Itinerary
Day 1: Kasese-Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba Hut, 2.651m.
In the morning after breakfast, head to Rwenzori Mountaineering services headquarters at Ibanda, for briefing your guide or the tourism officer. The hike starts through the plantations and homes of the Bakonzo, and then join the forest zone . You will follow the Mubuku river, until you cross the Mahoma river. The trail passes through an open bracken fern slopes and a beautiful Forest canopy, up to Nyabitaba Hut, 2651 m. which is the arrival point for the day. From this location, you will view the North the Portal Peaks at 4.627m, in front of Mount Kinyangoma. During the trek, you might see black and white colobus monkeys, the Rwenzori Turaco, three horned chameleons which is endemic in the Rwenzoris, plus other bird varieties including common bulbul birds, yellow eyed tinkle birds, wood pecker, mountain elephants and hearing the voices of the chimpanzee. This hike takes between 5-6 hours.
Day 2: Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte Hut, 3505 m.
From Nyabitaba Hut, climb up through the bamboo forest, to the forest zone up to Kurt Shaffer bridge and then, start trekking along the bamboo/memolopsis zone up to Nyamuleju camp which is the old hut before John Maate camp. This point marks the start of the heather zone where you will see the Ericaceous trees, everlasting flowers, giant lobelia and groundsel and its at this point that you might spot red duikers, rock hyrax and white Columbus monkeys. The way proceeds through a bog full of typical plants along the Bujuku river. The final point is John Matte Hut, 3505 m. where you will have dinner and spend the night. This trek may take approximately 6-7 hours. Enjoy the view of Mount Stanley and snow capped Margherita and Elena Peaks if the weather is clear.
Day 3: From John Matte Hut to Elena Hut (4541m).
From John Matte Hut, cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower Bigo bog, a grassy bog where you will experience how to jump from tussock to tussock. Currently, there is a constructed walking board on both lower and upper bigo bogs that makes a clear view of the mountain sceneries. And this is the point where you start the alpine savannah zone of little vegetation. During this day you may spot beautiful gardens of giant lobelia, asanasio black berries, wild carrots, Alcamilla, lake Bujuku, sun birds, red duikers, rock hyrax among others at omwihembe, you will move north of the lake to Omukendege where the trail is divided into two.
Depending on the weather, you might as well spot able to view the peaks of Mount Stanley, Mount Baker and Mount Speke..
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-Elliot Pass and down to Kitandara Lakes. During this day, you be able to see Mount Speke glacier on Victoria Emmanuel, Margerita peak on Mount Stanley and the excellent view of Lake Bujuku, amazing rock path and so many others. Finally you will reach Elena Hut for dinner and an overnight stay. This day hike takes between 6-8 hours.
Day 4: Elena Hut – Margherita peak (5109m) and then John maate
For those aiming at reaching Margherita peak (5109m), continue to the base of the Stanley Glacier. To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 5-7 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.
Note that this climb is for only physically fit and technical climbers. Climbing on to the glaciers, across the Stanley Plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and cool weather, scramble up to the summit of Margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori mountains.
After a while, descent back to Elena hut, prepare for sloping down to Johnmaate hut , where there are spectacular views back to Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke, up to Mount Stanley and down to the lake Bujuku Lake. After then, follow the trail that passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation with beautiful gardens of flowering Asanasios, giant lobelias, and rough boulders, descend to the John maate for dinner and an overnight. This also takes you to 4-5-hours.
However, basing on the time reached at Elena hut after margarita, you can talk with your guide to have another night at Elena hut which will lead to an extra day.
Day 5: John Matte hut – Back to Nyabitaba Hut and proceed out of the national park
Leave John Maate hut early retracing out the route back to the park gate. Descend back will take about 6-8 hours. This involves descending, steep slopes and rocks and wadding through this trail passing through mud, crossing rivers and deep mud back to Nyabitaba hut for lunch and continue descending through Mubuku River and through fields to the Park Headquarters and leave for Kasese town for a night.
