Rwenzori: The Mountains of the moon epic

Set off day: Drive to Kasese. Check in hotel, rest and prepare for the trail head.

 Day 1: Nyakalengija – Nyabitaba Hut (2650m).

Early in the morning, after having a cup of coffee, drive to Nyakalengija trailhead (1600m). Meet porters and guides and begin hiking up to Nyabitaba hut. Walk through the Matooke / Banana plantations on the side of the steep foothills, past the local Bakonzo homesteads. Continue with the trail along the Mubuku River, through landslides. After crossing the Mahoma River, climb steeply through bracken fern slopes and Podocarpus forest to Nyabitaba Hut. Dinner and Overnight at Nyabitaba Hut.

Day 2: John Matte Hut (3350m).

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 through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock. From the Nyamileju 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 tiringbog, for Dinner and Overnight at the Hut.

Day 3: Bujuku Hut

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 of the 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, well located in the shadow of Mount Baker and Mount Speke, is set in a narrow valley below Stuhlmann Pass. Dinner and overnight at the hut.

Day 4: Elena Hut (4541m).

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical Groundsel Gully as it ascends to Scott-Elliot Pass at 4372m. At the head of the gully a metal ladder takes you over a steep section after which the trail is divided into two. The trail on your right leads 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. Dinner and Overnight at the Coolly and Icy Elena Hut

Day 5: Margherita peak (5109m) to Lake Kitandara camp( 4050m)

For those aiming at reaching Margherita peak (5109m), continue to the base of the Stanley Glacier. To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 5-7 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 very exposed areas which are open on many sides.

Note that this climb is for only physically fit and technical climbers.

Climbing on to the glaciers, cross the Stanley Plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and coolly weather, scramble up to the summit of Margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzoris.

Given the high altitude and the tough conditions even if you do not reach the peak, don’t get disappointed. Prepare for you return through the Scott-Elliot pass, where there are spectacular views back to Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke, up to Mount Stanley and down to the Kitandara Lakes.

After the trail that passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight at the Kitandara Hut.

Day 6: Guy Yeoman Hut (3260m)

From Kitandara, take on the trail that ascends steeply up the headwall, spreading out from the base of Mount Baker and continuing along the southside of the mountain to Fresh field Pass. At this point you can view into the Congo to the west and Mount Stanley to the north. From the pass, take on the long trail passing the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906. Dinner and Overnight at Guy Yeoman Hut.

Day 7 : Guy Yeoman Hut (3260m)– Nyakalenginja

Take on the path down to Nyabitaba hut. The path can be slippery and mud and therefore requires careful balancing over the vertical mud ladders. Remember this is part of the adventure with in this mountain. Have lunch at Nyabitaba camp before you can proceed to Mihunga park gate to meet your driver to Kasese town, then you can have a hot shower and rest. Dinner and overnight.

Leaving Day : Drive to Kampala.

-Ugx 4,900,000 for East Africans

-ugx 6,100,000 for Foreigners 

For all Sunny Outdoors and Mountain club of Uganda members

Ugx 4,700,000 for Eastafricans

Ugx 5,400,000 for Foreigners

Return transportation to Kasese, all park fees, government tax, all meals, lunches, porters’ and guides’ wages, rescue fees, camping gear, technical climbing equipment.

accommodation in and outside the National park ( huts and hotels)

All ground transfers to and from Kasese.

Travel insurance 

Tips

Extra porter in case a client has luggage beyond 21kgs, and for any extra porter the client is charged USD 65

Hard or alcoholic drinks.

Climbing equipment, in case the client doesn’t have some of the equipment they can hire from the store but must first inform us of the type of technical equipment they need to hire/rent.

Note(included in Sunny outdoors cost):

1.  ice axe- harness-, crampons , climbing rope, helmet, climbing boot

NB. Please come with your climbing equipment or you can hire some of them locally when you arrive BUT after booking them in advance. All technical climbing equipment will be provided by sunny outdoors 

– 1 Pair, Snow glasses

– Sunscreen

– First aid kit

– Rubber boots (for boggy areas)

– Ice axe

– Gaiters

– Crampons

– Harnesses

– Climbing rope

– Helmet

• 2 Thermal vests and thermal leggings (polypropylene or capilene)

• 1 Fleece pullover (like soft polaretec 100g or 200g, or similar)

• 1 Fleece jacket or alike

• 1 Rainproof or windproof jacket with hood (such as Gore‐Tex)

• Kickable T‐shirts or shirts (not cotton)

• 1 Buff or similar

* Highly suggest getting a prescription for an Albuterol Inhaler to bring along on the trip in case of any breathing difficulties as well as Ciproxin which is a safe medication for travel diarrhea and can be

used as a general antibiotic.

• 1 Pair of comfortable hiking boots

• 3 Pairs of outer socks (thick wool or polypropylene)

• 4 Pairs of inner socks (thin silk or polypropylene)

• Sandals or light weight trainers for around camp

• Gaiters

• 1 Fleece pants (full length zippers recommended)

• Comfortable trekking pants

• 1 Pairs of inner thermal gloves (polypropylene or capilene)

• 1 Pair of insulated outer gloves

Sleeping Gear

– Sleeping bag for ‐15°C / 5°F (down or polar guard)

– Sleeping mats

• Head lamp with extra batteries and bulb

• Block for lips and sun screen (not less than 35 spf)

• 2 Water bottles (32 fl.oz / 1 liter Nalgene recommended. Water bottle insulator needed)

• 1 Stainless steel thermos of one liter or half liter (optional)

• Hand warmers (for summit day)

• Hydrating system (like CamelBak, for approach trek to base camp)

• Personal care elements (small towel and soap, wet wipes recommended)

• 1 Pair of trekking poles (adjustable preferred)

• Comfortable Day pack (for approach to base camp)

• One XL strong duffel bag (to be carried by the porters)

• Book, games or anything for leisure time

• Camera, memory cards and extra batteries

• Silicon Earplugs (for windy nights)

• Pocket‐knife

• Your favorite energy bars. Avoid anything with caramel and toffee.

Head

• Sun cap or hat

• Ski hat (wool or fleece)

• Light balaclava

• Good pair of sunglasses 

*All the gear listed is available in store sunny-outdoors.com

Sign up for the Rwenzori mountain trail scheduled for this year here https://sunny-outdoors.com/products/mt-rwenzori-the-mountains-of-the-moon-epic?_pos=1&_sid=299d35f1c&_ss=r  or reach out directly to Sunny Outdoors +256702590664 to do it on your personalized itinerary.