10-Day Rwenzori Mountains Hike from Entebbe to Margherita Peak

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Day 01

Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

• Arrive at Entebbe Airport, the main gateway to Uganda, where you will find our company representative ready to offer you a courteous welcome to the Pearl of Africa. You will be briefed about Uganda and then transferred to your respective hotel for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.

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Day 02

Transfer to the Rwenzori Mountains

• Start the day with breakfast, then set off on a 7-8-hour drive west to Kasese town on the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, passing through impressive rural landscapes with lush green cover, scattered human settlements, and the impressive natural features of the Mubende inselbergs. Have lunch in Fort Portal town, Uganda's tourism city.
• Continue with the scenic drive to Kasese, where the views of the Mountains of the Moon will welcome you. Check in, relax, have dinner, and stay overnight.

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Day 03

Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba Hut Trek

• Have breakfast at around 6:30 am and transfer to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park headquarters at Nyakalengija, at 1615 m. You will receive an informative briefing about the Rwenzori Mountains climbing adventure.
• This is the point where you have the opportunity to hire mountaineering equipment if you do not have any.
• After the briefing, begin the hike from Nyakalengija, passing through local homesteads and continuing up to the park gate for registration before entering the park. Embark on the central circuit route, hiking through montane elephant grass, tropical rainforest, and dense bushes. The forest is inhabited by shy forest elephants, black-and-white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, chimpanzees, bushbucks, hyrax, and the 3-horned chameleon, as well as birds such as the Rwenzori turaco, handsome francolin, Archer's robin-chat, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, and many more, along with various plant and tree species. Have dinner and overnight at Nyabitaba Hut.

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Day 04

Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte Hut

• Have breakfast early in the morning, at around 7 am, and depart Nyabitaba Hut for John Matte Hut. This is the longest and most strenuous day's hike. The trail descends briefly through the forest before crossing the Bujuku River at Kurt Shaffer Bridge.
• Between the bridge and Nyamileju Hut, the path is manageable for a couple of hours, but it becomes steeper and rockier as you enter the moorland zone, where the impressive heather plants are prolific. After 5 hours, emerge at Nyamileju Hut, supplemented by a rock shelter for lunch. Afterwards, hike through a giant heather forest and follow the Bujuku River for 2 hours to John Matte Hut, which stands about 200 meters from the Bujuku River, where water can be collected.
• You will have views of the Margherita Glacier on Mount Stanley between Alexandra and Margherita peaks. Have dinner and overnight at John Matte Hut.

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Day 05

John Matte Hut to Bujuku Hut

• After breakfast, at around 7 am, cross the Bujuku River and hike through the forest to the lower Bigo Bog. This used to be the most challenging part of the Rwenzori since the area is boggy; currently, there is a boardwalk up to the end of the boggy area, making the walk much easier for hikers. As you move, expect to see giant lobelias, groundsels, and everlasting flowers.
• Take a steep hike along the ridge, which will lead you to the start of the upper Bigo Bog. There is also a boardwalk here. The lake has a magnificent setting between Mount Stanley, Speke, and Baker.
• The lake also marks the beginning of the alpine savannah zone of sparse vegetation. Eventually, arrive at Bujuku Hut, standing at 3962 m, then have dinner and stay overnight.

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Day 06

Bujuku Hut to Elena Hut

• After breakfast at around 7 am, depart Bujuku and continue the hike to Elena Hut, taking about 5-7 hours. Hike along the sides of the upper Bigo Bog and through the steep slopes above Lake Bujuku. As you climb Lajuku's steep slopes on the west, the trail ascends the 4372 m Scott-Elliot Pass and passes through more swamps and the thrilling Ground Gully. Using a metal ladder, you will go over a steep section at the top of the gully.
• The trail then divides into two. The left trail leads to Scott-Elliot Pass and descends to the Kitandara Lakes, while the right trail heads to Elena Hut on a steep path above large boulders leading toward Mount Stanley.
• Elena Hut sits on a rocky part of Mount Stanley, the highest point of the Rwenzori Mountains. It is extremely cold and gives you direct, clear views of Mount Speke and Mount Baker. Have dinner and overnight at Elena Hut.

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Day 07

Margherita Peak Ascent and Descent to Kitandara Hut

• On this day, you will have to wake up as early as 2 am, have breakfast, and get ready in your warmest gear. Put on your harness, warm hand gloves, and head sock, and make sure you have your headlamps and helmets, with sunglasses packed in your daypack. Then hike to the top of Mount Stanley, Margherita Peak, through the Stanley Plateau. On this hike, you will need to use ropes, especially in rocky areas. At this point, you will come into contact with ice, and using tools like crampons and an ice axe is a must in the glacier sections. The guide will teach you how to use the equipment while on the ice.
• After hiking for a couple of hours through the Stanley Plateau Glacier, you will reach the bottom of the Margherita Glacier. This is the most challenging part of the whole Rwenzori hiking experience. The hike continues through the glacier, leading to the top of Mount Stanley, Margherita Peak at 5109 m.
• At the top, you will have views of Lake Ireen, Mount Speke, and the surrounding environment. From the summit, descend back to Elena Hut for lunch, then continue descending via Scott-Elliot Pass to Kitandara Hut for dinner and an overnight stay.

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Day 08

Kitandara Hut to Guy Yeoman Hut

• After breakfast at around 7:30 am, depart Lake Kitandara Hut and take about 5-7 hours to climb Freshfield Pass, standing at 4282 m, traversing the extended flat of high alpine mossy glades. The glaciers of Mount Baker and Mount Stanley extensively cover the panorama.
• The muddy trail takes you to Bujongolo, Akendahi, and Kabamba rock shelters, where the Kabamba Valley starts heading down to Guy Yeoman Hut, standing at 3261 m. The hut lies on the banks of the Mubuku River, surrounded by impressive vegetation, mountains, and rivers. Have dinner and stay overnight.

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Day 09

Guy Yeoman Hut to Nyakalengija

• After having breakfast at Guy Yeoman Hut, descend back to Nyabitaba Hut through the bamboo forest. The path down is known for being slippery and muddy, with little to hold on to, and it requires careful balancing over vertical mud and steep rock. After about 5 hours of trekking, you will reach Nyabitaba Hut for lunch. Continue trekking to Nyakalengija, taking about 3 hours, and arrive in the late evening. Meet your safari vehicle and transfer back to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.

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Day 10

Return Drive to Kampala via Queen Elizabeth National Park

• After a relaxed breakfast, embark on the drive back to Kampala, passing through Queen Elizabeth National Park with its impressive savannah and wildlife such as elephants, antelopes, lions, warthogs, and several bird species, as well as the Bunyaruguru crater field, the lush Kalinzu Forest, and Mbarara town. Make a stop at Igongo Cultural Centre for a delicious traditional lunch.
• Have another stop at the Uganda Equator for unique photo opportunities, water experiments to witness the division between the northern and southern hemispheres, and time to purchase souvenirs from the gift shops at the site.
• Continue driving to Kampala, arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.