Note: There are two options for trekking to Stanley Peak: along the Central Circle and along the Bukurungu route (+1 extra day)
Below is a short version of the Central Circle trekking.
Day 1
Our representative will meet you at Entebbe International Airport or at your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala and take you to our hotel in Kasese (with late arrival, check-in at your hotel in Entebbe). The trip to Kasese takes 5-6 hours.
Day 2
Breakfast, preparation for departure. Your guide will take you from your hotel in Kasese to Nyakalejia (1,615m), at the gate of Rwenzori Mountain National Park, for briefing and checking (completing) your climbing equipment before starting your trek. Next, we will have an interesting trekking to the Nyabitaba hut (2651 m). During this part of the road, you can hear chimpanzees and see the black and white colobus, blue monkey and the brightly colored Rwenzori turaco bird. Duration of the hike: 6-7 hours. Vertical drop: 1036 m
Day 3
Breakfast, preparation for departure. From Nyabitaba's hut, we will descend through the forest to the Kurt Schafer bridge, and then after the bamboo forest, we will go through a long and grueling rocky area with slippery moss. This place will offer views of the Stanley and Spik Mountains. Then we pass through the marshy area and get to the John Matte hut (3505 m). Dinner and overnight at the hut. Duration of the hike: 7 - 8 hours. Vertical drop: 854 m
Day 4
Breakfast, preparation for departure. Today our trail will pass through the Bujuku River, the lower and upper bogs of Bigo, the home of giant plants - Lobelia, Lake Bujuku overlooking Mount Baker to the south and Mount Stanley to the west. Stop at the Bujuku Hut (3962 m), which is located in a narrow valley under the Shtulman pass. This camp is good for acclimatizing Clients climbing Stanley and Speke. Dinner and overnight at the Bujuku hut. Duration of the hike: 4 - 5 hours. Vertical drop: 457 m
Attention: From the Bujuku hut, you will ascend to the Spik peak (Vittorio Emanuele peak, 4890 m). Duration of the ascent: 8 - 9 hours. One (1) day is added to the program.
Day 5
Breakfast, preparation for departure. Today we will again have a swampy area, as well as steep slopes, a magical forest and the Groundsel ravine. Here we turn right and along a steep path through large boulders we move towards Elena's hut (4541 m) and Stanley Mountain. Those who climb to the top will have dinner and a cool night at Elena's hut. Duration of the hike: 5 - 6 hours. Vertical drop: 579 m
Day 6
Early breakfast, preparation for departure. Today we will climb the highest peak of Mount Stanley - Margherita Peak (5109 m). To reach the summit of Margherita, the climb takes about 4 -5 hours depending on the weather conditions and the pace of climbing this mountain. This tough walk takes you over three glaciers, slippery rock, ice and very exposed areas which are open on many sides. Climbing on to the glaciers, cross the Stanley Plateau and proceed with the ascent. Acclimatized to fog, altitude sickness and coolly weather, scramble up to the summit of Margherita the highest peak of the Rwenzori. The Descend from Margherita peak back to Elena Hut will take you about 2 – 3hours.
After your lunch at Elena hut, descend to the Scott-Elliot pass (4372 m), where there are spectacular views of Bujuku Lake and Mount Speke. After, the trail passes you through an alpine zone of sparse vegetation and rough boulders, descend past the Kitandara Lakes for dinner and overnight at the Kitandara camp (4430 m). Descend duration: 3 – 4 hours.
Day 7
Early breakfast, preparation for departure. From Kitandara we follow a path that rises steeply up the wall, extending from the base of Mount Baker and continues along the southern side of the mountain to the Freshfield Pass (4282 m). At this point, you can see Congo to the west and Mount Stanley to the north. From the pass we move along the long high-mountainous moss. After that, the descent begins along steep rocky paths to the rocky shelter in Bujongolo, the base camp of the historical expedition of the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906 and further to the Guy Yoman hut (3261 m). Duration of the hike: 6 - 7 hours.
Attention: From the Kitandara hut (4430 m), ascend the Baker Peak (Edward Peak, 4843 m). Duration of the ascent: 8 - 9 hours. Added in the program 1 (2) days (day of rest and day of ascent)
Day 8
Breakfast, preparation for departure. Below Guy Yoman, our route goes down the Kichuchu rocks. Beyond Kichuchu, the muddy trail crosses the Mubuku River twice through the bamboo forest and then descends down to Nyabitaba, which completes our circle. We continue our descent from Nyabitabe Camp to the park gate in Nyakalejia, where you will meet your driver for a transfer to Kasese. Overnight in Kasese.
Day 9
Breakfast, preparation for departure. Transfer to Kampala (Entebbe Airport) for departure.
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)