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Rwenzori Mountains Trekking
The Rwenzori Mountains Trekking is Africa’s best kept Amazing secret trek, it ranks as one of the top ten “best Iconic things” to do in East Africa. The Rwenzori Mountains hiking can be undertaken in the range of mountains in the Albertine Rifft valley of East Africa. The mountain range runs for about 130 km north to south along the border between western Uganda and the eastern DRC. The Mountains Rwenzori has famously been termed for long as the “Mountains of the Moon“, for centuries the moniker has been synonymous with the Rwenzori due to its unique flora and unearthly beauty.
The Rwenzori Mountain trekking experience offers a stunning destination for experienced mountaineers, and is perfect for adventure travelers. It’s tucked away in the remote and sparsely populated western part of the country. Consequently offering visitors a quiet and untouched corner of incredible natural beauty and diversity to explore, these are still by far the biggest glaciers in Africa.
The unique landscape of the mountain Rwenzori hike range is outstanding, you get to climb from tropical rainforest, through alphine valleys to glaciers. The ascent to the challenging Margherita (5,109m), Africa’s 3rd highiest mountain will see you encounter demanding ascent with muddy conditions and variable weather on your Mountain Rwenzori Uganda safari trek, murchison falls safari or a kenya gorilla trekking safari.
The Rwenzori Mountain vegetation is wild, unique and varied, and there are birds and animals living in the forest that can be found nowhere else on earth. The jungle-filled valleys are regular shrouded in mist, while the highest mount is perennially covered in snow (even though its sits near the equator). The views in all directions are absolutely breathtaking as you undertake to trek the Rwenzori Mountains!
Book today the most expeditious nature walk while in the Rwenzori mountains for 4 Days in the Mutinda Lockout to experience the wilderness of Rwenzori mountains national park.
Are you thinking of hiking rwenzori mountains range, the Nature walk in the Mahoma trail is the perfect and the most expeditious nature walk along the range.
Your 6 day trek to Hunwick’s Camp takes you through the Montane Forest up through the Bamboo Zone to the Heather Zone and across the Alpine Zone to Bugata Camp at 4,062m.
Looking to adventure Weismann Peak in Rwenzori Mountains National Park? This Expeditions is tailored for a 6 days Rwenzori Mountaineering tour to climb up to Weismann on your Uganda Safari Tour.
Are you planning for a combined safari trek to the Rwenzori Mountains and Kibale Forest National Park on a Uganda Holiday? This 6 Days offers a chimpanzee Tracking adventure and a visit to the Rwenzori Mountains.
Planning for an expedition to trek Rwenzori mountains and enjoy gorilla watching in either Bwindi Forest or Mgahinga National Park in Uganda? Book the most discounted Rwenzori mountain trek & safari.
8 Days Climbing rwenzori Mountain or 7 Days climb Rwenzori central circuit tour is adventure of life time, due to its good looks and remoteness. Basically, it maximizes the chances for summit success rate by many hikers.
Book an Adventurous trek either on group or private trek to Rwenzori Mountains with Destination company that offer trekking tours to Uganda’s Mountains of the moons using Kilembe trail.
Your 12 days trek takes you through all the 6 mountains of Rwenzori using the central circuit trail. You will hike to the top of mount Gessi, Emin, Speke, Stanley, Luigi Savoia and Baker, without missing the chance to reach Margherita Peak.
A combined visit to the gorillas and the Ruwenzori is the best expedition rewarding for a Uganda safari tour that can be booked with us to offer an ultimate unique adventure trips to Ruwenzori Mountains National Park.
While on this 14 days Magical Mother Nature Uganda safari, you will enjoy; a series of game drives through the different national parks, boat cruises, nature walks, birding and primate tracking to mention but a few.
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Why go for Mountain Rwenzori Trekking?
When it comes to Mountain Trekking in Africa, it all rings at Mount Kilimanjaro. Forget the Kili Crowds, the Mountain Rwenzori Trek and Hike experience will offer glimpses of a vast array of spectacular plants, tress along the different 6 climate zones, birds, wildlife such as Forest Elephants, Leopards, giant forest hog, dear including endangered Rwenzori black-fronted or red duiker, a number of primate species such as blue monkeys, Angola colobus monkey, black-and-white colobus, I’Hoest’s monkeys and Chimpanzees some cute and rarely sighted birds in the Rwenzoris.
