The
key to an enjoyable visit is to “be prepared!” the central circuit hike
takes 6 nights / 7 days and reaches an altitude of 14,000 ft (4,267 m)
above sea level. The conditions on the mountain are a challenge to even
an experienced hiker.
This mountain is famous for its
un-engineered, steep and slippery trails and frequent rain. Rainfall and
cold temperatures, bogs mud, steep terrain and high altitude make it a
challenging trip. Never the less it is exciting! You need to try it!
Since during much the year mud, rain, mist and wind occurs daily,
adequate clothing (and a mental Attitude!) For these conditions are a
must.
These periods of July-August and
December-February are relatively dry and for inexperienced hikers the
best seasons for a trek. During any season, raingear, good sleeping bag,
warm hat, gloves, heavy socks, gum-boots, gaiters, and a walking stick
for balance (and to probe the mud) are recommended. A basic first aid
kit is a necessity.
Day 01: KAMPALA TO KASESE
Transfer to Kasese : Overnight at Hotel Margherita
Day 02:
Begin climbing: Overnight at Nyabitaba Hut – 2652m
Plan to arrive at Rwenzori Mountains
National Park and the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services (RMS) offices at
Nyakalengija in the morning so as to have ample time to rent equipment
and be availed with guides and porters.
Hiking begins from the Park Headquarters
54,00 ft (1,646 m), walking past typical “mud and wattle” Bakonzo homes
and gradually moving upward through elephant grass and garden plots. It
takes approximately forty minutes to reach the park boundary. The trail
then follows the Mubuku River, crossing recent landslide areas (to be
negotiated carefully), and involves climbing over rocks and bluff,
before reaching the Mahoma River in about two and a half hours.
After crossing the river there will be a
steep climb through open bracken fern slopes and Podorcarpus Forest up
to Nyabitaba hut 8,700 ft (2652 m). Total time for an average hiker from
Nykalengija to Nyabitaba is about 5-7 hours, and total elevation gained
is 4,000 ft. (1,200 m). Slower hikers could take considerably longer,
so insist on leaving park headquarters before noon to avoid being on the
trials after dark.
During this part of the trip, you may be
able to hear chimpanzees, and sometimes you can see black and white
colobus monkeys behind the hut, and catch glimpse of brilliantly
coloured Rwenzori Turaco (a bird of the tree tops). Across the alley to
the north of Nyabitaba hut lies the rocky and largely unclimbed Portal
Peaks, which rise above 14,000 ft (4, 627 m).
Day 03:
Overnight at John Matte Hut – 3414m
From Nyabitaba Hut the trail leads
westward for a half a kilo meter then drops steeply to Kurt Shaffer
Bridge, crossing below he confluence of the Bujuku and the Mubuku
rivers. By turning right the Bridge you begin to climb the central
circuit anti-clockwise since the clockwise direction is much more
difficult and adds considerable danger for you and your porters. After
crossing Kurt Shaffer Bridge the muddy, slippery trail climbs steadily
up through bamboo forest. After one and a half hours you encounter an
area of slippery boulder hopping which some hikers consider the most
difficult and dangerous footing of the circuit.
After five hours of travel from
Nyabitaba, you reach the hut at Nyamuleju and its accompanying rock
shelter. If you had a late start or know that there is a large group
ahead of you at the next hut, you might consider spending the night
here. On a rare clear day Mts. Stanley and Speke can be seen from the
top of the rock near the hut. Nyamuleju also marks the start of the
giant lobelia and groundsel zone, this remarkable vegetation type is
found now where else in the world except high altitude tropical African
Mountains.
The one-hour walk to John Matte hut (11,
200 ft / 3,414 m) is through a challenging bog, full of extra ordinary
plants and the slow pace can be a delightful chance to examine and
photograph this unique environment, typical time to reach John Matter
from Nyabitaba is about 7 hrs. Some hikers consider this to be the most
tiring and longest day of the circuit, so an early start is important.
The loss of altitude to Kurt Shaffer Bridge means the total elevation to
be gained on this day is about 3,000 ft (915 m). Hikers who feel they
have reached their limits by this point should consider John Matte a
reasonable stopping point. You can enjoy the unique vegetation in the
bog and the great view, then the following day begin you return journey
to Nyabitaba.
Day 04:
Overnight at Bujuku Hut – 3962m
Leave John Matte but to cross the Bujuku
River and enter the lower Bigo bog, where your first real experience
for jumping from tussock to tussock on a grassy bog begins. The trail is
muddy and follows the left (southern) edge of lower Bigo bog until
eventually it reaches the round metal “uniport”. The Bigo hut and its
rock shelter. A steep Section past the but leads to upper to Bigo bog.
In the last half of this bog, a boardwalk has been constructed. Though
some may think that it is an ugly intrusion, it makes walking easier and
prevents the hikers from further damaging the bog.
A beautiful narrow stream at the upper
end of this bog makes a good lunch break. An hour and a half beyond this
upper bog, and after climbing through drier ground criss-crossing the
river, you reach lake Bujuku. The southern end of the lake is in a
majestic setting, with Mt. Baker to the South, Mt. Stanley to the west
and Mt. Speke to the north.
The trail route along the lake’s
northeastern shore crosses the worst mud on the trip. Beyond the north
end of the lake is a rock shelter called Cooking Pot and a short
distance further is Bujuku Hut 13,000ft (3962 m) favourably located for
parties climbing Mt. Speke (which requires technical skills and special
equipment). Time to reach Bujuku form John Matte is typically 3-5 hours,
and the elevation gained is 1,800 ft (560 m). But the long stretches of
bog, and the mud along the lake make this another challenging day. The
shaded location and frequent mists can make Bujuku Hut quite cold.
