Itinerary

1. Day 1: Transfer from your hotel in Kasese to Mihunga Park Gate (1615m) and Hike to Nyabitaba Hut (2651m)

   • On this day, after breakfast at 8:30 a.m., you will meet all the guides, potters, and chefs, and you will check on the hiking gear to ensure that you have received the equipment of your size during the summiting day.
   • Afterwards, your driver and the guides will drive you to the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters/Rwenzori gate. The guide will introduce you to the park warden, and you will receive an induction, briefing and registration before starting the trek.
   • Thereafter, you will officially begin the hike by passing through farmland to the park boundary, which follows along the Mubuku River. You will cross the Mahoma tributary before starting a long, steep ascent onto a giant ridge until you reach Nyabitaba Hut at 2651m. During this part of the trail, you will pass the grassland, Montana forest zone and heather, tropical rain forests; on the right-hand side, you will see Portal peaks. You may be lucky enough to hear or see chimpanzees' calls and to see Black and White Columbus monkeys, Blue monkeys, and the brilliant Rwenzori Turaco and see different chameleons; you will pass through different rivers and waterfalls until you reach Nyabitaba Camp.

   Hike duration: 5 -6 hours. Elevation height: 1,036m 

2. Day 2: Nyabitaba (2651m asl.) – John Matte Camp (3505m asl.)

   • From Nyabitaba, follow the trail that drops down through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. 
   • Passing through the bamboo forest, traverse a long, exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock. 
   • From the Nyamuleju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. 
   • Finally, reach John Matte Hut after passing through the tiring bog for dinner and overnight at the hut.

   Hike duration: 7 – 8 hours. Elevation height: 854m

3. Day 3: John Matte (3505m asl.) – Bujuku Camp (3962m asl.)

   • From John Matte Hut, the trail drops down to cross the Bujuku River and enters Lower Bigo Bog, the home of giant lobelias.
   • Jumping from tussock to tussock, the bog is finally crossed, but rarely without the feet sampling some freezing ooze below.
   • The upper Bigo bog gives way to Bujuku Lake, with views of Mt Baker to the South and Mt Stanley to the West.
   • Bujuku Hut is well located in the shadow of Mount Baker and Mount Speke. It is set in a narrow valley below Stuhlmann Pass.
   • This camp is good for acclimatization for clients attempting the summits of Mount Stanley and Mount Speke peaks. Dinner and overnight at Bujuku hut.

   Hike duration: 4 – 5 hours. Elevation height: 457m  

4. Day 4: Bujuku (3962m asl.) – Elena Camp (4541m asl)

   • Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical forest of Groundsel Gully. Turn to your right and go up to Elena Hut and Mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders, while the trail on your left leads to Scott-Elliot Pass and down to Kitandara Lakes. The trail on the left leads those not climbing Margherita Peak to Kitandara Hut.
   • Those climbing the peak will have their Dinner and overnight at the Coolly and Icy Elena Hut.

   Hike duration: 5 – 6 hours. Elevation height: 579m

5. Day 5: Elena Hut (4541m asl.) – Margherita Peak (5109m asl.) – Kitandara Camp (4430m asl)

   • Very early in the morning, you attempt climbing the highest peak, Margherita of Mount Stanley.
   • To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 4 -5 hours, depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you over three glaciers, slippery rock, ice and exposed open areas on many sides.
   • Climbing onto the glaciers, cross the Stanley Plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and cool weather, scramble up to the summit of Margherita, the highest peak of the Rwenzori Mountains.
   • Then, Descending from Margherita Peak back to Elena Hut will take about 2 – 3 hours.
   • After lunch at Elena hut, descend to the Scott-Elliot pass (4372m asl.), where you can enjoy spectacular views of Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke.
   • After, the trail passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders and descends past the Kitandara Lakes.

   Dinner and overnight at the Kitandara camp.
   Descend duration: 3 – 4 hours.

6. Day 6: Kitandara (4430m asl.) – Guy Yeoman (3261m asl)

   • From Kitandara, take the trail that ascends steeply up the headwall, spreading out from the base of Mount Baker and continuing along the mountain's south side to Fresh Field Pass, 4282m asl.
   • At this point, you can view the Congo to the west and Mount Stanley to the north. From the pass, take on the long, high alpine mossy.
   • Thereafter, the descent starts through steep rocky trails and the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906, and then overnight at Guy Yeoman Camp.
     Hike duration: 6 – 7 hours.

7. Day 7: Guy Yeoman (3261m asl.) – Nyabitaba (2651m asl.) – Mihunga Gate (1615m asl.)

   • Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu.
   • Beyond Kichuchu, the muddy path crosses the Mubuku River twice through a bamboo forest before climbing downwards to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit.
   • Continue descending Nyabitaba Camp and complete your hike by the evening by parking at the gate to end your 7-day Rwenzori Margherita Peak Trek. Descent duration: 6 – 7 hours
   • Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by the community with the traditional dance celebrating your success in conquering Rwenzori Mountain, which is the most important part of Uganda. 
   • This trip can also start from Kasese town or Fort Portal, where our guide driver will meet you and bring you to Rwenzori Mountain to our offices. Alternatively, you can use Link buses or a Baby coach to bring you to Kasese.