You also see tropical rainforest, waterfalls, and other incredible and unique flora, culminating in a high alpine environment like the Andes or Himalayas. The Rwenzori Mountains hike is not to be missed for its stunning beauty and outstanding array of habitats and ecosystems.
Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountain Trekking range is Africa’s top mountain trek destination, having three of the continent’s five highest peaks. The Mountain’s summits are spectacular, with uncrowded routes and the high-altitude forests that teems with life.
The Pack at Glance
The 995 km² Rwenzori Mountains National Park was gazetted in 1991 and was recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1994.The Rwenzori consists of six distinct mountains, Stanley, Speke, Baker, Emin, Gessi and Savioa. Mt Stanley’s 5109m Margherita Peak is the third highest point in Africa. The Rwenzori was named as the “Mountains of the Moon” by the Alexandrine geographer Ptolemy in AD 15O. The explorer Henry Stanley placed the Rwenzori on the modern map on the 24th May 1888. He labeled it ‘Ruwenzori’, a local name that he recorded as meaning “rain maker” or “cloud-king.” The oldest person to reach the Margherita Peak was Ms Beryl Park, aged 78!
Back in AD150, the geographer Ptolemy wrote of a snowcapped mountain range in the heart of Africa, which he claimed represented the source of the Nile and which he named. Montes Lunae – the Mountains of the Moon. Seventeen centuries passed before the explorer Henry Stanley located such a mountain in western Uganda and established that, though Lake Victoria is the primary source of the Nile, the great river is also supplied with equatorial meltwaters. Stanley mapped the range as ‘Rwenzori’, a local name that he recorded as meaning “rain maker” or “cloud-king.”
In the years since Stanley’s 1888 visit, the Rwenzori has become established as one of frica’s great mountaineering adventures, offering the chance to ascend snow peaks of the Rwenzori Ranges and walk on equatorial glaciers that represent the highest and most intriguing source of the Nile. Though the range is now established as the Rwenzori, the Mountains of the Moon tag remains apt for the higher contours are the domain of a weird and wonderful botany that imparts a distinctly alien feel. Unlike other regional mountains, moreover, the high Rwenzori really does feel like a place apart; after starting a trek, a week can pass without a glimpse of the real world that lies beyond.
The Rwenzori range, which lies on the Uganda-Congo border on the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, measures approximately 110km long and 50km wide. The high Rwenzori bears six distinct mountains. Mt Stanley (5109m); Speke (4890m); Baker (4843m); Emin (4797m); Gessi (4715m) and Luigi da Savoia (4627m), all of which bear their own crown of peaks. Though its summit is only the third highest point in Africa, after the volcanic Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, the Rwenzori, which is an upfaulted block, is Africa’s highest mountain range.
Trails ascend to the peaks from Kilembe, Mihunga and Katebwa. Make no mistake; climbing the mountain is tough. Conditions are cold and wet, the terrain is steep and boggy and a week or more is needed to reach (and descend from) Mount Stanley. But with the help of local Bakonzo guides and porters, the mountain can be climbed and the rewards are vast. Indeed your Rwenzori experience will likely rank among your most challenging and satisfying achievements.
Hiking Routes in the Rwenzori National Park
There are two main hiking routes in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park.
The popular one is the Central Circuit Trail which may take about eight days to summit Mount Stanely and the Kilembe Route. The latter one has variations you can choose from while on your Rwenzori Mountains trekking adventure.
The Rwenzori Central Circuit Route;
The route is managed by the Rwenzori Mountaineering Service and the local community that live adjacent to the mountain. This is the oldest trail that is used by the trekkers that would wish to hike the Rwenzori mountains and summit Magherita Peak.
It is the shortest trek to reach the Rwenzori Mountains peak. However there can be some variations on the trek route, the trail typically will take 6-7 days to reach the peak and descend back.