If one moved around on a nature walk,
the chances of seeing Red duikers are high and at night, calls of the
Rock hyraxes are common.
Day 05:
Overnight at Kitandara Hut – 4023m
From Bujuku hut leave directly to newer
trail, which rises and falls twice before finally climbing steeply
trough magical moss draped Groundsel vegetation 14,345 ft (4,372 m) to
Scott Elliot Pass. At the steepest section is a short strong ladder
after which a right hand branch will lead to Elena Hut 14,700 ft (4,430
m) This is a steep rocky trail which when wet or icy can be slippery.
Continuing straight, and a few steps below the pass, there is a
sheltered spot for a break; from here, there is a second trail to the
right to Elena Hut. Elena is the base camp for climbing 16, 763 ft
(5,109 m) to Margherita Peak in the Mt. Stanley Complex which requires
an additional day or two and can only be attempted with an ice axe,
mountain boots, crampons, ropes and prior arrangements with RMS guides.
The circuit trail continues to the left
over Scot Elliot Pass and enters an alpine zone of spars low vegetation
and stark rough boulders more familiar to high altitude climbers from
northern latitudes. If the weather is bad here (rain, snow, and wind can
occur in any season) the conditions for “hypothermia” are ideal. As you
leave the pass, you may enjoy spectacular views northward of Margherita
Peak, Elena and Savoia Glaciers, and Mt. Baker 15, 889 ft (4,843 m)
towering above you to the east (left) of the trail. Having dropped a few
hundred feet in elevation from the pass, you cut below massive rock
walls at the base of the Mt. Baker. Here, dramatic “impact craters” have
been caused by large rocks falling from above, and your guide may
caution you against loud noise! Rising and falling, the trail descends
past Upper Lake Kitandara through thick mud to lower lake and Kitandara
Hut 13, 200 ft (4,023 m).
This lovely site is surrounded by
towering peaks, but the sun sets early and the nights can be cold. Time
to reach Kitandara Hut from Bujuku Hut usually takes 3-5 hours. The
elevation gain to the pass from Bujuku Hut is 1,400 ft (425 m), and
because Scott Elliot is the highest point so far some hikers will be
slower due to greater effort required at these altitudes. Watch
carefully for signs of altitude sickness.
Day 06:
Overnight at Guy Yeoman Hut – 3261m
An early start is advisable to avoid
overheating on the steep but lovely hour-long climb from the lake
Kitandara, which is 14,050 ft (4,282 m) to the Freshfield Pass. Viewing
westward on clear days leads into neighboring Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) and northward, Margherita and its glaciers still dominate
the horizon. Freshfield is a long flat traverse through beautiful alpine
mossy glades (and more mud) until after a half-hour, when the trail
begins the circuit’s long two-day decent.
Mist or rain can make tracking the trail
really difficult, and the first one-kilometer here can be very
slippery. Rock Shelter at Bujongolo and Kabamba are optional overnight
stopovers but it is better to push on through the seemingly endless mud
to newly constructed Guy Yeoman Hut 10,700 ft (3,261 m).
Some hikers make the Kitandara Guy
Yeoman trip in 5 hours, but any stops to enjoy the pass, bad weather on
descent, and the slow conditions in the last two hours of deep mud can
make this a much longer day, which some visitors consider as difficult
as day two.
Day 07:
Overnight at Nyabitaba – 2652m
Hikers should begin their journey back
early, so as to get to Nyabitaba Hut before dark. In any case the path
from the Guy Yeoman is quite difficult in some spots. Helping each other
and descending very slowly facing the slope instead of facing outward
is recommended, especially as you approach Kichunchu where the trail
parallels twice the crosses Mubuku River mostly in deep mud until the
last few kilometers of good dry trail. This follows the ridge down
Nyabitaba, which completes the circuit.
Typical hikers make the Guy Yeoman to
Nyabitaba in 5 hours. Should you decide to continue to Nyakalengija, it
is another two or three hours depending on the condition of your knees
and your desire to reach a comfortable bed and bath. Be especially
careful about vines and brush and resist the urge to hurry out of the
mountains. Late evening walking can be good for watching birds and you
may sight the occasional blue tailed monkey. Sharp eyes can catch a
glimpse of the brilliant green but changeable Rhinoserous Chameleon.
Day 08:
Transfer to Hotel Margherita
Descend to Park Headquartes. It can take 2-3 hours. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Margherita
Day 09:
Return transfer to Kampala
The Rwenzori Mountaineering Service
provides for hire basic equipment as well as experienced guides and
porters, but the enthusiast may want to bring his own specialised
equipment. You need trekking gear and small gas stove as no fires are
allowed in the park.
We recommend you bring your favourite
climbing equipment, stout walking shoes, warm clothing for nights,
sleeping bags, sun-glasses, sun-screens, etc. Please request full
details when booking.
Price includes:
– Ground transportation.
– All meals as per the Itinerary.
– Accommodation.
– Mountain climbing permit.
Price excludes:
– International flights
– Tips, souvenirs and items of a personal nature.
+256 777 50 61 26 , +256 704 63 5044 OR via
our email info@sightseeinguganda.com. or sightseeingug@gmail.com
We are warmly waiting for you inquiry!
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