DETAILED ITINERARY
Day1: ARRIVAL AT ENTEBBE AIRPORT
Your will be picked from the airport by our drive/guide, you will be welcomed and transferred to the hotel for an overnight in Kampala/ Entebbe town.
Day2: TRANSFER TO KASESE TOWN
After an early morning breakfast in Kampala, you will drive to Kasese via Fort Portal. The Kyonjojo plains will provide you views of rolling tea plantations before you arrive in Fort Portal town, where you will stop for lunch. From Fort Portal proceed to Kasese town under the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains. Overnight in Kasese town (Sandton Hotel) or directly to the base camp town of Ibanda near the base of Nyakalengija.
Day 3: NYAKALENGIJA (1615m asl.) – NYABITABA CAMP (2651m asl.)
The central circuit starts at the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services offices at Nyakalengija. You need to arrive in the morning to allow ample time to rent equipment and meet your guides and porters. The trail begins by passing through farmland to the park boundary beyond which it follows a thick forest along the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma River tributary before starting a long, steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut. During this part of the trip you may hear chimpanzee and see black and white colobus, blue monkey and the brilliantly coloured Rwenzori turraco.
The hike takes an average of 6 -7 hours.
Day 4: NYABITABA – JOHN MATTE CAMP (3505m asl.)
From Nyabitaba follow the trail that drops down through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Passing through the bamboo forest, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock. From the Nyamuleju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach John Matte Hut after passing through the tiring bog, for dinner and overnight at the hut.
The hike takes an average of 7 – 8 hours.
Day 5: JOHN MATTE – BUJUKU CAMP (3962m asl.)
From John Matte Hut 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 below. The upper Bigo bog gives way to Bujuku Lake, with views of Mt Baker to the South and Mt Stanley to the West. Bujuku Hut, well located in the shadow of Mount Baker and Mount Speke, is set in a narrow valley below Stuhlmann Pass. This camp is good for acclimatization for clients attempting the summits of peaks Mount Stanley and Mount Speke. Dinner and overnight at Bujuku hut.
The hike takes an average of 4 – 5 hours.
Day 6: BUJUKU – MT. SPEKE (4890M asl.) – BUJUKU – JOHN MAATE
Early in the morning start the hike through stullmans pass (4192m asl.) and spectacular views of Virunga National park of DR Congo to Victorio Emanuele peak.
The ascend to the peak takes 4 – 5 hours.
Prepare to descend back to Bujuku camp from Victorio Emanuele with views of Bujuku valley and Bujuku lake, Margherita and Albert peaks on Mount Stanley, and Mount Baker back to Bujuku and continue for an overnight at John Maate Camp.
The descend takes an average of 3 – 4hours.
Day 7: JOHN MAATE – NYABITABA – NYAKALENGIJA (1615m asl.)
Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu. Beyond Kichuchu the muddy path crosses the Mubuku River twice through a bamboo forest before climbing downwards to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit.
Continue descending Nyabitaba Camp and complete your trek by the evening at Nyakalengija, the base camp.
The descent takes 7 – 8 hours
Day8: TRANSFER TO ENTEBBE AIRPORT
Wakeup by morning and have breakfast, our driver will therefore join you to connect to Kampala to catch up with your flight back home.
The cost includes:
Meals while in the park, park entrance and nature walks fees, guiding fees, porters’ wages, gas cooker, climbing ropes, camping gear. Clients to pay for their accommodation and meals outside the National Park, climbing equipment and other necessities which are not mentioned
The price excludes:
- Tips
- Special meals different from those provided at the hotel or restaurant
- Extra porter in case a client has luggage beyond 20kgs, and for any extra porter the client is charged $110
- In case of an extra day beyond the proposed itinerary, the client is charged $130
- Extra peak is charged $150 per person
- Hard or alcoholic drinks.
- Climbing equipment, in case the client doesn’t have some of the equipment they can hire from the store but must first inform us of the type of technical equipment they need to hire/rent, however if the number of climbers is 4pax and above the office provides free extra climbing rope
Note:
- The accommodation is not in luxury hotels but middle range
- Transport is by Omin-bus HAICE or Jpsuim car and not land cruisers.
- Hire of equipment ( ice axe-$20, harness-$20, crampons-$20, climbing rope-$25, helmet-$20, climbing boot-$25, sleeping bag-$25 ) However we have few helmets, and climbing boots, sleeping bags in our stores.
MOUNTAIN CHECKLIST
- Please come with your climbing equipment or you can hire some of them locally when you arrive BUT after booking them in advance.
Climbing equipment
– 1 Pair, Snow glasses
– Sunscreen
– First aid kit
– Rubber boots (for boggy areas)
– Ice axe
– Gaiters
– Crampons
– Harnesses
– Climbing rope
– Helmet
Body and Chest
• 2 Thermal vests and thermal leggings (polypropylene or capilene)
• 1 Fleece pullover (like soft polaretec 100g or 200g, or similar)
• 1 Fleece jacket or alike
• 1 Rainproof or windproof jacket with hood (such as Gore‐Tex)
• Kickable T‐shirts or shirts (not cotton)
• 1 Buff or similar
** Highly suggest getting a prescription for an Albuterol Inhaler to
bring along on the trip in case of any breathing difficulties as well
as Ciproxin which is a safe medication for travel diarrhea and can be
used as a general antibiotic.
Feet and Legs
• 1 Pair of comfortable hiking boots
• 3 Pairs of outer socks (thick wool or polypropylene)
• 4 Pairs of inner socks (thin silk or polypropylene)
• Sandals or light weight trainers for around camp
• Gaiters
• 1 Fleece pants (full length zippers recommended)
• Comfortable trekking pants
Hands
• 1 Pairs of inner thermal gloves (polypropylene or capilene)
• 1 Pair of insulated outer gloves
Sleeping Gear
– Sleeping bag for ‐15°C / 5°F (down or polar guard)
– Sleeping mats
Others
• Head lamp with extra batteries and bulb
• Block for lips and sun screen (not less than 35 spf)
• 2 Water bottles (32 fl.oz / 1 liter Nalgene recommended. Water
bottle insulator needed)
• 1 Stainless steel thermos of one liter or half liter (optional)
• Hand warmers (for summit day)
• Hydrating system (like CamelBak, for approach trek to base camp)
• Personal care elements (small towel and soap, wet wipes recommended)
• 1 Pair of trekking poles (adjustable preferred)
Upper Body Packs
• Comfortable Day pack (for approach to base camp)
• One XL strong duffel bag (to be carried by the porters)
Optional Items
• Book, IPod, games or anything for leisure time
• Camera, memory cards and extra batteries
• Silicon Earplugs (for windy nights)
• Pocket‐knife
• Your favorite energy bars. Avoid anything with caramel and toffee.
Head
• Sun cap or hat
• Ski hat (wool or fleece)
• Light balaclava
• Good pair of sunglasses (with UV filter, wrap around)
• Walking sticks