The Kilembe Route;
This is the newest trail for summiting Mountain Rwenzori and it is managed by the Rwenzori Trekking Services. The trail takes its route beginning in Kilembe in the south-east, and later joining the central circuit at the Kitandara Lakes. This routes takes quite longer days to summit, usually 7-9 days depending on the hiker’s strength. This makes the route longer than the Rwenzori Central Circuit route for your Rwenzori trekking.
Day by Day Itinerary for the Rwenzori Mountain Trek
Here is a well detailed 7 Days itenary for Rwenzori central circuit trek.
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Day 1: Nyakalengija (1650) to Nyabitaba camp (2650m)
Start the day by approaching the Rwenzori mountaineering reservation officer early in the morning in order to hire equipments if so and arrange for guides, chef and porters at once hiking starts from the park gates to Nyabitaba a distance of 7 km takes 5-6 hours and an ascent of 1200 meters for the first day on the Rwenzori mountains hike.
The trail at the beginning goes through homes and fields progressing through high elephant grasses and dense bush. You will climb over cliffs and bluffs crossing river mahoma then ascending steeply into Nyabitaba camp. Certain animals can be spotted such as the white and black colobus monkeys, three horned chameleon and the Rwenzori Turaco birds.
Stay an overnight at the Nyabitaba Camp.
Day 2: Nyabitaba (2650)m to Johnmaate camp (3505)m
From Nyabitaba you descend to your right follow the trail that drops down through the forest for a half an hour to the Kurt Shafer bridge, just before the confluence of the mubuku and Bujuku rivers.
This Rwenzori mountains trek walk is an easy going for a couple of hours passing through the bamboo forest and then becomes more difficult kind of like spelunking, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rocks. From the nyamileju rock shelter, mount Stanley and speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant Heather, lobelia and groundsel.
Finally reach Johnmaate camp after passing through the tiring bog. While here, high chances of catching the nice views of mount Stanley and margherita glacier of the Rwenzori Mountains range.
Dinner and overnight at the Johnmaate Hut.
Day 3: Johnmaate camp (3505)m to Bujuku camp (3900)m
From Johnmaate camp the trail drops down to cross the Bujuku river and enters lower bigo bog, the home of giant lobelias, jumping from tussock to tussock. The bog is finally crossed but rarely without the feet sampling some of the freezing ooze, continuing on rwenzori trekking to the upper bigo bog you will follow the Bujuku river that sometimes runs underground from lake Bujuku, with views of mount Baker to the South and mount Stanley to the west.
Nyabitaba Hut
Bujuku hut is well located in the shadows of mount Baker and Speke, set in a narrow valley below Stulman Pass.
Dinner and an overnight at Bujuku Hut.
Day 4: Bujuku hut (3900)m to Elena hut (4541)m
Leaving Bujuku on the forth day for the Rwenzori Trek, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing up the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical groundsel gully as it ascends to Scot Eliot pass at 4372m. At the head of the gully a metal ladder takes you over a steep section after which the trail is divided into two.
The trail on your right leads up to Elena hut and mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders. While the trail on your left leads to Scott Eliot pass and down to Kitandara lakes,the trail on the left leads those who are not climbing margherita peak. Those climbing up the peak will have their dinner and overnight at the coolly and icy Elena hut.
Day 5: Elena hut (4541)m to to margherita peak (5109)m and back to Kitandara lakes camp (4022)m
For those aiming at reaching margherita peak, continue to the base of Stanley glacier. To reach the summit of margarita, the climb takes about 5-7 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you through over three glaciers, slippery Rock, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides. Note that this Rwenzori mountains trek climb is for only physically fit and technical climbers.
Climbing on to the Rwenzori Mountains glaciers, cross the Stanley plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and colly weather. Scramble up to the summit of margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori mountain trekking range. Given the high altitude and the tough conditions even if you don’t reach the peak, don’t get disappointed. Prepare for your return through the Scot Eliot pass where there are spectacular views of the Bujuku lake, mount Speke, mount Stanley and down the Kitandara lakes.
After the trail that passes you through the Alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend passed the Kitandara hut for dinner and an overnight at Kitandara Lakes Camp.
Day 6: Kitandara Lakes Camp 4022m to Guyeoman Camp 3505m.
