Transfer from Entebbe to Kasese

Rwenzori Mountains - Travel from your reserved hotel in Entebbe to Kasese for an overnight stay, preparing for the next day’s mountain hiking adventure.

Begin at Trekkers at 1,450 meters and rest at Sine Hut at 2,596 meters

Rwenzori Mountains - The journey begins by walking up the valley floor through the towering trees of the Afro Montane Forest Zone. This is a gradual ascent with numerous birds and the possibility of spotting blue monkeys darting through the forest. Occasionally, visitors may observe groups of 15 to 20 black and white Colobus monkeys swinging through the treetops. Rare sightings of the L’Hoest monkey, which are significant cultural symbols for the Bukonzo people and protected by the King or Omusinga, may occur, or you might hear wild chimpanzees in the distance. The area boasts a wide variety of plant species, from forest trees to bamboo thickets, low shrubs, flowers, fungi, and many moss and lichen-covered vines hanging from the tall trees, creating a breathtaking scene. Enock’s Falls, located just 200 meters from Sine Hut, provide a wonderful opportunity to capture a memorable screensaver. At Sine Camp, you can enjoy the beauty of the Afro Montane forest while admiring a stunning waterfall.

Trek from Sine Camp 2,596 meters to Mutinda Camp 3,582 meters

Rwenzori Mountains - Begin the trek at 8:30 am, immediately entering the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone, which involves a steep climb with many high steps. During the wet season, the bamboo zone can be muddy and slippery, slowing progress. However, the atmosphere and forest are beautiful as you ascend 551 meters in altitude and cover a distance of 1.8 km to Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters, where you can rest for breakfast before continuing to Mutinda Camp. The trail winds up and over several small knolls along a ridge top, then descends the side of the valley before climbing again, crossing several small streams and passing close to moss-covered waterfalls. You then climb steadily along the side of a picturesque mossy river, which cascades over rocks beneath the Giant Heather trees, whose trunks are covered in green moss with old man beards hanging from the branches. The trail twists and turns as you ascend the deep valley, which is rich in diverse plants and flowers. This valley is unique with its Heather trees.

Trek from Mutinda Camp 3,582 meters to Bugata Camp 4,100 meters

Rwenzori Mountains - The trail to Bugata Camp is boggy, especially during the wet season, but with some skill, you can step from tussock to tussock to ease the journey. First, cross the Mutinda valley through tussock grass and everlasting flowers interspersed with many Giant Lobelias before climbing a steep section to the Namusangi Valley (3,840 meters), with sheer waterfalls and fantastic views of Mutinda Peaks. The Namusangi Valley is wide, with many ups and downs as the trail steadily climbs to Bugata Camp at 4,100 meters.

Trek to Hunwick’s Camp

Rwenzori Mountains - Trek to Hunwick’s Camp via Bamwanjarra Pass. As you leave Bugata Camp, ascend a ridge, then descend slightly before climbing to Bamwanjarra Pass at 4,450 meters, where there is a hut in case of bad weather. From the pass, on a clear day, you can enjoy excellent views of the three main peaks. The trail descends the valley and skirts the edge of some bogs and thick evergreen vegetation, moss, giant groundsel, and lobelia. This 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. Farther on, there are some steep sections before a steady climb up and over a ridge to Hunwick’s Camp, which is situated on the top of a deep valley and offers good views of Mt Stanley, Mt Baker, Weismanns Peak, and McConnell’s Prong.

Trek from Hunwick’s Camp to Margherita Peak 5,109 meters

Rwenzori Mountains - From Hunwick’s, descend and cross the valley floor to Lake Kitendara, which is stunning with deep water and beautiful vegetation. From here, climb up Scott Elliott’s pass, then up the ridge to Margherita Camp at 4,485 meters, which is nestled between large rocks offering some shelter from strong winds. This is the very spot where the Duke of Abruzzi camped when making his climb to Margherita Peak in 1906.

