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Mountains of the Moon Adventure 8 Nights / 9 Days

Day 01: KAMPALA TO KASESE

Transfer to Kasese : Overnight at Hotel Margherita

Day 02:
Begin climbing: Overnight at Nyabitaba Hut - 2652m
Plan to arrive at Rwenzori Mountains National Park and the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services (RMS) offices at Nyakalengija in the morning so as to have ample time to rent equipment and be availed with guides and porters. Hiking begins from the Park Headquarters 54,00 ft (1,646 m), walking past typical "mud and wattle" Bakonzo homes and gradually moving upward through elephant grass and garden plots. It takes approximately forty minutes to reach the park boundary. The trail then follows the Mubuku River, crossing recent landslide areas (to be negotiated carefully), and involves climbing over rocks and bluff, before reaching the Mahoma River in about two and a half hours.

Day 03:

Overnight at John Matte Hut - 3414m
From Nyabitaba Hut the trail leads westward for a half a kilo meter then drops steeply to Kurt Shaffer Bridge, crossing below he confluence of the Bujuku and the Mubuku rivers. By turning right the Bridge you begin to climb the central circuit anti-clockwise since the clockwise direction is much more difficult and adds considerable danger for you and your porters. After crossing Kurt Shaffer 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 some hikers consider the most difficult and dangerous footing of the circuit.

After five hours of travel from Nyabitaba, you reach the hut at Nyamuleju and its accompanying rock shelter. If you had a late start or know that there is a large group ahead of you at the next hut, you might consider spending the night here. On a rare clear day Mts. Stanley and Speke can be seen from the top of the rock near the hut. Nyamuleju also marks the start of the giant lobelia and groundsel zone, this remarkable vegetation type is found now where else in the world except high altitude tropical African Mountains.

The one-hour walk to John Matte hut (11, 200 ft / 3,414 m) is through a challenging bog, full of extra ordinary plants and the slow pace can be a delightful chance to examine and photograph this unique environment, typical time to reach John Matter from Nyabitaba is about 7 hrs. Some hikers consider this to be the most tiring and longest day of the circuit, so an early start is important. The loss of altitude to Kurt Shaffer Bridge means the total elevation to be gained on this day is about 3,000 ft (915 m). Hikers who feel they have reached their limits by this point should consider John Matte a reasonable stopping point. You can enjoy the unique vegetation in the bog and the great view, then the following day begin you return journey to Nyabitaba.

Day 04:

Overnight at Bujuku Hut - 3962m
Leave John Matte but to cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower Bigo bog, where your first real experience for jumping from tussock to tussock on a grassy bog begins. The trail is muddy and follows the left (southern) edge of lower Bigo bog until eventually it reaches the round metal "uniport". The Bigo hut and its rock shelter. A steep Section past the but leads to upper to Bigo bog. In the last half of this bog, a boardwalk has been constructed. Though some may think that it is an ugly intrusion, it makes walking easier and prevents the hikers from further damaging the bog.

A beautiful narrow stream at the upper end of this bog makes a good lunch break. An hour and a half beyond this upper bog, and after climbing through drier ground criss-crossing the river, you reach lake Bujuku. The southern end of the lake is in a majestic setting, with Mt. Baker to the South, Mt. Stanley to the west and Mt. Speke to the north.

The trail route along the lake's northeastern shore crosses the worst mud on the trip. Beyond the north end of the lake is a rock shelter called Cooking Pot and a short distance further is Bujuku Hut 13,000ft (3962 m) favourably located for parties climbing Mt. Speke (which requires technical skills and special equipment). Time to reach Bujuku form John Matte is typically 3-5 hours, and the elevation gained is 1,800 ft (560 m). But the long stretches of bog, and the mud along the lake make this another challenging day. The shaded location and frequent mists can make Bujuku Hut quite cold.

If one moved around on a nature walk, the chances of seeing Red duikers are high and at night, calls of the Rock hyraxes are common.