The trail trail ascend steeply up the headwall, spreading out from the base of mount Baker and continuing along the Southside of the Rwenzori mountain to fresh field pass 4280m. 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 trail passing the rock shelter of bujongolo the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906.
Overnight at Guyeoman Camp.
Day 7: Guyeoman 3505m to Nyabitaba camp 2560m
The descend to Nyabitaba takes around 6-7 hours but with an early start and it’s possible to make it all the way down to nyakalengija.
Below Guyeoman, the route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu and takes you through the bamboo forest zones down to Nyabitaba for either dinner and an over night or lunch and continue down to Nyakalengija for hot showers. This marks the end of your Rwenzori mountains trekking adventure in Uganda.
For the first time, there is a luxurious lodge accommodation at the foothills of Rwenzori Mountains Trek, built parallel to the Mubuku River and surrounded by the exceptional eco-system of the Rwenzori Mountains range.
Ruboni Community Camp is a tourist accommodation in the beautiful foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains trekking circuit, overlooking the high Portal Peaks. It’s fully owned and operated by the local community.
Sandton Hotel is a home away from home located in the heart of Kasese business town along Rwenzori Street. From Entebbe via Fort Portal, its 393 km a 4 hrs. From Kasese to Queen Elizabeth National Park its 25 km a 30 minutes’ drive.
This is midrange facility that is set along the scenic Lake George shores just near Queen Elizabeth National Park within Muhokya and near Kahendero fishing village over viewing the stunning Rwenzori Mountain ranges.
Mihunga lodge is set at Nyakalengija (Mihunga village) thus offering the best base for you to kick start your hike to the Rwenzori Mountain range. It is run by Rwenzori Mountaineering Services and has about five en-suite wooden cottages.
A basic accommodation facility set adjacent Rwenzori Mountain range operated by community and comes with the best Bandas together with camping site. It features bar, restaurant, eco-san toilet & showers in the campsite.
Hotel Margherita is situated some few kilometers west of Kasese town, Western Uganda in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains Range otherwise known as the “Mountains of the Moon”.
Trekkers Hostel is just 12km from Kasese at Kyanjuki village, Kilembe. Is a popular place to begin and end your Rwenzori mountains trek, and it offers spectacular views of the Nyamwamba river and the Rwenzori Mountains.
Why Booking With Us?
Khaman Africa is your ultimate choice for a satiating safari tour in the ‘Pearl of Africa’ – Uganda.
All packages and activiates are carefully picked by us.
All you need to know about your Rwenzori Mountains Trekking Adventure
How long does it take to Summit Mount Rwenzori?
If you choose to summit Margherita peak, we recommend choosing 8 – 9 full days. While it is possible to summit the peak of mount Rwenzori in 7 days, the risk of altitude sickness along the hike is higher and it is no cheaper than a 8 day trek.
What is the best time of year to Hike Mount Rwenzori?
Its possible to trek the Rwenzori Mountains all year round, for your trek at all times of the year you get to experience combination of sun, mud, fog, rainfall, ice and snow.
However, the dry seasons are the best times to for the Rwenzori Mountains Trekking, these run from Late December to mid-March and from June to October. The months of January to March are generally colder than June-October and there is a higher chance of encountering the snow on the summit of Mount Stanley.
These times of the year lower the likeliness of rain and in the muddy climate; the non-rainy days are highly desirable while on your mount Rwenzori Trek.
How to get to mountain Rwenzori?
There are a various means to get to and Rwenzori Mountains National Park which lie along the Uganda-Congo border in western Uganda, in Kasese Town. The main trailheads are accessed from the tarmac Fort Portal-Kasese road. Kasese, is 375km from Kampala via Fort Portal (which is 300km from Kampala) and 450km passing via Mbarara.
The Kilembe Trailhead lies at the head of the Nyamwamba Valley, 15km west of Kasese. The Central Circuit Trailhead is located in the Mubuku Valley at Mihunga, 22km from the Fort Portal-Kasese road, 25km north of Kasese. For the Bukurungu Trail, turn off the main road at Nyakigumba, midway between Kasese and Fort Portal, and drive for 6km to the trailhead at Katebwa. To reach the shorter Kazingo Trail, follow the surfaced Bundibugo road out for Fort Portal for 9km, then turn left at Bukuku for 5km.
