Day by Day Itinerary.

Day 1. MIHUNGA GATE 1651M – NYABITHABA CAMP 2651M asl.

The 8 days Rwenzori hiking to mount speke and margherita peak starts at the Rwenzori Mountains National Park Mihunga gate at about 1651m asl.

Your driver guide will drive you to mihunga gate for the trek briefing, meeting the guides, porters and organizing your hiking equipment.

The trail begins by passing through the farmland to the park boundary beyond which it follows a thick forest along the mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma River tributary before starting a long steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabithaba hut. During this part of the trip, you may spot blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and the brilliantly coloured Rwenzori turraco.

Hike duration 6-7 hours.

Day 2. NYABITHABA CAMP 2651m – JOHN MATTE CAMP 3505M asl.

From Nyabithaba follow the trail that drops down through the forest to kurt shafer bridge , just below the confluence of the mubuku and Bujuku Rivers. Passing the bamboo forest, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss covered rock. From the Nyamuleju rock shelter , Mount stanley and Mount can be seen before passing into the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach john matte after passing through the tiring bog. For dinner and overnight.

Hike duration 7-8 hours.

Day 3. JOHN MATTE CAMP 3505M – BUJUKU CAMP 3962M asl.

From john matte hut , the trail drops down to cross the bujuku river and enters lower bigo bog the home giant lobelias. Jumping from tussock to tussock, the bog is finally crossed but rarely with out the feet sampling some of the freezing ooze below. The upper bigo bog gives way to bujuku lake, with views of mount baker to the south and stanley to the west. Bujuku hut is well located in the shadow of mount baker and mount speke, is set in a narrow valley below stuhlmann’s pass. This camp is good for acclimatization for clients attempting the summits of peaks on mount stanley and mount speke. After arriving at bujuku hut, in the evening the guides will make with you the final program and arranging what to go with for the mount speke climbing at an elevation of 4890 metres above sea level and back to the camp for resting and overnight.

Hike duration 4-5 hours.

Day 4. BUJUKU CAMP 3962M – ELENA HUT 4541M asl.

Leaving bujuku hut, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical and forest of groundsel gully. Turn to your right up to Elena hut and mount stanley on a steep trail over large boulders, while the trail on your left heads to scott-Elliot pass and down to kitandara lakes for clients not climbing margherita peak. Those climbing the peak will have their dinner and overnight at the coolly and icy Elena hut.

Hike duration 5-6 hours.

Day 5. ELENA HUT-MARGHERITA PEAK 5109M asl -KITANDARA CAMP 4023M asl.

Very early in the morning, you attempt climbing the highest peak margherita on mount stanley. To reach the summit of margherita , the climb takes about 4-5 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you over three glaciers, slippery rock, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides. Climbing on to the glaciers, cross the stanley plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and coolly weather, scramble up to the summit of margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori. The descend from margherita peak back to Elena hut will take you about 2-3 hours.

After your lunch at Elena hut, descend to the scott-Elliot pass 4372m asl, where there are spectacular views of bujuku lake and mount speke after the trail passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the kitandara lakes for dinner and overnight at the kitandara camp.

Descend duration : 3-4 hours.

Day 6. KITANDARA CAMP -GUY YEOMAN 3505M asl.

From kitandara, take on the trail that ascends steeply up the headwall spreading out from the base of mount baker and continuing along the south side of the mountain to fresh field pass 4282m asl. At this point you can view into the congo to the west and mount stanley to the north. From the pass, take on the long high alpine mossy. Thereafter start the descend through steep rocky trails and the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906 and then an overnight at guy yeoman camp.

Hike duration: 6-7 hours.

Day 7. GUY YEOMAN – NYABITHABA CAMP 2651- MIHUNGA GATE 1651M asl.

Below Guy yeoman, the route descends the cliffs of kichuchu. Beyond kichuchu the muddy path crosses the mubuku river twice through a bamboo forest before climbing downwards to Nyabithaba camp for a quick lunch then continue descending down through the montane forest and reach mihunga gate to complete your trip.

The driver guide will pick you at the gate to your booked hotel in Kasese town.

Descend duration: 7-8 hours.

END OF TRIP!