RWENZORI MONTAIN HIKING-MARGHERITA PEAK 5109M

Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Hotel in Entebbe or kampala

Whatever time you will arrive at Entebbe international airport, you will meet me or one of our expert guide who will warmly welcome you and shortly brief you and transfer you to a hotel in Entebbe or Kampala for a rest.

Transfer to the Rwenzori Mountains

After breakfast at 9:00am on the same day of your arrival, you will embark on a 6-7 hour drive to the western part of the country at the slopes of Mountain Rwenzori as you pass through tea estates before you arrive in Fort Portal town. On arrival in Fort portal you will have lunch at Gardens Restaurant and later at 2:00 pm proceed to Rwenzori Mountains for accommodation.

Day 2: Transfer to Nyakalengija (1615m) and Hike to Nyabitaba Hut (2651m

On this day after breakfast at 9:00am you will meet all the guides, potters, chefs and you will check on the hiking gears to ensure that you have received the equipments of your size during the summiting day.

After, your driver together with the guides will drive you to the Uganda wild life Authority headquarters/Rwenzori gate. The guide will introduce you to the park warden and receive an induction, briefying and registration before starting the trek.

Thereafter, you will officially begin the hike by passing through farmland to the park boundary, which follows along the Mubuku River. You will cross the Mahoma tributary before starting a long steep ascent onto a giant ridge until you reach Nyabitaba Hut at 2651m. During this part of the trail you will pass in the grass land, Montana forest zone and heather which are tropical rain forests, on the right hand side you will see Portal peaks, you may be lucky enough to hear or see chimpanzee calls and to see Black and White Columbus monkeys, Blue monkeys, and the brilliant Rwenzori Turaco and see different chameleons, you will pass through different rivers and waterfalls until you reach Nyabitaba Camp.

Hike duration: 5 -6 hours. Elevation height: 1,036m

Day 3: NYABITABA (2651m asl.) – JOHN MATTE CAMP (3505m asl.)

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

Nyamuleju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen before passing into the

Zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach John Matte Hut after passing

Through the tiring bog, for dinner and overnight at the hut.

Hike duration: 7 – 8 hours. Elevation height: 854m

Day 4: JOHN MATTE (3505m asl.) – BUJUKU CAMP (3962m asl.)

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 Pass.

This camp is good for acclimatization for clients attempting the summits of peaks Mount Stanley and Mount Speke. Dinner and overnight at Bujuku hut.

Hike duration: 4 – 5 hours. Elevation height: 457m

Day 5: BUJUKU (3962m asl.) – ELENA CAMP (4541m asl.)

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical and forest of Groundsel Gully. Turn to your right 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 Margarita Peak to Kitandara Hut.

Those climbing the peak will have their Dinner and overnight at the coolly and Icy Elena Hut.

Hike duration: 5 – 6 hours. Elevation height: 579m

Day 6: ELENA HUT (4541m asl.) – MARGHERITA PEAK (5109m asl.) – KITANDARA CAMP (4430m asl.)

Very early in the morning, you attempt climbing the highest peak, Margherita of Mount Stanley.

To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 4 -5 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.

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 Mountains.

The Descend from Margherita peak back to Elena Hut will take you about 2 – 3hours.

After your lunch at Elena hut, descend to the Scott-Elliot pass (4372m asl.), where there are spectacular views of Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke.

After, the trail passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara Lakes.

Dinner and overnight at the Kitandara camp.

Descend duration: 3 – 4 hours.

Day 7: KITANDARA (4430m asl.) – GUY YEOMAN (3261m asl.)

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 4282m asl.

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 high alpine mossy.

Thereafter start the descend through steep rocky trails and the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906 and then an overnight at Guy yeoman camp.

Hike duration: 6 – 7 hours.

Day 8: GUY YEOMAN (3261m asl.) – NYABITABA (2651m asl.) – MIHUNGA GATE (1615m asl.)

Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu.

Beyond Kichuchu the muddy path crosses the Mubuku River twice through a bamboo forest before climbing downwards to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit.

Continue descending Nyabitaba Camp and complete your Hike by the evening to park gate to end your 7 days Rwenzori Margherita peak Trek.

Descent duration: 6 – 7 hours

Upon the arrival, you will be welcomed by the community with the traditional dance celebrating for your success on conquering Rwenzori Mountain that is top most part of Uganda.