RWENZORI MOUNTAIN CLIMBING TRIP, 9 DAYS RWENZORI MOUNTAIN HIKING SAFARI IN UGANDA

After breakfast pick up then drive to Rwenzori Mountains 440km about 7 – 8 hours’ drive. You pass through impressive rural landscapes of Uganda with lush green cover, scattered human settlement except for the en route towns and impressive natural features such as the Inselbergs of Mubende, the scenic views of Fort Portal area before being welcomed by the towering Rwenzori Mountains. You retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Up market / Luxury: Equator Snow Lodge

Midrange / Standard: Ihamba Safari Lodge

Budget / Basic: Ruboni Community Camp

Camping

You set off from the Rwenzori Park Headquarters at Nyakalengija standing at 1,646m following briefing from the Rwenzori Mountaineering services in conjunction with Uganda Wildlife Authority. At this point, you have the opportunity to hire the mountaineering equipment if you didn’t have any. The hike commences with an encounter of the Bakonzo farmlands – the famous mountain people traversing their garden plots and the elephant grass. The hike follows the River Mobuku before crossing River Mahoma passing through open bracken fern slopes and Podorcarpus Forest until you reach Nyabitaba Hut standing at 2.652 m – the arrival point of the day. At this point, you view the north of Portal peaks and sights of monkeys, the Rwenzori Turaco and sounds of Chimpanzees may not be missed.

Departing Nyabitaba hut, you cross the Kurt Shaffer Bridge passing through a muddy area following a trail that passes through a bamboo forest. Upon arriving at a steep rock area that leads to Nyamuleju Hut, you start the impressive sights of the groundsel and giant lobelia vegetation. The trail continues through a bog filled with plants walking along the Bujuku River. The eventual destination is John Matte hut standing at 3.414 m where you will spend a night.

Hike from John Matte Hut where you cross the River Bujuku before entering the lower Bigo bog which is grassy thus offering you an experience of jumping from a tussock to tussock. You approach the Bigo hut and penetrate the upper Bigo bog before continuing to Lake Bujuku which acts as the beginning of alpine savannah zone of little vegetation. Eventually, you arrive at Bujuku Hut standing at 3.962 m and this point offers the views of the peaks of Stanley, Baker and Speke. At this point, there starts the diversion trail heading to Mount Speke but for those interested in climbing Margarita and the Alexandria, it makes sense to proceed and spend an overnight at Elena Hut.

From Bujuku, you embark on the hike passing via moss draped groundsel vegetation up to 4,372 Scott Eliot pass which is the highest point on the loop trail. This path is notably rocky and steep at the Mount Baker foothills. You gain impressive views of Margarita Peak, Savoia and Elena glaciers not forgetting Mount Baker. You approach Lake Kitandara hut and name Kitandara literally translated to a fresh field by passing through a thick mud to the lower Lake Kitandara where the hut is located (4,023m)

Depart Lake Kitandara to climb the fresh field pass standing at 4,282m traversing the extended flat of high alpine mossy glades before descending the circuit among the boggy and rocky areas. The panorama is greatly covered by the glaciers of Mount Baker and Mount Stanley. The muddy trail takes you to Bujongolo, Akendahi, Kabamba rock shelters where the Kabamba valley starts heading down to Guy Yeoman Hut standing at 3.261 m. The Guy Yeoman Hut is surrounded by impressive vegetation, mountains and rivers.

This marks your descent back to Nyabitaba Hut. You pass through the Mubuku and Kichuchu River Valleys that is diverse in flora of the heather zone before you approach the Bamboo. Encounter the Kabamba falls on the way down and settle at Nyabitaba for overnight

Here, you proceed on the descent back to Nyakalengija to mark the end of your experience. Upon arriving at Nyakalengija, you get to your vehicle and transfer to the lodge for relaxation and overnight

Up market / Luxury: Equator Snow Lodge

Midrange / Standard: Ihamba Safari Lodge

Budget / Basic: Ruboni Community Camp

Camping

After a relaxed breakfast, drive back to Kampala. Drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park with its impressive savannah and its game, the Bunyaruguru crater field, the lush Kalinzu forest, Mbarara town before making a lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Center 12km from Mbarara for traditional lunch. You make another stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots, the water experiments to evidence the divide between the north and south spheres and the purchase of memorabilia from any of the gift shops at the site. Continue for 77km arriving in Kampala in the evening to mark the end of the safari.

End of Safari