Country Safaris
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
7 Days
The Rwenzori Mountains National Park borders with Democratic Republic of Congo close to Kasese district. They are one of the thrilling and pleasing experiences is a trip into the Rwenzoris.
The trip must be planned and you have to be prepared for this hike that takes seven days and reaches an altitude of 14,000ft above sea level. Described by Ptolemy in AD150 as Mountains of the Moon, the 120km Rwenzori sequence is regarded to be the legendary snow-capped mountain.
The Rwenzoris have distinctive glacier peaks visible for miles around and its slopes above 1,600m are the preserve of hikers, who rate as the most challenging of all mountains in Africa.
Although the 998 sq km Rwenzoris are more distinguished for their regal scenery and varied vegetation, a variety of mammals inhabit the lower slopes.
Porters carry your heavy equipment and food. It is advisable to purchase your own food.
The Central Circuit Trail
Day One:
Arriving early at Rwenzori Mountains National Park and the Rwenzori Mountaineering services (RMS) offices at Nyakalengija in the morning to have sufficient time to rent equipment and be availed with guides and porters is indispensable. Hiking starts from the park headquarters 5,400ft (1,646m), walking past mud and wattle homes of Bakonzo and gradually moving upwards through elephant grass and garden plots.
This takes you 40 minutes before reaching the park boundary. Here, the trail follows the Mubuku River, crossing landslide areas, and climbing over rocks and bluff. This takes you about 2½ hours before reaching the Mahoma River. Past the river, there follows a steep climb through open bracken fern slopes and Podorcarpus Forest up to Nyabitaba hut 8,700ft (2652m). At this point, you will have gained an elevation of 4,000ft (1,200m) and it will have taken you a total time of 5-7 hours from Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba if you are an average hiker.
You may be able to hear chimpanzees, and sometimes see black and white colobus and blue monkeys behind the hut, and catch sights of radiantly colored Rwenzori Turaco at this part of the trip. When you cross the valley and move to the north of Nyabitaba hut, the rocky and largely unclimbed Portal Peaks which rise above 14,000ft (4,627m) will not be missed.
Day Two:
From Nyabitaba hut the trail leads westward for ½ km before dropping steeply to Kurt Shaffer Bridge, crossing below the confluence of the Bujuku and the Mubuku Rivers.
Turning right to the bridge and climbing the central circuit anti-clockwise lets you avoid the clockwise direction which is more difficult and adds considerable danger. The muddy, slippery trail climbs steadily up through the bamboo forest after crossing Kurt Shatter Bridge.
After ½ an hour, you encounter an area of slippery boulder hopping. This is considered the most difficult and dangerous footing of the circuit by some hikers. You will reach the hut at Nyamuleju and its accompanying rock shelter after 5 hours of travel from Nyabitaba. Mts. Speke and Stanely can be seen on a rare clear day from top of the rock near the hut. Here, the giant lobelia and groundsel zone starts. This is one of the remarkable vegetation type found no where else in the world except high-altitude tropical African Mountains.
The walk to John Matte hut (11,200ft/3,414m) takes about an hour through a taxing bog, full of extra regular plants and the slow pace can be a charming opportunity to examine and get something on film this only one of its kind environment. To reach John Matte takes about 7 hours from Nyabitaba. It is advisable to start this part of the journey early enough since some hikers consider it the most tiring and longest day of the circuit.
At John Matte, you can have a stopover and enjoy the unique vegetation in bog and begin your return journey to Nyabitaba the following day.
Day Three:
Cross Bujuku River and enter lower Bigo bog (after leaving John Matte). Here, your first real experience of jumping from tussock to tussock on a grassy bog begins.
This trail is boggy and follows the left edge of lower Bigo bog before reaching The Bigo hut and its rock shelter. A steep section past the hut leads to upper Bigo bog. After 1 ½ hours beyond the upper bog, and after climbing through drier ground and criss-crossing the river, you reach Lake Bujuku whose southern end is in a majestic setting with Mt. Baker to the south, Mt. Stanely to the west and Mt. Speke to the north. Away from the north end of the Lake is a rock shelter called Cooking point and a short distance extra is Bujuku Hut 13,000ft (3962m), auspiciously located for parties climbing Mt. Speke.
This hike requires technical skills and special equipment. This trail (from John Matte to Bujuku) takes around 3-5 hours and at this point, an elevation of 1,800ft (560m) is gained. Bujuku's hut position and recurrent mists can make it rather cold. Chances of seeing Red duikers are high if you moved around on a nature walk at night. Calls of the Rock hyraxes are common.
Day Four:
This takes you to a newer trail which rises and falls twice before finally climbing steeply through magical moss draped groundsel vegetation 14,345ft (4,372m) to Scott Elliot Pass.
A short strong ladder is at the steepest section and the right hand branch will lead to Elena Hut 14,700ft (4,430m). The trail is steep, rocky and can be slippery when soggy or icy. After a sheltered break, you head for a second trail right to Elena Hut.
This your base camp for climbing 16,763ft (5,109m) to Margherita peak which requires a day or two and can be attempted with an ice axe, mountain boots, crampons, and ropes. The circuit trail continues to the left over Scot Elliot Pass and enters an alpine zone of sparse low vegetation and stark rough boulders. Conditions for hypothermia are ideal if the weather is bad.
You may enjoy spectacular views northward of Margherita, Elena and Savoia Glaciers, and Mt. Baker 15,889ft (4,843m) towering above you to the left of the trail as you leave the Pass. Going up and declining, the trail descends past Upper Lake Kitandara through thick mud to lower lake and Kitandara Hut 13,200ft (4,023m). Towering peaks surround this exquisite site though the sun sets early and the nights can be cold. 3-5 hours are needed to complete the expedition from Bujuku Hut to Kitandara Hut.
Your trail from Bujuku to the Pass will enable you gain an elevation of 1,400ft (425m). At this point, Scott Elliot is the highest and some hikers will be slower due to greater effort required at these altitudes.
Day Five:
An early start from Lake Kitandara which is 14,050ft (4,282m) to the Freshfield Pass is advisable to shun overheating. Viewing westward on clear days leads into neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo and northward, Margherita and its glaciers still control the horizon.
Freshfield Pass is a long even traverse through stunning high alpine mossy glades until after 30 minutes, when the trail begins the circuit's long two-day descent. The first 1km can be slippery and mist or rain can make tracing the trail intricate. Optional rock shelter overnight stopovers are present at Bujongolo and Kabamba though it is advisable to thrust on through ostensibly never-ending mud to Guy Yeoman Hut 10,700ft (3,261m).
Day Six:
Here, you should begin your journey back early, so as to get to Nyabitaba Hut before dark. The pathway from Guy Yeoman is moderately intricate in some spots.
As you approach Kichunchu where the trail parallels and twice crosses the Mubuku River mostly in deep mud, helping each other and descending very slowly facing the slope instead of facing outward is recommended. Archetypal hikers take about 5 hours from Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba.
Depending on the condition of your knees and the desire to have a comfortable bed and bath, the decision to continue to Nyakalengija (which takes 2-3 hours) would be worthwhile. If you like bird watching, walking late in the evening would be rewarding. You may also sight the occasional blue tailed monkey and your sharp eyes can catch a glimpse of the brilliant green although variable Rhinoceros chameleon.
Day Seven:
If you spent a night at Nyabitaba hut, descend to the Park Headquarters. This takes approximately 2-3 hours.
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