9-Day Rwenzori Trekking Itinerary Guide via Central Circuit

A Detailed 9-Day Rwenzori Trekking Itinerary

Day 1: NYAKALENGIJA (1615m asl.) – NYABITABA CAMP (2651m asl.)

Beginning from the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services offices in Nyakalengija, the 9-day Rwenzori trekking includes Mount Stanley, Mount Speke, and Mount Baker. It is recommended that you arrive early in the morning so that you have plenty time to meet your guides, potters, and get hiking gear. Trailhead to Nyabitaba Hut: After leaving the park, the route heads into dense woodland along the Mubuku River, crosses a branch of the Mahoma River, and then begins a long, hard ascent onto a large ridge. Primate sightings include chimpanzees, blue monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and the colourful Rwenzori turraco.

The hike takes an average of 6 -7 hours.
Arrive in the lode in the eveinng for Dinner & Overnight rest.

Day 2: NYABITABA – JOHN MATTE CAMP (3505m asl.)

Just below the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers’ confluence is the Kurt Shafer Bridge, which may be reached from Nyabitaba by following the trail that descends through the forest.

As you make your way through the bamboo forest, be prepared to endure a long and tiring section of rock covered in moss and treacherous terrain. Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen from the Nyamuleju rock shelter before you enter the zone of the gigantic heather, lobelia, and groundsel. Once you’ve made it through the exhausting bog, it’s time to head to John Matte Hut for supper and the night.

The hike takes an average of 7 – 8 hours.

Day 3: JOHN MATTE – BUJUKU CAMP (3962m asl.)

Lower Bigo Bog, a haven for gigantic lobelias, is accessible via a descent from John Matte Hut that crosses the Bujuku River. After much hopping from tussock to tussock, we managed to cross the bog, but not before our feet dipped into the icy sludge below. Bujuku Lake emerges from the upper Bigo bog; to the south and west, you can see Mount Baker and Mount Stanley, respectively. Bujuku Hut is situated in a little valley below Stuhlmann Pass, with Mount Baker and Mount Speke casting a shadow over it. Clients aiming to ascend Mount Stanley and Mount Speke will benefit from our camp’s acclimatisation services. Stayed the night in Bujuku hut for dinner.

The hike takes an average of 4 – 5 hours.

Day 4: BUJUKU – MT. SPEKE – BUJUKU

Begin your ascent to Victorio Emanuele summit at an early hour, passing via stullmans pass (4192 m asl.) and taking in breathtaking views of the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Four or five hours is required to reach the peak.

Ascending from Victorio Emanuele, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of Bujuku valley, Bujuku lake, Mount Stanley’s Margherita and Albert peaks, and Mount Baker. Your descent to Bujuku Camp for the night awaits you.

The descend takes an average of 3 – 4 hours.

Day 5: BUJUKU – ELENA CAMP (4541m asl.)

Ascending the steep slopes west of the lake and passing through the enchanting forest of Groundsel Gully, the track continues through additional bog after leaving Bujuku. On a difficult trail over big rocks, take a right turn to reach Elena Hut and Mount Stanley. The left trail goes to Scott-Elliot Pass and down to Kitandara Lakes. Those who aren’t climbing Margherita Peak can follow the left trail to Kitandara Hut. Climbers will spend the night in the chilly Icy Elena Hut after a hearty dinner.

The hike takes an average of 5 – 6 hours.

Day 6: ELENA HUT – MARGHERITA PEAK (5109m asl.) – KITANDARA CAMP (4430m asl.)

These days. Mount Stanley’s Margherita is the highest summit that you will try. It takes around four to five hours to climb to the top of Margherita, give or take depending on how fast you go and the weather. Crossing three glaciers on foot is no easy feat, what with the icy terrain, loose rocks, and wide open spaces on both sides. Ascending the glaciers, across the Stanley Plateau, and continue the climb. After you’ve gotten used to the cold, fog, and high altitude, you can scramble to the top of Margherita, the Rwenzori Mountain. Returning to Elena Hut from Margherita Peak will need approximately two to three hours of descent.

Drop down to the Scott-Elliot pass (4372 m asl.) after lunch at the Elena hut for breathtaking views of Mount Speke and Bujuku Lake. Following that, you’ll make your way down via the Kitandara Lakes before arriving at the Kitandara camp for the night after hiking through an alpine zone characterised by limited vegetation and rocky boulders.

The descend takes an average of 3 – 4 hours.

Day 7: KITANDARA – MT. BAKER (4843M asl.) – KITANDARA

Edward Peak is reached after an early morning ascent from Kitandara Camp via Fresh Field Pass (4215 m asl.), which offers views of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The climb to the peak often takes around five or six hours.

Get back down to Fresh Field Pass from Edward Peak, and then head down to Kitandara Camp for the night.

It usually takes around three or four hours to descend.

Day 8: KITANDARA – GUY YEOMAN (3261m asl.)

The trail to Fresh Field Pass, at 4282 meters above sea level, begins at Kitandara and follows the southern slope of Mount Baker as it sharply climbs the headwall that extends out from the mountain’s base. Looking west, you can see the Congo, and looking north, you can see Mount Stanley.

Beginning with the pass, traverse the extensive, lofty alpine mossy. After that, you’ll spend the night at Guy Yeoman Camp after beginning the descent over steep rocky routes and the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the site of the historic expedition’s base camp in 1906 led by the Duke of Abruzzi.

The hike takes an average of 6 – 7 hours.

Day 9: GUY YEOMAN – NYABITABA – NYAKALENGIJA (1615m asl.)

The path then drops down the Kichuchu cliffs, just below Guy Yeoman. Just above Kichuchu, the muddy trail winds its way through a bamboo grove, crosses the Mubuku River twice, and then descends to Nyabitaba, rounding out the round.

You should reach Nyakalengijo, the base camp, by dusk after continuing your descent to Nyabitaba Camp.

The descent takes 7 – 8 hours

End of the 9-Day Rwenzori Trekking Itinerary Guide