Hiking Rwenzori Mountains

Hiking Mountain Rwenzori: Mountain Rwenzori is the tallest mountain in Uganda found in the western part of the country. Mountain Rwenzori is found in Rwenzori Mountains national park on the western side of the park. Mountain Rwenzori is about 120 kilometers wide, 65 kilometers long, and it’s 5109 meters above sea level. The mountain has the highest peak on Mount Stanley at a peak called Margherita which is 5109 meters above sea level.

Mountain Rwenzori is made up of 6 peaks which are dived by gorges. The 6 peaks of Mountain Rwenzori are Mount Stanley at 5109 meters, Mount Speke at 4890 meters, Mount Baker at 4843 meters, Mount Emin at 4798 meters, Mount Gessi at 4715 meters, and Mount Luigi di Savoia at 4627 meters. Mount Stanley has different summits and among them include Margherita Peak which is the highest point.

Thousands of people from different parts of the world every year flock to Rwenzori Mountains national park to climb Mountain Rwenzori and for many, it’s an adventure of a lifetime. Hiking Mount Rwenzori is an activity that takes 8 to 10 days with the time taken depending on the nature of trails and the speed of the hikers. The number of days said include ascending and descending the mountain.

Rwenzori mountains hiking trails

The central circuit trail

The central circuit trail is the oldest hiking trail on Mount Rwenzori and it can be used by experienced hikers as well as those that are hiking for the first time. The trail takes you to Margherita peak which is the highest point on Mountain Rwenzori. The central circuit takes hikers through five vegetation zones and gives them an opportunity to have spectacular views of the mountain and its surroundings. Hikers who are looking at the easiest and shortest trails to use hiking Rwenzori it’s the central circuit trail.

Kilembe trail

Kilembe trails is another trail used by hikers on Rwenzori Mountain to get to Margherita Peak. This trail is owned and managed by the Rwenzori trekking services and it’s one of the newest trails opened after the construction of the new huts on Mountain Rwenzori. The Kilembe trail is longer than the central circuit trail however it has many advantages for example seeing different lakes and rivers, spectacular views of the surrounding areas, and many others.

The Bukurungu trail

Bukurungu trail is the newest trail on Rwenzori mountains created after Kilembe trail and the central circuit trail. The Bukurungu trail is used by hikers who are more interested in nature. This trail gives hikers an opportunity to see different wildlife along the way and it also gives hikers an opportunity to see 4 lakes. Bukurungu trails allows hikers to see lakes like Bukurungu, Bujuku, Mughuli, and Irene.

Bukurungu trail also gives hikers an opportunity to see rivers, waterfalls and glaciers on the slopes of Mountain Rwenzori. This trail is the longest of all but good hikers can take 8 to 9 days to reach Margherita Peak. Hikers who are to use the Bukurungu trails should know that this trail is for camping only because it has no huts and the camping areas are safe as they are managed by Bujuku Eco Tours.

Hiking Mount Rwenzori is one of the greatest experience you shouldn’t miss on your travel bucket list

Hiking Mountain Rwenzori

Hiking is the most done activity on Mountain Rwenzori and this allows hikers to reach different levels of the mountains where they get spectacular views of the different attractions on the mountains as well as its surroundings. Different hiking trails among which include the central circuit, Bukurungu and Kilembe trail are used by hikers to get to the summit of Rwenzori with each having unique attractions and spectacular views.

Hiking Mountain Rwenzori starts with a briefing where the armed ranger guide tell the hikers about the rules and regulations of the activity. These enable hikers to know what to do and not what to do during the hiking. Hikers who have excess luggage can hire porters to enable them carry excess luggage. Hikers who don’t have gear and other equipment can hire from the starting point.

Hikers are given hiking sticks to help them balance during the hike because some parts of the mountain are rocky and slippery. Hikers are led by a guide and they are advised to hike at their own pace. Hikers are always in groups that consist of people from different parts of the world ready to have fun and share experience while hiking. Hiking Mount Rwenzori goes through different climatic zones which include the savannah grassland zone, afro-montane zone, bamboo forest zone, afro-alpine zone, and glacier zone.

At different levels of the mountain, hikers are allowed to rest, have lunch, enjoy their snacks, and have an overnight stay when it gets dark. There are cooks during the hiking, they prepare food from the different points of the mountain. The central circuit trail and the Kilembe trails have hits where hikers sleep when it gets dark while the Bukurungu trail has camping sites only which are also safe.