The Best way is to catch a flight on Aerolink Uganda from Entebbe to Kasese, this includes a morning flight that can easily allow you to start you trek that same morning if you are short on time.
Its also possible to get to the Mountain Rwenzori by road from Kampala on your Uganda safari. The road journey from Entebbe/Kampala, via Fort Portal takes 6 – 8 hours (370.2 km). Alternatively, you can take a public bus from Kampala which depart every hour and can go for about $14.
If you book with us your Rwenzori Trekking adventure, we shall have to arrange private transfers for you.
What is the flora & fauna like in the Rwenzori Mountains?
The Rwenzori mountains trekking vegetation zones are home to over 70 species of mammal and over 177 bird species. Of the mammals, these include forest elephants, chimpanzees, rwenzori otters and leopards. However, you be lucky to spot one due to the dense forests. The primates such as the colobus and blue monkeys are the most popular ones to sight while on your trail, as are the small antelopes such as bush-bucks and the Rwenzori three-horned chameleon for the unusual reptiles.
Rwenzori is home to 217 recorded bird species, most of which live in the forest zone close to the park boundary. Species of interest include the Ruwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori double collared sunbird, handsome francolin, strange weaver, Rwenzori nightjar, Archer’s robin-chat and red-throated alethe. Wildlife is scarce in the harsh environment higher up the mountain but watch for the scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird feeding on lobelia flowers and the endangered lammergeyer soaring overhead.
The main ‘wildlife’ attraction in Rwenzori Mountains National Park is its vegetation for, standing over 5000m high, this is prime habitat for the ‘botanical big game’ peculiar to East Africa’s highest mountains. The lowest of these zones, between the park boundary and the 2500m contour, is montane forest. This gives way to the bamboo (2,500-3,000m) followed by groves of Rapanea and giant heathers garlanded with lianas, epiphytes and lichens, and encased in garishly coloured mosses (3000- 4000m). Above 4000m, the mountainside opens out into moorland dotted with the emblematic –and in some cases endemic – species of giant lobelia and groundsel for which the Rwenzori Mountains Trekking is famous.
What is the Physical difficulty of the Mountains Rwenzori Hike?
This is a strenuous hike which can be a technical or non-technical, depending on whether you do summit Mount Stanley or not. For those that choose to summit to the peak shall be fully roped and use crampons and ice axes to traverse the technical rock and ice. For every single day along the hike, you get to experience change in elevation and altitude sickness for this case can posse a real challenge as you summit Mountains Rwenzori.
Usually 3 – 4 days rwenzori mountains trekking are classified as low altitude treks, as the high altitude trek may start with a 5 day trek to the Weismann’s Peak. For those that wish to trek the technical summits of the margherita Peak (5,109m), Mount Speke (4,890m) and Mount Baker (4,844m) are high altitude treks.
For those that would not want to undertake all that is involved to summit Mountain Rwenzori, there is good news of a non-technical hike on our short trips. These are shorter rwenzori treks are available and still give you a chance to experience the marvels and beauty of the Rwenzori Mountains without the ice axes, crampons and the technical terrain.
What is Climate like while on the Mountain Rwenzori Trek?
There has been serious erosion of the glaciers from climate change in the Rwenzori mountains which has resulted into the summiting of Mt. Stanley much more technical than before. You will have to need the crampons taken on and off at several erosion points and the use of harnesses, ropes and ice axes along the trek.
Even still, the conditions may seem tricky as you maneuver across the rocky, ice craggy shelves to the top – receding glaciers which too left behind a lot of loose, unconsolidated rock that is unstable and dangerous.
What is it like experiencing the local Rwenzori People?
The Bakonzo people have lives on the slopes of the Rwenzori for generations and the mountain is central to their culture and cosmology. The peaks are the home of their principal god, Kitasamba, whose name may not be spoken on the mountain. Eighteen sacred Konzo sites on the mountain have been identified, mapped and protected as worship areas.
