Climbing the Rwenzoris

Code: LMJUYH
10 DAYS - 9 NIGHTS
Category:
  • rwenzori-rungo-safari

A trekk up one of the most challenging and rewarding mountain ranges in Africa…

During this part of the trip, you may be able to see Chimps, Black and White Colobus and Blue monkeys and the brilliantly colored Rwenzori Touraco (a bird of the tree tops).

Quotation

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$1,999

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$2,699

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$3,999

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Inclusions

  • Overland Travel & flights

A 4×4 vehicle with viewing hatch and driver will be provided for all trips and journeys.
Optional Domestic flights.

  • Guided Tours

Our guides are the same professionals, whichever package you choose.

  • Accommodation

A choice of luxury hotels and lodges across the country, with 24hour concierge.

  • Meals

All meals are specially prepared by the first rate chefs at your chosen hotel or lodge.*

Day Destination Plan/Activities Accommodation
Day One Entebbe – Kampala Transfer to your hotel in Kampala. An optional tour of Kampala and the surrounding areas can be arranged for interested parties. Your Accommodation
Day Two Kampala – Kasese Drive to Kasese arriving in the afternoon. Your guide will go to the park offices in the evening to finalize your mountaineering logistics returning in the evening. Margherita Hotel
Day Three Rwenzori In the morning you will begin your hike by leaving the park head quarters (5400ft/1,646 m), walking past typical ‘wattle and mud’ Bakonjo homes and gradually moving upward through elephant grass and garden plots. It takes approximately forty minutes to reach the National Park boundary. The trail then follows the Mahoma River for two and a half hours. After crossing the River, you will have a very steep climb through open bracken fern slopes and Podocarpus forest up to Nyabitaba Hut (8,700 ft/ 2,652) about an hour and a half past the Mahoma River crossing. Nyabitaba hut.
Day Four Rwenzori From Nyabitaba Hut that trail leads westward for a half km then drops north (right) steeply to Kurt Shafer Bridge, crossing below the confluence of Bujuku and Mubuku Rivers. By turning down the bridge you begin the circuit counter clock wise.

After crossing the Shafer Bridge, the muddy slippery trail climbs steadily up through bamboo forest. After one and a half hours you encounter an area of slippery boulder hopping which many hikers consider the most difficult and dangerous footing on the circuit. Over night at Nyamileju Hut; Nyamileju means “a place of beards” refers to the lichen and Spanish moss draping trees nearby. On a rare day, Mts. Stanley and Speke can be seen from the top of the rock near the Hut.

 Nyamileju Hut
Day Five Rwenzori After breakfast, you will continue to John Matte Hut (11,200 ft/3,414 m) which is through a tiring bog full of extraordinary plants. The slow pace can be a chance to examine and photograph this unique environment. Well situated, John Matte Hut is newly constructed, large and comfortable.

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 you return to Nyabitaba.

 John Matte Hut
Day Six Rwenzori Today you leave John Matte Hut to cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower of the two Bigo bogs. In the grassy bog you will experience jumping from tussock to tussock, an exhilarating experience. The trail is very muddy and follows the left (southern) edge of Lower Bigo Bog until eventually it reaches the round metal ‘uniport’ of Bigo Hut and its rock shelter.

A steep section past the hut leads to upper Bigo Bog. In the last half of this bog a board walk has been constructed. Though some may think it an ugly intrusion, it makes walking easier and keeps hikers from further damaging the bog. An hour and a half beyond the upper bog, and after climbing through drier ground and crisscrossing the River, you reach Bukulu Lake. The southern end of the lake is a majestic setting, with Mt. Bakerto the south, and views west to Mt Stanley and north to Mt. Speke. Beyond the north end of the lake is a rock shelter called Cooking Pot and a short distance further is Bukulu Hut (13,000ft/3,962m),favorably located for parties climbing Mt. Speke.

 Bigo Hut
Day Seven Rwenzori To continue the circuit, you leave directly west from Bukulu hut on a newer trail, which rises and falls twice before finally climbing steeply through magical moss- draped Groundsel Gully towards (14,345ft/4,372m) Scott Elliot pass. At the head of the gully is a short, strong ladder at a particularly steep section, after which a right hand branch would lead to Elena Hut (14, 700ft/4,430m). This is a steep, rocky trail which when wet or icy is treacherously slippery. Continuing straight, a few steps below the pass there is a sheltered spot for a break, from here there is a second trail to the right to Elena is the Base Camp for climbing. Margherita peak in the Mt. Stanley complex, requires an additional day or two and can only be attempted with ice axes, mountain boots, crampons, ropes and prior arrangements with your guides. Kitandara Lake Hut.
Day Eight Rwenzori Start hiking back to the park head quarters.
After breakfast, you will begin very early if you decided to make it all the way to the Park Headquarters and complete your trek (8 hours). The other alternative will be to spend a night at the Nyabitaba Hut.		 Nyabitaba Hut.
Day Nine Kasese Start hiking back and complete your trek by the evening. On arrival at the Park Office, visit a simple restaurant developed by a local women’s group for a well deserved beer and a luxurious candlelight meal. Retire to your hotel in Kasese for the evening. Margherita Hotel
Day Ten Kasese – Entebbe You will finish your journey by being transferred to Entebbe International Airport to catch your return flight home.

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