8 Days Rwenzori Trekking to Margherita peak Via the Kilembe Trail

Day 1: Rwenzori mountains Kilembe gate (1,727m aasl) – Sine Hut (2,596m asl)

The 8 days Rwenzori trekking to Margherita peak via the Kilembe trail starts at Mulyambuli Rangers post (1,727m asl). Hike to sleep at Sine Hut at 2,596 meters with a height gain of 869 meters.

And if you are fit and want to proceed to Kalalama Camp at 3,134 metres, continue upwards. You will enjoy fantastic views and have more time at Mutinda Camp. Climb up to Mutinda Lookout at 3,975 metres to enjoy the breathtaking views below.

We start by walking up the valley floor through tall forest trees of the Afro Montane Forest Zone.

Take a steady climb watching multitudes of birds and a chance of seeing blue monkeys scampering off through the forest.

Occasionally see troupes of 15 to 20 black and white Colobus monkeys as they swing through the tree tops. There are rare sightings of the L’Hoest monkeys which are part of the Bakonzo cultural emblems.

These 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. With many moss and lichen covered vines hanging from the tall trees creating an awesome appeal.

Enock’s Falls; just 200 meters from Sine Hut offer a splendid opportunity to capture a screensaver for your memories.

At Sine Camp 2,596 metres there are wooden huts set between tall forest trees on a narrow ridge. You may sit and enjoy the beauty of the Afro Montane forest. Look down at the fantastic Enock’s waterfall crashing over the rocks far below.

Some clients prefer to sit outside enjoying the warmth of the campfire. Chat with the guides about the mountains and life in their community. Sine is just below the bamboo zone and the area around has many different bird species.

150 meters from the camp is Enock falls which is set in livid green vegetation and hanging vine. Truly beautiful. Sleep at Sine.

Those who are fit can proceed to Kalalama Camp at 3,134 metres.

Day 2: Sine Camp (2,596m asl) – Kalalama Camp (3,147m asl)- Mutinda camp (3,975m asl).

Trekking starts at 8.30am; immediately 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 is beautiful as you climb 551 metres altitude. A distance of 1.8km to Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters which is in the Heather-Rapanea Zone.

Here 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.

You then climb steadily along the side of a beautiful mossy river which tumbles down over the rocks under the Giant Heather trees whose trunks are covered in green moss with old man beards (Usnea lichen) hanging from the branches.

The trail twists and turns as you climb up the deep valley, which has an enormous variety of plants and flowers. This valley is unique with many Giant Heather trees creating a beautiful atmosphere often shrouded in mist.

In the afternoon you may wish to climb up to the top of the Mutinda Lookout (one to two hours up and one hour down).

The views are amazing as you stand on moss covered rocks at 3,925 meters with views across the Rwenzori Mountains and down to Kasese town and Lake George.

For those clients who are climbing to Margherita or any of the main peaks climbing Mutinda 3,975 meters is also an excellent way to acclimatise and reduce the risk of high altitude sickness

Sleep at Mutinda Camp at 3.582 metres

Day 3: Mutinda camp (3,975m asl) – Bugata camp (4,100m asl). 

The trail to Bugata Camp 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 metres.

Day 4: Bugata camp (4,100m asl) – Hunwick’s camp (3,874m asl).

Trek to Hunwick’s Camp via Bamwanjarra Pass. As you leave Bugata Camp you 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 ever green 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.

Farther 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, Weismanns Peak and McConnell’s Prong.

Day 5: Hunwick’s camp (3,874m asl) – Margherita camp (4,485m asl).

From Hunwick’s we pass down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitandara which is very stunning with deep water and beautiful vegetation.

From here you climb up Scott Elliott’s pass then up the ridge to Margherita Camp 4,485 metres 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.

Day 6: Margherita camp (4,485m asl) – Margherita peak (5,109m asl) – Hunwick’s camp (3,874m asl).

Wake up at 2am and catch an early breakfast before heading off to climb Mt Stanley at 2.30am.

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 and snow falls from 1 pm to 4pm and this happens within a short period of 10 to 15 minutes as the clouds rise up from the extensive Congo rainforests. 

Due to this change in weather there is a strict turn-around time of 10am so if you do not reach the peak before then you must turn around regardless of the disappointment in the interests of safety.

Margherita glacier has also suffered with global warming and as the outer edges of the glacier recede the ice is becoming steeper with one section of about 200 meters more than 60% grade.

Combined with this much of the blacker has melted underneath causing caves under the ice and as it get thinner eventually caves in.

So is necessary that clients understand and take advice of where the guides suggest to pass.

For those clients with less mountaineering experience we 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 metres you then pass directly down to Hunwick’s Camp at 3.874 metres.

Day 7: Hunwick’s camp (3,874m asl) – Kiharo camp

From Hunwick’s Camp we start the day by climbing up a ridge towards McConnell’s Prong where you get the best views of all three peaks and Scott Elliott’s Pass before reaching Oliver’s Pass at 4,505 metres.

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 through Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

If you wish to climb Weismanns Peak 4,620 metres from Olivers pass you may do so at an extra cost of $20 each.

On a clear day you get fantastic views of Margherita and Mt Stanley, Mt Speke and Mt Baker.

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 you will 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.

Distance to Kiharo Camp 11km Time taken to walk 4 to 7 hours

Day 8: Kiharo camp – Park gate/Mulyambuli Rangers post (1,727m asl)

The trail down the Nyamwamba Valley is mostly downhill and absolutely stunning with beautiful views, moss covered rocks along the river, cascading waterfalls, deep valleys and forests are possibly the best in the Rwenzori Mountains.

This part of the trail took us six years to find a way through and a route which is easy enough for tourists to use.

A few kilometers from Kiharo Camp the path turns off to the right to pass along the river.

In the clear areas you may catch a glimpse of a Duiker quietly feeding in small clearings as you pass along the river.

If you wish you may prefer to walk down the river itself hopping across the rocks as you pass down.

A few kilometres down the river it becomes very steep with multitudes of waterfalls so we have to move away from the river and follow a narrow ridge to bypass steep sections.

At the bottom we again meet the river where there is a huge rock shelter and a place to rest for a while.

After crossing a small stream you climb up a gentle slope before turning back down to the river to avoid another set of waterfalls which are impassable. The forest along this section is magnificent and full of life with many birds, primates, dikers and hyrax.

A great ending to a fantastic 8 Days Rwenzori Trekking to Margherita peak Via the Kilembe Trail experience.

Distance Covered: Kiharo Camp to the park gate 12.2km Walking Time: 5 to 8 hours.

Other Rwenzori mountains trekking options along the Kilembe trail/route include;

5days Kilembe route Weismann’s peak trek

4days trek to the Mutinda Lookout

3days trek to Samalira Camp

2days trek to Sine Camp

Looking for a Rwenzori mountains trekking trip? Let us know here;

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