10 Days Mountain Rwenzori Hiking Safari – Mahoma Trail

5.0
(3 reviews)

10 days (approximately)
Offered in: German and 2 more

The Rwenzoris, or the “Mountains of the Moon”, have a celebrated beauty. Shrouded almost perpetually in mist, they have a seducing, eerie quality that led to many wondrous tales about them through the ages.

Rwenzori is known primarily for its challenging hiking and climbing possibility with a unique among East African Mountains. Rwenzori is not Volcanic in Origin, but it rises directly from the Rift valley floor. Its range also supports a diversity of animals including mammals and about 177 bird species, with several being Albertine Rift Endemics. It’s the highest mountain range in Africa, with its Loftiest peaks, Margherita (5,109m) and Alexandra (5083m) on Mount Stanley, are exceeded in altitude elsewhere in Africa only by Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya.

What's Included

Local guide
Professional guide
National Park fees
Lunch (Optional[6])
Lunch
Dinner (Optional[5])
Dinner
Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
Accommodation as per itinerary
Breakfast (Optional[8])
Breakfast
Local taxes
Transport by private vehicle
Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Gratuities
Souvenir photos (available to purchase)

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point
Kampala

Travellers can advise on their preferred pick-up location in advance

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 10 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    Arrival in Entebbe

    1 stop
  • 1

    Arrival in Entebbe as per your international flight meet up with a representative from Nkuringo Safaris and transfer to Hotel No.5 Optional Extra: In the afternoon (departure from the hotel must be max at 14.30/15.00 hours) departure by car and local canoe to Mabamba Swamp, one of the best places for spotting the rare shoebill storks. Of course, some fortune is needed but rarely does one leave the swamp without seeing one! Many other water birds have chosen this area as their home so birding is always very interesting. Enjoy a relaxing sundowner on Lake Victoria and then return to the Guest House.

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • Day 2

    Transfer to Kasese

    1 stop
  • 2
    Rwenzori Moutains National Park

    After breakfast transfer to Mt Rwenzori National Park (also known as the Mountains of the Moon).

    8 hours Admission ticket free
  • Day 3

    NYAKALENGIJA (1615m asl.) – NYABITABA CAMP (2651m asl.)

    1 stop
  • 3
    Rwenzori Mountains National Park

    After breakfast transfer to the Rwenzori National Park to start the hike. The central circuit starts at the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services offices at Nyakalengija. You need to arrive in the morning to allow ample time to rent equipment and meet your guides and porters. The trail begins by passing through 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 Nyabitaba hut. During this part of the trip, you may hear chimpanzee and see black and white colobus, blue monkey and the brilliantly colored Rwenzori turaco. The hike takes an average of 6 -7 hours. 

    6 hours Admission ticket free
  • Day 4

    NYABITABA – JOHN MATTE CAMP (3505m asl.)

    1 stop
  • 4
    Rwenzori Mountains National Park

    From Nyabitaba follow the trail that drops down through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Passing through the bamboo forest, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock. From the Nyamuleju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach John Matte Hut after passing through the tiring bog, for dinner and overnight at the hut. The hike takes an average of 7 - 8 hours.

    7 hours Admission ticket free
  • Day 5

    JOHN MATTE - BUJUKU CAMP (3962m asl).

    1 stop
  • 5
    Rwenzori Mountains National Park

    From John Matte Hut 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 below. The upper Bigo bog gives way to Bujuku Lake, with views of Mt Baker to the South and Mt Stanley to the West. Bujuku Hut, well located in the shadow of Mount Baker and Mount Speke, is set in a narrow valley below Stuhlmann Pass. This camp is good for acclimatization for clients attempting the summits of peaks Mount Stanley and Mount Speke. Dinner and overnight at Bujuku hut.  The hike takes an average of 4 – 5 hours. 

    4 hours Admission ticket free
  • Day 6

    BUJUKU - ELENA CAMP (4541m asl.)

    1 stop
  • 6
    Rwenzori Mountains National Park

    Leaving Bujuku, 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 leads to Scott-Elliot Pass and down to Kitandara Lakes the trail on he left leads those who are not climbing Margherita Peak to Kitandara Hut. Those climbing the peak will have their Dinner and overnight at the coolly and Icy Elena Hut. The hike takes an average of 5 – 6 hours.  

    5 hours Admission ticket free
  • Day 7

    ELENA HUT -  MARGHERITA PEAK (5109m asl.) – KITANDARA CAMP (4430m asl.) 

    1 stop
  • 7
    Rwenzori Mountains National Park

    Very early in the morning, you attempt climbing the highest peak, Margherita of Mount Stanley. To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 4-5 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbers. 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 2–3hrs. 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. The descend takes an average of 3–4 hrs. 

    9 hours Admission ticket free
  • Day 8

    KITANDARA – GUY YEOMAN (3261m asl.)

    1 stop
  • 8
    Rwenzori Mountains National Park

    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. The hike takes an average of 6 – 7 hours. 

    6 hours Admission ticket free
  • Day 9

    GUY YEOMAN – NYABITABA - NYAKALENGIJA (1615m asl.)

    1 stop
  • 9
    Rwenzori Moutains National Park

    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 Nyabitaba to complete the circuit. Continue descending Nyabitaba Camp and complete your trek by the evening at Nyakalengija, the base camp.  The descent takes 7 – 8 hours Upon arrival at the base of the mountain meet with your driver and transfer to the hotel for overnight.

    7 hours Admission ticket free
  • Day 10

    Transfer back to Entebbe

    1 stop
  • 10

    After breakfast at the hotel transfer back to Entebbe for your outbound flight.

    8 hours Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Minimum age is 18 years
  • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
  • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Supplied by Nkuringo Safaris Ltd

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Tags

Multi-day Tours
Small Group
Zombie
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

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Rating

5.0 Based on 3 3 reviews
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