9-day Mountain Rwenzori Hiking
9-day Mountain Rwenzori Hiking
9 Days 8 Nights
Overview
This 9-day Mountain Rwenzori Hiking trip is one of the most physical and yet still most interesting of hikes you can do while in Uganda, with Mountain Rwenzori stretching high up to a height of 5,109 meters above sea level. Hikers and mountain trekkers who plan to embark on the trek of the Rwenzori mountains can either use the Rwenzori central circuit or the Kilembe trekking route for this interesting trekking uphill to climb the Rwenzori Mountains national park in Uganda, this tour can be booked based on the number of days you have at hand and levels of physical ability to take on this adventure to hike up to the top of the snow-capped mountains.
The mountain lies close to the Equator in the south. We do organize trips to the area and can arrange for you one based on the days you have and guarantee your safety and security while on this trip with us.
With this I have attached herewith our 9 Days Mountain Rwenzori Hiking trip Kilembe Rwenzori trekking tour starts with pickup from Entebbe and ends with a drop off back here at the end of the trip for your flight out, accommodation included and camping gear while the mountain and other services as mentioned below.
Highlights
- Safari starts and ends in Entebbe (Uganda)
- Countryside road trip in an open-sided 4×4 vehicle & pop-up roof 4×4 vehicle
- A transfer from and back to the airport (or hotel) is included
Things to Consider
- Accommodation is Inclusive
- This hiking tour is guided by the new normal post-lockdown safari guidelines.
- Small Group Safari: Max 6 People per group
- Tour Can Depart any day
- The tour can be customized
- Solo travelers can join this tour
- Age Limit: 15 years and above
Itinerary highlights
- DAY 1: Transfer from Kampala or Entebbe to Kasese overnight.
- DAY 2: Transfer to Sine Camp
- DAY 3: Climb to Mutinda Camp
- DAY 4: Hike to Bugata Camp
- DAY 5: Hike to Hunwik’s Camp
- DAY 6: Transfer to Kiharo Camp
- DAY 7: Descend to Samalira Camp
- DAY 8: Descend to Base Camp
- DAY 9: Back to Entebbe/airport
Detailed Itinerary
Arrival
You’ll be picked up from the airport (or hotel)
Accommodation before the tour departs can be arranged for extra cost
DAY 1: Transfer from Kampala or Entebbe to Kasese overnight.
The drive will take you around 8 hours. You will have a stopover in Mubende for lunch and then proceed with your journey to Kasese for an overnight at a hotel in the area as you prepare yourself for the next day’s trek.
DAY 2: Transfer to Sine Camp
You will transfer to the footsteps of the mountain to start the Climb up from 1,450 to Sine Hut 2,680m where you spend a night. This hike starts from the valley floor through tall forest trees of the Afro Montane Forest Zone and continues with a steady climb with multitudes of birds and a chance of seeing blue monkeys scampering off through the forest. At times visitors may see troupes of 15 to 20 black and white Colobus monkeys as they swing through the treetops. There is a wide variety of plant species from forest trees to bamboo thickets, low shrubs, flowers, and fungi, and many moss and lichen-covered vines hanging from the tall trees creating an awesome appeal.
Enock’s Falls are just 300 meters from Sine Hut and offer a splendid opportunity to capture a great screensaver for your memories. At Sine Camp 2,596 meters, we have wooden huts set between tall forest trees on a narrow ridge where you may sit and enjoy the beauty of the Afro-Montane forest while you look down at a fantastic waterfall crashing over the rocks far below.
DAY 3: Climb to Mutinda Camp
Trekking starts at 8.00 am and almost immediately you enter the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone, which is a steep climb with many high steps. In the wet season, the bamboo zone is rather muddy and slippery making the going slow. However, the atmosphere and the forest are beautiful as you climb 551 meters altitude and a distance of 1.8km to Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters which is in the Heather-Rapanea Zone where you can take a rest and a quick cup of tea or coffee before heading on to Mutinda Camp. The trail meanders up and over several small knolls along a ridge top then drops down the side of the valley before climbing again, and in doing so crosses several small streams and passes close to moss-covered waterfalls.
