla permits (if applicable) and activities mentioned in the itinerary. Plus water in the car and a couple of fruits along the way.
Excluded: International flights, visas, drinks, tips and personal expenses.
Accommodation: In general accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is good places on budget to mid-range level (with the exception of luxury safaris). The accommodation can be adapted to your price range of budget, mid-range or luxury. Of-course a mix is also possible. Take a look here for links to the website’s of the lodges we regularly work with.
Payment options: We accept international bank transfer, card payment through PesaPal (adds 3,5% charge) and cash payment if you are in Uganda.
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