Trekking options:

OPTION 1: Margherita Peak full circuit trekking package 11 days 10 nights Tour Code DJU32

OPTION 2: Rwenzori trekking extension to Weismanns Peak 5 Days 4 nights Tour Code DJU32A

OPTION 3: Rwenzori trekking extension to Kalamala Camp and Samalia Camp 3 Days 2 nights Tour Code DJU32B

Note: EXTENSIONS

After the Option 1 of the full circuit, we also propose 2 possible extensions: to Bwindi National Park or to Queen Elizabeth National Park (see details at the end of the document).

OPTION 1: Margherita Peak full circuit package 11 days 10 nights

Day 1 - Kampala

Bed and Breakfast.

• On arrival at Entebbe International Airport we welcome you and transfer to Kampala for overnight in BB at the hotel, Cassia Lodge / Kampala Onomo Hotel

Day 2 - Rwenzori Mountains

Full Board.

• After breakfast you leave Kampala and drive Westwards in the direction of Kasese at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains.
• Lunch in restaurant en route.
• Dinner and overnight at Simba Safari Lodge / Kikorongo Lodge.  

Day 3 – From Base Camp (1.450 m) to Sine Camp (2.596m)

• From the base camp at 1,450 meters, you have briefing from the guides and start the trekking through the forest zone. The climb is steady for about 6 km, then proceed toward Sine Camp (2596 m).  About 200 m walk from the camp you can see the Enock Falls.
• Distance: 9.5km – Time: approximately 5 to 6 hours of walking

Day 4 – From Sine Camp (2.596 m) to Mutinda Camp (3.588m)

• From Sine Camp the trail goes through the Bamboo zone and heather zone, where you experience the giant heather vegetation. You cross various streams and water falls covered by the green moss (Usnea lichen). The Mutinda Camp is set at 3588 meters, giving you a height gain of 992 metres.
• In the afternoon at Mutinda one may wish to climb up Mutinda look out at 3975 metres which offers breathtaking views.
• Distance: 6.1km – Time: approximately 6 to 7 hours of walking

Day 5 – From Mutinda Camp (3.588m) to Bugata Camp (4.100m)

• From Mutinda Camp the trek today can be hard with steep ridges, boggy areas, high steps but also enjoying rewarding landscapes. The vegetation is unique with typical plant species. The arrival point is Bugata camp at 4100 meters, with a height gain of 512 meters.
• Distance: 8.6km – Time: approximately 4 to 6 hours of walking

Day 6 – From Bugata Camp (4.100m) to Hunwick’s Camp (4.450m)

• From Bugata Camp you proceed the trail to Bamwanjara pass at 4450meters, an excellent point for panoramic view of the peaks. The trail proceeds down the valley where you experience a lot of mountain vegetation like moss, giant groundsel and the lobelias. This is the breeding area for the colourful malachite sunbird. A steep section and final climb over a ridge leads to Hunwick’s camp at 3974 meters, situated on the top of a deep valley with good views of Mt Stanley, Mt Baker, Weismanns Peak and McConnell’s Prong.
• Distance: 8.3km – Time: approximately 6 to 10 hours of walking

Day 7 – From Hunwick’s Camp (4.450m) to Margherita Camp (4.485m)

• From Hunwick’s camp, the trail passes down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitandara. From here the route climbs to Scott Eliot Pass at 4.372 m and up to Margherita Camp at 4.485 meters situated in a rock shelter where the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906 camped before ascending the peaks in the first scientific expedition of the Rwenzori. This is the point where to prepare the final ascent to Mount Stanley main peaks.
• Distance: 5.1km – Time: approximately 3 to 5 hours of walking

Day 8 - From Margherita Peak (5.109m) to Hunwick’s Camp (3.974m)

• The final climb to Margherita Peak of Mount Stanlay starts after a wake up at 2:00am and an early breakfast to gain strength. The trail meets the glacier and will take about 5 to 7 hours walk to the summit, for a height gain of 624 meters covering 3.8 km. Margherita glacier has suffered with global warming and as the outer edges of the glacier recede the ice is becoming steeper with one section of about 200 meters more than 60% grade. This early climb allows to arrive at the top at the time when weather is expected to be clearer and upon the sunrise (in fact the weather is typically cloudy and stormy all through later morning to evening).
• The descent back to Hunwicks Camp at 3974 meters will take about 4 to 6 hours covering 8.9 km.
• Distance: 12.7km – Time: approximately 9 to 12 hours of walking.

Day 9 – From Hunwick’s Camp (3.974m) to Kiharo Camp (3.430m)

• From Hunwick’s camp you climb up a ridge towards McConnell’s Prong then you reach Oliver Pass at 4,505meters. The trail follows below Weismann’s Peak to the confluence of Nyamwamba River.  Descend down to Kiharo camp at 3430 meters, set in the deep valley of Nyamwamba with high cliffs and dense vegetation.
• Distance: 11km – Time: approximately 4 to 7 hours of walking.

Day 10 – From Kiharo Camp (3.430m) to Base Camp

Full Board.

