From $ 2,650

10 Days Rwenzori Hike & wildlife

Last revised: 2021-11-23 22:03:33 (2 years ago)

Overview

Margherita Peak Africa's third highest peak in the world found, is sometimes called Mountains of the Moon (due to glaciers), located on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Rwenzori Mountains reach heights up to 5,109 m (16,761 ft). these include, Mount Stanley (5,109m), Mount Speke (4,890m), Mount Baker (4,843m), Mount Emin (4,798m), Mount Gessi (4,715m) and Mount Luigi di Savoia (4,627m).Mount Stanley is the largest and has several subsidiary summits, with Margherita Peak being the highest point. The highest Rwenzori peaks are permanently snow-capped. It looks more beautiful when it comes to climbing up the via Kilembe route, through forests, seeing different bird species, and valleys the flora is diverse with trees and valleys of ferns.

Day 1: Arrival at the Airport

Day 2: Drive to kasese

Day 3: Climbing up to Sine Hut at 2,596 meters

Day 4: Climbing up to 3,925 meters sleeping at Mutinda camp

Day 5: Climbing up to Bugata camp 4,062meters (5Km)

Day 6: Climbing up sleeping at Butawu Camp 3,974 meters (6.2Km)

Day 7: Climbing to 4.485 meters sleep at Margherita Camp (4.2km)

Day 8: Climbing up to Margherita Peak at 5,109 meters

Day 9: Descend and sleep at Bugata Camp 4,062 meters (6.2km)

Day 10: Descend to either Kiharo Camp 3,460 metres or Samalira Camp

Day 11: descending from Kiharo Camp to Kalama Camp at 3,134meters

Day 12: descend from Kalama Camp to rangers post at 1,727meters

Day 13: drive back to Kampala

Day 1: Arrival at the Airport

Our Guide/driver will be already waiting to pick you up from the airport and transfer you to booked hotel or lodge for the first night depending on your time of arrival to rest as you wait for your marvelous and memorable safari to all Uganda national parks for the adventure.

Accommodations
Medium-range:
Cassia lodge
Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast

Day 2: Drive to kasese
After your morning breakfast, you meet your guide and brief you through your activity which you are going for. After you will drive to kasese, but as you still on the way past fort portal, you will start having the ranges of the mountain that you are going to climb. Reach at your lodge and relax as you waiting for the big 3 days hiking up to 2,600 meters
Driving time: 6 to 7hrs

Accommodation:
Budget: - Trekkers hostel

Day 3: Climbing up to Sine Hut at 2,596 meters
After early morning breakfast, you meet with the guides and they brief you before you start off the climbimg at 8:30AM, you start off at Trekkers at 1,450 meters and and you start climbing for about more 2,246 meter as you reach to the first resting and you spend your night. There are rare sightings of the L’Hoest monkey which are part of the Bukonzo cultural emblems and are protected by the virtue of the King or Omusinga. There is wide variety of plant species from forest trees to bamboos thickets, low shrubs, flowers, fungi, and with many moss and lichen covered vines hanging from the tall trees creating an awesome appeal hut.

The wooden hut with 10 beds is a set between tall forest trees on a narrow ridge, with ten beds and a large verandah where you may sit and enjoy the beauty of the Afro Montane forest while you look down at a fantastic waterfall crashing over the rocks far below

Day 4: Climbing up to 3,925 meters sleeping at Mutinda camp
After a good breakfast, trekking starts at 8.30am and you soon enter the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone which is steep climb with many high steps. In the wet season the bamboo area is rather muddy and slippery making the going slow. Continue climbing 551 metres altitude and a distance of 1.8km to Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters where you can take a rest and a quick cup of tea or coffee before heading on to Mutinda Camp. After that short break, you will then continue with the climb passing cross several small streams and passing close to moss covered waterfalls, and eventually a beautiful mossy river which tumbles down over the rocks under the Giant Heather trees whose trunks are covered in green moss with old man beards (Usnea lichen) hanging from the branches.  Eventually you get to Mutinda Camp which is set near a small river that drops off a waterfall and offers a chance to wash, refresh and relax with spectacular views across the Rwenzori Mountains, down to Kasese town and Lake George.

Day 5: Climbing up to Bugata camp 4,062meters (5Km)
The trail here is boggy during wet season but with a little skill you can step from tussock to tussock to make the going easier.  You cross the Mutinda valley through the tussock grass and Giant Lobelias before climbing a steep part up to the Namusangi Valley (3,840 meters). The Namusangi Valley is wide, with many ups and downs and crossing several bogs as the trail climbs steadily to Bugata Camp at 4,062 meters.  Bugata Camp is situated way up Bamwanjara Pass high above Bugata Lake with views across Lake Kopello to Weismann’s Peak. Bugata Camp has good facilities, solar lights, good toilets and bathrooms where the guides may prepare some warm water in a basin for you to wash.

