Mount Rwenzori Hiking, Mt Ruwenzori Climbing, Mt Rwenzori Trekking
in Uganda
5 Days Ruwenzori Mountains
Day 1 Kampala
- Kasese.
A full Scenic days drive from Kampala takes you across the Equator
and through the Rift valley to your overnight stop at Kasese.
Days 2 –
4 Trekking Days.
Assisted by guides and porters you hike up to one of the Seven intermediate
stages. There is a great diversity of vegetation, the chance of
sporting some wild animals and breath taking views. The route chosen
for you will be based on the skill and experience you have. Camp
cook will prepare meals and accommodation is in mountain huts or
tents.
Day 5 Return
to Kampala.
Make a slow descent into Kampala via Mbarara passing through small
villages with their Ankole Cattle and viewing numerous mattock plantations
arriving in Kampala late afternoon.
NB. (1) This package can be extended
to 10-12 days depending on how high one would like to climb. If
you are serious climbers Baker (15889) and Margarita (16763 ft)
peaks are worth visit.
(2) There are numerous rugged
cliffs. Rock climbing equipment is needed.
Mt Rwenzori Hiking - 9 Days
Day 1
Drive from Kampala to Kasese Town stopping at Equator crossing,
lunch stop in Mbarara town and continue to Kasese. Arrive in the
earl afternoon, carry out food shopping of all food needed up in
the mountain for the days you will be trekking. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2
Arrive at Ibanda, the park headquarters and the Rwenzori Mountaineering
Services (RMS) concession building at Nyakalengija in early morning
so as to have ample time to arrange payments, rent equipment and
select guides and porters. Begin your hike by leaving park headquarters,
located at 5,400ft/1.646m. The trail then follows the Mubuku River,
crossing recent landslide areas and requires scrambling over rocks
and bluffs before reaching the Mahoma River. After crossing the
river you will have a very steep climb through open bracken fern
slopes and podocarpus forest up to Nyabitaba Hut (8,7000-ft2, 652m).
Slower hikers could take considerably longer, so insist on leaving
park headquarters before noon to avoid on the trail after dark (7
PM all year round).
Day 3
From Nyabitaba Hut the trails leads westwards for a half –
km then drops north (right) steeply to Kurt shafer Bridge, crossing
below the confluence of the Bujuku and Mubuku Rivers. You reach
the poor-condition hut at Nyamileju and it’s accompanying
rock shelter. Walk to John Matte Hut (11,200 ft/3,414 m) which is
newly constructed, large and comfortable through muddy a round the
site. Many hikers consider this the most tiring and longest day
of the circuit so an early start is important. The loss of altitude
to Kurt Shafer Bridge means the total elevation to be gained on
this day is at least 3,000ft (915m). Hikers who feel they have reached
their limits by this point should consider John Matte a reasonable
stopping point. You can just enjoy the unique vegetation in the
bog and the great views and the following day begin your return
to Nyabitaba.
Day 4
You leave John Matte to cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower
of the Bigo Bogs.
The trail is very muddy and follows the left (southern) edge of
lower Bigo Hut and it’s shelter. Have a lunch break at the
upper edge of the Bigo beyond the north end of Bujuku Lake is a
rock shelter called Cooking pot and short distance further to Bujuku
Hut (13,000ft/3.962m). The shaded location and mists can make Bujuku
Hut uncomfortably cold for hikers and especially guides and porters
with simple blankets and light clothing.
Day 5
Continue the circuit you leave directly west from Bujuku Hut towards
Scott Elliott 14,345 ft (4,372 m) after a right hand branch would
lead you to Elena Hut (14,700 ft/4,372m). As you leave the Elena
and Savoia Glaciers, and Mt. Baker (15,889 ft/4,843 m). The trail
descends past upper Kitandara Lake through bad mud to the lower
lake and Kitandara Hut (13,200-ft/4,023 m). The elevation gain to
the pass from Bujuku is a modest 1,400 ft (425 m) but ups and downs
nearly double that a mount. And because Scott Elliott is the high
point so far, some hikers will be slower due to greater effort required
at these altitudes. Watch especially for signs of altitude sickness.
Day 6
Climb from the lake to 14,050-ft (4.292m) Fresh field Pass. Fresh
field is a long flat traverse through beautiful high alpine mossy
glades (and more mud) until after half an hour the trails begin
the circuit’s long two-day descent. Rock shelters at Bujongolo
and Kabamba are optional overnight stops but it is best to push
on through the seeming endless mud to newly constructed Guy Yeomen
Hut (10,700-ft/3,261 m).
Day 7
Begin very early if you have decided to make it all the way to park
headquarters and complete your trek. An alternative would be to
stay another night at Nyabitaba Hut. In any event the path from
Guy Yoeman is quite dangerous in spots. Helping each other and descending
very slowly facing the slope instead of facing outward are recommended
especially as you approach Kichuchu down a dry and dusty crevice.
From Kichuchu the trail parallels and twice crosses the Mubuku River
mostly in deep mud until the last few kilometers of good dry trail
follow the ridge down to Nyabitaba, which completes the circuit.
Should you decide to continue to park headquarters it is another
two or three hours depending on the condition of your knees and
desire to reach a comfortable bed and bath.
Day 8
From Nyabitaba Hut, descend to Nyakalengija the park headquarters.
You will meet your driver to drive you back to Kasese town to your
Hotel/Queen Elizabeth National Park Mweya Safari Lodge/ Institute
Hostel. Take warm showers and relax. Dinner and overnight.
Day 9
After breakfast drive to Kampala or Entebbe in case your flight
falls on this day. If you spent the night in Queen Elizabeth Park,
morning will start with game drive and after proceed to Kampala
or Entebbe. End of Central Circuit.
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