What is accommodation like while on the mountain Rwenzori trekking adventure?
You will stay in mountain huts each night while on your Rwenzori Trekking adventure, these are basic with bunk beds accommodating between 4-8 people per hut. In a few huts, you get huts with 1-3 beds for other parties of if someone needed to be alone. You have to carry along with you warm clothes, sleeping bag and ear plugs.
You can also choose to hire a sleeping bar at a cost of $15, although they are not new. Carrying sleeping liner to use inside your sleeping bag will have a good rest for the night.
What is food like along the Rwenzori Mountains trek?
Since the Rwenzori Mountains Trekking is a guided one, your guides and porters will have to cook breakfast and dinner and provide packed lunch each day’s hike. The guides are mindful of the special dietary requirements.
What to pack for the Rwenzori trekking adventure?
Packing for the Rwenzori Mountains trekking will be simpler with an equipment list. We shall share with you a comprehensive checklist of what to carry for the hike as soon as you confirm your trek.
Along the Mountain of the moon trek, you will require to have a broad range of clothing and gear to beat the vast array of conditions you’ll encounter, from wet / muddy tropical rain forest to the high alpine glaciers. For those that will summit Mount Stanley, you will need to carry along crampons, trekking poles, harness, ice axes, rubber boots, etc. that will help you trek along the technical rock, technical ice and the high alpine glaciers terrain at over 5000m (16,000 ft).
How long is a typical day trekking in the Rwenzori ranges?
A normal day trek in the Rwenzori Mountain trekking takes about 7 to 8 hours, which covers a distance of about 7 km – 9.5 km per day depending of the distance between the camps. The final push on the Mount Stanley summit hike take significantly longer as you do both the ascend and descend, with average hike likely to take about 10-14 hours to reach the summit.
How much experience is required for the Mountains of the Moon trek?
The experience with at least one high-altitude hike before taking any of the high-altitude routes in the Rwenzori is generally recommended. Most trekkers with decent fitness and some experience hiking at altitude will be comfortable on the low altitude treks. The Rwenzori mountains trekking takes long routes, this enables you to acclimatize as you trek (slowly). In contrast, people can summit Mount Kilimanjaro of over 5,895m in 5 days, starting from at height of 1,000 meters increasing the risk of altitude sickness.
If you’re planning to hit the Mountain Margherita peak while on your mountains of the moon hike, you got to have good fitness and ideally some technical hike experience with ice/technical climbing, including the use of ropes, belays, crampons, ice axe, etc. However, a lot it comes down to the trekkers mindset and determination, and while the mountains Rwenzori trekking is challenging, good determination and fitness shall see you fine on the mountain.
Alternatively, for those with no climbing experience and would rather skip the technical climbs, you could choose to hike up to the Stanley viewpoint at 4,908 meters. From here, you get to experience the scenery views over Congo and the mountain ridges including Mount Speke, Mount Baker and the Margherita Peak.
Whatever your trekking option could be, once you hit the Rwenzori Mountains trekking trail you get to experience the incredible unique habitats and landscapes.
What safety precautions should be taken on your Mount Rwenzori Trekking adventure?
Since the Rwenzori Mountains are located along the Uganda – DRC border. There are frequent patrols in the mountains by the UWA rangers, and the boarder is also heavily guarded by the UPDF.
The Mountain Rwenzori guides have been skillfully trained by several international mountaineering instructors and are good to go for a memorable experience in the mountain. There is constant orientation and study programs from guiding, customer care, birding, product development, nature interpretation, wilderness first aid, rock climbing and belaying.
The standard of our climbing equipment and training are top-class in the Rwenzori. Our team is also constantly on the move in search of new trekking routes in the mountains of the moon and at the same time preserving the existing one open.
Are there mosquitoes?
The conditions in the Rwenzori Mountains are too cold and this does not favor there breading, so there are no mosques. But feel free to carry a mosquito/insect repellent.
For more questions or concerns about altitude sickness in the mountains of the moon trek, feel free to reach out.
Is there electricity at the camps?
No, there is no electricity. The camps are lightened by solar power, which further assist clients to recharge there cameras or phones. Alternatively, you can choose to come along with a power bank for your Mountain Rwenzori Trek.
