Climbing Margherita Expedition ( 8 Day)

Itinerary

Day 1: Kilembe to Sine camp to Kalalama (3147m)

Upon arrival at Kilembe Gate ( RTS ) offices , you will be welcomed by the team of Rwenzori Trekking Services and the team will start by orienting you about the Rwenzori trekking services terms of contract.

After you will pay the park entrances and other necessary registration with the Rwenzori Mountains National Park officers of UWA You will start on the hike through the forest Zone where you may see wildlife animals like colobus, blue and L’Hoest Monkeys, along side the rare Ruwenzori Turaco.  as you will have a stop at Sine camp for lunch and later proceed to trek up to Kalalama Camp at 3147m for dinner and overnight at Kalalama Camp.

Day 2: Kalalama Camp (3.147m) to Mutinda Camp (3.688 m)

After an early morning breakfast, you will set off for trekking through the Bamboo Zone comprising of steep climb with many high steps, and later reach the resting point where you will enjoy half day’s lunch  and later continue along the heather zone, and trek through several streams, waterfalls, and the typical green moss vegetation. You will also walk through Giant heather trees, and arrive at Mutinda camp at 3.688m, which is also named after the Mutinda Peaks. It is from this point that you can hike up to the Mutinda Lookout, at 3.925m which is a 90 minutes walk , plus 60 mins descent to the camp. You will later arrive at the camp for dinner and an overnight.

Day 3: Mutinda Camp to Bugata Camp (4.062 m)

Trek through the boggy terrain with the typical wet vegetation and tussocks, after then you will enter the Alpine Vegetation Zone with the Presence of the giant lobelia, the groundswell and the everlasting flowers while crossing the Mutinda Valley. Hike up the steep section to Namusangi Valley, crossing various bogs as you ascend to Bugata Camp at 3.062m where you will have your dinner and an overnight. You have dinner and spend the night. You will be briefed about the following day and then retire to your cabins for the night.

Day 4:  Bugata to Hunwick's Camp (3.974 m)

After an early morning breakfast, you will proceed with your trek to Hunwick’s Camp. Hike along the steep slopes, as you walk across various bogs to Bamwanjara pass at 4.405n. Enjoy breathtaking views of the snow caped peaks, while you head on to rest in a small shelter for a lunch break. This Trek takes you through the lower and Upper Kachope lakes and McConnell’s Prong which are mostly muddy and steep. Arrive at Hunwick’s camp in the evening for dinner and an overnight.

Day 5: Hunwick's Camp to Magherita Camp

After your morning breakfast, Start your day with walking along the ridge, crossing several wet areas and small rivers flowing from both Mount Baker and the fresh fields pass. Trekking up Scott Elliott Pass is amazing as you walk through and rising up the ridge of Mt Stanley to Margherita Camp at 4,485 meters which is below Elena Hut of the Rwenzori mountaineering services. The Magherita camp which is sheltered with a ring of rocks, was once used by an Italian Prince Luigi Amadeo di Savoia, and  Duke of the Abruzzi.

you are expected to arrive late in the evening.   Dinner, preparations for the next day and an overnight stay in at the camp.

Day 6:  Magherita Camp to the Summit.

You will wake up at 2:00am for your early morning breakfast, after which you will set off for the longest and strenuous walk to the summit of Magherita which will start at 3:00am The early movement to Magherita peak of Mount Stanley is mainly aimed at reaching the glaciers before sunrise since the heat from the sun causes the glaciers to melt, thus making the roots to be totally impassable.

Hiking through the steep heights to Magherita peak requires enough physical strength. Proceed with your hike over the glaciers close, after then you will climb to an exposed section of the rock, which is bolted and roped, to get on the ridge running up to the top of the Magherita peak at 5.109m

Upon reaching the peak, you will be endowed by the beautiful scene of the whole country, as you are now at the highest point of the country. Lunch will be served at the peak, after which you will descend to Hunwick's camp for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 7: Magherita Camp to Kiharo camp

You will start your day by climbing up bridge  towards McConnell’s Prong, where you will be rewarded with impressive views of the three peaks  of Mount Stanley, mount Baker and Speke as well as  the Scott Elliot pass before reaching Oliver’s pass at 4,505m. The total distance between Hunwick’s Camp and Oliver’s pass is 3km.   The confluence then meanders down the valley to Kiharo camp, which is established in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

Day 8: From Kiharo Camp to the base

From Kiharo camp, the path turns off to the right pass along the river. Spot Duikers as you pass along the river otherwise trek down the river itself jumping across the rocks as you pass down. The trails becomes steep with multitudes of waterfalls after a few kilometers down the river, which is why you will have to move away from the river and follow a narrow ridge to bypass steep sections.

You will again meet the river where there is a huge rock shelter and a place to rest for a lunch break, after which, you will cross a small stream as you climb up gentle slopes before turning back down to the river to avoid another set of waterfalls which are impassable.