From Entebbe in Uganda: 6 Days Rwenzori Trekking

Nyakalengija (1.646 m) - Nyabitaba hut (2.652 m)

After breakfast you will have a short drive to offices of the Rwenzori Mountains NP and the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services (RMS) at Nyakalengija.  Time will be spend in the morning to rent equipment and be availed with guides and porters. Your hiking trip begins from the park headquarters at 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 2h30. After crossing the river there will be a steep climbing through open bracken fern slopes and Podorcarpus Forest up to Nyabitaba hut (2652 m). The Nyabitaba hut is set on a ridge above the confluence of the Bujuku and Mubuku rivers with views over the Portal Peaks which rise above 4,626 m.

Nyabitaba Hut ( 2.652 m) - John Matte Hut (3.414 m)

From Nyabitaba Hut the trial leads west ward for half a kilometer then drops steeply to Kurt Shaffer Bridge, crossing below the confluence of Bujuku and the Mubuku rivers. By turning right to the Bridge you begin to climb the central circuit anti-clock wise 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 trial 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. Nyamuleju means" Place of beards" and refers tomoss and lichen hanging from the trees. 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 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 nowhere else in the world except high-altitude tropical African Mountains. The one-hour walk to John Matte hut (3,414 m) is through a challenging bog, full extra ordinary plants and the slow pace can be a delightful chance to examine and photograph this unique environment, typical time to reach John Matte from Nyabitaba is 6 hours.

John Matte hut (3.414 m) - Bujuku hut (3.962 m)

Leave John Matte hut to cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower Bigo bog, where your first real experience of jumping from tussock to tussock on 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 hut leads to upper Bigo bog. In the last half of this bog, a boardwalk has been constructed. Though some may think 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 the bog makes good lunch break.

An hour and a half beyond the upper bog, and after climbing through drier ground and crises-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 (3962 m), favorably located for parties climbing Mt. Speke (which requires technical skills and special equipment).

Bujuku Hut 3900m - Kitandara Hut 4430 m asl

The hike takes an average of 5 – 6 hours. 

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical and forest of Groundsel Gully. Turn to your left, while the trail on your right leads to Elena Camp, the highest camp, for those who are aiming at climbing Margherita Peak. The trail will lead you through the Scott-Elliot pass, where there are spectacular views of Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke. After, the trail passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight at the Kitandara huts.

Kitandara Hut - Guy Yeoman Hut, 3.261 m.

From Lake Kitandara you climb to Freshfield Pass, 4.282 m., a long flat of high alpine mossy glades, before descending the circuit among rocky and boggy areas. The panorama is dominated by the glaciers of Mounts Stanley and Baker and Mount of Savoy. A muddy trail leads to Akendahi, Bujongolo and Kabamba rock shelters, where starts the Kabamba valley down to Guy Yeoman Hut, 3.261 m. This can take up to 6 hours. The hut is surrounded by a beautiful landscape of mountains, vegetations and rivers.  

Guy Yeoman Huts - Nyabitaba Huts - Nyakalengija Base Camp; transfer back to Entebbe

Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu. Beyond Kichuchu the muddy path crosses the Mubuku River twice through a bamboo forest before climbing downwards to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit.

Continue  hiking downwards and complete your trek by the evening before our transfer back to Entebbe. The descent from Guy yeoman to Nyakalengija takes 6 – 8 hour, then to Entebbe.