PRICE/FEE
$2696 pp
DURATION
10 Days
ACCOMMODATION
Standard
INCLUDES
Park Entry Fees
AIRPORT PICKUP
& Transfers
Most Preferred Safaris
Brief tour description
Margherita Peak is Africa’s third highest peak however the real magic is in the climb up through the Kilembe trail, the forests and valleys of the flora are diverse with trees and valleys of ferns. The trees are fested with many species of birds and primates and as you walk up the trail you will see chimp nests high up in the tall trees if you are lucky you may catch a glimpse of the resident chimpanzee as they scamper away. Climbing Margherita Peak is more of a hard scramble than a climb except for a few difficult moves and when it snows it is more difficult however the rewards and exhilaration of reaching the top are enormous as you look across Albert Peak to the DRC (Congo) then east across the spectra of the Rwenzori Mountains.
All the equipment necessary for the climb is provided like crampons, ropes, harnesses, carabinas, you need to bring good hiking boots, warm clothing warm sleeping bags, and rain gear. We do hire sleeping bags for those who need them.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Climbing to Margherita Peak is now technical and knowledge of ropes and the use of crampons, ascenders, and figure 8s to belay, knowledge of how to use an ice axe is advisable with ice sections of 60% steepness and changing rapidly due to climate change and melting of the glacier. All our guides are trained in ice climbing and rescue and can guide you up with little experience however you must be prepared to learn on the way up and to be able to fit your own crampons and at least tie basic knots and use of ascenders and figure 8s. Mt Baker and Mt Speke are also technical we advise that clients bring their own crampons as due to the mix of hard ice and rocks we are struggling to maintain our crampons. We will rent crampons for an extra $20 per trip.
Day 1: Airport Pick up and Transfer to the Rwenzori Mountains
Welcome to the Pearl of Africa! Meet and greet moment with our professional guide and thereafter, drive to Rwenzori mountains where you shall start your hike the next day in the meantime, enjoy the beautiful view of the mountain and the surroundings at your place of stay.
Main destination: Mountain Rwenzori National Park
Accommodation: Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge
Meals and drinks: Lunch and Dinner (Breakfast not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 2: Sine Camp 2,596 meters
Today we start at Trekkers at 1,450 meters and spend a night at Sine Hut at 2,596 meters a height gain of 1,146 meters, or those who are fit and want to proceed to Kalalama Camp at 3,134 meters may do so and apart from the fantastic views gives you more time at Mutinda Camp where you may climb up to Mutinda Lookout at 3,975 meters.
We start by walking up the valley floor through the tall forest trees of the Afro-Montane Forest Zone. This is a steady climb with multitudes of birds and a chance of seeing blue monkeys scampering off through the forest. At times travelers are most likely to see troupes of 15 to 20 black and white Colobus monkeys as they swing through the treetops. There are rare sightings of the L’Hoest monkey which are part of the Bukonzo cultural emblems and is protected by the virtue of the King or Omusinga or you may hear wild chimpanzees in the distance. There is a wide variety of plant species from forest trees to bamboo thickets, low shrubs, flowers, and fungi, and many moss and lichen-covered vines hanging from the tall trees create an awesome appeal. Enock’s Fall is just 200 meters from Sine Hut and offers a splendid opportunity to capture a great screensaver for your memories.
Sine Camp 2,596 meters has wooden huts set between tall forest trees on a narrow ridge where you may sit and enjoy the beauty of the Afro-Montane forest while you look down at a fantastic waterfall crashing over the rocks far below. Some guests prefer to sit outside enjoying the warmth of the campfire and chat with the guides about the mountains and life in their community. Sine is just below the bamboo zone and the area around has many different bird species. 150 meters from the camp is Enock Falls which is set in livid green vegetation and hanging vines. Truly beautiful. Sleep at Sine, or those who are fit and want to proceed to Kalalama Camp at 3,134 meters may do so, and apart from the fantastic views gives you more time at Mutinda Camp where you may climb up to Mutinda Lookout at 3,975 meters.
