DAY 1: Transfer Entebbe to Kasese for overnight.
After breakfast, start the trip by being picked up from the Airport to Kasese, you ought to have a stop over in mubende for lunch and then proceed with your journey to Kasese.
Overnight at a hotel in area as you prepare yourself for the next days` trek.
DAY 2: Transfer to Sine Camp
Transfer to the footsteps of the mountain to start the Climb up from 1,450 to Sine Hut 2,680m where the night is spent. This hike starts from the valley floor through tall forest trees of the Afro Montane Forest Zone and continues with a steady climb with multitudes of birds and a chance of seeing blue monkeys scampering off through the forest. At times visitors may 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 are protected by the virtue of the King or Omusinga or you may hear wild chimpanzee in the distance. There is wide variety of plant species from forest trees to bamboos thickets, low shrubs, flowers, fungi, and with many moss and lichen covered vines hanging from the tall trees creating an awesome appeal. Enock’s Falls are just 200 meters from Sine Hut and offer a splendid opportunity to capture a great screensaver for your memories. At Sine Camp 2,596 meters we have wooden huts set between tall forest trees on a narrow ridge where we 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.
Overnight at sine Camp.
DAY 3: Climb to Mutinda Camp
Trekking starts in the morning and almost immediately we enter the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone, which is 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 are 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 we 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 cross several small streams and pass close to moss covered waterfalls.
Overnight near Mutinda camp.
DAY 4: Hike to Bugata Camp
Wake up for breakfast and embark on the trail to Bugata Camp which 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.
Overnight at Bugata camp.
DAY 5: Hike to Hunwik’s Camp
Visitors and the Allied car safari take a trek for Hunwick’s Camp via Bamwanjarra Pass. As we leave Bugata Camp, pass up a ridge 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 evergreen vegetation, 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 a known breeding site. Further on there is 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, Weismann’s Peak and McConnell’s Prong.
Overnight at the lodge.
DAY 6: Transfer to Kiharo Camp
From Hunwick’s, pass down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitendara which is very stunning with deep water and beautiful vegetation. From here, climb up Scott Elliott’s pass then up the ridge to Margherita Camp 4,485 meters which is situated between some huge rocks and 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.
Overnight at the lodge.
DAY 7: Move to Samalira Camp
Catch an early breakfast before heading off to climb Mt Stanley. 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, snowfalls and this happens within a short period of time as the clouds rise up from the extensive Congo rainforests.
For those clients with less mountaineering experience Allied car safaris 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, pass directly down to Hunwick’s Camp at 3.874 meters.
Overnight at the lodge.
DAY 8: Move to Base Camp
From Hunwick’s Camp, start the day by climbing up a ridge towards McConnell’s Prong where the the best views of all three peaks and Scott Elliott’s Pass before reaching Oliver’s Pass at 4,505 meters are begotten. 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 thought Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After crossing the confluence, the trail meanders down the valley to Kiharo Camp at which is situated in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation. On the way down the valley after each bog 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.
DAY 9: Back to Entebbe International Airport.
After breakfast the Allied car hire and transportation picks you from the hotel and drop you off at the airport. According to your flight schedule, you may have time for last minute shopping or refresh as you wait for our flight. Thank you!
