9 Days Hiking Rwenzori Mountains Safari Uganda

9 DAYS - 8 NIGHTS
  • 9 Days Hiking Rwenzori Mountains Safari Uganda

Description

9 Days hiking Rwenzori Mountains is one of the top safari packages in Uganda for adventurous travelers. The glacial Rwenzori Mountains are destined in the western rift valley arm, forming a natural boundary between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the past this wonderful block mountain was known as “Ruwenzori Mountains” and still referred to as “mountains of the moon” with a height of 5,109metres.

The Rwenzori Mountains form a major source of several rivers such as Nyamwamba, Mubuku, and Ruimi Rivers; they debouch into Lake George while river Nyamugasani drains into Lake Edward, and the Butawu and Lamya Rivers join Lake Edward’s outflow.

The Queen Elizabeth national park in Uganda and Virunga national park in DR Congo are located within Mountain Rwenzori ranges, therefore, because of their proximity to the mount, climbers always get magnificent views of dense forests, lakes, birds, rivers, primates and mammals. During your 9 days hiking Rwenzori Mountains safari in Uganda, you may spot mammals like buffalo, hippos, elephants and lions among others

9 Days Hiking Rwenzori Mountains Safari Uganda highlight

  • Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe – Transfer to Rwenzori National Park
  • Day 2: Nyakalengija (1615m) – Nyabitaba Hut (2651m)
  • Day 3: Nyabitaba (2651m) – Mubuku River (2600m) John Matte Hut (3505m)
  • Day 4: John Matte (3505m) to Bujuku (3962m)
  • Day 5: Bujuku (3962m) to kithandara Hut (4023m)
  • Day 6: Kitandara (4023m) – Fresh field Pass (4282m) – Guy Yeoman (3505m)
  • Day 7: Guy Yeoman (3505m) – Nyabitaba (2651m)
  • Day 8: Nyabitaba hut (2651m) – Nyakalengija Hike (1615)
  • Day 9: Depart to Kampala city

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe – Transfer to Rwenzori National Park

On your arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will be met by your guide and immediately you will begin your transfer to Kasese town where you will spend a night as you prepare to begin your hiking safari the next day. Along the way, you might enjoy scenery viewing as you approach the mountains of the moon. Dinner and overnight will be at either the Hotel Margherita (Midrange) or Rwenzori Base Mountain Camp (Budget).

Day 2: Nyakalengija (1615m) – Nyabitaba Hut (2651m)

Begin the day by approaching the Rwenzori mountaineering services (RMS) head offices early in order to hire equipment’s if so and arrange for guides, chef and porters at once hiking starts from the park headquarters 1,646 meters to Nyabitaba a distance of 10 Km takes 4- 5 hours and an ascent of 1200 meters. The trail at the beginning goes through homes and fields progressing through bamboo and high elephant grass, dense bushes. You will climb over rocks and bluff, crossing river Mahoma then ascending steeply into Nyabitaba. Certain animals may be spotted such as the white Colobus, blue monkeys, three horned chameleon and the Rwenzori turaco.

Accommodation: Nyabitaba Hut

Day 3: Nyabitaba (2651m) – Mubuku River (2600m) John Matte Hut (3505m)

From Nyabitaba you descend to your right follow the trail that drops down through the forest for a half an hour to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. The walk is then easy going for a couple of hours passing through the bamboo forest and then becomes more difficult, kind of like spelunking, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rocks. From the Nyamuleju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach John Matte Hut after passing through the tiring bog. While here, high chances of catching the nice views of Mt. Stanley and Margherita glacier, finally Dinner and Overnight at the Hut.

Accommodation: John Matte Hut

Day 4: John Matte (3505m) to Bujuku (3962m)

From John Matte Hut the trail drops down to cross the Bujuku River and enters Lower Bigo Bog, the home of giant lobelias. Jumping from tussock to tussock, the bog is finally crossed but rarely without the feet sampling some of the freezing ooze below. Continuing on to the upper bigo bog you will follow the Bujuku river that sometimes runs underground from lake Bujuku, with views of Mt Baker to the South and Mt Stanley to the West. Bujuku Hut, well located in the shadow of Mount Baker and Mount Speke, is set in a narrow valley below Stuhlmann Pass.

Accommodation: Bujuku Hut

Day 5: Bujuku (3962m) to kithandara Hut (4023m)

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical Groundsel Gully as it ascends to Scott-Elliot Pass at 4372m. At the head of the gully a metal ladder takes you over a steep section after which the trail is divided into two. The trail on your right leads up to Elena Hut and Mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders, while the trail on your left leads to Scott-Elliot pass, where there are spectacular views back to Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke, up to Mount Stanley and down to the Kitandara Lakes. After the trail that passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight at the Kitandara.

Accommodation: Kitandara Hut

Day 6: Kitandara (4023m) – Fresh field Pass (4282m) – Guy Yeoman (3505m)

From Kitandara, take on the trail that ascends steeply up the headwall, spreading out from the base of Mount Baker and continuing along the south side of the mountain to Fresh field Pass 4280m. At this point you can view into the Congo to the west and Mount Stanley to the north. From the pass, take on the long trail passing the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906.

Accommodation: Guy Yeoman Hut

Day 7: Guy Yeoman (3505m) – Nyabitaba (2651m)

The descent to Nyabitaba takes around 6 -7 hours but with an early start it is possible to make it all the way down to Nyakalengija. Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu. Beyond Kichuchu the muddy path crosses the Mubuku River twice before climbing upwards to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit.

Accommodation: Nyabitaba Hut

Day 8: Nyabitaba hut (2651m) – Nyakalengija Hike (1615)

Leave Nyabitaba hut early retracing out route back to the Rwenzori mountaineering services offices. This 10 Km trail usually takes 2 to 3 hours. Descending through Mubuku River and through fields to the Park Headquarters to hand over the rented equipment’s / Pick up any Luggage that you may have left here, dinner and overnight to the lodge of your choice.

Accommodation: Buffalo Safari lodge

Day 9: Depart to Kampala city

After breakfast and depart for Kampala with a lunch stop at the Equator for water experience and photography. You may also buy souvenirs before embarking your journey to Entebbe airport to end your 9 Days Hiking Rwenzori Mountains Safari Uganda

The Hike Includes:

  • Full board accommodation
  • Park entrance fees
  • Rwenzori mountain hiking fees
  • Ranger, Porters, guides and a cook
  • 4×4 safari vehicle with fuel
  • Guide
  • Rescue fees
  • Ground transportation

Hike Excludes

  • International flights and visa fees
  • Drinks
  • Phone calls
  • Bar bills
  • Cigars
  • Laundry
  • Personal insurance
  • Souvenirs
  • Tips
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