DAY 4: Hike to Bugata Camp
Wake up for breakfast at 8:00 am and embark on the trail to Bugata Camp is boggy, particularly in the wet season but with a little skill, you can step from tussock to tussock to make the going easier.
First, you cross the Mutinda Valley through the tussock grass and everlasting flowers interspersed with many Giant Lobelias before climbing a steep section up to the Namusangi Valley (3,840 meters), with sheer waterfalls and looking back you get fantastic views of Mutinda Peaks. The Namusangi Valley is wide, with many ups and downs as the trail climbs steadily to Bugata Camp at 4,100 meters.
DAY 5: Hike to Hunwik’s Camp
Trek to Hunwick’s Camp via Bamwanjarra Pass. As you leave Bugata Camp you pass up a ridge and then drop down slightly before ascending to Bamwanjarra Pass at 4,450 meters where we have a hut should the weather turn bad. From the pass on a clear day, you get excellent views of the three main peaks. The trail passes down the valley and around the edge of some bogs thick evergreen vegetation, and moss. Giant groundsel and lobelia.
Here is possibly the best place in all the Rwenzori to observe the Malachite Sunbird as it feeds on the many lobelia flowers and is a known breeding site.
DAY 6: Transfer to Kiharo Camp
From Hunwick’s, we pass down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitendara which is very stunning with deep water and beautiful vegetation. From here you climb up Scott Elliott’s pass and then up the ridge to Margherita Camp 4,485 meters which is situated between some huge rocks and offers some shelter from the strong winds. This is the very spot where the Duke of Abruzzi camped when making his climb to Margherita Peak in 1906.
DAY 7: Descend to Samalira Camp
Wake up at 2 am and catch an early breakfast before heading off to climb Mt Stanley at 2.30 am.
For those clients with less mountaineering experience, we suggest that you stay on Stanley glacier and climb up to a good vantage point on a rocky outcrop on the southern edge of Alexandra Peak to enjoy fantastic views over Congo and the lower mountain ridges After ascending the peak at 5,109 meters you then pass directly down to Hunwick’s Camp at 3.874 meters.
DAY 8: Descend to Base Camp
From Hunwick’s Camp, we start the day by climbing up a ridge towards McConnell’s Prong where you get the best views of all three peaks and Scott Elliott’s Pass before reaching Oliver’s Pass at 4,505 meters. The distance from Hunwick’s Camp to the top of Oliver’s Pass is 3km the trail then cuts across below Weismann’s Peak to the confluence of the Nyamwamba River, which flows down through Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
DAY 9: Back to Entebbe/airport
After breakfast, the guide will pick you up from the hotel and drive back to Kampala at the hotel or drop you off at the airport.
End of Tour
Additional accommodation can be arranged for extra cost
You’ll be dropped off at the airport (or hotel)
Safari Includes
- Park entrance fees
- Hiking fees
- Ranger, Porter, and a cook
- 4WD safari vehicle with fuel
- Guide
- Rescue fee
- Drinking water in the vehicle
- Ground Transportation
Tour excludes
- International flights
- Visa fees
- All alcoholic drinks
- Tips
- Souvenirs
- Personal Insurance
Safari Vacations and Travel Services is a Local tour operator based in Uganda with its head offices in Entebbe. Moreover, Safari Vacations and Travel Services is a business for a Ugandan native, we specialize in life-changing experiences and sustainable tours and holidays to all East African countries. We are members of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators and with registration from the Uganda Tourism Board. We have a good and long working relationship with Uganda Wildlife Authority making it easy to book your gorilla permits and gorilla trekking safari. Safari Vacations and Travel Services is also high in Trip Advisor reviews.
