8 Days Rwenzori Hiking

Hiking in Uganda-Ruwenzori Mountain trek central circuit.

Day 1 – Pick up at Entebbe International Airport on a Morning flight; you will be met by a Taste Africa Guide, short brief and transfer to Ruwenzori approx 6hrs drive. Have a stopover for lunch in Fort portal town. Balance of the day spent at leisure with dinner under own arrangements. Dinner and overnight at the MAGHERITA HOTEL (FB)
Day 2 – Nyakalengija(1615m)-NyabitabaHut The Central Circuit starts at the Rwenzori mountaineering services offices at Nyakalengija You should arrive in the morning to allow ample time to rent equipment and meet your guides and porters. The trail begins by passing through farmland to the park boundary beyond which it follows the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma tributary before starting along steep climb up a long, steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut. The hike takes around 6-7 hours. During this part of the trip you may hear chimpanzee and see black and white colobus, blue monkey and brilliantly colored Rwenzori turaco. Overnight at Nyabitaba hut (FB)
Day 3: Nyabitaba (2651 m) – Mubuku River (Matte Hut (3505m)
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 nyamileju rock shelter, mount stanely 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 overnight at John Matte Hut (BLD)
Day 4: John Matte (3505m) to Bujuku (3962m)
The route fords the Bujuku River as you cross the bog, A steep climb follows to reach the Upper Bigo bog. A board walk has been constructed to assist walk where there are superb views of Mt. Stanley at this cavernous, glacier-carved valley. Above the bog steady climb over glacial moraine, criss-crossing the 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. Overnight at Bujuku hut (FB)
Day 5: Bujuku (3977m) – Kitandara Hut
Leaving 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 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 besides Lower Lake Kitandara, a beautiful site surrounded by towering peaks. Overnight at kitandara hut (FB)
Day 6: Kitandara (4027m) – Guy Yeoman (3450m)
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. 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 trail passing the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906.
Day 7 :  Guy Yeoman (3450m) – Nyabitaba (2651m) – Nyakalengija (1615m)
Final descent back to Nyakalengija. The trial is attractive along the valley of the Mubuku 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. Transfer to Kasese for dinner and overnight at Margherita Hotel.
Day 8:  Kasese-Kampala
Morning after breakfast transfer back to Kampala and continue to the airport for your evening flight back home.
END OF OUR SERVICES
Should you require further information, please do not hesitate contacting us:
Taste Africa Safaris
Plot 4 Kimathi Avenue
P.O. Box 6412, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256 312 372184
Mobile:+256 782 631350
Website: www.tasteafricasafaris.com
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