Itinerary
7 Days Rwenzori Trekking Tour: kilembe Trail, Climbing Rwenzoris
Rwenzori mountaineering adventure on 7 days with Kilembe Trekking Trails via the Rwenzori Expeditions. Book the safari adventure now.
Day 1 Hike to Kalalama camp
Starts with a briefing at UWA rangers post, trek through various vegetation covers with chances of encountering various bird species and monkeys. Troops of monkeys are seen hanging or jumping from one tree branch to another, or otherwise walking. There is a steep climb with many high steps as you enter the Bamboo zone, which is muddy and slippery, thus making movements so slow. You ought to be very careful while moving on this terrain. As the trek proceeds further to Kalalama camp, the region offers beautiful scenery. Arrive at Kalalama camp (3147m) which is located within the heather zone for dinner and an overnight sleep.
Day 2 Transfer to Bugata Camp via Mutinda Camp
After Breakfast, you will set off for Bugata camp via Mutinda camp. Trek through the Bamboo-mimulopsis zone comprising of steep climb with many high steps. Proceed along the heather zone, and trek through several streams, waterfalls, and the typical green moss vegetation. You will also walk through Giant heather trees, and arrive at Mutinda camp at 3.688m, which was named after the Mutinda Peaks. It is from this point that you can hike up to the Mutinda Lookout, at 3.925m which is a 90 minutes’ walk, plus 60 minutes descent to the camp. It is from here that you will have your lunch break.
Continue with your trek through the boggy terrain with the typical wet vegetation and tussocks, after which you will enter the Alpine vegetation zone that consists of the giant lobelia, the groundsel and the everlasting flowers while crossing the Mutinda valley. Hike up the steep section to Namusangi Valley, crossing various bogs as you ascend to Bugata Camp at 3.062m where you will have your dinner and an overnight.
Enjoy breath taking views of the Weismann’s Peak of Mount Luigi of Savoy that is often covered by the snow. The walk also leads you via Lake Kitandara that stretches up to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and also enjoys incredible and amazing views of the nine lakes down the valley and the Lake Nusurange while on the rocks.
Bugata Camp has good facilities, solar lights, good toilets and bathrooms where the guides may prepare some warm water in a basin for you to wash. Bugata also has a helicopter pad (GPS reading N 18.312 E29 53.457) in case of any need for rescue by helicopter but be warned that a helicopter in Uganda costs around $10,000 per hour flying time which is way more than other countries so you need insurance in case of rescue.
Day 3 Trek to Hunwick’s Camp
After breakfast, walk along the ridge, crossing several wet areas and small rivers flowing from both Mount Baker and the fresh fields pass. Trekking up Scott Elliott Pass is amazing as you walk through and rising up the ridge of Mt Stanley to Margherita Camp at 4,485 meters which is below Elena Hut of the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services.
The Margherita camp which is sheltered with a ring of rocks was once used by an Italian Prince Luigi Amadeo di Savoia, and Duke of the Abruzzi. It is from here that you will observe breathtaking views of Mt Baker, Scott Elliot Pass and some of the high glaciers on Mt Stanley.
Since you will walk to Margherita camp for 4.2km, you are expected to arrive late in the evening. Dinner, preparations for the next day and an overnight stay in at the camp.
Day 4 Climb to Margherita Camp
Breakfast served, and then starts your day with walking along the ridge, crossing several wet areas and small rivers flowing from both Mount Baker and the fresh fields pass. Trekking up Scott Elliott Pass is amazing as you walk through and rising up the ridge of Mt Stanley to Margherita Camp at 4,485 meters which is below Elena Hut of the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services.
The Margherita camp which is sheltered with a ring of rocks was once used by an Italian Prince Luigi Amadeo di Savoia, and Duke of the Abruzzi. It is from here that you will observe breathtaking views of Mt Baker, Scott Elliot Pass and some of the high glaciers on Mt Stanley.
Since you will walk to Margherita camp for 4.2km, you are expected to arrive late in the evening. Dinner, preparations for the next day and an overnight stay in at the camp.
Day 5 Ascend to Margherita Summit and back to Margherita Camp
You will wake up at 2:00am for your early morning breakfast, after which you will set off for the longest and strenuous walk to the summit of Margherita which will start at 3:00am The early movement to Margherita peak of Mount Stanley is mainly aimed at reaching the glaciers before sunrise since the heat from the sun causes the glaciers to melt, thus making the roots to be totally impassable.
Hiking through the steep heights to Margherita peak requires enough physical strength. Proceed with your hike over the glaciers close, after then you will climb to an exposed section of the rock, which is bolted and roped, to get on the ridge running up to the top of the Margherita peak at 5.109m
Upon reaching the peak, you will be endowed by the beautiful scene of the whole country, as you are now at the highest point of the country. Lunch will be served at the peak, after which you will descend to Hunwick’s camp for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 6 Slope to Kiharo Camp
You will start your day by climbing up a ridge towards McConnell’s Prong, where you will be rewarded with impressive views of the three peaks of Mount Stanley, mount Baker and Speke as well as the Scott Elliot pass before reaching Oliver’s pass at 4,505m. The total distance between Hunwick’s Camp and Oliver’s pass is 3km. The trail then cuts across below Wiseman’s peak to the confluence of the Nyamwamba River which flows down through Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National park.
The confluence then meanders down the valley to Kiharo camp, which is established in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.
Day 7 Descend to the base of the Camp
From Kiharo camp, the path turns off to the right pass along the river. Spot Duikers as you pass along the river otherwise trek down the river itself jumping across the rocks as you pass down.
The trails becomes steep with multitudes of waterfalls after a few kilometers down the river, which is why you will have to move away from the river and follow a narrow ridge to bypass steep sections.
You will again meet the river where there is a huge rock shelter and a place to rest for a lunch break, after which, you will cross a small stream as you climb up gentle slopes before turning back down to the river to avoid another set of waterfalls which are impassable. The forest along this section is a home many birds species, primates, duikers and hyrax. This last day offers great experience and ending to a fantastic trek.
