Unique Rwenzori Climb (9 Days)

Itinerary

Day 1: Nyakalengija (1615m) – Nyabitaba Camp (2651m)

Start your morning with a short drive from Nyakalengija to Rwenzori mountaineering Services head Office, for briefing as well as allowance of enough time for renting equipment and allocation of porter and guides. After here, trek begins by passing through the Bakonjo farmlands to the park boundary at the main gate, beyond which it follows a thick forest along the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma River tributary before starting a long, a steep hike up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut. Chances are high that you may hear chimpanzees and see black and white colobus, blue monkeys and the brilliantly colored Rwenzori turaco.

This hike takes approximately 5-7 hours depending on the hikers’ physical strength.

Day 2 Nyabitaba - John Matte Camp (3505m.)

After Breakfast, descend through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Traversing through the bamboo forest, pass through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock to Nyamileju rock shelter, where clear views of 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, for dinner and overnight.

The hike takes an about of 6- 8 hours.

Day 3: Johnmate camp (3505)m to Bujuku camp (3900)m

From Johnmaate camp 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, continuing on to the upper bigo bog you will follow the Bujuku river that sometimes runs underground from lake Bujuku, with views of mount Baker to the South and mount Stanley to the west.

Day 4: Bujuku camp (3900)m - summit Mount speke (Victoria emanuelle peak)

Day 5: Bujuku hut (3900)m to Elena hut (4541)m

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog,while climbing up the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical groundsel gully as it ascends to Scot Eliot 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 Eliot pass and down to Kitandara lakes,the trail on the left leads those who are not climbing margherita peak. Those climbing up the peak will have their dinner and overnight at the coolly and icy Elena hut.

Day 6: Elena hut (4541)m to to margherita peak (5109)m and back to Kitandara lakes camp (4022)m

For those aiming at reaching margherita peak, continue to the base of Stanley glacier.To reach the summit of margarita,the climb takes about 5-7 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you through over three glaciers, slippery Rock,ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides.

Day 7: kitandara lakes camp for acclimatization

Day 8 : Kitandara lakes camp 4022m - summit Mount baker and continue down to Guyeoman camp 3505m.

The trail trail ascend steeply up the headwall, spreading out from the base of mount Baker and continuing along the Southside 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 of bujongolo the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906.

Day 9: Guyeoman 3505m to Nyabitaba camp 2560m for lunch and continue down to nyakalengija for transfer to the next destination.

The descend to Nyabitaba takes around 6-7 hours but with an early start and it's possible to make it all the way down to nyakalengija. Below Guyeoman,the route descends the cliffs of kichuchu and takes you through the bamboo forest zones down to Nyabitaba for either dinner and an over night or lunch and continue down to nyakalengija for hot showers.