Mt Rwenzori Hiking, Ruwenzori Mountains Climbing, Mt Rwenzori Climbing

The Ruwenzori Mountains

The fabled " Mountains of The Moon " lie in Western Uganda on the Congolese border, with snow-covered, equatorial peaks rising to height of 5110 m and lower slopes blanketed in moorland and rich montane forest. Most of the park is accessible to hikers with magnificent scenery and 19 Albertine Rift endemics, amongst them; Rwenzori Turaco and Shelley's Crimsonwing, would be ample reward for the intrepid, backpacking birder.

About the Mountain
Districts : South Western Uganda, on the edge of the western rift valley, shared by Rukungiri, Kabale and Kisoro Districts.
Size : 996 Km-Sq. Elevation : 1700 metres to 5109 metres atop Margherita peak on Mount Stanley.

Habitat: Montane forest with bamboo ( Arundinaria ) on lower slopes, heath and Afro-alpine moorland on higher slopes. Status : National Park since 1991.
Timing: January - February and July - August are the driest months but rain is possible year round. Time required : 3 days for the shorter foothill hike and 6-7 days for the usual mountain loop. Birds Recorded : 195 species.

Bird Watching:
There are many bird species to lookout for among which include:- Albertine Rift endemics like; Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Montane (Rwenzori) Nightjar, Dwarf Honeyguide, Archer's Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, Kivu Ground Thrush, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Montane Masked and Collared Apalises, Stripe-breast Tit, Rwenzori Batis, (Grauer's Cuckoo-shrike ), Blue-headed, Regal and Purple-breasted Sunbirds, Strange Weaver, Dusky and Shelley's Crimsonwings.

Others to lookout for are; Lammergeiger, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, African Long-eared Owl, Western Green Tinkerbird, Olive Woodpecker, Grey-chested Illadopsis, Grey-winged Robin, Evergreen Forest and Bamboo Warblers, Lagden's Bush-Shrike, Montane Sooty Boubou, Golden-winged and Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbirds, White-collared Olive-back, Red-faced Crimsonwing,Oriole-Finch.

Access:
Rwenzori Mountains National Park is accessible from Kasese. All hikes need to be arranged through the Rwenzori Mountain Service ( RMS ), an organization that works in conjunction with the Ugandan Wildlife Authority to control hiking in the area and to maintain trails and huts.

Obligatory	Recommended
•1 Day bag •1 face towel •1 head lamp inclusive of batteries •1 jogging suit •1 pair of glacier goggles •1 pair of gloves ( mitten) •1 pair of mountain boots •1 parka extra large with hat •1 pocket knife •1 rain coat •1 sleeping bag up to -15 C	•1 jogging suite •1 pair of glacier goggles •1 pair of jogging shoes •1 spot light •1unbreakableThermos flask •Appetizers •basic first aid box •binoculars •Energy bars •leggings up to the knee •lip ointment •photo equipment

Hiking on The Ruwenzori Mountains

Day 1.
Arrival at Entebbe airport. Transfer to Kasese via Mbarara for lunch at the L. View Hotel. The journey takes you along the L. Victoria on a good road to Mbarara. From here, the landscape charges to a hilly and fertile area with tea and banana plantations. Dinner and overnight at the Margarita Hotel.

Day 2.
After breakfast, short drive Ibanda (1,600m), the starting points of your Ruwenzori climb. After brief introductions to the crew, your trek; which takes 4 hours starts taking you along the Mubuku River to Nyabitaba Hut (2,650) where you will spend the night.

Day 3.
After breakfast, cross the Mubuku River; one of the highest sources of the Nile, on a rope bridge and continue walking along the river to the Nyamileju Hut for lunch. You then continue to your trek stepping at the base of the mass tussock grass to avoid getting stuck in the rather wet ground. After about 7 hours walking, you will have reached the John matte Camp where you will spend the night.

Day 4.
Today's trek takes you up and down a cliff crossing the river severally along the Bujuku valley. The ground is permanently wet and muddy. After 5 hours, you reach the Bujuku lake where the scenic forest become bigger and bigger. After a short break, another hour's walk takes you to the Bujuku Hut (3,977-m) where you will spend the night.

Day 5.
Continue your hike this time walking towards the Kitandara Hut (4027 m). Today's walk is much similar to the previous day as you walk up and down cliffs using roots tussock grass for support. The last bit of your trek is by ascending the Scott - Elliot saddle (4372m) and descending again to the Kitandara Lake before proceeding to Kitandara hut for dinner and overnight.

Day 6.
Today's walk takes you via the Fresh field saddle (4280m) passing Bujongolo cave to Mubuku Gorge. The walk takes about 8 hours. Overnight will be at the Guy Yeoman Hut (3450m).

Day 7.
Descend to the Mubuku valley passing very steep water falls through a bamboo forest. Overnight will be at the Nyabitaba Hut.

Day 8.
Descend to Ibanda where vehicles will be awaiting to take you to Hotel Margarita for dinner and overnight.

Day 9.
Drive back to Entebbe with lunch on the way for either return flight or connect to your Mt. Elgon climb with our Elgon Cross over package.