12 Days Ruwenzori Challenge

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Basic Info: This 12 days adventure which starts and finishes in Kampala takes you through part of the volcanic chain in Western Uganda also known as "Mountains of the Moon". The mist-shrouded peaks and the distinctive glacial peaks are visible from miles away, adding to the rewarding experience of climbing the Ruwenzoris.

Day 1: Kampala to Kasese
Drive from Kampala by road via Masaka-Mbarara to Kasese and head for the foothills of the mountains of the moon. Overnight at Margherita Hotel.

Day 2: Climb Nyabitaba (2650m)
After breakfast transfer to Nyakalengija on to Ibanda to start your 5-6hr climb. Walk through the matoke plantations on the side of the steep foothills, past the local Bakonjo homesteads and continue with the trail along the Mubuku River, through landslides. This climb takes you through thick Equatorial vegetation to the Nyabitaba hut in the late evening for overnight.

Day 3: John Matte Hut (3350m)
Have an early breakfast and then start a morning hike through the Kurt Sharfer Bridge to marvel at the sparkling Mobuku river confluence. A climb through the open patches, Lobelia, and Heath moss forest before proceeding up to the John Matte hut for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Bujuku Hut
From John Matte Hut the trail drops down to cross the Bujuku River and enters Lower Bigo Bog, the home of giant lobelias. This is where your first real experience of jumping from tussock to tussock on a grassy bog begins. Overnight stop at Bujuku hut.

Day 5: Bujuku Hut to Kitandara Hut (4541m)
From Bujuku hut you will ascend to the highest point on the Loop Trail, Scott Elliot Pass (4,372m) before descending to the two Kitandara lakes. The hut is next to the second lake.

Option I: Descend on day 6
Option II: Continue on trail for the physically fit and technical climbers as per itinerary below

Day 6 Margherita Peak (5109m)
Continue to the base of the Stanley Glacier and climb about 5-7 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 Rwenzoris. Prepare for you return through the Scott-Elliot pass, where there are spectacular views back to Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke, up to Mount Stanley and down to the Kitandara Lakes. After the trail that passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight at the Kitandara Hut.

Day 7: Guy Yeoman Hut (3260m)
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. 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 at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906. Dinner and overnight at Guy Yeoman Hut.

Day 8: Nyabitaba (2650m)
Take on the path down to Nyabitaba hut. The path can be slippery and muddy and there fore requires careful balancing over the vertical mud or steep rock. Remember this is part of the adventure with in this mountain. Dinner and overnight at Nyabitaba Hut

Day 9: Nyakalengija Trailhead (1600m)
Descend gently down the muddy paths to the trailhead, finally arriving in Kasese at lunch time. Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Proceed to the Kazinga channel for a launch cruise where you may see a wide variety of animals and a vast array of birds come to drink. Dinner and overnight at Mweya/Jacana

Day 10: Queen Elizabeth - Kampala
Wake up for an early morning game drive depart for Kampala after breakfast reaching late in the evening.

 

 

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