Day 1
In the morning after breakfast, you will have a pick-up from your hotel in Kasese town, on the road around Nyakalejia, to the gate of Rwenzori Mountains Park. Your 3-day nature walk to John Matte Camp will follow the Central Circle Trail and begin at the gates of Mount Rwenzori National Park in Nyakalejia. Here you will have instructions from the park rangers and an introduction to the route,
as well as meeting with your guides and porters. After that, you will embark on a journey along a path that passes through a dense forest along the Mubuku River, crosses its tributary of the Mahoma River, and then a long climb to the massive ridge begins, along which you will reach the Nyabitaba hut (2651 m). During this part of the journey, you can hear chimpanzees and see black and white colobus, blue monkey and brightly colored turraco Rwenzori. Duration of the hike: 6-7 hours. Elevation height: 1036 m
Day 2
After breakfast, from Nyabitaba hut you follow a trail that descends through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Next, you will pass a bamboo forest and a long, tiring stretch of slippery moss-covered cliffs. From the Nyamuleju rock shelter, you can see the Stanley Mountains (Margherita Peak (5109m)) and Speke (4890m). And then you will find yourself in the zone of giant heather, lobelia and agriculture. Finally reach John Matte's hut (3505 m). Dinner and overnight at the hut. Duration of the hike: 7-8 hours. Elevation height: 854 m
Day 3
After breakfast in the morning, take in the stunning views, pack your bags and prepare for your return trip. From John Matte's hut, you will follow the same trail to Nyabitaba's hut. Here you will have lunch. It will take you about 5-6 hours. After lunch, you will descend back to the park gate, where you will be met by our driver-guide who will take you back to Kasese for the night or take you to your next destination, or take you to Entebbe International Airport for your departure. Descent from Nyabitaba to the gates of the park will take 3-4 hours.
So:
Central Circle standard program:
- with the ascent to the Margherita peak takes 9 days
- with ascent to 2 (two) peaks: Peak Spik and Peak Margherita takes 11 days
- with ascent to 3 (three) peaks: Spik, Margherita and Baker takes 12 (13) days
Accordingly, the program along the Bukurungu route:
- with the ascent to Margherita peak takes 10 days
- with ascent to 2 (two) peaks: Spik peak and Margherita peak takes 12 days
- with ascent to 3 (three) peaks: Spik, Margherita and Baker takes 13 (14) days
What can be added to this tour !!
- A trip to the city of Jinja - full white water rafting at the source of the Nile River (+1 day)
- Drive to Sipi Falls (Mount Elgon National Park, a series of three falls, the main 100-meter waterfall) (+1 day)
- Drive to Ziva Rhino Shelter for
- A trip to Murchison Falls National Park: safari, climbing to Cabarega Falls, sailing on a boat to Cabarega Falls (+2 days)
- Drive to the Mahoma waterfall and Lake Nkuruba (Nature Reserve) (+1 day)
- Trip to Semliki National Park, Sempaya hot springs (+1 day)
- A trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park: safari, a place of lions climbing trees, sailing on a boat along the canal (+1 (3) days)
- A trip to the Virunga Mountains, a hike to the crater of Mount Muhavura, one of the Virunga mountain ranges in Uganda. (+1 (2) days)
- Trip to Lake Mburo National Park (+2 days)
- Trip to Kibal National Park, safari, observation of chimpanzees (+2 (3) days)
- Trip to Bwindi National Park (impenetrable forest and gorilla habitat) and Lake Bunioni (+3 (4) days)