9 Days Mountain Rwenzori Hiking Trip

Previously known as the Ruwenzori range and sometimes the Mountains of the Moon, Rwenzori mt is the located in the eastern equatorial Africa on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Mountain rwenzori support glaciers and are the source of the Nile River reaching heights up to 5109m (16762ft). The highest peaks are permanently snow capped and along with Mount Kilimanjaro and Kenya are the only such mountains in equatorial Africa. 

DAY 1- Drive to Mountain Rwenzori national park
this day, you will be picked up from your location and embark on a 6-8hour journey covering 415km to Kasese district were the snow peaked mountains are found. You will enjoy every step of the on journey as these areas have one of the best views in Uganda. On reaching Kasese, you will check in to your lodge, have dinner and spend the night.

DAY 2- Hiking begins
On day 2 after your breakfast, you will be transferred to the UWA or (RMS) Rwenzori Mountaineering Services offices for a little briefing and assignment of the guards and the other crew that will accompany you during this adventurous hike.
Nyakarengija (1646m) to Nyabitaba hut (2652m)
This hike takes about 5-7 hours to Nyabitaba hut. This trail follows  the Mubuku river crossing recent landslides areas and you will reach the Makoma river after about 2 and a half hours and then proceed to a very steep climb through open bracken ferns and podocarpus forest up to Nyabitaba hut were you will have a meal and spend the night.

DAY 3- Nyabitaba to John Matte hut (3414m)
On this day, you will have breakfast in the morning and prepare to hike for about 7 hours from Nyabitaba camp were you spent the night to john matte hut through Bujuku and Mubuku rivers, a steep slippery point. At this point, slow hikers may consider going back before proceeding to the next camp were you are to spend the night. After a close to 5 hours trek is the start of the giant lobelia and groundsel zone, a vegetation type limited to East Africa’s highest mountains. After this trail, you will arrive at john matte camp were you will have a meal and spend the night.

DAY 4- John matte to Bujuku hut (3962m)
You will wake up to breakfast and get ready for today’s  trail which takes about 4 hours, a route that fords the Bujuku river as you cross the lower Bigo Bog. In clear weather, you can have a clear view of mount Stanley and climb a trail that reaches the Bujuku Lake.  Here you will find Bujuku huts were you will rest, and spend the night.

DAY 5- Bujuku hut to Kitandara hut (4023m)
Breakfast again early morning and start on a trail that continues up a screed slope over Scott Elliots path, the highest point on the circuit. While up here, you can have a fabulous view down the Bujuku valley and of Mt Stanley and baker towering above. This hike ends at the hut besides the lower lake Kitandara, amazingly surrounded by towering peaks. Toda, you will rest at Kitandara huts were you will have a meal and spend the night.

DAY 6- Kitandara hut to guy yeoman hut (3505m)
As the other days, you will also have breakfast in the morning and start on a 5 hour trek steeply ascending to fresh field pass (4282) then to ascend to Bujongolo cave (3450m). This hut enjoys a lovely location close to Mubuku River with terrific views of the looming Mt. baker to the north. After this awesome trek, you will come to guy yeomen hut were you will rest, have a meal and spend the night.

DAY 7- Guy Yeomen to Nyakalengila
This morning, you will still wakeup to breakfast before trekking for the next 4 hours to Nyabitaba hut. This route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu beyond which is the muddy path across the Mubuku river twice before climbing upwards to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit. You will spend the night at Nyabitaba hut were you will have a meal.
DAY 8 - Trek down

After breakfast, you will embark on you last trek down the mountain.  You will be led to the starting point. Here, you will be dropped to your lodge were you will refresh a bit and spend the night

DAY 9- Transfer back to Kampala
On this day, you will have breakfast, check out of the lodge and then embark on your journey back to Kampala.

END OF RWENZORI HIKE

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