10 – 7 Days Rwenzori Mountain Hiking Tour, Central Circuit – “The Mountains of The Moon”

Detailed 10 – 7 Days Rwenzori Mountain Hiking Tour Central Circuit

Day 1: Arrive/Entebbe – meet greet – transfer to hotel – briefing – overnight

Arrive at Entebbe Airport where our guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel for a briefing and overnight. (Meal Plan on F/B)

Accommodation options: Karibu GH/Acacia Lodge (Moderate), Lake Victoria View GH (Budget)

Day 2: Entebbe – Kasese – Ibanda – prior preparations – overnight

After breakfast, with your guide you will set off for Kasese – Ibanda arriving in the afternoon. Your guide will go to the park offices in the evening to finalize your mountaineering logistics returning in the evening. Dinner and overnight at community lodge. (Meal Plan on Full Board)

Accommodation options: Ibanda camp (Cabins)

Day 3 of the 10 – 7 Days Rwenzori Mountain Hiking Central Circuit: Start the Hike – Nyabitaba Hut – Cabins – 1^st – night

This morning, you will begin your hike by leaving the park headquarters (5400 ft 1,646 m), walking past typical “wattle and mud” Bukhonjo homes and gradually moving upward through elephant grass and garden plots.

It takes approximately forty minutes to reach the National Park boundary (which can be a pleasant half or one day trip for someone not going further). The trail then follows the Mahoma River after about 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) reached about an hour and a half past the Mahoma River crossing.

During this part of the trip, you may be able to see Chimps and sometimes behind the Hut you can see Black and White Colobus and Blue monkeys and catch glimpses of the brilliantly –colored Rwenzori Touraco (a bird of the tree tops), overnight at Nyabitabahut. (B.L.D)

Day 4: Leave Nyabitaba Hut and head to John Matte hut – 2^nd – night

From Nyabitaba Hut that trail leads westward for a half km then drops north (right) steeply to Kurt Shaffer Bridge, crossing below the confluence of Bujuku and Mubuku Rivers. By turning down the bridge you begin the circuit counters clockwise.

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.

Overnight at Nyamileju Hut.Nyamileju means “a place of beards “referring 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. (B.L.D)

Day 5: From John Matte to hut Bujuku hut – 3^rd – night

You leave John Matte Hut to cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower of the two Bigo Bogs, where your first real experience jumping from tussock to tussock in a grassy bog begins. 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 boardwalk has been constructed. Though some may think it is 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. Baker To 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. (B.L.D)

Day 6 of the 10 – 7 Days Rwenzori Mountain Hiking Central Circuit: From Bujuku hut to Elena Hut – Elena hut – 4^th night 

Set off from Elena for the 3 hours hike and climb the last region of ice and rock on Mount Stanley which takes you to Margherita Peak at 5,109m.

After the experience at the top, descend via the muddy grounds of Lower and Upper Kitandara Lake, here is Kitandara Hut. Unwind and rest after dinner at Kitandara Hut.

Note: If clients are fit enough to move to Margherita peaks, then it requires a prior arrangement and alteration in the itinerary as it is set, to remove some days in the program to cater for the (2) two extra days in the mountain before a booking in made and confirmed – the best time to do the Margherita peak is during the rainy season when there are gracias. (June – November or March – May)

Trekking/hiking to Margheritha peak is optional, at Elena is the best base for hikers who wish to proceed to the highest peak at 5.109m (Margherita – Mountains of the Moon: an extra cost for the highest peak is  Margherita Peak: USD $150.00 Net, per person

Equipments: Ice Axe, Crampons, a rope, climbing boots: $25.00 per person

Helmet: $5.00 per person

PRICE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE QUOTATION (price/pax)

 Day 7: Leave Elena Hut – Mount Stanley & Alexander – Kitandara Hut – 5^th night

Set off from Elena for a 3 hours hike and climb the last region of ice and rock on Mount Stanley, this is that same way that leads to (Margherita Peak at 5,109m).

After the experience at mount Stanley and Alexander, we will descend via the muddy grounds of Lower and Upper Kitandara Lake, here is Kitandara Hut. Unwind and rest after dinner at Kitandara Hut.

Day 8 of the 10 – 7 Days Rwenzori Mountain Hiking Tour Central Circuit: Leave Kitandara Hut and head to Guy Yeoman, transfer to Nyabitaba – 6^th night

In the morning, start the 6 hours hike through the Fresh field Pass at 4,282 m as you descend through boggy and rocky regions.

There are amazing glaciers of Mounts Baker, Savoy and Stanley. Continue with a muddy path that leads you to Kabamba, Akendahi, and Bujongolo rock shelters.

After proceed through the Kabamba valley and then arrive at Guy Yeoman Hut found at 3,261m. Spectacular landscapes of rivers, vegetation and mountains can be view around this hut. Have dinner and sleep at the Hut.

Day 9: Leave Nyabitaba Hut – Nyakalengija – down to Ibanda – transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP for a farewell dinner or Join an extension Primate/Savannah tour.

Early morning you will depart from Guy Yeoman hut to Nyakalengija. Enjoy great views of flowers and plants, bamboo forests and Kinchuchu and Mubuku Rivers. Along the way you will see Kabamba wafer falls.

Arrive at Nyabitaba Hut in period of 4 hours, from there take other 40 minutes to visit Mahoma Lake, then come back to the hut and descend to the Headquarters of the park in 2 to 3 hours.

You will meet your guide waiting for you at the base camp; he will transfer you to Queen Elizabeth for dinner and spend an overnight. (Meal Plan on F/B)

Accommodation options: Kazinga Wilderness Safari Lodge (Mid range – in the wild – Community affiliated)

Day 10 of the 10 – 7 Days Rwenzori Mountain Hiking Tour Central Circuit: Queen Elizabeth NP – Crater lakes visit – Departure to Kampala/Entebbe airport departs

Have your breakfast and set off for Kampala, you will do crater visit whereby you will have great and beautiful scenery along the way due to the beautiful land formation and vegetation.

Have your lunch along the way, you will arrive late afternoon, drop off at the airport for departure. (Optional charter flight by aero link from Queen Elizabeth air field) (Meal Plan on B/L)

End of Mountain Rwenzori African Safaris –Services- 10 Day Safari.