Welcome to Uganda! On arrival, you will be met and greeted at the Airport by a Valiant Safaris driver-guide who will be your driver for the trip, and then transfer to your hotel for check-in. For morning arrivals you may choose to drive straight to the park and stay at the base of the mountain, however you may also choose to stay in Entebbe and relax resting from a long-haul flight.

Start the day with an early breakfast before starting the drive to Kasese and to Nyakalengija at the base on the Rwenzori ranges. You will spend a night at the foothills of the mountains, this will allow you to acclimatize as you contemplate on the trekking challenge that lies ahead! The drive from Entebbe to Kasese is Approx. 372 km and 7 hours.

After breakfast, drive to the trailhead at Nyakalengija 1,615m. get porters, guides and briefing before starting the hike. The initial part of the trail passes through Bakonzo farms, before climbing steeply to Nyabithaba Hut at 2650 metres, set on a forested ridge with good views of Portal Peaks and the Bujuuku Valley. Ensure you keep your wet weather gear with you, some patches along this route are very wet and muddy, you may end up with pretty wet boots in the evening. Ensure your boots are waterproofed, and that you have spare lightweight Shoes to wear in camp this evening, allowing your boots to dry. Take it slow, today you will encounter some steep parts on the climb. The porters walk ahead and sometimes with you - make sure every day, that you have all your personal gear needed with you, as you will not have access to your bag. Conditions are difficult on this route, and your guide/porters will do everything they can to make your climb pleasant and as much comfortable.

Start with a rather steep downhill section where you will cross the confluence of the Bujuuku/Mubuku Rivers at the Kurt Scharfer bridge, after which you steeply ascend through heather and giant groundsel forests to John Matte hut, situated in a grove of giant heather at 3 415 metres. Again, keep your wet weather gear handy, and some snacks for the route. Drink plenty of water. The hut is a spacious one and well worth using, although there are nice spots to pitch your tent if you feel the need. Eat well - at higher levels your appetite will diminish. Learn to pace yourself with your breathing - do not try to rush to catch up with anyone, go at your own, most comfortable speed and you will arrive at camp relatively easily. This day it is advisable to hike in rubber boots (“wellies”), as some parts of the route are very wet and muddy.

Across the two Bigo Bogs as well as the Kibatsi Bog, the “wellies” are a great help here! There are the remains of a causeway of wooden planks across the Kibatsi bog, which is in various states of disrepair at this stage, up to Lake Bujuuku. The shores are muddy, the last obstacle before Bujuuku Hut (3 977 m). Excellent views of Mt. Baker, Mt Speke and Mt. Stanley if the weather is clear.

The trail from Bujuku 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 right up to Elena Hut and Mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders. While the trail on your left leads to Scott-Elliot Pass and down to Kitandara Lakes the trail on he left leads those who are not climbing Margherita Peak to Kitandara Hut. Since on this trek we are aiming the peak! We take the right to the coolly and Icy Elena Hut where we shall have dinner and overnight.

Very early in the morning, you attempt climbing the highest peak, Margherita of Mount Stanley standing at 5,109m asl. To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 4 -5 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of the climbers. This tough walk takes you over three glaciers, slippery rock, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides. Climbing on to the glaciers, cross the Stanley Plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and coolly weather, scramble up to the summit of Margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori. The descend from Margherita peak back to Elena Hut will take you about 2 – 3hours. After your lunch at Elena hut, descend to the Scott-Elliot pass (4372m asl.), where you will have spectacular views of the Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke. continue along the trail through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight at the Kitandara camp.

A steep climb over the Fresh field Pass (4 282m), before descending to Guy Yeoman Hut, set in the giant heather zone at 3 506 m. It is likely you may experience seizure of joints - particularly knees today - keep a support bandage with you for this descent, and perhaps some anti-inflammatory pills/cream. The Trek is approximately 7 hours.

This morning you’ll start a bit earlier than usual, as you have an extra hour or so for your descent to the gate. A long walk today! A steep descent through the bamboo zone 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 descending to Nyabitaba then complete the circuit at Nyakalengija. since the trek finishes in the evening, you will spend an overnight at the camp. The descent is approximately 8 hours.

You will have a breakfast at the Camp before starting a 7 hours drive back to Entebbe with Lunch en-route. Arrive Entebbe in time to check in for your evening departure

After breakfast at your hotel, your driver guide meets you ready take off to Mt Rwenzori National Park (also known as the Mountains of the Moon). We will have lunch in Fort Portal and continue to Rwenzori Trekkers Hostel where we overnight. The journey through the farmland and tea estates eventually arriving to the rwenzori Mountains.

Briefing from the guides and start the trek, hike to Sine Camp at 2596 metres, the hike will take you through the tall forest trees of the Afro montane forest zone. This is a steady climb for about 6 kilometers then along a steep climb towards Sine hut. The hike will offer you lots of plant and flower species to view, birds and a chance of seeing some animal species like Columbus monkeys. Covering 9.5km approximately 5 to 6 hours of walking.

Hike to Mutinda Camp at 3588 metres, through the Bambo and Heather-Rapanea Zone, following the trail while it meanders up and over several small knolls along a ridge top and drops down the side of the valley crossing several small streams and passing close to moss covered waterfalls with very unique beautiful plant and flower species found above 3000metres like Giant Heather trees whose trunks are covered in green moss with old man beards (Usnea lichen) hanging from the branches, approaching to Mutinda camp which is set near a small river and waterfall. In the afternoon one has an option of summiting Mutinda lookout at 3975 metres. Covering 6.1 km, approximately 6 to 8 hrs of walking to Mutinda camp.

The fourth day takes you through the valley of amazingly unique beautiful plant species, streams and waterfalls while we head to Bugata camp at 4062 meters. The trek gets tougher and exhausting with the steep ridges, mud and boggy sections, high steps but the rewards are enormously beautiful.

From Bugata Camp you get up early and head for the summit of Weismanns peak at 4620 meters. After the summit you start to descend through a different route which makes the loop thus we descend down the Nyamwamba valley to Kiharo Camp at 3430 meters for the night. It’s 3.7 km to the peak and a total of approximately 9 km down to Kiharo camp taking 8 to 10 hours.

Descend down hill past the moss covered rocks along rivers and beautiful forests back to the base camp in Kilembe. 14.6 km 7 to 9 hrs of walking Debrief and refresh and continue to your hotel for the night. Overnight at Trekkers Hostel on the footstep of Mount Rwenzori.

Park - Entebbe/Departure After an early morning breakfast Depart Rwenzori National Park and then transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your departure targeting your departure time from Entebbe International Airport. The drive will take you through the Uganda Equatorline Mark at Kayabwe.