Hike to Margherita Peak 5,109 meters and return to Hunwick’s Camp 4,485 meters

Rwenzori Mountains - Rise at 2 am for an early breakfast before setting off to climb Mt Stanley at 2:30 am. This is necessary as the weather has changed significantly, and even during the drier season, the mountain is often shrouded in heavy clouds and snowfalls from 1 pm to 4 pm, occurring within a short period of 10 to 15 minutes as clouds rise from the vast Congo rainforests. A strict turnaround time of 10 am is set, so if the peak is not reached by then, a return is required for safety reasons. Margherita glacier has also been affected by global warming, and as the outer edges of the glacier recede, the ice becomes steeper, with one section having a grade of more than 60%. Additionally, much of the glacier has melted underneath, causing caves under the ice, which eventually collapse. It is essential to follow the guides’ advice on where to pass. After the ascent, return directly to Hunwick’s Camp at 3,874 meters.

Transfer from Hunwick’s Camp to Kiharo Camp

Rwenzori Mountains - From Hunwick’s Camp, begin 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 3 km. The trail then cuts across below Weismann’s Peak to the confluence of the Nyamwamba River, which flows through Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Climbing Weismanns Peak at 4,620 meters incurs an additional cost of $20 per person. After crossing the confluence, the trail meanders down the valley to Kiharo Camp, which is situated in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation. On the way down the valley, after each bog, you will climb over a ridge of stones and earth, which seems out of place but was actually pushed there by slow-moving glaciers that eventually stopped moving, melted, and left a pile of rocks and debris in front of where the glacier once stood.

Descend to the Park gate and then drive to Fort Portal

Rwenzori Mountains - The trail down the Nyamwamba Valley is mostly downhill and absolutely stunning, with beautiful views, rocks along the river, cascading waterfalls, deep valleys, and forests that are possibly the best in the Rwenzori Mountains. From Kiharo Camp, the path turns off to the right to pass along the river. In the clear areas, you may catch a glimpse of a Duiker quietly feeding in small clearings as you pass along the river. If desired, you may prefer to walk down the river itself, hopping across the rocks as you descend. Down the river, it becomes very steep with numerous waterfalls, so it is necessary to move away from the river and follow a narrow ridge to bypass steep sections. At the bottom, the river is met again, where there is a large rock shelter and a place to rest for a while. After crossing a small stream, climb up a gentle slope before turning back down to the river to avoid another set of impassable waterfalls. The forest along this section is magnificent and full of life.

Transfer back to Entebbe - Enjoy an Equator Experience at Kayabwe

Uganda Equator - After an early morning breakfast at 6:30 am, travel back to Kampala. Stop at Kayabwe for lunch, personal shopping, and an Equator experience. Here, an imaginary line divides the earth into two equal halves, the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Experience water experiments conducted on either side of the equator and directly on the equator itself. The results demonstrate that the movement and drainage of water differ in each hemisphere. This experiment is known as a demonstration of the Coriolis effect. Afterwards, engage in other activities such as visiting craft stalls to admire local art and crafts, taking photographs for memorabilia, and interacting with the locals, among others. After that, proceed directly to your booked hotel for a night stay or to the airport, depending on your end-of-safari arrangements.

• Private transportation
• Photo service, Tour T-shirts, Covid-19 Masks and Sanitizers
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Breakfast

• Gratuities
• Visa fees · Flight tickets · Insurance · Tips · Shopping · Personal expenses

The famed Rwenzori, also known as the Mountain of the Moon, is situated on the boundary between Uganda and Congo. In AD150, the geographer Ptolemy mentioned a snow-clad mountain chain in the heart of Africa and hypothesized it to be the origin of the Nile, Africa’s longest river. During the trek, hikers can observe a diverse selection of wildlife, including black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and exotic reptiles like the three-horned chameleon. They can explore a range of vegetation zones, from the lowland montane forest and bamboo forest to tree heathers and afro-alpine, sheltering over 216 bird species. There are 9 reptile species and 6 amphibian species. Moreover, the breathtaking views of the snowy peaks of Mount Rwenzori, Lake Bujuku, valleys, rock formations, and waterfalls add to the enriching trekking experience.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.