Mount Rwenzori National Park - Uganda

Duration

7 days

7 Days Mount Stanley Climbing Expedition

Overview

Item Code: 47-3558

Book 7 Days Rwenzori Mountaineering service 2023/25 via Rwenzori Central circuit to summit Margherita peak with 6Summits & Trekking tour at 1407$ or check for the scheduled group trek to Rwenzori for magical discounted prices from Experts of Mountaineering tours.

Most travelers that select to explore Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda opt for the famous 7 Days Rwenzori Trekking tour with 6 nights in the Huts of Rwenzori Mountains that are always followed by the Experienced Porters and guides from Rwenzori Mountaineering services the oldest company that has been leading tours to Rwenzori Mountains by giving support staff to make the expeditions successful.

Details

Day 1: Nyakalengija – Nyabitaba camp (2651m.)

The central circuit starts at the RMS offices at Nyakalengijja. You need to arrive in the morning to allow ample time to rent equipment and meet your guides and porters before we embark on the hike. The trail begins by passing through farmland to the park boundary beyond which it follows a thick forest along the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma River tributary before starting a long, steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut.

The hike takes an average of 6 -7 hours and the hiking distance is 6.5 kilometers

Day 2: Nyabitaba – John matte camp (3505m.)

From Nyabitaba follow the trail that drops down through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Passing through the bamboo forest, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock. 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, for dinner and overnight at the hut.

The Distance is 7.5km

Day 3: John matte - Bujuku camp (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.

The upper Bigo bog gives way to Bujuku Lake, 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. This camp is good for acclimatization for clients attempting the summits of peaks Mount Stanley and Mount Speke. Dinner and overnight at Bujuku hut.

The distance is 5km

The hike takes an average of 4 – 5 hours.

Day 4: Bujuku - Elena camp (4541m)

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical and forest of Groundsel Gully. Later, you have some rest at Elena Camp where you will have your dinner and overnight stays.  Dinner and overnight at the coolly and Icy Elena Hut.

The distance is 2.5km

The hike takes an average of 5 – 6 hours.  

Day 5: Elena hut - Margherita peak (5109m) – Elena hut

Very early in the morning, you attempt climbing the highest peak, Margherita on Mount Stanley. To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 4 -5 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you over three glaciers, slippery rock, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides. Climbing on to the glaciers, cross the Stanley Plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and coolly weather, scramble up to the summit of Margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori.

Later after the explore of the peak, the descend from Margherita peak back to Elena Hut where you will have your delicious lunch and overnight will stay. After your lunch at Elena hut, you will have some rest at the hut as you wait for another descend on the next day. Dinner and overnight at Elena Hut.

The distance is 4 kms

This is the challenging part on the Rwenzori Mountain Summit.

The descend takes an average of 3 – 4 hours.

Day 6: Elena hut - Kitandara – guy yeoman (3261m.)

In the morning, you will depart from Elena hut descending to the Scott-Elliot pass (4372m.), where there are spectacular views of Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke. After, the trail passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara Lakes and have some stopover at Kitandara huts for lunch. 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 4282m.

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 high alpine mossy. Thereafter start the descend through steep rocky trails and the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906 and then an overnight at Guy yeoman camp.

Elena Hut to Kitandara is 5 kms and Kitandara to Guy yeoman is 6kms

The hike takes an average of 6 – 7 hours.

Day 7: guy yeoman – Nyabitaba - Nyakalengija (1615m.)

Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu. Beyond Kichuchu the muddy path crosses the Mubuku River twice through a bamboo forest before climbing downwards to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit. Continue descending Nyabitaba Camp and complete your trek by the evening at Nyakalengijja, the base camp.

The Guy yeoman to Nyabitaba camp is 6.5km and Nyabitaba camp to Nyakalengijja Camp is 6.5 km

The descent takes 7 – 8 hours

Itinerary

The central circuit starts at the RMS offices at Nyakalengijja. You need to arrive in the morning to allow ample time to rent equipment and meet your guides and porters before we embark on the hike. The trail begins by passing through farmland to the park boundary beyond which it follows a thick forest along the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma River tributary before starting a long, steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut.

The hike takes an average of 6 -7 hours and the hiking distance is 6.5 kilometers

From Nyabitaba follow the trail that drops down through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Passing through the bamboo forest, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock. 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, for dinner and overnight at the hut.

The Distance is 7.5km

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.

The upper Bigo bog gives way to Bujuku Lake, 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. This camp is good for acclimatization for clients attempting the summits of peaks Mount Stanley and Mount Speke. Dinner and overnight at Bujuku hut.

The distance is 5km

The hike takes an average of 4 – 5 hours.

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical and forest of Groundsel Gully. Later, you have some rest at Elena Camp where you will have your dinner and overnight stays.  Dinner and overnight at the coolly and Icy Elena Hut.

The distance is 2.5km

The hike takes an average of 5 – 6 hours.  

Very early in the morning, you attempt climbing the highest peak, Margherita on Mount Stanley. To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 4 -5 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you over three glaciers, slippery rock, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides. Climbing on to the glaciers, cross the Stanley Plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and coolly weather, scramble up to the summit of Margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori.

Later after the explore of the peak, the descend from Margherita peak back to Elena Hut where you will have your delicious lunch and overnight will stay. After your lunch at Elena hut, you will have some rest at the hut as you wait for another descend on the next day. Dinner and overnight at Elena Hut.

The distance is 4 kms

This is the challenging part on the Rwenzori Mountain Summit.

The descend takes an average of 3 – 4 hours.

In the morning, you will depart from Elena hut descending to the Scott-Elliot pass (4372m.), where there are spectacular views of Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke. After, the trail passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara Lakes and have some stopover at Kitandara huts for lunch. 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 4282m.

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 high alpine mossy. Thereafter start the descend through steep rocky trails and the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906 and then an overnight at Guy yeoman camp.

Elena Hut to Kitandara is 5 kms and Kitandara to Guy yeoman is 6kms

The hike takes an average of 6 – 7 hours.

Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu. Beyond Kichuchu the muddy path crosses the Mubuku River twice through a bamboo forest before climbing downwards to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit. Continue descending Nyabitaba Camp and complete your trek by the evening at Nyakalengijja, the base camp.

The Guy yeoman to Nyabitaba camp is 6.5km and Nyabitaba camp to Nyakalengijja Camp is 6.5 km

The descent takes 7 – 8 hours

What's Included

  • Transfer from Kasese to Rwenzori Mountains Gate
  • 6 Nights Huts & Camps
  • Ranger Guide
  • Park Entrance fees into Rwenzori Mountains
  • Porters in the Mountains

Excluded

  • Equipment Rental
  • Drinks and any other travel item not mentioned
  • Insurance

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  • Price

$3,000/Person

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