10 Days Rwenzori Trekking – Central Circuit Trail : This 10 Day Rwenzori Trekking Adventure is specifically designed for trekking Rwenzori Mountains along the central circuit trail/route.
The Central Circuit Trail starts from Mihunga Gate at 1651m, this circuit is the most convenient, easy and shortest route to Margehrita peak. Although the path between the John Matte and Bujuku camps are always Boggy.
This circuit can lead you to through Mount Baker, Mount Stanley, Mount Speke and sometimes the Weismann Peak of the Rwenzori Mountains.
The Central Circuit trail navigates through the 5 different vegetation zones which offers spectacular views of Mount Baker, Mount stanley, Mount Speke and Weisman Peak, as it crosses both the lower and the upper bigo bogs which are firmly supported by board walks for easy trekking through the area.
This trail begins from the Mihunga Trail Head to Bujuku via Nyabitaba and John Matte. From the Bujuku, the trail then leads to other peaks over to the Scott Elliot Pass, then to Kitandara Lakes. Then it proceeds over the fresh field pass to Bujuku Valley.
Highlights of 10 Days Rwenzori Trekking
· Day 1: Arrival and transfer to the Hotel
· Day 2: Transfer to Rwenzori Mountains National Park
· Day 3: First Day Hiking from Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba (2650m high)
· Day 4: Trekking to John Matte Hut (3350)
· Day 5: Trek to Bujuku Hut (3900m)
· Day 6: Climb to Elena Hut (4541m)
· Day 7: Climb of Mount Stanley (5109m) to Kitandara Hut (4027m)
· Day 8: Climb to Guy Yeoman Hut (3260m ASL)
· Day 9: Descend To Nyakalengija Trail Head (1600m), drive back to Kampala.
· Say 10: Airport Transfer.
Detailed itinerary of 10 Days Rwenzori Trekking
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to the Hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Rwenzori Mountains National Park
After your morning breakfast, your driver guide will pick you and embark on a journey to Rwenzori Mountains in western Uganda with lunch enroute in Fort Portal. Upon reaching the mountains, you will check in the lodge and spend the night at a community camp at Ruboni Community Camp.
Day 3: First Day Hiking from Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba (2650m high)
After morning breakfast, you will start your first Rwenzori Trekking by taking the Nyakalengija Trail which covers distance of 1600m. This is where UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) will take you through a short briefing to begin the Rwenzori trekking, this trail will take you through Bakonjo homesteads in steep slopes of the Mountain, banana plantations. Continue with a trail near Mubuku River from where you will again cross river Mahoma before climb climbing progressively through the forest to reach Nyabitaba hut. Dinner and overnight stay at Nyabitaba Hut.
Day 4: Trekking to John Matte Hut (3350)
After your breakfast, you will set off from Nyabitaba Hut through a small trail and ascend down to Kurt Shafer Bridge just before the conjunction of River Bujuku and Mubuku. The forest progressively cracks into a bamboo region where the trail is slippery and moss-topped. A place of the massive lobelia groundsel vegetation and heather appears before the Nyamileju rock shelter before crossing a swamp to the hut. Dinner and overnight stay at John matte hut.
Day 5: Trek to Bujuku Hut (3900m)
After your morning breakfast, you will start trekking to Bujuku hut, trail head down to cross the Bujuku River and arrive at Inferior Bigo Swamp, home of massive lobelias. Cross the swamp to the Higher Bigo swamp before proceeding to Lake Bujuku where sights of the uppermost mountain Stanley in the west are to be viewed. Dinner and overnight stay at Bujuku Hut.
Day 6: Climb to Elena Hut (4541m)
Set off from Bujuku after your breakfast, the swampy path hikes the hills west of the lake, going through the supernatural groundsel gorge. Climb to Scott-Elliot Pass that is 4372m long. A metallic stepladder takes you over an exceedingly deep section after which the trail splits, the right trail goes up to Elen Hut and Mt. Stanley over a steep rocky trail, while the left-hand connects you to Scott-Elliot Pass and down to Lake Kitandara.
Overnight: Elena Hut at the foothills of the Stanely Glacier.
Day 7: Climb of Mount Stanley (5109m) to Kitandara Hut (4027m)
If you are not interested at reaching the summit, a more relaxing day hiking from Elena Hut (4541m) to Lake Kitandara (4023m). For those interested nut also according to the elevation sickness, reflectiveness, ascending capacity and adaptation, hike a further three hours to Margherita peak (5109m) and later descend down to Kitandara Hut. Hike to the Elena glacier, before reaching on to the Stanely Highland. Hike and ascend to Margherita Summit, the uppermost peak of the Rwenzori, the most exciting about the trekking Rwenzori. Use of ropes and Crampons may well be recommended.
Before ready for a strong, difficult time in the mountains. Get back to the Scott-Elliot pass, sight the supernatural Bujuku Lake and Mt Speke a close range, and proceed to descend down to the Lake Kitandara. Dinner and overnight stay at Kitandara Hut(4023m).
Day 8: Climb to Guy Yeoman Hut (3260m ASL)
After breakfast, hike from the base of Mount Baker to the fresh field pass south parts of Rwenzori over the distance of 4280m. Outlook the Congo in the west and Mt. Stanley in the north is very possible, from the trail, the boggy pass proceeds downhill, going through the rock housing at Bujongolo which is a historical excursion by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906. Dinner and overnight stay at Guy Yeoman Hut.
Day 9: Descend To Nyakalengija Trail Head (1600m), drive back to Kampala.
Have morning breakfast, load up your equipment. Later descend out of the Rwenzori Mountains, the trek will be for about 6 hours past the nearby Lake Mahoma and Nyabitaba and passes through the heather area and the Moss Zone.
This may be the final hut in the Rwenzori Mountains or you could exit all the way if you feel energetic. On arrival at the foothills of the mountain, proceed to your lodge to freshen up, have lunch and take a long afternoon rest when you will have dinner and overnight.
Day 10: Airport Transfer.
After your breakfast, set offer for Kampala with lunch en-route in Mbarara. Arrive in the evening hours prior to your flight. You will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your departure.
