Itinerary
Day 1 Kilembe to Sine camp to Kalalama (3147m)
This day starts with trekking up the valley floor through the tall forest trees of the forest Zone, which offers a mazing encounters of colobus, blue and L’Hoest Monkeys, as well as sighting the rare bird species as bird life of Ruwenzori Turaco. After here, you will proceed and reach Sine camp for a brief lunch break. Embark on your trek to Kalama Camp at 3147m for dinner, next day briefing and an overnight.
Day 2 Kalalama Camp (3.147m) to Mutinda Camp (3.688 m)
After an early morning breakfast at 7:00am, you will set off at 9:00am trekking through the Bamboo-mimulopsis Zone comprising of steep climb with many high steps, and later reach the resting point where you will enjoy half day’s lunch break.
Continue 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 is also 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 mins descent to the camp. You will later arrive at the camp for dinner and an overnight.
Day 3 Mutinda Camp to Bugata Camp (4.062 m)
On this day, You will leave for your day 3 trek, at 9:00am after an early morning breakfast. Trek through the boggy terrain with the typical wet vegetation and tussocks, after then you will enter the Alpine Vegetation Zone with the Presence of the giant lobelia, the groundswell 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.
While at the camp, you will enjoy breath taking views of the Weisman’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 enjoy incredible and amazing views of the nine lakes down the valley and the Lake Nusurange while on the Rocks Plozza Rock.
Bugata Camp has good facilities with solar lights, eco-toilets and bathroom. You have dinner and spend the night. You will be briefed about the following day and then retire to your cabins for the night.
Day 4 Bugata to Hanwick's Camp (3.974 m)
After an early morning breakfast, you will proceed with your trek to Hunwick’s Camp. Hike along the steep slopes, as you walk across various bogs to Bamwanjara pass at 4.405n. Enjoy breathtaking views of the snow caped peaks, while you head on to rest in a small shelter for a lunch break. This Trek takes you through the lower and Upper Kachope lakes and McConnell’s Prong which are mostly muddy and steep. Arrive at Hunwick’s camp in the evening for dinner and an overnight.
Day 5 Hunwick's Camp to Magheritah Camp
After your morning breakfast, Start 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 Magheriga 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 magheritah 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 6 Magheritah Camp to the Summit.
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 Magheritah which will start at 3:00am The early movement to Magheritah 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 Magheritah 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 Magheritah 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 7 Magheritah Camp to Kiharo camp
You will start your day by climbing up bridge 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 eliot 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 waiseman’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 8 From Kiharo Camp to the base
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.