How many peaks can be trekked on the Rwenzori Mountain Trail?
The Rwenzori Mountain trekking adventure is undertaken by the help of a local guide, depending on your trip duration? You have to select your preferred peaks that you would wish to explore as you take on the mighty Mountains of the Moon trek – the Rwenzori;
Mount Stanley (16,762 feet/ 5,109 m) – Home to Africa’s biggest glaciers, including the Stanley Plateau which, at over one (1) kilometer long, is the largest glacier in the Rwenzori Mountain range.
Mount Speke (16,043 feet/ 4,890m) – These were famous for the huge glaciers on the north side of Mt Speke, but they have all melted. You still get to see glaciers on the south side of Mt. Speke as they still do exist, albeit much smaller. There are also smaller glaciers near Ensonga Peak.
Mount Baker (15,889 feet/ 4,843 m) – There are no glaciers on the way to the peak.
Mount Emin (15,741 feet/ 4,798 m) – There are no longer glaciers on this massif.
Mount Gessi 915,470 feet/ 4,715m) – The once ice-covered massif, has seen all glaciers melt.
Mount Luigi Di Savoia (15,328 feet/ 4,627 m) – This was the first of the mountain peaks to lose its glacial ice.
What are the things to do while in the Rwenzoris?
Mount Trekking
Three routes ascend onto the high Rwenzori. Rwenzori Trekking Services (RTS) operates the Kilembe Trail which enables nine-day expeditions to summit Mount Stanley and a shorter, six day option to the more accessible, but equally scenic, Mt. Luigi da Savoia. The Nyakalengijabased Rwenzori Mountaineering Services runs the Central Circuit which reaches and returns from Mount Stanley in seven days. The Bukurungu Trail ascends from Kitumba to Mount Gessi.
Peak climbing
The highest peaks on the six mountains that form the high Rwenzori can all be climbed. The most popular is the 5109m Margherita, the highest point on Mount Stanley and the roof of the Rwenzori. Be aware that summiting on Stanley, Speke, and Baker is a physically demanding activity, frequently in bad weather, and for which specialist equipment and technical experience is required. An ascent of Mount Stanley requires a minimum of seven days on the mountain.
Hiking
The real appeal of the Rwenzori lies, arguably, not in thejoy of reaching the top, but in the opportunity to hike through superb mountain scenery enlivened by equatorial snow and outlandish vegetation. With this in mind, shorter hikes to lesser peaks are becoming increasingly popular. A popular destination on the Kilembe Trail is the 4627m Mt. Luigi da Savoia which offers afroalpine vegetation, patches of equatorial snow and, weather permitting, grandstand views towards Mount Stanley, the summit of which lies three days distant. Nyakalengija Trailhead offers a two-day hike to the scenic Lake Mahoma in the bamboo forest. The Kazingo Trail enables a day-long traverse of the north Rwenzori ridge between the Fort Portal plateau and Bundibugyo town in the Semliki Valley on the west side of the mountain.
Forest Walks and Birding
The forest zone, which occupies the lower contours of the national park, can be visited as a day walk from the Kilembe and Nyakalengija trailheads. Happily for birders, this relatively accessible area is where the park’s birdlife is concentrated. Look out for the Rwenzori turaco and Rwenzori double collared sunbird and other localized rarities such as the three horned chameleon and Rwenzori colobus.
What are the cost for the Mountain Rwenzori Trek?
The cost of your Mount Rwenzori trekking safari will depend on a number of factors and key focus is the preferred route of the hike, number of travelers and the number of days you are looking to spend in the mountains.
Roughly a day trek in the Rwenzori cost US$50 based on two pax and US$35 for three pax excluding the park entrance fee. You’ll need to pay $35 per day for your permit in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park. A 7 Days trek to the Magherita peak costs from around US$ 1200 per person excluding the park entrance fees paid to Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Alternatively, if you would like to add more adventure to your Rwenzori Mountains trek. You can choose to do a wildlife safari experience or a gorilla trekking trip, the price for this ranges from US$3000 – US$4500 per person including primate trekking permits i.e. Gorilla and Chimpanzee permits.