Day 05:

Overnight at Kitandara Hut - 4023m
From Bujuku hut leave directly to newer trail, which rises and falls twice before finally climbing steeply trough magical moss draped Groundsel vegetation 14,345 ft (4,372 m) to Scott Elliot Pass. At the steepest section is a short strong ladder after which a right hand branch will lead to Elena Hut 14,700 ft (4,430 m) This is a steep rocky trail which when wet or icy can be 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 Hut. Elena is the base camp for climbing 16, 763 ft (5,109 m) to Margherita Peak in the Mt. Stanley Complex which requires an additional day or two and can only be attempted with an ice axe, mountain boots, crampons, ropes and prior arrangements with RMS guides.

The circuit trail continues to the left over Scot Elliot Pass and enters an alpine zone of spars low vegetation and stark rough boulders more familiar to high altitude climbers from northern latitudes. If the weather is bad here (rain, snow, and wind can occur in any season) the conditions for "hypothermia" are ideal. As you leave the pass, you may enjoy spectacular views northward of Margherita Peak, Elena and Savoia Glaciers, and Mt. Baker 15, 889 ft (4,843 m) towering above you to the east (left) of the trail. Having dropped a few hundred feet in elevation from the pass, you cut below massive rock walls at the base of the Mt. Baker. Here, dramatic "impact craters" have been caused by large rocks falling from above, and your guide may caution you against loud noise! Rising and falling, the trail descends past Upper Lake Kitandara through thick mud to lower lake and Kitandara Hut 13, 200 ft (4,023 m).

This lovely site is surrounded by towering peaks, but the sun sets early and the nights can be cold. Time to reach Kitandara Hut from Bujuku Hut usually takes 3-5 hours. The elevation gain to the pass from Bujuku Hut is 1,400 ft (425 m), and because Scott Elliot is the highest point so far some hikers will be slower due to greater effort required at these altitudes. Watch carefully for signs of altitude sickness.

Day 06:

Overnight at Guy Yeoman Hut - 3261m
An early start is advisable to avoid overheating on the steep but lovely hour-long climb from the lake Kitandara, which is 14,050 ft (4,282 m) to the Freshfield Pass. Viewing westward on clear days leads into neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and northward, Margherita and its glaciers still dominate the horizon. Freshfield is a long flat traverse through beautiful alpine mossy glades (and more mud) until after a half-hour, when the trail begins the circuit's long two-day decent.

Mist or rain can make tracking the trail really difficult, and the first one-kilometer here can be very slippery. Rock Shelter at Bujongolo and Kabamba are optional overnight stopovers but it is better to push on through the seemingly endless mud to newly constructed Guy Yeoman Hut 10,700 ft (3,261 m). Some hikers make the Kitandara Guy Yeoman trip in 5 hours, but any stops to enjoy the pass, bad weather on descent, and the slow conditions in the last two hours of deep mud can make this a much longer day, which some visitors consider as difficult as day two.

Day 07:

Overnight at Nyabitaba - 2652m
Hikers should begin their journey back early, so as to get to Nyabitaba Hut before dark. In any case the path from the Guy Yeoman is quite difficult in some spots. Helping each other and descending very slowly facing the slope instead of facing outward is recommended, especially as you approach Kichunchu where the trail parallels twice the crosses Mubuku River mostly in deep mud until the last few kilometers of good dry trail. This follows the ridge down Nyabitaba, which completes the circuit.

Day 08:

Transfer to Hotel Margherita
Descend to Park Headquartes. It can take 2-3 hours. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Margherita

Day 09:
Return transfer to Kampala

Prices: 2,650 Per Person

Cost Includes :-
Transport inclusive of fuel.
Service of an English speaking driver guide.
Permits
Accommodation based on fullboard meal plan at Buhoma Homestead and Mweya safari Lodge.

Cost Excludes :-Extras i.e Laundry, telephone calls, drinks etc Tips to driver guides and porters.
Air transport and applicable departure taxes.