Destination: Entebbe- Kampala
Activities
Arriving at Entebbe international airport, you will be warmly welcomed by the Gakima safaris ltd representative and transfer you to your hotel in Kampala. Approx. 40km. Accommodation in Kampala:
Destination: Kampala – Rwenzori Mountain in Kasese. Approx. 398km
Activities
Our driver guide will meet and greet you at 7:00am.
Driving to Kasese arriving in the afternoon. Your guide will go the park headquarters in the evening to finalize your mountaineering logistic and return in the evening. Accommodation: Kasese.
Destination: Park Headquarters
Activities
Today in the morning you will begin your hike by leaving the park headquarters (5400ft / 1,646m), walking past typical “wattle and mud” Buhonjo homes and gradually moving upward through elephant grass and garden plots. This takes approximately 40 munities to reach park boundary. The trail then fallows the Mohoma River for two and half hours. After crossing the river, you will meet a very steep climb through open bracken fern slops and Podocarpus forest up to Nyabitaba Hut (8,700ft / 2,652) about one hour and a half past the Mohma River crossing. On your course of the trip you may be able to see chimps, Black and White colobus and Blue monkeys, a brilliantly colored Rwenzori Touraco (a bird of the tree tops). Spend an overnight at Nyabitaba Hut.
Destination: Mountain Rwenzori
Activities
Today from this point the trail leads westward for a half km then drops north (right) steeply to Kurt Shafer Bridge, crossing below the confluence of Bujuku and Mubuku River. By turning down the bridge you will begin a circuit counter clock wise. After crossing the Shafer Bridge, the muddy slippery trail climbs steadily up through Bamboo forest. After one and half hours you encounter an area of slippery boulder hopping which many hikers consider to be the most difficult and dangerous footing on the circuit. Spend overnight at Nyamileju Hut, Nyamileju means “a place of beards” which refers to the lichen and Spanish moss draping trees nearby. On a rear day, Mts. Stanley and Speke can be seen from the top of the rock near the Hut.
Destination: Mountain Rwenzori
Activities
After breakfast, you will continue to john Matte Hut (11,200 ft. / 3,414m) which is through a trailing bog full of extraordinary plants. The slow pace can be a chance to examine and photography this unique environment. Well situated, John Matte Hut is newly constructed, large and comfortable. Hikers who feel they have reached their limits at this point should consider John Matte a reasonable stopping point, they can enjoy the unique vegetation in the bog with great views and the following day begin your return to Nyabitaba.
Destination: Mountain Rwenzori
Activities
Today you leave John Matte Hut to cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower of the two Bigo Bogs. In the grassy Bogs you can experience jumping from Tussock to Tussock, an exhilarating experience. The trail is very muddy and follows the left (Southern) edge of lower Bigo Bog until eventually it reaches the round metal “uniport” of Bigo Hut and its rock shelter.
A steep section past the hut leads to upper Bigo Bog. In the last half of this Bog a board walk has been constructed. Though some may think it’s an ugly intrusion, it makes walking easier and keeps hikers from damaging the bog. An hour and a half beyond the upper Bog, and after climbing through drier ground and crisscrossing the River, you reach Bukulu Lake. The southern end of the lake is a majestic setting, with Mt. Bakerto the south, and views west to Mt. Stanley and north to Mt. Speke. Beyond the north end of the lake is a rock shelter called cooking post and a short distance further is Bukulu Hut (13,000 ft. / 3,962m), favorably located for parties climbing Mt. the south, and views west to Mt. Stanley and north to Mt. Speke. Beyond the north end of the lake is a rock shelter called cooking pot and a short distance further is Bukulu Hut (13,000 ft. / 3962m) located fore parties climbing Mt. Speke.
Destination: Mountain Rwenzori
Activities
To continue the circuit, you leave directly west from Bukulu hut on a newer trail, which rises and falls twice before finally climbing steeply through magical moss- draped Groundsel Gully towards (14,345 ft. / 4,372m) Scott Elliot pass. At the head of the Gully is a short, strong ladder at a particularly steep section, after which a right hand branch would lead to Elena Hut (14,700 ft. / 4,430m). this is a steep, rocky trail which when wet or icy is treacherously slippery continuing straight, a few steps below the pass there is a sheltered spot for a break, from here there is a second trail to the right to Elena is the Base camp for climbing.
Margherita peak in the Mt. Stanley complex, requires an additional day or two and can only be attempted with ice axes, mountain boots, crampons, ropes and prior arrangement with your guides. Overnight at Kitandara lake Hut.
Destination: Mountain Rwenzori
Activities
You start hiking back and complete your trek by the evening. On arrival at the park office, you can visit a simple restaurant developed by local women’s group for a well-served beer and luxurious candlelight meal. Retire to your hotel in Kasese for the evening.
Destination: Mountain Rwenzori
Activities
After a relaxing morning, transfer to your accommodation in Kampala or Entebbe for your out bound flight.
