5 days Rwenzori mountains trekking to summit Mount Stanley 5109m asl

5 days Rwenzori mountains trekking to summit Mount Stanley 5109m asl

Day 1: MIHUNGA GATE (1651m asl.) – NYABITABA CAMP (2651m asl.)

The 5 days Rwenzori mountains trekking to summit Mount Stanley 5109m asl Via The Central Circuit Trail starts at the Rwenzori Mountains National park Mihunga gate at about 1.651m Asl.

Start the trek through the long montane vegetation trees along the Mubuku valley before crossing the Kyoho river bridge and the Mahoma river bridge.

Look out for 3 horned Johnson’s chameleons as you rest near river Mahoma to have your packed lunch.

Continue your ascend through a long steep section to left of the Mubuku valley with views of the Portal peaks before arriving at Nyabitaba camp for a hot drink and lunch.

Hike duration: 4 -6 hours. Elevation height: 1,036m Trekking distance: 6Km

Day 2: NYABITABA (2651m asl.) – JOHN MATTE CAMP (3505m asl.)

From Nyabitaba camp climb up to the junction sloping right of the trail t Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers.

Climb through the bamboo forest, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock to reach the Nyamuleju camping shelter. This section is popular for the blue monkeys and the rock hyrax which can be seen peeping from the rocks along the trail.

From the Nyamuleju camping shelter, Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel.

Arrive John Matte camp late in the afternoon after passing through the tiring bog.

Dinner and overnight at John Matte hut.

Hike duration: 7 – 9 hours. Elevation height: 854m Trekking distance: 10.6 Km

Day 3: JOHN MATTE (3505m asl.) – LAKE BUJUKU – ELENA CAMP (4541m asl.)

Have an early breakfast and start off your hike crossing River Bujuku to join the lower Bigo bog walking a distance of 1.4 Km to reach the Bigo hut.

Start off a steady narrow climb along the Bujuku River valley to slope down to the start of the Upper Bigo bog.

Here you will be able to see the Mount Savoia glacier on a clear day.

At the end of the Upper Bigo bog, cross the Bujuku River again to have a 15 minutes rest before climbing through the valley to the base of Mount Baker and at the edge of the Bujuku valley at the Omwihembe shelter resting point.

Here you will be able to see the Mount Stanley glacier on a clear day in the middle of the Alexandra and Margherita peaks.

Have your packed lunch before starting off the hike to Elena hut crossing the bog left of Lake Bujuku to reach Omukendeghe view point of the Bujuku valley.

Proceed climbing on the left of the Irene lakes trail to reach the Elena camps.

Dinner and overnight at Elena hut.

Hike duration: 6 – 8 hours. Elevation height: 1,036m

Day 4: ELENA HUT (4541m asl.) – MARGHERITA PEAK (5109m asl.) – JOHN MAATE CAMP (3505 m asl.)

To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 4 – 6 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain.

Start off the trek from Elena hut at 2am in the morning climbing through the rocks above Elena hut to reach the first fixed rope in about 500 metres from the camp.

With your headlamps on proceed carefully climbing to the left towards Mount Savoia before turning right sloping down the first glacier to wear your crampons and fix the rope to cross the glacier.

Thereafter climb up the ridge to the right to slope down fixed ropes to reach the snowline at the Irene Junction.

Continue your climb below the base of Mount Stanley to reach a steep section with a fixed rope before you reach the Stanley glacier to fix crampons again.

Cross the glacier before taking a steep left climb to summit Mount Stanley reaching Margherita peak 5,109m asl.

From here, you can continue on the right to summit Albert peak in the DR Congo.

The distance from Elena hut to Margherita peak is 4.9 Km.

Hike duration: 5 – 7 hours. Elevation height: 568m Trekking distance: 4.9 Km

Enjoy 15 minutes at the summit capturing memories and enjoying views before descending down the peak.

Descend from Margherita peak down to the snowline to join the Irene lakes trail down to the Bujuku valley. You will enjoy views of Mount Speke glacier, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Bukurungu lakes from far.

Continue your trek down to the right of Lake Bujuku sloping down to the Upper Bigo bog.

Cross the Upper bigo bog and proceed to the lower Bigo bog before arriving at John Maate huts late in the evening for a hot drink and rest.

Descend duration: 4 – 6 hours.

Day 5: JOHN MAATE CAMP (3505m asl.) – MIHUNGA GATE (1651m asl.)

This is your last day of the 5 days Rwenzori mountains trekking to summit Mount Stanley 5109m asl adventure.

After breakfast and a long rest from your long summit day, start your descend down through the heather zone crossing boggy, rocky sections and streams.

Descend past the Nyamuleju camping shelter before reaching the bamboo zone overlooking the Mubuku valley. Cross the Kurt Schafer bridge to climb upwards back to Nyabitaba hut for a hot lunch and rest in the afternoon.

Thereafter descend from Nyabitaba hut down to cross Mahoma and Kyoho bridges before climbing up from the Mubuku valley.

Slope down to Mihunga gate to receive your Rwenzori mountains trekking certificate and proceed to your hotel for an overnight.

Descent duration: 7 – 9 hours

End of the 5 days Rwenzori mountains trekking to summit Mount Stanley 5109m asl trip.

End of Trip!!!