11 Days On The Mystical Mountains Of The Moon
On this 11-day tour, explore the mystical mountains of the moon as you climb up to the snow-capped peak and go through the 5 climate zones.
Included in Trek Price
- Local English-speaking guide/driver
- All accommodation & meals indicated in the itinerary
- All transport & fuel for the trip
- Bottled drinking water throughout the safari
- Park and activity fees as shown in your itinerary
Excluded in Trek Price
- International Flights.
- Tourist visa.
- Personal travel & medical insurance.
- Tips to service people.
- Personal shopping & souvenirs.
- Any other extras not mentioned as part of the safari.
Details
“An Odyssey Into The Mystical Mountains Of The Moon”
The Rwenzori Mountains famously known as the “Mountains of the Moon” lies in Western Uganda, located on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was gazetted as a national park in 1991 with a size of 996km² and recognized as both a world heritage site and Ramsir site with the highest point being Margherita Peak at 5,109 Meters Above Sea level.
The equatorial snow peaks include the third highest point in Africa while the lower slopes are blanketed in moorland, bamboo and rich, moist mountain ranges.
When you arrive at Entebbe International Airport, a Safari Specialist will be waiting to pick you up and take you to your hotel. At 1700hrs we shall have a welcome meeting brief from the Safari Specialist.
In case you need help with anything, our Safari Specialist is on call to attend to you. Depending on what time your flight arrives, you may try out an optional activity or relax at your hotel.
Optional Activities
- Kampala city tour
- Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary
- Uganda Wildlife Education Center
- Botanical Gardens (nature walk & birding)
- Bicycle tour around Entebbe
- City walk
The drive from Entebbe to Kilembe is one of the most scenic in Uganda. As you leave the concrete backdrop of Uganda’s capital behind, the curtain draws to unveil resplendent vistas of food farms and tea farms, charming small towns, and tranquil villages.
We expect to reach the base camp in the shadows of the mystic Rwenzori Ranges late in the afternoon. Depending on how you feel, you may opt to stretch your legs on an optional nature walk or lay back in your bunker and save your energy for the mountain.
Activities: Scenic Drive
The trek from base starts light at 1,450MASL, up through progressively thickening forest up to Sine Hut, the first resting point on Kilembe Trail, where hot tea, a meal, and a fresh bath await you. Sine Hut is a wooden hut with a neat terrace, bunk beds and an inviting neighbourhood. You may take a stroll to the nearby waterfall, explore the banks of the valley river, or lay back in the hut and mingle with other trekkers.
If you are fit and wish to see more of the mountain, move on to Kalalama Camp at 3,134 MASL. This makes the climb to Mutinda Camp shorter and gives you time to check to Mutinda Lookout (3,975MASL); the view there is a thing not to miss: You can see Kasese Town and Lake George from this point.
We set for Mutinda Camp at 0830hrs. The trail snakes through a bamboo grove whose slippery floor makes for adventurous crossing during the rainy season. We stop for a coffee break at Kalalama Camp, 1.8km from Sine Hut.
Beyond Kalalama, the trail goes over small streams and snakes past moss-covered waterfalls, down and up steep passes, and halts at a campsite enclosed in a misty forest. If you start your day in Kalalama Camp you will have time to reach Mutinda Lookout (3,975MASL), otherwise, you may visit the nearby waterfalls or relax at camp.
The trek to Bugata Camp is an adventure for first-time mountaineers. The ground is boggy, particularly when it rains (it rains any time in Rwenzori), you have to watch every step to avoid slipping onto the muddy ground, but with good use of your trekking pole, it’s a manageable feat.
As you leave Bugata Camp you pass up a ridge then drop down slightly before ascending to Bamwanjarra Pass at 4,450 meters. The trail passes down the valley, around the edge of some bogs, through thick ever-green vegetation, moss, and giant lobelia in such numbers the places look like a scene from a fairy tale.
This section has the most spectacular views and is possibly the best place to observe the Scarlet Tufted Malachite Sunbird. There are some sections of steep climb before you go over the ridge to Hunwick’s Camp. On a clear day, you get excellent views of the three main peaks.
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 which is situated between some huge rocks, offering 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.
Wake up at 0200hrs and catch an early breakfast before heading off to climb Mt Stanley at 02:30hrs. This is necessary as the weather has changed a lot and often, even during the dry season, the mountain is closed in with heavy clouds and snow falls from 1300hrs to 1600hrs.
Margherita Glacier has also suffered global warming and as the outer edges of the glacier recede the ice is becoming steeper. It is necessary to take the guides’ advice on where to pass. After ascending the peak at 5,109 metres you then pass directly down to Hunwick’s Camp at 3.874 metres.
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 metres.
The trail then cuts below Weismann’s Peak to the confluence of the Nyamwamba River which flows down through Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National Park. 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.
The trail to the gate goes through the Nyamwamba Valley. You will have stunning views of the forest, vegetation, river, and waterfalls. It is one of the most beautiful valleys in Rwenzori. A few kilometres from Kiharo Camp the path turns off to the right to pass along the river.
A few kilometres down the river it becomes very steep with multitudes of waterfalls so we have to move away from the river and follow a narrow ridge to bypass steep sections. The forest along this section is magnificent and full of life with many birds, primates, duikers and hyrax.
Wake up early for a 5 -6 hour drive to Entebbe to your hotel.
After breakfast, you can relax at your lodge and depart at leisure depending on the time of your flight.
