Kilembe Trail

Kilembe Trail is the trail south of the Rwenzori mountains that was opened in 2009. This is the second most used hiking trail of the Rwenzori mountains.  The trail boasts of better accommodation in the mountains with solar water heaters and lights.

The Kilembe route requires mandatory insurance to trek the Rwenzori mountains.

The Rwenzori Kilembe trail gives you magical views at the popular Mutinda lookout, several waterfalls, numerous bird species and various types of vegetation. The trail makes one of the over six (6) entry points to the Rwenzori mountains national park in Uganda.

There are several Rwenzori mountains climbing short treks as well as multi-day Rwenzori mountains climbing treks. The most popular trek is the 8 days Rwenzori mountains trekking to Margherita peak via the Kilembe route.

The Kilembe trail takes the River Nyamwamba valley along Kilembe road from Kasese town. You will bypass the defunct Kilembe mines and Kilembe mines hospital. This area is prone to river floods and the 2 major bridges connecting Kasese town to Kilembe have always been damaged.

Kilembe trail

Kilembe trail starts from an elevation slightly above 2,000m asl and has a rangers post and park gate in Mulyambuli at the Rwenzori mountains national park boundary in Kilembe.

The Rwenzori mountains national park gate in Kilembe is fairly accessible with a murram road set up alongside the hydro electricity power station which has made accessibility faster for climbers to reach the starting point at the gate for Kilembe route.

The Kilembe trail is longer and newer than the Central circuit trail of the Rwenzori mountains. Both trails meet at the lower Lake Kitandara at an elevation of 4,000m asl between Mount Baker, Weismann’s peaks and Mount Savoia near Lake Kitandara hut of the Central circuit route.