9 Days Rwenzori Trekking – Margherita Peak via Central circuit

9 Days Rwenzori Trekking to the Rwenzori Mountains (Margherita Peak) is an Ultimate Hiking Package. 9 Days Rwenzori Climbing Tour via the Central circuit. The actual hike from the foothills to the Margherita peak of Mountain Rwenzori using the central circuit trail takes 7 days and 6 nights.

However, when arriving and departing from Kampala or Entebbe International Airport the entire trip will be 9 days and 8 nights. 9 Days Rwenzori Trekking through the Central circuit Route trail is a perfect trip with a transfer to the park as well as a drop-off to your hotel, place of residence, or Airport for a departure flight. The central circuit route starts from Nyakalengija following the Mubuku River valley, to the slopes of Mount Baker with the final trail leading to Mount Stanley peak of Margherita. This 9 Days Rwenzori trekking of the central circuit passes through 5 different vegetation zones from the Mountain forest, to the bamboo zone, and the alpine zone respectively, with a difference in their levels of altitude from 2.800 to 3.500 meters above sea level.

9 Days Mount Rwenzori Trekking Itinerary Gallery

Safari by day Highlight: 9 Days Rwenzori Mountains Trekking

Day #1: Meet your guide and transfer to Mount Rwenzori National Park

Day #2: Trek from Nyakalengija to Nyabitabba (2651m)

Day #3: Hike from Nyabitaba to John Matte (3505m)

Day #4: Trek from John Matte hut to Bujuku Hut (3962)

Day #5: Trek from Bujuku camp to Elena Hut (4541 m)

Day #6: Trek from Elena Hut to Magherita peak then to Kitandara Hut (4023 m)

Day #7: Trek from Kitandara to Fresh field pass to Guy Yeoman (3505m)

Day #8: Descent trek from Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba to Nyakalengijja

Day #9: Return to Kampala or Entebbe International Airport for a departure flight

Detailed Mountaineering itinerary of the 9 Days Rwenzori Mountains trekking

Day 1: Meet your guide and transfer to Mount Rwenzori National Park

Meet your driver tour guide who will pick you up from the airport/hotel or place of residence in either Kampala or Entebbe International Airport. After here, travel to Kasese via Mbarara with a stopover at the equator line just about 80km from Kampala and later in  Mbarara for lunch, reaching Nyakalengija in the late afternoon. Proceed to Rwenzori Mountaineering services headquarters for registration, before retiring in your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 2: Trek from Nyakalengija to Nyabitabba (2651m)

Rwenzori Mountains Trekking

On this first day of hike on Mount Rwenzori, you will head to Rwenzori Mountaineering services headquarters at Ibanda to make payments, meet your Rwenzori trekkers/hiker guides, porters, after which you proceed with a warm-up trek to the Mount Rwenzori National Park’s main gate for park registration before entering the park. The trek leads you through the Bakonjo settlements and plantations. Your central circuit trail hike starts from the main gate, right after registration to Nyabitabba hut at 2652m, which may take approximately 6-7 hours.

Day 3: Hike from Nyabitaba to John Matte (3505m)

After breakfast at the Nyabitaba hut, follow the trail from to John Matte. Cross over Kurt Scheffer, lying between Bujuku and Mubuku River, after which you will continue trekking over slippery moss-covered and steep rocks alongside bamboo mixed with montane forest. The forest contains various bird species that you may spot as you trek through the forest, continuing up to Nyamileju rock shelter, where you will have your lunch break. Enjoy remarkable views of mount Stanley and Speke (only on a clear day). Proceed to John Matte’s hut through the alpine forest, arriving at the hut in the afternoon for dinner, the next day’s briefing, and an overnight stay.

Day 4: Trek from John Matte hut to Bujuku Hut (3962)

Bujuku Hut – Rwenzori trekking

After early morning breakfast, you will cross the Bujuku River to the Bigo bog region. Follow the steep path to the upper Bigo bog, after which you will reach the drier ground up to Lake Bujuku. Enjoy the beautiful views of Mount Stanley to the west, Mount Baker to the south, and Speke to the North. Arrive at Bujuku camp at 3962m, after a 4-5 hour walk. Dinner, next day briefing, and an overnight stay.

