| Duration: | 10 Day(s) - 9 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Adventure Tours |
Day One: Arrival
On arrival at Entebbe Airport, a guide from BUSHMEMORIES will meet you and transfer you to Kasese and overnight at Hotel Margherita depending on the time of arrival.
This evening, your guide will go to the park headquarters and the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services concessions to arrange payments, rent equipment and select guides and porters for the following day’s journey. F/B.
Day Two: Hiking
This morning, you will begin your hike by leaving the park headquarters (5400ft 1,646 m), walking past typical “ wattle and mud” Buhonjo homes and gradually moving upward through elephant grass and garden plots. It takes approximately forty minutes to reach the National Park boundary (which can be a pleasant half or one-day trip for someone not going further ). The trail then follows the Mahoma River after about two and a half hours.
After crossing the River, you will have a very steep climb through open bracken fern slopes and Podocarpus forest up to Nyabitaba Hut (8,700 ft/ 2,652) reaching about an hour and a half past the Mahoma River crossing. During this part of the trip, you may be able to see Chimps, and sometimes behind the Hut you can see Black and White Colobus and Blue monkeys and catch glimpses of the brilliantly -colored Rwenzori Touraco ( a bird of the tree tops). Overnight at Nyabitaba hut. F/B.
Day Three: Kurt Shafer Bridge
From Nyabitaba Hut that trail leads westward for a half km then drops north (right) steeply to Kurt Shafer Bridge, crossing below the confluence of Bujuku and Mubuku Rivers. By turning down the bridge you begin the circuit counterclockwise.
After crossing the Shafer Bridge, the muddy slippery trail climbs steadily up through bamboo forest. After one and a half hours you encounter an area of slippery boulder hopping which many hikers consider the most difficult and dangerous footing on the circuit.
Overnight at Nyamileju Hut. Nyamileju means “ a place of beards” referring to the lichen and Spanish moss draping trees nearby. On a rare day, Mts. Stanley and Speke can be seen from the top of the rock near the Hut. F/B.
Day Four: Hiking
After breakfast, you will continue to John Matte Hut (11,200 ft3, 414 m) which is through a tiring bog full of these extraordinary plants, and the slow pace can be a delightful chance to examine and photograph this unique environment. Well situated, John Matte is newly constructed, large, and comfortable though muddy around the site.
Hikers who feel they have reached their limits by this point should consider John Matte a reasonable stopping point. You can just enjoy the unique vegetation in the bog and the great views and the following day you return to Nyabitaba. F/B.
Day Five: Trailing Day
You leave John Matte Hut to cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower of the two Bigo Bogs, where your first real experience jumping from tussock to tussock in a grassy bog begins. The trail is very muddy and follows the left (southern) edge of Lower Bigo Bog until eventually, it reaches the round metal “uniport” of Bigo Hut and its rock shelter.
A steep section past the hut leads to upper Bigo Bog. In the last half of this bog, a boardwalk has been constructed. Though some may think it an ugly intrusion, it makes walking easier and keeps hikers from further damaging the bog. An hour and a half beyond the upper bog, and after climbing through the drier ground and crisscrossing the River, you reach Bukulu Lake. The southern end of the lake is a majestic setting, with Mt. Bakerto to the south, and views west to Mt Stanley and north to Mt. Speke.
Beyond the north end of the lake is a rock shelter called Cooking Pot and a short distance further is Bukulu Hut( 13,000ft/3,962m), favorably located for parties climbing Mt. Speke. F/B.
Day Six: Climbing Day
To continue the circuit, you leave directly west from Bukulu hut on a newer trail, which rises and falls twice before finally climbing steeply through magical moss-draped Groundsel Gully towards (14,345ft/4,372m) Scott Elliot pass. At the head of the gully is a short, strong ladder at a particularly steep section, after which a right-hand branch would lead to Elena Hut (14, 700ft/4,430m). This is a steep, rocky trail that when wet or icy is treacherously slippery.
Continuing straight, and a few steps below the pass there is a sheltered spot for a break, from here there is a second trail to the right to Elena is the Base Camp for climbing. Margherita Peak in the Mt. Stanley complex would require an additional day or two and can only be attempted with an ice axe, mountain boots, crampons, ropes, and prior arrangements with RMS guides. Overnight at Kitandara Lake Hut. F/B.
Day Seven: Hiking Day
Start hiking back to the park headquarters.
After breakfast, you will probably begin very early if you decide to make it to the Park Headquarters and complete your trek (8 hours). The other alternative will be to spend a night at the Nyabitaba Hut. F/B.
Day Eight: Hiking Day
Start hiking back and complete your trek by the evening. On arrival at the Park Office, visit a simple restaurant developed by a local ladies' group for a beer and a luxurious candlelight meal. Overnight at Hotel Margherita. F/B.
Day Nine: Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park to end your trip with relaxation at Mweya safari lodge. Have an afternoon boat trip and later an evening game drive. Spend the whole evening relaxing by the swimming pool and dinner and overnight at Mweya Lodge. F/B.
Day Ten: Game Drive
Have a morning game drive and later transfer to Kampala and later catch your flight back home depending on International departure times.
The Special Package is;
Please contact us for the price per person if there are 2 pax for the whole safari including all transfers, meals, porters, accommodation, guides, etc.
Please contact us for the price per person if there are 3-4 pax for the whole safari including all transfers, meals, porters, accommodation, guides, etc.
Please contact us for the price per person if there are 4-6 pax for the whole safari including all transfers, meals, porters, accommodation, guides, etc
Please Note that the Following is Required for Your Mountain Tracking.
Crampons
Sleeping bags
Sleeping mats
Rops - Available at 5000/= for the whole trip
Climbing boots
Rubber boats
Gaiter - Hired at 5000/=
Hanex - available at 10,000/=
Rain gear
Snow glasses
Gloves
Food
Transportation:
Please note that clients will be traveling in 4-wheel drive vehicles, with enough legroom, and with well-experienced guides who can handle all the requirements of the discerning traveler.
