Day 1. Pick up pick up from Entebbe and transfer to base camp in Rwenzori national park
The drive will take us 8-9 hours to get to Rwenzori, you will have lunch at the gardens restaurant in fort portal as we proceed to the base camp, after we shall proceed to Equator snow cottages for an overnight stay meals is on half board.
Day 2: Nyakalengija (1650) to Nyabitaba camp (2650m)
Start the day by approaching the Rwenzori mountaineering reservation officer early in the morning in order to hire equipment if so and arrange for guides, chef and porters at once hiking starts from the park gates to Nyabitaba a distance of 7km takes 5-6 hours and an ascent of 1200 meters .
The trail at the beginning goes through homes and fields progressing through high elephant grasses and dense bush. You will climb over cliffs and bluffs crossing river mahoma then ascending steeply into Nyabitaba camp. Certain animals can be spotted such as the white and black colobus monkeys, three horned chameleon and the Rwenzori Turaco birds.
Stay an overnight at the Nyabitaba camp.
Day 3: Nyabitaba (2650)m to Johnmaate camp (3505)m
From Nyabitaba you descend to your right follow the trail that drops down through the forest for a half an hour to the Kurt Shafer bridge, just before the confluence of the mubuku and Bujuku rivers.
The walk is then easy going for a couple of hours passing through the bamboo forest and then becomes more difficult kind of like spelunking, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rocks.
From the nyamileju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant Heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach Johnmaate camp after passing through the tiring bog. While here, high chances of catching the nice views of Mount Stanley and margherita glacier.
Dinner and overnight at the hut.
Day 4: Johnmaate camp (3505)m to Bujuku camp (3900)m
From Johnmaate camp 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, continuing on to the upper bigo bog you will follow the Bujuku river that sometimes runs underground from lake Bujuku, with views of mount Baker to the South and mount Stanley to the west.
Bujuku hut well located well located in the shadows of mount Baker and Speke, is set in a narrow valley below stulman pass.
Dinner and an overnight
Day5: Bujuku camp (3900)m – summit Mount Speke (Victoria Emanuelle peak)
After summiting you will come back to bujuku for dinner and an overnight.
Day 6: Bujuku hut (3900)m to Elena hut (4541)m
Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing up the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical groundsel gully as it ascends to Scot Eliot 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 Eliot pass and down to Kitandara lakes, the trail on the left leads those who are not climbing margherita peak. Those climbing up the peak will have their dinner and overnight at the coolly and icy Elena hut.
Day 7: Elena hut (4541)m to margherita peak (5109)m and back to Kitandara lakes camp (4022)m
For those aiming at reaching margherita peak, continue to the base of Stanley glacier. To reach the summit of margarita, the climb takes about 5-7 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you through 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 colly weather. Scramble up to the summit of margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori. Given the high altitude and the tough conditions even if you don’t reach the peak, don’t get disappointed.
Prepare for your return through the Scot Eliot pass where there are spectacular views of the Bujuku lake, mount Speke, Mount Stanley and down the Kitandara lakes. After the trail that passes you through the Alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend passed the Kitandara lakes for dinner and an overnight at Kitandara lakes camp.
Day 8: Kitandara lakes camp 4022m – summit Mount baker and continue down to Guyeoman camp From Kitandara.
The trail 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 4280m. 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 of bujongolo the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906.
Overnight at Guyeoman camp.
Day 9: Guyeoman 3505m to Nyabitaba camp 2560m
That is where you will have your lunch and continue down to nyakalengija for transfer to the next destination.
The descend to Nyabitaba takes around 6-7 hours but with an early start and it’s possible to make it all the way down to nyakalengija.
Below Guyeoman, the route descends the cliffs of kichuchu and takes you through the bamboo forest zones down to Nyabitaba for either dinner and an overnight or lunch and continue down to nyakalengija for hot showers. Dinner and overnight at Equator snow
Day 10. Transfer back to Kampala
This will be a day for transferring back to kampala/Entebbe to mark the end of the tour lunch will be taken on the way in Mubende as we make our way to the airport.
End of the tour
Price will be $2200 for the mountain and the 1st night and last night at Equator snow.
The price excludes transport from Entebbe to the mountain and back, each way is $280×2 which is $560
But there’s a flight sometime from Entebbe to kasese airstrip and it charges 470 Return
And public buses from kampala to mubuku the turning point to the base camp at $16 each way.
WHAT TO PACK FOR THE TREK
Clothing (essential):
Summer shirts and shorts – for walking in the heat at the start of the trek
Warm long-sleeved shirts – for when it gets cold
Warm long walking trousers (not jeans!)
Fleece jacket (one or more, and/or a down jacket) – for additional warmth; or a warm anorak/jacket which should not be too heavy
Thermal underwears
Good quality waterproof and windproof outer shell (Jacket & trousers)
Cheap plastic poncho or (Rain jacket and rain pants)
Hat – a warm hat and a sun hat (that has both a peak and shades the back of your neck)
Wool Hat/Balaclava
Gloves – 2 pairs; one pair of thin liners and another of warmer and waterproof outer gloves are more practical than mittens.
Footwear:
Mountain boots – essential (good quality well-worn in)
Walking Shoes (another pair of lighter weight walking shoes / trainers for the start of the climb)
Several pairs of warm, cushioned socks (so you always have a dry pair to change into)
Crampons for the summit day. Please do carry a pair of your own crampons. Kindly note that they are a must have for the summit of Margherita peak
Equipment (essential):
More requirements
Good quality Sleeping bag (minimum rating of 4 seasons)
Soft Bag / Hold all or Rucksack (framed or unframed) – large enough to hold your personal gear (limit 23Kg) on the mountain; this will be carried by a porter
Daysac , Big enough for you to carry your daily water (3litres), lunch box, camera, wet weather clothing and fleece jacket.
External protective cover for rucksack & daysac (or pack all contents in plastic bags for water-proofing)
Sunglasses (models with side-shields are preferable).
Lip salve
Head Torch and a set of spare batteries (special batteries are not always available locally)
2nd / Back up torch and spare batteries
Water bottle(s) (strong) to hold 3 liters – which you will carry with you, daily)
Water treatment tablets / iodine or quality filter (although water gets boiled for you by our staff and served as tea or coffee which can also be filled up in your water bottles)
Spare plastic bags (to keep things as dry as possible)
Wash kit plus a small towel
Basic First Aid kit (for personal use) including paracetamol & dehydration sachets
A few of your favorite sweets/’chewies’/dried fruit etc…… (They are good motivators on the trek)
For all treks summiting Margherita peak, we will provide the following gear: – Harnesses, caribinas, ice axes, helmets, rubber boot (are a must have), ropes and ice screws as part of the hiking package. The rest of the equipment must be carried by all hikers as we have not much for hire, that is for Crampons.