Day 5: Trek from Bujuku camp to Elena Hut (4541 m)

On this day, you will trek for about 6-7 hours from Bujuku hut to Elena hut. Since the hut is situated within the cold, rocky region of mount Stanley, you will pass via the upper Bigo bog, and then through the steep slopes of Lake Bujuku to the West as you ascend to the 4372m Scott-Elliot pass. Proceed through several swamps as well as the beautiful ground gully. Walk through the steep sections above the gully by using a metal ladder reaching a junction with two divided trails, whereby the right trailheads to the Elena Hut, rising through a steep trail above the large boulders to Mount Stanley. Otherwise, the left trailheads to the Scott-Elliot pass as you descend to Kitandara hut. Arrive at Elena hut in the afternoon, and enjoy the breath views of Mount Baker and Mount Speke, which is sometimes hard to see due to fog. Dinner and overnight at the hut.

Day 6: Trek from Elena Hut to Margherita Peak then to Kitandara Hut (4023 m)

You will wake up at 2:00 am, enjoy your breakfast, and embark on your hike to the top of Magheritah peak starting from 3:00 am. Hike through the Stanley plateau to the top of Mount Stanley. While using ropes, you will hike through the steep rocky regions, as well as crampons and the ice ax on the glacial ax- as directed by the guide. This may last for a couple of hours, after which you will arrive at the bottom of Margherita glacier-the most challenging part of the 9 days Mount Rwenzori central circuit trekking experience. Proceed to the top of the peak of Mount Stanley (Magheritah Peak) at 5107m. While at the peak, enjoy the impressive views of Lake Ireen, Mount Speke, and the surrounding environment, after then descend Elena hut for lunch and later continue with your trek to Kitandara, through the Scott Elliot pass (also considered as the most beautiful spot of Rwenzori). Dinner and overnight at Kitandara hut. However, depending on your group’s strength, you may opt to spend another night at Elena Hut, and continue the next day to Kitandara then to Guy Yeoman.

Day 7: Trek from Kitandara to Fresh field pass to Guy Yeoman (3505m)

Kitandara – Rwenzori Trekking

After early morning breakfast, spend your entire 6-8 hours’ trekking along the base of Mount Baker which is quite slippery. Ascend steeply up the headwall that spreads from the base of Mount Baker, as you proceed towards the southern side of Mountain Rwenzori to the Fresh field pass. Continue with the long stretch of the muddy trail, trekking through the Kabamba, Akhendahi, and rock shelters of Bujongolo-the base camp for the historic expeditions by Duke of Abruzzi in 1906. Proceed with your trek along the Kabamba trail and later arrive at Guy Yeoman, which is established at the banks of river Mubuku. Dinner and overnight at the hut.

Day 8: Descent trek from Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba to Nyakalengijja

On this last day of your 9 days Rwenzori Mountains trekking through the central circuit trail, you will descend to Nyabitaba hut, after your early morning breakfast passing through the Bamboo forest. You enjoy great sightings of beautiful flowers and plants, bamboo forests, and Kinchuchu and Mubuku Rivers, not forgetting the Kabamba falls. Arrive at Nyabitabba hut after a 4 hours’ trek, after which you will briefly spend 40 minutes visiting Lake Mahoma. Return to the hut after Lake Mahoma exploration and embark on your trek to Nyakalengijja where you will meet your guide to transfer you back to your hotel

Day 9: Return to Kampala or Entebbe International Airport for a departure flight

On this day, you will return to Kampala with en-route stopovers for lunch in Mbarara and at the equator for photography. You can also purchase some souvenirs from the crafts shop. Arrive in Kampala in the afternoon, and later travel to your drop-off point.

End of 9 Days Rwenzori Mountains Trekking Tour