This Mountain Rwenzori hiking and Climbing Uganda is an adventure tour that takes you to explore mountain Rwenzori national park through the rain forest and bamboo zones at the foot of the mountains, to the giant heather and heath of the Alpine zone. The Rwenzori hiking exposes you to the art of nature which involves rare vegetation, to various streams, rivers and falls. The higher you hike the more you exposed with clearer fantastic views of Queen Elizabeth National park and Lake George
Mountain Rwenzori is well known for extraordinary flora and the different vegetation zones. The vegetation zones are characterized by mountain forest zone (1500 – 2500 m); the bamboo zone (2500 – 3000 m); the heather and rapenea zone (3000 – 4000 m; the Alpine Zone (4000 – 4.500 m) with everlasting flowers. The lower peaks are blanketed in moorland, bamboo and rich, moist montane forest. Huge tree-heathers and colorful mosses are draped across the mountainside with giant lobelias and “everlasting flowers,” creating an enchanting, fairy-tale scene.
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kasese
Meet our guide and drive to Kasese for Mountain Rwenzori hiking and Climbing trip the following day. This journey takes you through traditional homes and amazing undulating Uganda’s unique vegetation with a stopover in fort portal for hot lunch before checking in to your booked lodge. Diner and overnight at Kilembe Hostels
Day 2: Mountain Rwenzori hiking and Climbing to Samalira Camp
Have breakfast and head to the starting point for briefing and conduct a thorough kit check before beginning your adventurous Mountain Rwenzori hiking and Climbing tour of 8.6km for approximately 6 hours, starting from 1667 meters to 3171 meters.
As you leave the rangers post you walk along a path through tall grassland and giant ferns which gives way to beautiful rainforest. As this is a new route the forest is largely untouched and carries a wide variety of trees and plants. Many species of bird can also be heard and seen in this rich environment, as can Chimpanzees and Colobus monkeys. Upon entering the forest, the first few kilometers of the trail climb steadily, crossing several small streams and rivers. At a height of 2,596, reach sine hut with atmosphere decorated with wooden huts, set between forest tall trees on a narrow ridge. Enjoy the beauty of the forest as well as the tenacity of waterfalls crashing over the rocks; offering spectacular views perfect to nature lovers.
From Sine camp, the Mountain Rwenzori hiking and Climbing trail becomes gradually steeper as you enter the bamboo zone. You will witness a series of rare vegetation as well as various species of birds like the Rwenzori turaco which has bright red or crimson wings. At about 3,000 metres altitude, you reach the Heather zone where the Gaint Heather trees reach 15 metres in height. The trail becomes gradually steeper as you enter the bamboo zone and ascend a high ridge, at the top of Samalira Camp near the top of the ridge. Relax and enjoy impressive views of the valleys and hills below looking across to Lake George and Queen Elizabeth National Park in the distance. Diner and overnight at Samalira Camp
Day 3: Mountain Rwenzori hiking and Climbing to Kalalama Camp
After a hearty breakfast resume with your Mountain Rwenzori hiking and Climbing adventure. The trail becomes steeper as you enter the bamboo zone. As you near the top of the ridge and exit the bamboo zone you will be greeted by fantastic views of the valleys and hills below. On a clear day, the view extends all the way across to Lake George and Queen Elizabeth National Park. As you continue to hike, the bamboo forest will gradually give way to forests of giant tree heather and lobelias of a kind that can only be found in the Rwenzori Mountains. After 6.9km as you near the top of the ridge, you will approach Kalalama Camp (3,153m), where you rest tonight. Kalalama camp has fantastic views of the valleys.
From here, you pass through mossy ridges to more heather forests, after which you will encounter flat valleys during Mountain Rwenzori hiking and Climbing adve that are punctuated by many lobelia plants. From here you climb a short distance to Kyravilla and descend down a stunning moss-covered ridge back to Samalira Camp nestled in a small dip in the landscape but with fantastic views. Diner and overnight at Kalalama Camp
Day 4: Descend to Kilembe after Mountain Rwenzori hiking and Climbing and transfer to Kampala
After breakfast, descend through the bamboo forest, back into the Afro montane zone and down the ridge to the Rangers Post. Have lunch and drive back to Kampala to Mountain Rwenzori hiking and Climbing tour with a lot of everlasting memories.
