16 Days Gorilla Tracking & Mt Rwenzori Hiking – Margherita Peak

Start the hike by walking to the valley floor encountering the afro montane forest zone with the chance to spot birds, monkeys like the colobus, L’Hoest, chimpanzees. You will be treated to beautiful sceneries of Enock’s Falls that is colse to Sine Hut Camp.

The Sine Hut Camp at 2,596 metres have wooden huts set between tall forest trees on a narrow ridge offering a good chance to view the spectacular Afro Montane forest and the Enock waterfalls that is few meters away. Overnight will be spent at Sine Hut Camp; or proceed to sleep at Kalama Camp at 3,134 metres, the advantage of staying at Kalama, is you  get more time at Mutinda Camp where you may climb up to Mutinda Lookout at 3,975 metres with great views. Meals in the Mountain.

Day two of Mt Rwenzori Hiking, Have a heavy breakfast and embark on the hike again, where you come to the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone; it’s a steep climb (In the wet season the bamboo zone is rather muddy and slippery making the going slow). Here the atmosphere and the forest is beautiful as you climb 551 metres altitude walking a distance of 1.8km to Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters. The camp is in the Heather-Rapanea Zone, you are here to take a rest and a quick cup of tea/ 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 cross several small streams and pass close to moss covered waterfalls. You then climb steadily along the side of a beautiful mossy river which tumbles down over the rocks under the Giant Heather trees whose trunks are covered in green moss with old man beards (Usnea lichen) hanging from the branches. The trail twists and turns as you climb up the deep valley, which has an enormous variety of plants and flowers. This valley is unique with many Giant Heather trees creating a beautiful atmosphere often shrouded in mist.

In the afternoon, you may climb up to the top of the Mutinda Lookout (one to two hours up and one hour down) The views are amazing as you stand on moss covered rocks at 3,925 meters with views across the Rwenzori Mountains and down to Kasese town and Lake George.  This is also a goos spot to acclimatize. Sleep at Mutinda Camp at 3.582 metres. Meals in the mountain.

Day three of the Mt Rwenzori Hiking. Third day in Mt Rwenzori,  it’s a 4.9km starting at 3,688 meters climbing to 4,062 meters

Today, 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), which ends abruptly with sheer waterfalls and fantastic views of Mutinda Peaks. The Namusangi Valley is wide, with many ups and downs and crossing several bogs as the trail climbs steadily to Bugata Camp at 4,062 meters. Bugata Camp is situated way up Bamwanjara Pass high above Bugata Lake with views across Lake Kopello to Weismann’s Peak, which is often covered with snow then down the valley views of Lake Africa and Lake Kanganyika and the many small peaks towards Mutinda Camp. The area is covered with tussock grass, everlasting flowers (Helichrysum), St John’s Wort (Hypericum becquaeritii), giant groundsel (Senecio adnivalis) and Giant lobelia (Lobellia gibberoa).  There are a many Red Forest Duiker (Cephalophuc nigrifrons rubidus) a species endemic species to the Rwenzori Mountains.

Bugata Camp has good facilities, solar lights, good toilets and bathrooms where the guides may prepare some warm water in a basin for you to wash. Bugata also has a helicopter pad (GPS reading N 18.312 E29 53.457) in case of any need for rescue by helicopter but be warned that a helicopter in Uganda costs around $10,000 per hour flying time which is way more than other countries so you need insurance in case of rescue.

Day 6 of Mt Rwenzori Hiking, awake at 2am and catch an early breakfast before heading off to climb Mt Stanley at 2.30am. This is necessary as the weather has changed a lot and often even during the dryer season the mountain is closed in with heavy clouds and snow falls from 1 pm to 4pm and this happens within a short period of 10 to 15 minutes as the clouds rise up from the extensive Congo rainforests. Additional information: During January and February 2017 clients were closed in and unable to walk during heavy snow storms which previously were not heard of during the dryer season and arrived back at Margherita camp well after dark with one group arriving back at 11pm totally exhausted. There is now a strict turn around time of 10am so if you do not reach the peak before then you must turn around regardless of the disappointment in the interests of safety. Margherita glacier has also suffered with global warming and as the outer edges of the glacier recede the ice is becoming steeper with one section of about 200 meters more than 60% grade.

For those hikers 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 metres you then pass directly down to Hunwick’s Camp at 3.874 metres.

Distance to Kiharo Camp 11km Time taken to walk 4 to 7 hours Day 7 of Mt Rwenzori Hiking; From Hunwick’s Camp hike 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 metres. The distance from Hunwick’s Camp to the top of Olivers Pass is 3km The trail then cuts across below Weismann’s Peak to the confluence of the Nyamwamba River which flows down thought Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elisabeth National Park.

If you wish to climb Weismanns Peak 4,620 metres from Olivers pass you may do so at an extra cost . On a clear day you get fantastic views of Margherita and Mt Stanley, Mt Speke and Mt Baker.

After crossing the confluence the trail meanders down the valley to Kiharo Camp at 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 actually was pushed there by slow moving glaciers which eventually stopped moving, melted and left a pile of rocks and debris in front of where the glacier once stood.

Distance Kiharo Camp to the park gate 16km and another 2.8km down to Trekkers Hostel.  Time to walk 5 to 8 hours.

The trail down the Nyamwamba Valley is mostly downhill and absolutely stunning with beautiful views, moss covered rocks along the river, cascading waterfalls, deep valleys and forests are possibly the best in the Rwenzori Mountains. A few kilometres 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. This area is possible the highest population of Rwenzori Red Duikers anywhere in the National Park  A few kilometres down the river it becomes  steeper with multitudes of stunning waterfalls.  After the waterfalls we climb up and over a high ridge then down though the dense forests with stunning views of the valley below.  We stop at Forest View Camp for lunch before proceeding back to Base Camp. A great experience and ending to a fantastic trek.

Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Dinner & overnight at Elephant Plains/ Mweya Safari Lodge. FB