In the dryer season you may choose to walk directly up the valley but a more scenic trail meanders along the hilltops with fantastic views of Lake Nusuranjafrom Plozza Rock.  From Plozza Rock you also get fantastic views down the valley of nine lakes ringed by rugged peaks and ridges

Day 6: Climbing up sleeping at Butawu Camp3,974 meters (6.2Km)
After your breakfast, you will then start climbing at 8:30am from 4,062 meters climbing over 4,450 meters sleeping at 3,974. You will climb up Bamwanjara Pass through long flat bogs. The area is covered by everlasting flowers and Giant groundsel with the bogs being mainly tussock grass and Giant lobelia which is common in this area and unique to the Rwenzori Mountains. As you climb you may have a look back to see the glacial lakes far down in the valley. On reaching the top of Banwamjara Pass you get excellent views of all the main snow capped peaks (the snow capped Mt Baker) where we have a small shelter for you to rest and enjoy the scenery. The walk down is steep and often very muddy but offers fantastic views of Kachope Lakes and McConnell’s Prong. On a ridge high above Butawu River which flows down is the Butawu Camp where you will sleep for a night.Scott Elliott Pass through Kitandara Lakes and has excellent views o.

Day 7: Climbing to 4.485 meters sleep at Margherita Camp (4.2km)
Walk back along the ridge before crossing several wet areas and small rivers coming from Mt Baker and Freshfields Pass to join Butawu River.  The walk up Scott Elliott Pass is enjoyable as you climb through the pass and up the ridge of Mt Stanley to Margherita Camp at 4,485 meters which is below Elena Hut. It is sheltered with a ring of high rocks and it is the original camp used by the Italian Prince Luigi Amadeo di Savoia, Duke of the Abruzzi, who mounted a very powerful expedition in 1906, composed of biologists, surveyors, a geologist and a photographer. Some of the peaks still have the names, which the Duke chose to honor the Italian Kingdom and Queen Margherita hence our naming this camp Margherita Camp. From here you have great views of Mt Baker, Scott Elliot Pass and some of the high glaciers on Mt Stanley.

Day 8:Climbing up toMargherita Peak at 5,109 meters
Wake up at 4.30am have your breakfast and start climbing such that you get on the Stanley Glacier before sunrise. The climb up from Elena can be difficult if covered in snow and ice but it is classed as a difficult scramble. Once on the Stanley glacier the going is easier however, the climb to Margherita glacier can be challenging and slippery in bad weather. Rwenzori Trekking Services has recently installed a new fixed static rope with bolts every three meters leading down a ledge to the top of a six-meter aluminum ladder. This is a safe route and anyone with reasonable fitness and head for heights is able to pass. It is not classed as technical and it is easy in dry conditions. The climb up Margherita glacier is steep and requires a lot offitness.  On getting near to the top of the glacier you then climb around an exposed section of rock, which is also bolted and roped, to get on the ridge running up to the top of Margherita Peak. On a clear day the views from Margherita Peak are awesome and your goal is achieved!, take photos, have fun at the summit.

Day 9: Descend and sleep at Bugata Camp 4,062 meters (6.2km)
A late breakfast at 8.30am start trekking by 9amstarting at 3,974 meters. The climb up Bamwanjara Pass which is steep and in wet weather can be rather boggy making it slow going and tiresome. While crossing the pass you get the chance to see hyrax sitting at the entrance to their rock shelter warming in the sun. Their main predator is the Rwenzori Leopard Pantherapardusruwenzori, which is rarely seen, but occasionally people do get a glimpse. The leopard has been heavily poached for it’s skin in the past and there are few left. There is a skeleton nearby in a small rock shelter for those who doubt the existence of leopard at those heights. However on a rare occasion on a misty or overcast day, you may be lucky to see one briefly as they move between the rocks. Sleep at Bugata Camp.

