Hiking Mountain Rwenzori

DAY 2: TRANSFER TO SINE CAMP
You will transfer to the footsteps of the mountain to start the climb up from 1,450 to sine hut 2,680m where you spend a night, this hike starts from the valley floor through tall forest trees of Afro montane forest zone and continues with a steady climbs with multitudes of birds and a chance of seeing blue monkeys scampering off through the forest. At times visitors my se troupes of 15 to 20 black colobus monkeys as they swing through the tree tops. There are rare sightings of the L’hoest monkey, which are part of the Bukonzo cultural emblems and are protected by the virtue of the king or Omusinga or you may hear wild chimpanzees in the distance. There is wide spread of plant species from forest trees to bamboos thickets, low shrubs, flowers, fungi, and with many moss and lichen covered vines hanging from tall trees creating an awesome appeal. Enock’s falls are just 200 meters from shine hut and offer a splendid opportunity to capture great screensaver for your memories. At sine camp 2,596 meters we have wooden huts set between tall forest trees on narrow ridge where you may sit and enjoy the beauty of the afro montane forest while you look down at fantastic waterfall crashing over rock

DAY 3: CLIMB TO MUTINDA CAMP
Trekking starts at 8:00 am and almost immediately you enter the bamboo Mimulopsis zone, which is steep climb with many high steps. Which is steep climb with many high steps? In the wet season the bamboo zone is rather muddy and slippery making the going slow. However the atmosphere and the forest is beautiful as you climb 551 meters altitudes and distance of 1.8km to Kalama camp at 3,147 meters which is in the heather-Rapanea zone where you can take arrest and quick cup of coffee or tea before heading to Mutinda camp. The trail meanders up over several small knolls along ridge top then drops down the side of the valley before climbing again, and in doing so cross several small streams and pass close to moss covered waterfalls

DAY 4: HIKE TO BUGATA CAMP
Wake up for breakfast at 8:00am and embark on the trail to Bugata camp is boggy particularly in the wet season but with a little skill you can step from tussock to tussock to make the going easier. First you cross the Mutinda valley through the tussock grass and everlasting flowers interspersed with many Giant lobelias before climbing a steep section up to the Namusangi valley (3,840 meters), with sheer waterfalls and looking back you get fantastic views of Mutinda peaks. The Namusangi valley is wide, with many ups and downs as the trail climbs steadily to Bugata camp AT 4,100 meters.

DAY 5: HIKE TO HUNWIK’S CAMP
Trek to Hunwick’s camp via Bamwanjarra pass. As you leave Bugata camp pass up a ridge then drop down slightly before ascending to Bamwanjarra pass at 4,450 meters where we have hut should the weather turn bad. From the pass on clear day you get excellent views of the three main peaks. The trail passes down the valley and around the edge of some bogs and thick evergreen vegetation, mos. Giant groundsel and lobelia.
Here is possibly the best place in all the Rwenzori to observe the malachite sunbirds as it feeds on the many lobelia flowers and a known breeding site. Farther on there is some steep section before a steady climb up and over ridge to Hunwick’s camp which is situated on the top of deep valley and has good views of Mt Stanley, Mt baker, Weismanns and McConnell’s prong

Day6: transfer to kiharo camp
From Hunwick’s we pass down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitendara which is very stunning with deep water and beautiful vegetation. From here you climb to Scott Elliott’s pass then up the ridge to Margherita camp 4,485 meters which is situated between some huge rocks and offering some shelter from strong winds. This is very spot where the Duke of Abruzzi camped when making his climb to Margherita peak in 1906

DAY 7: DESCEND TO SAMALIRA CAMP
Wake up at 2 am and catch an early breakfast before heading off to climb Mt Stanley at 2:30am. This is necessary as the weather has changed a lot and often even during the dryer season the mountains is closed in with heavy clouds and snowfalls from 1pm to 4pm and this happens within a shorter period of time of 10 to 15 minutes as the clouds rise up from the extensive Congo rain forest.
For those clients with less mountaineering experience we suggest that you stay on Stanley glacier and climb up a good vantage point on rock outcrop on the southern edge of Alexandra peak to enjoy fantastic views over Congo and lower mountain ridges after ascending the peak at 5,109 meters you then pass directly down to Hunwick’s camp at 3,874 meters.

DAY 8: DESCEND TO BASE CAMP
From Hunwick’s camp we start the day by climbing up a ridge towards McConnell’s prong where you get the best views of all three peaks and Scott Elliott’s pass before reaching Oliver’s pass at 4,505 meters. The distance from Hunwick’s camp to the top of Oliver pass is 3km the trail then cuts across below Weismann’s peak to the confluence of Nyamwamba river , which flows down through Kilembe and Kasese to lake George I Queen Elizabeth national park.
After crossing the confluence the trail meanders down the valley to Kiharo camp at which is situated in deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation. On the way down the valley after each bog you will climb over a ridge of stones and earth which seems out of place but actually was pushed there by slow moving glaciers which eventually stopped moving, melted and left a pile of rocks and debris in front of where the glacier once stood

DAY 9: BACK TO KAMPALA/ENTEBBE AIRPORT

After breakfast the guide will pick you from the hotel and drive back to Kampala at the hotel or drop off at the airport for departure