Hiking Mount Rwenzori can go to any of the stages and it’s the hiker who chooses where to stop based on his itinerary. For those who want to get to Margherita peak on Mount Stanley should know that it takes 8 to 10 days. Hiking gives hikers an opportunity to see the different attractions found on Rwenzori Mountain and among these include peaks, lakes, rivers, glaciers, vegetation, and a few animals that live there.

As hikers get to close to the summit of Rwenzori mountains the hiking becomes difficult because of the glaciers, rocks, and the area being steep. Hikers should expect snow and ice as they get close to the summit but on the sunny days the snow might be lesser. On good days, hikers get clear views of the summit and good photography. At the summit hikers, get a break and this allows them to observe Margherita peak, take photos, record videos, and see the different attractions near the mountain.

After having some quality time at the summit of Mount Rwenzori (Margherita peak), hikers have another task of climbing down. Descending Mount Rwenzori is not as hard as ascending however tourists need to be more careful to avoid accidents. While descending, the trails are slippery and they need hikers to be extra careful.

How long does it take to hike Mountain Rwenzori?

There are two different hiking routes used by hikers on Mountain Rwenzori and each takes between 9 to 10 days to reach the summit. Rwenzori Mountain has the central circuit trail, Bukurungu wilderness camping trail, and Kilembe trail. The time or number of days hikers take to reach the summit depend on a number of things among which include the speed of the hikers, and the nature of the hiking trails.

How much does a Rwenzori Mountain hike cost?

Hiking Mountain Rwenzori can never be cheap especially for those who want to reach the summit at Margherita peak. The cost of hiking Mountain Rwenzori depends on a number of things among which include the time of the year you visit the mountain, the tour operator used, and the number of days you will hike the mountains. The more days the more the cost of the hike because every day you need accommodation fees, guide fees, meals, and porter fees for hikers who have excess luggage.

When to hike the Rwenzori mountains

Tourists can hike the Rwenzori mountains at any time of the year however there are months that are better than others. The warm and dry months from June to September and December to February are the best to climb Mount Rwenzori. This is because they are characterized by good weather meaning that there are high chances of seeing clear clouds in the mornings and evenings, however, the place can be cloudy in the afternoon and you may receive some rainfall.

Tourists can still hike Mount Rwenzori during the rainy season however we cannot recommend it. This season has plenty of rainfall and these makes the trails muddy and slippery which makes hiking difficult. During the rainy season, there is a lot of snow on the mountains and the skies are not clear because of the dark clouds. Hikers in the rainy season are likely to enjoy less because they will miss out on spectacular views and great photography opportunities.

Keep fit so as to have a great hiking experience in Uganda

Fitness and training for Rwenzori hiking

Mountain Rwenzori is the tallest mountain in Uganda and climbing it is a huge challenge meaning every hiker must be physically fit with a serious determination. The nature of the terrain on Mount Rwenzori is difficult to hike and this calls for a very good level of fitness. Tourists who are planning to hike Rwenzori mountains are advised to keep training even when they are still in their home country.

Hikers going to climb Mount Rwenzori are advised to start training at least 2 months before the activity. Fit enough hikers will be able to go through the hiking trails easily unlike those that never trained well. Hikers can do simple hiking on their hills back home so that by the time they climb Mount Rwenzori they are good to go. Strong hikers will be able to hike to the summit of Mountain Rwenzori for a few days.

What to pack for Rwenzori hiking?

Hikers going to climb Mount Rwenzori need equipment such as waterproof hiking boots, waterproof backpack, thermals, waterproof pants, quick dry hiking clothes, a pair of gaiters, rainy jackets, gardening gloves, toiletries, torch, energy giving snacks, medical kit, a camera, batteries, and a pair of binoculars to mention but a few.

Getting to Rwenzori Mountains

Rwenzori Mountains is found inside Rwenzori Mountains national park and can be accessed using road transport or air transport. Air transport is the quickest way to get to Rwenzori mountains however tourists should know that this mode of transport is a bit costly. Different airline companies can fly tourists to Rwenzori and the closest airstrip they use is Kasese where tourists later connect to the park using road transport.

Bar Aviation Uganda and Aerolink Uganda have gotten flights to Rwenzori Mountains national park and their flights start from Kajjansi Airstrip and Entebbe International Airport in Entebbe. To fly with any of the airline companies, you need to book early in advance and that should be 3 to 4 months in advance.

Road transport is the most used mode of transport by hikers going to Rwenzori Mountain because it’s very affordable. From Entebbe/ Kampala tourists drive through Mityana, Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Fort Portal, and Bundibugyo. Tourists can also use Entebbe/Kampala, Masaka, Mbarara, Kasese route to get to Mountain Rwenzori.