A hike in the Rwenzori mountains can be a highlight to a safari in Uganda. This mountain range is found in the West of Uganda and includes Africa’s third highest peak, Margherita peak reaching 5109 m. For the adventurous the aim can be to take a week long hike to reach the highest peak while other options are hikes of two or four days or a comfortable day hike to get a taste of the beautiful nature. The Rwenzori mountains include five vegetation zones and has snow capped peaks. At higher altitudes the impressive giant lobelias can be found.
Safari options:
– Hike the Rwenzori mountains – 10-days
– Gorillas & Rwenzori mountains – 21-days
– A tailor-made safari can include a short day hike or the longer hiking options.
The route for 7-days is:
The 7-day hike can be managed by somebody who is comfortable with hiking. The only technical climbing part is if you wish to reach the top of Margherita peak, this is optional and otherwise no advanced climbing is needed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