• Descend downhill along Nyamwamba Valley with its moss-covered rocks, waterfalls and deep forest back to the base camp in Kilembe.
• Debrief and refresh and continue to your hotel, dinner and overnight at Lodge Bellavista.
• Distance: 14.6km – Time: approximately 7 to 9 hours of walking.

Day 11 - Rwenzori – Entebbe International airport

Half Board.

• After breakfast, return back to Kampala in time for connections with the international flights from Entebbe International Airport.

OPTION 2: Rwenzori trekking Extension Loop to Weismann’s Peak 5 Days 4 nights

This extension starts directly from the Rwenzori, therefore any transfer and accommodation before or after has to be added.

Day 1 - From Base Camp (1.450 m) to Sine Camp (2.596m)

• From the base camp at 1,450 meters, you have briefing from the guides and start the trekking through the forest zone. The climb is steady for about 6 km, then proceed toward Sine Camp (2596 m).  About 200 m walk from the camp you can see the Enock Falls.
• Distance: 9.5km – Time: approximately 5 to 6 hours of walking

Day 2 – From Sine Camp (2.596 m) to Mutinda Camp (3.588m)

• From Sine Camp the trail goes through the Bamboo zone and heather zone, where you experience the giant heather vegetation. You cross various streams and water falls covered by the green moss (Usnea lichen). The Mutinda Camp is set at 3588 meters, giving you a height gain of 992 metres. In the afternoon at Mutinda one may wish to climb up Mutinda look out at 3975 metres which offers breathtaking views.
• Distance: 6.1km – Time: approximately 6 to 7 hours of walking

Day 3 – From Mutinda Camp (3.588 m) to Bugata Camp (4062 m)

• From Mutinda Camp the trek today can be hard with steep ridges, boggy areas, high steps but also enjoying rewarding landscapes. The vegetation is unique with typical plant species. The arrival point is Bugata camp at 4100 meters, with a height gain of 512 meters.
• Distance: 8.6km – Time: approximately 4 to 6 hours of walking

Day 4 – From Bugata Camp to Weismanns Peak (4.620 m) to Kiharo Camp (3.430 m)

• From Bugata Camp you get up early and head for the summit of Weismanns peak at 4620 meters for a distance of about 3.7 km. After the summit you start to descend down the Nyamwamba valley to Kiharo Camp at 3430 meters with a distance of about 9 km
• Distance: 12.7km – Time: approximately 11 to 13 hours of walking

Day 5 – Kiharo Camp (3.430m) to Base Camp

Half Board.

• Descend downhill along Nyamwamba Valley with its moss covered rocks, waterfalls and deep forest back to the base camp in Kilembe.
• Debrief, refresh with lunch and continue your trip.
• Distance: 14.6km – Time: approximately 7 to 9 hours of walking.

OPTION 3: Rwenzori Extension to Kalamala Camp and Samalia Camp 3 Days 2 nights

This extension starts directly from the Rwenzori, therefore any transfer and accommodation before or after has to be added.

Day 1 - From Base Camp (1.450m) to Sine Camp (2.596m)

• Briefing from the guides at the Base Camp 1,450m and start the trek, hike to Sine Camp at 2,596 metres, the hike will take you through the tall forest trees of the Afro montane forest zone. This is a steady climb for about 6 kilometres then along a steep climb towards Sine hut. The hike will offer you lots of plant and flower species to view, birds and a chance of seeing some animal species like Columbus monkeys, crossing the beautiful Enock falls as we hike up to Sine Camp which are only 200metres from Sine.
• Overnight at Sine Camp (2.596m).
• Distance: 9.5km – Time: approximately 5 to 6 hours of walking.

Day 2 - From Sine camp (2.596m) to Samalira Camp (3.174m)

• Hike up through the Bamboo zone to Kalalama camp (3,134m); stop for a short rest, then climb high before crossing a thick forest covered with hanging mosses to a small lobelia garden and descend through a mossy ridge to Samalira Camp at 3174 metres. The distance is approximately 4km with some good steep terrain taking approximately 5 to 6 hours of walking
• Distance: 4km – Time: approximately 5 to 6 hours of walking.

Day 3 - Samalira Camp (3.174m) - Descend

Half Board.

• Descend down from Samalira Camp through the Bamboo zone to a heavily forest ridge, home for many primates such as black and white Colobus monkeys, the proceed back down to the base camp. Debrief and lunch, then proceed your journey.
• Distance: 10.8km – Time: approximately 6 to 7 hours of walking.

RWENZORI TREKKING TECHNICAL SHEET (See the full technical sheet)

Temperatures

The Rwenzori Mountains are located on the Equator line, crossing the Southern sector of the park. At 3,000 to 4,000 metres of mountain altitude temperatures are around 10 to 15 degrees Celsius during the day and 2 to 6 Celsius at night.

Above 4500 meters where are located Hunwick’s camp and Margherita Camp the temperature during the day can vary from + 1 to + 12 Celsius and dropping to minus 5 to + 3 Celsius at night. On the peak it can drop further to minus 2 degrees Celsius during the day but at times it can be + 8 or +10 degrees Celsius.

