9-Day Rwenzori Hiking via the Central Circuit Trail

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Transfer from Entebbe to Kasese

You will be met by our driver-guide at the airport or your hotel in Entebbe for the 6 to 8-hour transfer to Kasese for an overnight stay. Enjoy the views of the beautiful green scenery of the countryside through rolling hills, forests, tea plantations and several towns and local homes. You will have an en-route lunch stop in Mubende or Fort Portal, depending on your departure time.

Arrive in the late afternoon to check into your hotel.

Main Destination:

Kasese (Town)

Accommodation:

Tj Global Hotel

• Budget hotel

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Mihunga Gate (1651m asl) - Nyabitaba Camp (2651m asl)

The 7-day Rwenzori hiking via the Central circuit trail starts at the Rwenzori Mountains National Park's Mihunga gate at about 1,651m asl. Your Bujuku Eco Tours driver-guide will drive you to Mihunga for the trek briefing and organize your equipment.

The trail begins by passing through farmland to the park boundary beyond which it follows a thick forest along the Mubuku River. Cross the Mahoma River tributary before starting a long, steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba Hut.

During this part of the trip, you may hear chimpanzees and see black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and the brilliantly coloured Rwenzori turacos.

Hike duration: 6 - 7 hours.
Elevation: 1,036m.

Main Destination:

Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Nyabitaba Camp (2651m asl) - John Matte Camp (3505m asl)

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 where you will have dinner and overnight.

Hike duration: 7 – 8 hours.
Elevation: 854m.

Main Destination:

Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

John Matte Camp (3505m asl) - Bujuku Camp (3962m asl)

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 your feet sampling some of the freezing ooze below. The upper Bigo bog gives way to Bujuku Lake, with views of Mount Baker to the south and Mount 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 are at Bujuku Hut.

Hike duration: 4 – 5 hours.
Elevation: 457m.

Main Destination:

Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Bujuku Camp (3962m asl) - Elena Camp (4541m asl)

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical forest of Groundsel Gully.

Turn to your right up to Elena Hut and Mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders, while the trail on your left leads to Scott-Elliot Pass and down to Kitandara Lakes. The trail on the left leads those who are not climbing Margherita Peak to Kitandara Hut.

Those climbing the peak will have their dinner and overnight at the cool and icy Elena Hut.

Hike duration: 5 – 6 hours.
Elevation: 579m.

Main Destination:

Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Elena Hut (4541m asl) - Margherita Peak (5109m asl) - Kitandara Camp (4430m asl)

Very early in the morning, you attempt climbing the highest peak, Margherita of Mount Stanley. To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 4 to 5 hours, depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing. This tough walk takes you over 3 glaciers, slippery rock, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides. Climb to the glaciers, cross the Stanley Plateau and proceed with the ascent.

Acclimatize to the fog, altitude sickness and cool weather, and scramble up to the summit of Margherita, the highest peak of the Rwenzori Mountains. The descent from Margherita Peak back to Elena Hut will take you about 2 to 3 hours. After lunch at Elena Hut, descend to the Scott-Elliot pass (4,372m asl) where there are spectacular views of Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke. The trail passes through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders. You'll descend past the Kitandara Lakes.

Dinner and overnight at Kitandara Camp.

Main Destination:

Margherita Peak (Mt Stanley)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Kitandara (4430m asl) - Guy Yeoman (3261m asl)

From Kitandara, take the trail that ascends steeply up the headwall, spreading out from the base of Mount Baker. Continue along the south side of the mountain to Fresh Field Pass (4,282m asl).

At this point, you can view the Congo to the west and Mount Stanley to the north. From the pass, take on the long and high alpine moss.

Thereafter, start the descent through steep rocky trails and the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906. You will overnight at the Guy Yeoman Camp.

Hike duration: 6 – 7 hours.

Main Destination:

Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Guy Yeoman (3261m asl) - Nyabitaba (2651m asl) - Mihunga Gate (1651m asl)

Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends to 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 to Nyabitaba Camp and complete your trek by the evening to Mihunga Gate to end your 7-day Rwenzori Margherita Peak summit trip.

Descent duration: 7 – 8 hours.

Main Destination:

Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Tj Global Hotel

• Budget hotel

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Transfer from Kasese to Entebbe for departure

Check out of your hotel after breakfast to start your journey back to Entebbe after your Rwenzori Margherita Peak summit hiking trip.

Our driver-guide will drop you off at the airport to catch your flight back.

Main Destination:

Entebbe International Airport (Entebbe)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.