Day 10: Descend to either Kiharo Camp 3,460 metres or Samalira Camp 3,170 metres
Early morning set off from Lake Bugata and the outlet of Kopello Lake then climb 200 metres to the confluence of the two valleys. As you descend down the upper areas of the Nyamwamba Valley there is a large area of thick Giant Groundsel with dense evergreen undergrowth and moss with the rocky peaks towering above. As you descend the valley you will notice the terrain is made up of several flat boggy areas where millions of years ago glaciers sat and melted leaving a wall of big rocks in front of where it lay. At night you may stay in Kiharo Camp at 3,460 metres an area rich in evergreen plants and babbling streams. Or descend to Samalira Camp at 3,170 meters making a shorter trek down to base camp the following day.

Day 11: descending fromKiharo Camp to Kalama Camp at 3,134meters
Youwake up to the shrill calls of the RuwenzoriTuraco and other birds. After a morning breakfast you walk down the valley which is home to many species of birds who dive in and out the thick vegetation. Chameleons are a common sight as they crawl along the branches of the thick vegetation feeding on insects. In the clear areas you may catch a glimpse of a Duiker quietly feeding surrounded by Giant Lobellias and a variety of flowering plants. After descending a few kilometres you climb two hundred metres height to a ridge overlooking

Day 12: descend from Kalama Camp to rangers post at 1,727meters
At 7am, we start to descend down passing over rocky streams and valleys until we reach toKalalama Camp 3,134 metres. As we near Kalalama Camp we pass though a beautiful valley dotted with Gaint Lobelia. After passing the Lobelia garden we climb to reach Kalalama Camp which is overlooking the Kilembe valley and Kasese town. We have a quick lunch before continuing to descend down through the bamboo forests and crossing to the ridge climbing to Samalira camp just above the lunch spot on day one. Here we have a short break before we continue as we pass through mountain montane forest to the Rangers Post 1,727 metres at around, we sign off and walk down to Trekkers Hostel to find your guide already waiting for you to transfer to your booked accommodation.

You will continue diving to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the south park of Uganda. You will arrive at the booked lodge, relax and spend a night here.
Driving time: 2 - 3 hours

Accommodation;
Medium:
Bush Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Day 13: Game Drive & Boat Cruise
After an early morning breakfast, your guide will take you for an early morning game drive together with an experienced ranger you will search for all the wild animals in the park, including; elephants, buffalo, waterbuck, leopard, Uganda kob, warthogs, lions and other animals.

After lunch, you will take a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel which joins Lake George and Lake Edward. Here, you will be able to see water life animals like hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffalos water ducks and also other animals which come for drinking water or to bath on the lakes showers. You will be able to have a big watch of various beautiful bird species. You will return to the lodge for dinner and sleep over.

Accommodation;
Medium:
Bush Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 14: Drive Back To Kampala
In the morning after your breakfast, you will also go for Balloon safari Or other game drive as you are on your back to Kampala. If you are want. You may stop at the equator where you will experience being in two hemispheres at the same time and then you continue with the journey reaching late in evening.You will be dropped at the airport if you have got a flight to catch back home.

 END OF THE SAFARI

INQUIRE / BOOK NOW!!

The package includes

  • Ground transportation by 4WD Minivan
  • Air port transfers to and from airport
  • Accommodation as per program
  • Meals per program
  • English speaking Driver/Guide
  • Fuel & car
  • Rwenzori Hiking fees
  • Park entrance fees
  • Porters
  • Trekking equipments
  • Activities as per program

The package excludes any cost of personal nature like:

  • Tips
  • Laundry
  • Souvenirs
  • Personal drinks and cigarettes
  • International Air ticket and related costs
  • Personal Insurance covers
  • Optional activities 
  • Personal drinks like; wines, sodas, beers, spirits etc
  • Phone calls, and meals out the booked accommodations

Transport to be used
This Tour is based on a Min-van with 4wd. it seats from up to the maximum of 8 persons. All our used vehicles are well maintained, customized with comfortable seats, a pop up roof which gives a wide viewing 360 angle!!

Upgrade To a Land cruiser
But in case you want an upgrade to a Land cruiser which is rated as the strongest safari vehicle on the African roads, it’s still possible to make sure you enjoy safari. This come's with an extra cost, but it’s worth it. Just in inform us in advance

Accommodation & Transport - Mid range
For this trip accommodation you will be staying Kibale Forest Camp which is built in  African safari style tents, comfortably furnished with twin or double beds. Each unit has its own private ensuite bathroom with a flush toilet, a dressing room and a hot water shower. Seated from your own verandah, the red or black and white colobus can often be observed in the dense camp surrounding

NOTE: For this the above mentioned accommodation it depends on availability and we make sure the best is our first priorities when we are making this booking. In case there is no availability during the requested dates of your safari, we do our best to look for another alternative accommodation which is relatively in the same standards or rate range.

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