7 Days Mountain Rwenzori Hiking safari
7 days mountain Rwenzori hiking safari package is a suitable safari package for hikers with an interest of reaching the peak of the snow-capped mountain Rwenzori, Mountain Rwenzori stands at the altitude of 16,762 ft and on this safari, it is hiked using the central circuit to reach the peak of the mountain. This safari starts and ends in Kampala and it require tourists to be strong and speedy.
Highlights of the 7 Days Mountain Rwenzori Hiking safari
- Day 1: pickup and transfer to Kasese (western Uganda)
- Day 2: Trek from Nyakalengija to John matte hut
- Day 3: Trek from John matte to Elena hut
- Day 4: Trek from Elena to Bujuku camp to the top
- Day 5: descend from Bujuku to Nyabitaba Hut
- Day 6: descend from Nyabitaba back to Nyakalengija
- Day 7: Transfer back to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: pickup and transfer to Kasese (western Uganda)
- pickup and transfer to Kasese: On the first day of the safari you will be picked up from your hotel in Kampala after breakfast, you will be given a short briefing about the safari then set off for Kasese in western Uganda. From Kampala it is a drive of about 8 hours to Kasese, you will have a stopover in Mubende for lunch and proceed to Kasese. While in Kasese you will check into your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.
- Accommodation is got from: Luxury: Kazinga Wilderness Safari camp, Midrange: Elephant plains lodge, and Budget: Tropical Savannah guest house
Day 2: Trek from Nyakalengija to John matte hut
- Trek from Nyakalengija: On the second day of the safari you will have early morning breakfast and drive to Nyakalengija the head office of the park for briefing about the experience and get your hiking gears, from Nyakalengija you will start the day’s trek heading to John matte hut. Today’s trek done on a trail connecting Nyakalengija at the elevation of 1600 meters to John matte at the elevation of 3420 meters, your hike takes you through the local settlements, montane forests, bamboo forests to a section of alpine forest. As you continue to hike you will have a stopover at Nyabitaba hut for lunch then continue hiking crossing the Kurt Schaffer Bridge situated at the conference of Bujuku and Mubuku rivers, the hike continues until you reach John matte hut where you will have dinner and spend the night.
- Accommodation is got from John matte hut
Day 3: Trek from John matte to Elena hut
- Trek from John matte to Elena hut: On the third day of the safari you will have breakfast at the hut then start hiking towards Elena hut at the altitude of 4563 meters, as you hike you will use a rocky and slippery trail crossing various rivers and streams. On this trail you will get uninterrupted views of Margherita and Alexandra peaks from a distance, the hike continues through the lower Bigo bog and with the help of boards you will easily cross with views of various plant species such as giant lobelia, groundsels and flowers. Through the rocky parts of mount Stanley you will reach Elena hut where you will have dinner and stay overnight.
Accommodation is got from Elena Hut
Day 4: Trek from Elena to the top of mountain Rwenzori then descend to Bujuku camp
- Trek from Elena to the top of mountain Rwenzori: On the fourth day of the safari the hike starts as early as 2 am in the morning, with your hiking gears like headlamps and use of ropes and crampons you will hike to the Stanley glacier through the dark hours of the night. After Stanley glacier, you will need the crampons no more and continue hiking through Margherita glacier heading to Margherita peak which is the highest point mountain Rwenzori, from Margherita you will descend you will descend back to Elena hut and at the hut you will have lunch and a short rest. From Elena camp, you will descend to Bujuku hut at the elevation of 3930 meters where you will have dinner and stay overnight.
- Accommodation is got from Bujuku camp
Day 5: Descend from Bujuku to Nyabitaba Hut
- Descend from Bujuku to Nyabitaba Hut: On the fifth day of the safari you will have breakfast at Bujuku Hut and start your descending trek through the upper Bigo bog heading to Nyabitaba hut, you continue to trek through the lower bigo bog until you reach John matte hut where you will have lunch and a short rest. From John matte hut you will proceed to Nyabitaba hut where you will have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 6: Descend from Nyabitaba hut back to Nyakalengija
- Descend from Nyabitaba: On the sixth day of the safari you will have breakfast at Nyabitaba hut then begin your descending to Nyakalengija through bamboo forests on a slippery and muddy trail which takes about 5 hours, on this trail you needs careful balancing over the vertical mud or steep rock. As you descend you will have lunch and then continue to Nyakalengija where you will arrive in late evening, from Nyakalengija you will drive to your lodge in Kasese for dinner and stay overnight.
Day 7: Transfer from Kasese back to Kampala
- Transfer from Kasese back to Kampala: On the seventh day of the safari you will have morning breakfast then check out and set off for kampala, on your way you will have en-route lunch and when you reach in Kampala you will be dropped off either at your lodge or at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight back home.
End of 7 Days Mountain Rwenzori Hiking safari
Safari inclusions
- airport transfers
- transportation in a 4X4 safari vehicle
- English speaking driver-guide
- accommodation as per the itinerary
- delicious meals as the meal plan
- bottled drinking water
- hiking gears
- porters
- Rwenzori mountain national park entrance fees
Safari exclusions
- accommodation before and after the safari
- international flights fare
- Visa
- personal expenses on items like tips, drinks, and laundry
