Rwenzori Mountain Hiking Safari – 7 days Uganda Mountain Climbing Safari to Magherita Peak (5100)
Uganda is a unique safari destination to hikers who are interested in climbing and trekking over small hills, medium sized and high mountains. This 7 days mountaineering safari takes you for mountain climbing on the snow capped Rwenzoris. Famed in ancient times as the mountains of the moon, running along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Rwenzori Mountains are one of the best hiking safari destinations in Africa. Having now been developed and opened to travelers interested in climbing not only the tallest ranges of Africa but also of the world as well, the Rwenzoris offer some exceptional mountaineering experience to both trekkers at lower altitudes as well as mountaineers who would like to meet the challenge of ascending to the glacial peaks of over 5100 metres. Given that Mount Rwenzori is the third highest mountain in Africa, it presents a wonderful mountaineering experience to tourists who are ever interested in attempting to the highest peak.
MOUNTAINEERING TRIP ITINERARY
Day 1: Kampala – Kasese
Our guide wil pick you in the morning hours for a transfer to Kasese town. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Magherita or Rwenzori Base Mountain Camp.
Day 1: Nyakalengija (1615m) – Nyabitaba Hut
The Central CircLiit starts at the RMS offices at f\ You should arrive in the morning to allow ample equipment and meet your guides and porters. The by passing througl1 farmland to the park boundary bl it follows the Mubuku river, crossing its Mahoma trib starting a long, steep climb up onto a massive ric Nyabitaba hut. Th-e hike takes around 5 hours. During this part of the trip you may hear chim see black and white colobus, blue monkey and t coloured Rwenzori turaco.
Day 2: Nyabitaba (2651 m) – Mubuku River (Matte Hut (3505m) This involves a demanding 7+ hour trek up to Johl The Central Circui t ‘proper’ starts a few hundred mE Nyabitaba where the trail divides. The right fork I peaks up the Bujuku valley while the path on the le1 the subsequent descent. The trail leads to the Kurt Shafer Bridge which Mubuku valley just below the river’s confluence wit I valley. Beyond the river, a muddy, slippery trail clir up through bamboo forest.
After a five hour trek is the start of the giant lobelia ar zone, a vegetation type limited to East Africa’s highes The final hour’s walk to John Matte hut passe!
challenging bog full of extraordinary plants.
Day 3: John Matte (3505m) to Bujuku (3962m)
The route fords the Bujuku River as you cross the bog, A steep clim b follows to reach the Upper Bigc a boardwalk has been constructed to assist walk weather, there are superb views of Mt. Stanley at this cavernous, glacier-carved valley. Above the bog steady climb ovell” glacial moraine, criss-crossing t trail reaches the lovely Lake Bujuku. The last stage of the 3-5 hour hike to Bujuku Hut past Cooking Pot Cave is perhaps the muddiest stage of the expedition. The hut is well placed for parties climbing Mt. Speke.
Day 4: Bujuku (3962m) – Scott Elliott Pass (4372m) Kitandara (4023m) From Bujuku hut, the trail crosses more mud before climbing steeply through a forest of giant groundsels, climbing a short metal ladder to ascend the Groundsel Gully. Above the gully, a branch in the trail climbs directly to Elena Hut (4430m) for the ascent of Margherita peak on Mt. Stanley (5109m). This climb needs an ice axe, mountain boots, crampons and ropes.
The main trail continues up a steep scree slope over Scott Elliot pass, the highest point on the circuit. The pass provides fabulous views back down the Bujuku valley and of Mts. Stanley and Baker towering above. Beyond the pass, the route runs downhill beneath the massive cliffs of Mt. Baker. After passing Upper Lake Kitandara, the 3-5 hour hike ends at the hut beside Lower Lake Kitandara, a beautiful site surrounded by towering peaks.
Day 5: Kitandara (4023m) – Freshfield Pass (4282m) – Guy Yeoman (3505m) Freshfield is a long flat traverse through tracts of fabulously colourful moss (and more mud), beyond which the long descent to Nyakalengija begins. The hike to Guy Yeoman hut takes around 5 hours. The hut enjoys a lovely location close to the Mubuku River with terrific views of the looming Mt. Baker to the north.
Day 6:/Seven: Guy Yeoman (3505m) – Nyabitaba (2651 m) The descent to Nyabitaba takes around 5 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.
Day 7: Nyabitaba (2651m) – Nyakalengija (1615m) The descent from Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija takes 2-3 hours. Drive back to Kampala, reaching in the late afternoon.
End of the Trip
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