10-Day Margherita Peak Expedition in Uganda via the Kilembe Route

• Arrive at Entebbe Airport, meet your tour representative, and transfer to Kasese via the Kampala-Fort Portal Highway. This journey covers a distance of 368 km.
• Upon reaching Kasese, check in to your lodge for an overnight stay.

Overnight: Trekkers Hotel

Meal Plan: Lunch en-route, dinner, and breakfast

• Start by walking up the valley floor through the tall forest trees of the Afro Montane Forest Zone. This is a steady climb with multitudes of birds and a chance of seeing blue monkeys scampering through the forest. See troupes of 15 to 20 black-and-white Colobus monkeys as they swing through the treetops. There are rare sightings of the L'Hoest monkey, and you may also hear wild chimpanzees in the distance. There is a wide variety of plant species, from forest trees to bamboo thickets, low shrubs, flowers, fungi, and many moss- and lichen-covered vines hanging from the tall trees, creating an awesome appeal.
• Relax at Sine Camp wooden huts, set between tall forest trees on a narrow ridge, and enjoy the beauty of the Afro Montane forest while looking down at a fantastic waterfall crashing over the rocks far below.
• Proceed to Kalalama Camp at 3,134 meters to witness fantastic views.
• Hike further to Mutinda Camp, where you may climb to Mutinda Lookout at 3,975 meters.

• Start trekking at 8:30 am and enter the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone, a 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 are beautiful as you climb 551 meters in altitude over a distance of 1.8 km to Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters in the Heather-Rapanea Zone.
• In the afternoon, climb to the top of the Mutinda Lookout. The views are amazing as you stand on moss-covered rocks at 3,925 meters, with views across the Rwenzori Mountains and down to Kasese town and Lake George.

Overnight at Mutinda Camp.

• Start the day by following the trail to Bugata Camp.
• Cross the Mutinda Valley through 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. The Namusangi Valley is wide, with many ups and downs, as the trail climbs steadily to Bugata Camp at 4,100 meters.

• Trek to Hunwick's Camp via Bamwanjarra Pass. The trail passes down the valley and around the edge of some bogs and thick evergreen vegetation, moss, giant groundsel, and lobelia.
• Midway, take a halt to observe the Malachite Sunbird as it feeds on the many lobelia flowers at this known breeding site.
• Continue a steady climb over a ridge to Hunwick's Camp, situated at the top of a deep valley and offering good views of Mt Stanley, Mt Baker, Weismann's Peak, and McConnell's Prong.

• From Hunwick's, pass across the valley floor to reach Lake Kitendara, a stunning lake with deep water and beautiful vegetation.
• From here, climb up to Margherita Camp at 4,485 meters, situated between some huge rocks and offering some shelter from the strong winds. This is the very spot where the Duke of Abruzzi camped when climbing to Margherita Peak in 1906.

• Wake up at 2 am and have an early breakfast before heading off to climb Mt Stanley at 2:30 am.
• After ascending the peak at 5,109 meters, descend directly to Hunwick's Camp at 3,874 meters.

• Start the day by climbing up a ridge towards McConnell's Prong to 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's Pass is 3 km.
• After crossing the confluence, the trail meanders down the valley to Kiharo Camp, situated in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation.

• Start hiking down from Kiharo Camp to reach Kasese.
• Cross a small river stream and climb a gentle slope. The forest along this section is magnificent and full of life, with many birds, primates, dikers, and hyrax.

• Transfer to the airport for your return flight.