7 Day Mount Rwenzori Hiking Itinerary (Central Circuit Trail)

You will have breakfast in the morning and then head to Rwenzori National Park headquarters for briefing, registration, and allocation of guides & porters for the whole hike.You will begin the hikewhich is 4-5hours through farmlands and banana plantations then enter montane forest through the thick tropical with high elephant grass and dense bushes. This forest is a home to various animal species like forest elephant, chimpanzee, hyrax, black-and- white colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys, duiker, and three-horned chameleon,and several bird species (Rwenzori turaco).You will also have the first panoramic view of Mount Stanley and Mount Speak. This trail has steep climb along River Mubuku crossing small bridges and ridges.

Accommodation: Nyabitaba Hut
Meal plan: Breakfast Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast at Nyabitaba hut, you will descend through the thick forest about 35minutes to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, where the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers meet. You will climb steadily into the heather zone, with giant ferns and moss-draped trees as well as crossing challenging rocky slopes and muddy paths.You will continue to Nyamulejju rock shelter where you will have a stopover for lunch. After continue to John Matte hut where you will have dinner and spend the night. The hut is near river Bujuku and most hikers take a bath there, the water is so cold but so refreshing as well. Here you will also have a view of the Margherita glacier, which is on mount Stanley between Alexandra and Margherita peaks. Nyabitaba to John Matte is about 6-7hours

Accommodation: John Matte Hut
Meal plan: Breakfast Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, you will cross the famous Bigo Bog on wooden boardwalks which is a home of past giant lobelias and groundsels, iconic plants of the Rwenzori alpine zone.This area used to be hardest section of Rwenzori without board walks where hikers used to sink waist deep in mud.Continue along the trail to reach Lake Bujuku, lying in a valley surrounded by Mount Baker, Speke, and Stanley.along a After the board walk you will try to move through the remaining small boggy area with no walk boards to Bujuku hut for dinnerand overnight stay. At this point, you will have a view of Lake Bujuku, mount Speke, Mount Baker and mount Stanley. The distance from john matte to Bujuku is about 4–5 hours.

Accommodation: Bujuku Hut
Meal plan: Breakfast Lunch & Dinner

You will have breakfast, then ascend steeply out of the Bujuku Valley through steep and alpine vegetation about 4-5 hours.Pass through the spectacular “Groundsel Gully,” where giant groundsels grow.You will go over a steep section at the top of the gully using a metal ladder.The trail is then divided into two trails, the left trail leads to Scott-Elliot pass descending to Kitandara Lakes while the right trail heads to the Elena Hut and on a steep trail above large boulders to Mt Stanley.Elena hut is at the rocky part of Mount Stanley and the area is too cold. At this point, you are at the highest mountain of the Rwenzori and you will have a direct view of Mount Baker and Mount Speke. Sometimes it is hard to view these two mountains because they are covered by fog. You will have dinner and overnight stay at Elena hut.

Accommodation: Elena Hut
Meal plan: Breakfast Lunch & Dinner

You will Wake up at 2–3 am have breakfast and get ready with your warmest ropes, harnesses, crampons, and ice axes.You will hike for about 9-12hours and cross the Stanley Glacier, climb steep ice sections, and navigate crevasses with the help of guides.
After moving for a couple of hours ,will reach the bottom of the margherita glacier. This is the most challenging part of the entire hiking Mt Rwenzori experience. You will hike through this glacier to the top of mount Stanley, margherita peak (5109m)the highest point in Uganda and third highest in Africa surrounded by the clouds and glaciers of the “Mountains of the Moon.” At the top you will have a view of Ireen Lake, mount Speke and the surrounding environment Then you will descend carefully back to Elena Hut, then continue to Kitandara Hut beside the twin Kitandara Lakes.

Accommodation: Kitandara Hut.
Meal plan: Breakfast Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, you will Climb up the Fresh field Pass (4,282m), enjoying sweeping views of Mount Stanley, Mount Baker, and Mount Speke. Where you will descend through slippery grounds, alpine bogs, and dense vegetation zones about 6-7 hours.Then reach Guy Yeoman Hut in a beautiful valley with giant heathers, rivers, and waterfalls which is located at the banks of river Mubuku, have dinner and spend the night.

Accommodation: Guy Yeoman Hut.
Meal plan: Breakfast Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast you will continue to final descent through bamboo forest and montane vegetation.Cross several rivers and waterfalls before re-entering farmland.After about 5 hours of trekking you will reach Nyabitaba hut where you will have a stopover for lunch. You will continue reaching in the evening then exit at Nyakalengija gate where certificates are issued as well as celebrating the completion of one of Africa’s toughest hike.Transfer back to Kasese/ fort portal town for over night stay.

Accommodation: End of trek – hotel in Kasese/Fort Portal.

You will have early morning chilled breakfast after your long hiking safari then continue to Kampala where you will have lunch en route. After continue to Kampala / Entebbe Marking the end of You 8day Mt Rwenzori hiking safari.