Main destination: Margherita Peak
Accommodation: Sine Camp
Meals and drinks: All Meals Included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 3: Mutinda Camp 3.582 Metres
Trekking starts at 8.30 am and almost immediately you enter the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone which is a steep climb with many high steps. In the wet season, the bamboo zone is rather muddy and slippery making the going slow. However, the atmosphere and the forest is beautiful as you climb 551 meters altitude and a distance of 1.8km to Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters which is in the Heather-Rapanea Zone where you can take a rest and a quick cup of tea or coffee before heading on to Mutinda Camp. The trail meanders up and over several small knolls along a ridge top then drops down the side of the valley before climbing again, and in doing so crosses several small streams and passes close to moss-covered waterfalls. You then climb steadily along the side of a beautiful mossy river which tumbles down over the rocks under the Giant Heather trees whose trunks are covered in green moss with old man beards (Usnea lichen) hanging from the branches. The trail twists and turns as you climb up the deep valley, which has an enormous variety of plants and flowers. This valley is unique with many Giant Heather trees creating a beautiful atmosphere often shrouded in mist.
In the afternoon you may wish to climb up to the top of the Mutinda Lookout (one to two hours up and one hour down) the views are amazing as you stand on moss-covered rocks at 3,925 meters with views across the Rwenzori Mountains and down to Kasese town and Lake George. For those clients who are climbing to Margherita or any of the main peaks climbing Mutinda 3,975 meters is also an excellent way to acclimatize and reduce the risk of high altitude sickness. Sleep at Mutinda Camp at 3.582 meters
Main destination: Margherita Peak
Accommodation: Mutinda Camp
Meals and drinks: All Meals Included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 4: Bugata Camp at 4,100 Metres.
The trail to Bugata Camp is boggy particularly in the wet season but with a little skill you can step from tussock to tussock to make the going easier. First, you cross the Mutinda Valley through the tussock grass and everlasting flowers interspersed with many Giant Lobelias before climbing a steep section up to the Namusangi Valley (3,840 meters), with sheer waterfalls and looking back you get fantastic views of Mutinda Peaks. The Namusangi Valley is wide, with many ups and downs as the trail climbs steadily to Bugata Camp at 4,100 meters.
Main destination: Margherita Peak
Accommodation: Bugata Camp
Meals and drinks: All Meals Included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 5: Hunwick’s Camp
Trek to Hunwick’s Camp via Bamwanjarra Pass. As you leave Bugata Camp you pass up a ridge and then drop down slightly before ascending to Bamwanjarra Pass at 4,450 meters where we have a hut should the weather turn bad. From the pass on a clear day, you get excellent views of the three main peaks. The trail passes down the valley and around the edge of some bogs and thick ever green vegetation, and moss. Giant groundsel and lobelia. Here is possibly the best place in all the Rwenzori to observe the Malachite Sunbird as it feeds on the many lobelia flowers and is a known breeding site. Farther on there are some steep sections before a steady climb up and over a ridge to Hunwick’s Camp which is situated on the top of a deep valley and has good views of Mt Stanley, Mt Baker, Weismanns Peak, and McConnell’s Prong.
Main destination: Margherita Peak
Accommodation: Hunwick’s Camp
Meals and drinks: All Meals Included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 6: Margherita Camp 4,485 Metres
From Hunwick’s, we pass down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitendara which is very stunning with deep water and beautiful vegetation. From here you climb up Scott Elliott’s pass and then up the ridge to Margherita Camp 4,485 meters which is situated between some huge rocks and offer some shelter from the strong winds. This is the very spot where the Duke of Abruzzi camped when making his climb to Margherita Peak in 1906.
Main destination: Margherita Peak
Accommodation: Margherita Camp
Meals and drinks: All Meals Included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 7: Hunwick’s Camp at 3.874 Metres.
Wake up at 2 am and catch an early breakfast before heading off to climb Mt Stanley at 2.30am. This is necessary as the weather has changed a lot and often even during the dryer season the mountain is closed in with heavy clouds and snow falls from 1 pm to 4pm, this happens within a short period of 10 to 15 minutes as the clouds rise up from the extensive Congo rainforests. During January and February 2017 clients were closed in and unable to walk during heavy snow storms which previously were not heard of during the dryer season and arrived back at Margherita camp well after dark with one group arriving back at 11pm totally exhausted.
Due to this change in weather, we have set a strict turnaround time of 10 am so if you do not reach the peak before then you must turn around regardless of the disappointment in the interests of safety. Margherita Glacier has also suffered from global warming and as the outer edges of the glacier recede the ice is becoming steeper with one section of about 200 meters more than 60% grade. Combined with this much of the blacker has melted underneath causing caves under the ice and as it gets thinner eventually caves in. So is necessary that travelers understand and take the advice about where the guides suggest passing.
For those travelers with less mountaineering experience, we suggest that you stay on Stanley Glacier and climb up to a good vantage point on a rocky outcrop on the southern edge of Alexandra Peak to enjoy fantastic views over Congo and the lower mountain ridges. After ascending the peak at 5,109 meters you then pass directly down to Hunwick’s Camp at 3 .874 meters.
