9 Days Hiking Adventure In The Rwenzori Mountains

The Mountain of 9 Days Rwenzori hiking safaris in Uganda is a full package mountaineering adventure tour, hiking to all the thrilling peaks of the Rwenzoris. The Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the Rwenzori Range or the Mountains of the Moon, are Africa's tallest mountain range, rising to 5,109 meters above sea level on the boundary between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (16,761 ft). The tallest Rwenzori, along with Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, are the only snow-capped mountains in Equatorial Africa.

Trip Summary

Day 1; Transfer from Kampala to Rwenzori Mountains

Day 2; Climb from Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba hut (2,652m)

Day 3; Hike from Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte Hut at 3.414 m.

Day 4; Hike from John Matte Hut to Bujuku Hut at 3.962 m.

Day 5; Hike from Bujuku Hut to Kitandara Hut, 4.023 m.

Day 6; Hike from Kitandara Hut to Guy Yeoman Hut at 3.261 m.

Day 7; Descend from Guy Yeoman Hut back to Nyabitaba Hut at 2.652 m.

Day 8; Descend from Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija.

Day 9; Transfer back to Kampala

Daily Itinerary

Day 1: After breakfast at your Kampala hotel, depart for the Rwenzori Mountains, a 440-kilometer drive that takes 7–8 hours. Before being greeted by the towering Rwenzori Mountains, 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 and scenic views of the Fort Portal area. You head to your room for some rest, dinner, and a good night's sleep.

Day 2: Following a briefing from the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services in collaboration with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, you set out from the Rwenzori Park Headquarters in Nyakalengija, which stands at 1,646 meters. If you don't have any mountaineering equipment, you can rent it at this point. The trip begins with a visit to the Bakonzo farmlands, where you can see the famous mountain folk crossing their agricultural plots and elephant grass. The trip follows the Mobuku River before crossing the Mahoma River and traversing through open bracken fern slopes and Podorcarpus Forest till reaching Nyabitaba Hut at 2.652 m, the day's destination. At this point, you can see the Portal peaks to the north and see monkeys, the Rwenzori Turaco, and hear Chimpanzees.

Day 3: Following a track that runs through a bamboo forest, you leave Nyabitaba hut and cross the Kurt Shaffer Bridge, traveling through a muddy area. When you get at a rocky rock region leading to Nyamuleju Hut, the groundsel and enormous lobelia plants begin to impress. The trail continues along the Bujuku River, passing through a bog covered with vegetation. The final destination is John Matte hut, which is located at 3.414 meters and where you will spend the night.

Day 4: Hike from John Matte Hut, crossing the River Bujuku before entering the lower Bigo bog, which is grassy and allows you to jump from one tussock to the next. As you reach the Bigo hut, you will pass through the upper Bigo bog before continuing on to Lake Bujuku, which marks the start of the alpine savannah zone with limited flora. Eventually, you will arrive at Bujuku Hut, which is located at 3.962 meters and offers views of the Stanley, Baker, and Speke peaks. The diversion trail to Mount Speke begins here, however for those interested in climbing Margarita and the Alexandria, it is best to continue and spend the night in Elena Hut.

Day 5: You begin the journey from Bujuku, traveling through moss-draped groundsel vegetation on your way to 4,372 Scott Eliot pass, the highest point on the loop trail. At the foothills of Mount Baker, this path is very rocky and steep. You have spectacular views of Margarita Peak, the Savoia and Elena glaciers, and Mount Baker. By walking through a heavy muck to the lower Lake Kitandara, where the hut is located, you encounter Lake Kitandara hut, whose name roughly translates to "fresh field" (4,023m).

Day 6: Depart Lake Kitandara for a climb up the 4,282m fresh field pass, passing a lengthy stretch of high alpine mossy glades, before descending the circuit through boggy and rocky terrain. The glaciers of Mount Baker and Mount Stanley take up a large portion of the view. The muddy trail leads to the Bujongolo, Akendahi, and Kabamba rock shelters, from where the Kabamba valley begins to descend to Guy Yeoman Hut at 3.261 meters. Surrounded by lush greenery, mountains, and rivers, the Guy Yeoman Hut is a sight to behold.

Day 7: 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

Day 8: 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.

Day 9: Begin your journey back to Kampala after a leisurely breakfast. Drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park, with its stunning savannah and animals, the Bunyaruguru crater field, the lush Kalinzu woodland, and Mbarara town before stopping for a traditional lunch at Igongo Cultural Center, 12 kilometers from Mbarara. You make a second stop at the Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for great photo opportunities, water experiments to demonstrate the divide between the north and south spheres, and memento purchases at any of the site's gift shops. Continue for another 77 kilometers, arriving in Kampala in the evening to bring the expedition to a close.