Check list for the Rwenzori trekking:

The package includes the following gear that can be found on arrival at Base Camp: Harnesses, carabiners, ice axes, helmets, rubber boot (are a must have), ropes and ice screws.

The rest of the equipment must be carried by all hikers as personal gear, including the crampons.

The Guides and porters:

The guides for the Rwenzori trekking come from the area, which means they live in the Rwenzori. All guides acquired experience and training in all aspects of the trekking, from flora and fauna, first aid, technical skills, customer care. Training is provided internally in the organization of Rwenzori Trekking Services (RTS) that have the concession from the National Park to carry out tourism services.

The service includes also the porters, who carry the luggage during the hike with maximum weight being 23 kg. Therefore, we advise to provide a rucksack for the porters, also with its water proof cover, and having a day pack to carry personally, with the necessities of the day.

Food and drinks:

The organization provides standard mountaineering food menu covering breakfast, lunch and dinners, all prepared by the cooks. Please any special dietary requirement must be notified in time.

Water is provided directly from the mountain and specially treated; you need to have your own big enough metal bottle to be refilled and kept in the daily pack. Warm tea and coffee are prepared from the Huts and can also be used to refill bottles.

The Insurance, rescue and evacuation:

All guests must have their personal insurance cover for mountaineering trekking that includes evacuation at an altitude of 4000 meters and above. There are no landing sites or airstrips within the national park and the nearest point is Kasese Airstrip; therefore, the first evacuation is provided by the organization in the mountain.

Particularly, this covers the following aspects: all Huts have a service of a stretcher, which can be used to carry any injured or sick person down the mountain; each trekking team is equipped with satellite phone and radios for communication with the Base Camp; each team has its own first aid service for urgent interventions. The nearest and most reliable hospital in the area is Kasese Referral Hospital.

The Huts

All the Huts are provided with some dormitory blocks, beds with mattress, external long drop toilets (Latrines) and shower boxes, available water that can be heated. 

The following Huts have a small solar system that allows phone and cameras charging: Kiharo Hut and Hunwick camp. All the Huts have a limited solar system for lighting.

The dining areas of the highest altitude huts have a heating system through use of stove (Hunwick camp, Margherita Hut).

POSSIBLE EXTENSIONS AFTER THE FULL CIRCUIT PACKAGE OF 11 DAYS:

EXTENSION 1: QUEEN ELIZABETH 3 Days 2 nights

Day 10 – Rwenzori – Queen Elizabeth

Full Board

• After descending from the trekking in the Rwenzori, in the afternoon you arrive in Queen Elizabeth National Park with a short transfer.
• Dinner overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge / Kikorongo Lodge / Aardvark Lodge (C) or Ihamba Safari Lodge / Marafiki Lodge (E).

Day 11 - Game drive and launch trip on Kazinga Channel

Full Board.

• After a cup of coffee, enjoy the sunrise and take an early morning game drive along the Kasenyi tracks and proceeding in the direction of Lake George. Expect to see elephants, buffaloes, lions, kobs, waterbuck, and if you are lucky the shy leopard and spotted hyena.
• Return to the lodge for lunch.
• In the afternoon, go for a spectacular boat cruise on Kazinga Channel for amazing bird life and a variety of wild animals.
• Dinner overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge / Kikorongo Lodge / Aardvark Lodge (C) or Ihamba Safari Lodge / Marafiki Lodge (E).

Day 12 – Queen Elizabeth - Entebbe

Half Board

• After breakfast and the last photographic safari, drive to Entebbe.
• Lunch en route.
• Reserved to transfer to the airport of Entebbe

EXTENSION 2: BWINDI NATIONAL PARK 3 Days 2 Nights

Day 11 – Rwenzori Mountains – Bwindi Impenetrable

Full Board.

• After breakfast leave the Rwenzori South to Bwindi National Park.
• Lunch en route.
• In the evening you will arrive in Bwindi, for dinner and overnight at Bwindi Engagi Lodge / Gorilla Safari Lodge (C)orNoel’s Cottage /Agandi Lodge / Bweza Lodge (E).

Day 12 - Gorilla tracking in the rain tropical forest

Full Board.

• After an early breakfast and briefing from the guides of Uganda Wildlife Authority, set off for the gorilla tracking in the forest sanctuary. The activity starts at 8.00am and you join the other members according to the distribution of the gorilla families, only eight per family each day. You need to carry with you the packed lunch, enough drinking water, rain jacket in case of rain and trekking boots while the rangers will provide you with a walking stick. If you are not sure of your fitness you might hire a porter and pay him a tip to help you carrying the bag. It is unpredictable how long will take to find the primates as they freely move into the forest. However, the encounter with the gorillas, lasting for about one hour, certainly is a rewarding experience and an unforgettable one.
• Packed lunch for the day.
• After the trekking you go back to the lodge at leisure.
• Dinner and overnight at Bwindi Engagi Lodge / Gorilla Safari Lodge (C) orNoel’s Cottage / Agandi Lodge / Bweza Lodge (E).

Day 13 – Bwindi - Entebbe

Half Board

• After breakfast, drive back to Entebbe.
• Lunch enroute in restaurant.
• Reserved for evening flights from Entebbe Airport.