Main destination: Margherita Peak
Accommodation: Hunwick’s Camp
Meals and drinks: All Meals Included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 8: Kiharo Camp
Distance to Kiharo Camp 11km Time taken to walk is 4 to 7 hours. From Hunwick’s Camp, we start the day by climbing up a ridge towards McConnell’s Prong where you get the best views of all three peaks and Scott Elliott’s Pass before reaching Oliver’s Pass at 4,505 meters. The distance from Hunwick’s Camp to the top of Olivers Pass is 3km The trail then cuts across below Weismann’s Peak to the confluence of the Nyamwamba River which flows down through Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elisabeth National Park.
If you wish to climb Weismanns Peak 4,620 meters from Oliver’s pass you may do so at an extra cost of $20 each. On a clear day, you get fantastic views of Margherita and Mt Stanley, Mt Speke, and Mt Baker.
After crossing the confluence the trail meanders down the valley to Kiharo Camp which is situated in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation. On the way down the valley after each bog, you will climb over a ridge of stones and earth which seems out of place but actually was pushed there by slow-moving glaciers which eventually stopped moving, melted, and left a pile of rocks and debris in front of where the glacier once stood.
Main destination: Mountain Rwenzori Park Entrance Gate
Accommodation: Kiharo Camp
Meals and drinks: All Meals Included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 9: Park Gate
Distance from Kiharo Camp to the park gate is 16km and another 2.8km down to Trekkers Hostel. The time to walk is 5 to 8 hours so those who need to connect to flights back to Kampala or travel on to other activities need to leave Kiharo early.
The trail down the Nyamwamba Valley is mostly downhill and absolutely stunning with beautiful views, moss-covered rocks along the river, cascading waterfalls, deep valleys, and forests that are possibly the best in the Rwenzori Mountains. This part of the trail took us six years to find a way through and a route that is easy enough for tourists to use. In 1937 the explorer and geologist McConnell tried to find a way up this valley but failed and have to turn back and search for another route up the mountain but now you can experience this truly beautiful valley.
A few kilometers from Kiharo Camp the path turns off to the right to pass along the river. In the clear areas, you may catch a glimpse of a Duiker quietly feeding in small clearings as you pass along the river. This area is possibly the highest population of Rwenzori Red Duikers anywhere in the National Park A few kilometers down the river it becomes steeper with multitudes of stunning waterfalls. After the waterfalls, we climb up and over a high ridge then down through the dense forests with stunning views of the valley below. We stop at Forest View Camp for lunch before proceeding back to Base Camp. A great experience and ending to a fantastic trek.
Main destination: Kasese Town
Accommodation: Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge
Meals and drinks: All Meals Included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 10: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport
Morning call from the birds as you rise up, enjoy a hearty breakfast and we dive back to Entebbe international airport where you shall catch your flight and that marks the end of the safari.
Main destination: Entebbe International Airport
Accommodation: No Accommodation
Meals and drinks: Breakfast and Lunch (Dinner not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
2 People (1 room) | $3403 pp |
3 People (2 rooms) | $2986 pp |
4 people (2 rooms) | $2784 pp |
5 people (3 rooms) | $2696 pp |
Includes:
- Car hire
- Transportation by 4WD
- Entrance fee
- English speaking guide
- Porters fee
- Accommodation and meal plans
- Equipment
- Includes All taxes/VAT
Excludes:
Airfares, visa, insurance, soft and alcoholic drinks, portage and laundry, tips to local guides, tipping guidelines of 15$ per person per day for the guide and crew, any meals and tours not indicated in the itinerary, and also items of personal nature like cigarettes.
Please note:
The bookings with the lodge mentioned in the itinerary depend on availability. Reservations will only be made after your booking. Just in case the hotels listed are fully booked during the requested period, we will let you know and then book a hotel of the same standard for you
Transport
Our standard safari vehicle offered for budget and mid-range tours is a 4wd Safari Van with a pop-up sunroof with each passenger can have a seat near a window.
If you wish to up things a bit and get an even smoother ride, then you can opt for an upgraded vehicle for your travel. For this, we use a full-size 4wd Toyota Land cruiser
Traveling with 1-4 people is often preferred and suitable for African safari because of the terrain besides that, it is elevated durable, and pop-up roof that will reward you with a great view.
We also have a 4wd Extended Toyota Land Cruiser Travelling which seats 5-6 people and is spacious, elevated, and strong with a pop-up sun roof for exceptional views and a fridge inside to keep our drinks cool.