HPE: 574 Rwenzori Central Circuit Trail

Duration: 15 Days and 14 Nights
Price: Please Contact us about the price of this Itinerary


Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to Kampala for dinner and overnight at Hotel Africana or Ivys Hotel.

Day 2: From Kampala the visitors reach Rwenzori. Lunch at Mbarara, Lake View Regency Hotel. Dinner and overnight at Ibanda, Tour Holiday Inn.

Day 3: From Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba Hut, 2.652 m.

From the Rwenzori Mountains National Park Head Quarter at Nyakalengija, 1.646 m., you will receive the briefing from RMS (Rwenzori Mountaineering Services) and UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority), with the possibility of renting equipment. The hike starts through the plantations and homes of the Bakonjo, the people of the mountain, gradually reaching garden plots and elephants grass. You follow the Mobuku river, until crossing the Mahoma river. The trail passes through an open bracken fern slopes and Podorcarpus Forest, up to Nyabitaba Hut, 2.652 m., which is the arrival point for the day. This will take from 5 to 6 hours. From the location, you are facing on the North the Portal Peaks, 4.627 m., in front Mount Kyniangoma. During the day, you might see monkeys, the Rwenzori Turaco and hearing the chimpanzees.

Day 4: From Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte Hut, 3.414 m.

From Nyabitaba Hut you cross the Kurt Shaffer Bridge, through a muddy area. Then the trail climbs up through the bamboo forest. You reach a steep rocky area, which leads to Nyamuleju Hut. This point marks the start of the giant lobelia and groundsel zone. The way proceeds through a bog full of typical plants along the Bujuku river. The final point is John Matte Hut, 3.414 m. for spending the night. From Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte it can take approximately 6 hours. Enjoy the view of Mount Stanley and snow capped Margherita and Elena Peaks.

Day 5: From John Matte Hut to Bujuku Hut, 3.962 m

From John Matte Hut you cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower Bigo bog, a grassy bog where you experience how to jump from tussock to tussock. You reach Bigo Hut and enter the upper Bigo bog, proceeding to Lake Bujuku, where it is starting the alpine Savannah zone of little vegetation. You finally arrive at Bujuku Hut, 3.962 m. This day hike can take up to 5 hours. There you have a view on the peaks of Mount Stanley, Mount Baker and Mount Speke. From Bujuku starts the diversion for whom intends to climb Mount Speke. For climbing Margherita and Alexandra peaks it is advised to proceed to Elena Hut for overnight.

Day 6: From Bujuku Hut to Kitandara Hut, 4.023 m.

From Bujuku Hut you climb through moss draped groundsel vegetation, to Scott Elliot Pass, 4.372 m., the highest point of the loop trail. The path is very rocky and steep, at the foothills of Mount Baker. Enjoy a spectacular view of Margherita peak, Elena and Savoia glaciers and Mount Baker. You reach Upper Kitandara lake through thick mud to Lower Kitandara lake where is located Kitandara Hut, 4.023 m. Kitandara in the local language means “fresh field”, as a cold wind is blowing into the valley. Time to complete the hike about 5 hours. During this tract, it is recommended to check any sign of altitudes sickness or hypothermia. From Kitandara Hut you can proceed for climbing Mount Baker or Mount Luigi di Savoia and the peak Vittorio Sella.

Day 7: From Kitandara Hut to Guy Yeoman Hut, 3.261 m.

From Lake Kitandara you climb to Freshfield Pass, 4.282 m., a long flat of high alpine mossy glades, before descending the circuit among rocky and boggy areas. The panorama is dominated by the glaciers of Mounts Stanley and Baker. A muddy trail leads to Akendahi, Bujongolo and Kabamba rock shelters, where starts the Kabamba valley down to Guy Yeoman Hut, 3.261 m. This can take up to 6 hours. The hut is surrounded by a beautiful landscape of mountains, vegetation and rivers.

Day 8: From Guy Yeoman Hut back to Nyabitaba Hut, 2.652 m.

In this day you complete the central circuit by going back to Nyabitaba Hut. The trial is attractive along the valley of the Mobuku and Kichuchu rivers, rich in plants and flowers of the heather zone before reaching the bamboo forest. See Kabamba falls on the way. Time to reach Nyabitaba is about 6 hours. Eventually, you decide to terminate the trial by descending directly to Nyakalengija, adding 2 to 3 more hours.

Day 9: From Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija.

From Nyabitaba to reach Nyakalengija it can take up to three hours. From Nyabitaba starts the 40 minutes trial to see Lake Mamoha and back to the hut for descending to the Park Head Quarter. Transfer to Kampala or dinner and overnight at Margherita Hotel in Kasese.

Tariff per person for the central circuit without extension with minimum group of five people: US$1255

Tariff for climbing the peaks (one day extension each):
Margherita Peak 140$
Mount Speke 105$
Mount Baker 105$
Mount Luigi di Savoia 130$

Day 10: Queen Elisabeth National Park

EXTENSION QUEEN ELISABETH – MURCHISON FALLS

Arrival at Mweya in the Queen Elisabeth National Park, on time for the launch trip along the Kazinga Channel. The concentration of water birds, hippos and crocodiles here is really amazing. Lunch at Mweya Safari Lodge. In the afternoon game drive in the Northern sector of the Park, to see crater lakes, elephants, lions, kobs, spotted hyenas and the leopard. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge.

Day 11: The chimpanzee in Kyambura and Kasenda crater lakes

Early morning departure for the chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge, starting at 8am. Lunch in Kasese. In the afternoon exploration of the region of Kasenda crater lakes on the road to Fort Portal. Visit to the Mahoma Falls. Dinner and overnight at Rujuna Hilltop Guesthouse.

Day 12: Murchison Falls National Park

After an early breakfast transfer to the North to Murchison Falls National Park, the biggest protected area of Uganda, with up to 3.840 Kms. The name derives from the falls on the river Victoria Nile, the most impressive in East Africa. Drive through Hoima and along the Lake Albert. The panorama is interesting, specially when reaching the Rift Valley Escarpment. Lunch at Red Chilli Rest Camp and afternoon game drive. See elephants, giraffes, kobs, bushbuck, baboons and, if lucky, lions in action. Dinner and overnight at Sambyia Lodge.

Day 13: The wonderful Murchison falls on river Nile

Early morning launch trip on river Nile, with exceptional sight of water birds, crocodiles, hippos, elephants, up to the base of the falls. The journey will terminate with a short hike exactly on top of the falls, to fully enjoy their beauty. Lunch at Masindi Hotel. Evening return to Kampala. Overnight at Hotel Africana or Ivys Hotel.

Day 14: Kampala city tour

After breakfast departure for the tour of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. Visit Namirembe Cathedral. Walk through the city centre, the Uganda Parliament, the National Theatre, the national galley Nommo. Lunch at Pearl Restaurant. In the afternoon visit the Kasubi Tombs, where the Buganda kings are buried; visit the Bulange and the Bahai Temple. Overnight at Ivys Hotel or Hotel Africana.

Day 15: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport.

The price includes:

  • Full board and meals during the hike
  • Accommodation in huts and hotels
  • Transfer with 4×4 land cruiser or minibus
  • Guide and porters, cooker
  • Park Entrance fees
  • Rescue fees in case of emergency rescue on Rwenzori Mountains

The price excludes:

  • Flight and tourist insurance
  • Equipment for the hike
  • Alcohol, tips, cigarettes, laundry