Overview: 12 Days Of Wilderness Camping Mount Rwenzori – Bukurungu Trail With Margherita Peak
A trekking the Rwenzori mountains is exhilaration and rewarding experience but one, which must be well planned. The key to an enjoyable visit is to be prepared. The Bukurungu Trail is new and we do it while camping and the trail is easier and cheaper compared to the centrar and reaches an altitude of (5000metres) above sea level taking you to the peaks of Margherita. The conditions and the mountain are a challenging to even experienced hiker. Mountain Rwenzori is known for its un-engineered, steep and slippery trials and frequent rain. Rainfall and cold temperatures, bogs, mud, stiff terrain and high altitude make it a challenging trip. Nevertheless it’s exciting! You should need to try it! Since during much of the year mud, Rain, Mist and wind occur daily, adequate clothing (and a mental altitude!) for these conditions are a must. The periods of July-August and December-February are relatively dry and good non and experienced hikers are the best seasons for a trek.
Safari Outline: 12 Days Of Wilderness Camping Mount Rwenzori – Bukurungu Trail With Margherita Peak
Day 1: Arrival
Day 2: driven to Kasese starting point for trekking Mountain Rwenzori
Day 3: 1st day of the hiking and trekking Mountain Rwenzori: Rwigho Camp 3300Masl
Day 4: 2nd day of thehiking and trekking Mountain Rwenzori Kambeho – 3700Masl
Day 5: 3rd day of the hiking and trekking Mountain RwenzoriLamia Camp – 3650Masl
Day 6: 4th day of the hiking and trekking Mountain Rwenzori Lake Bukurungu Camp – 4291Masl/ Bigo camp – 3442Masl
Day 7: 5th day of the hiking and trekking Mountain Rwenzori Mount Speke (4890Masl) and a night at Bujuku camp (3977Masl)
Day 8: 6th day of the hiking and trekking Mountain Rwenzori Irene lake Camp – 4495Masl/ Elena Camp – 4541Masl
Day 9: 7th day of the hiking and trekking Mountain Rwenzori Margherita peak – 5109Masl back to Bigo camp
Day 10: 8th day of the hiking and trekking Mountain RwenzoriBigo to Nyabitaba camp
Day 11: Final Descend to Kasese base camp.
Day 12: Return to Kampala or Entebbe airport:
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive at Entebbe Airport and you are met by our Guide and driven to Hotel in Kampala.
Day 2: Kasese
Drive down to Fort Port with a stopover for lunch in the Fort Portal and thereafter transfer drive to Kasese for an overnight stay at Amundsen Community camp. Start checking your climbing equipment and other necessities. It is from here that you meet the Guides and porters that Escort you to the Higher peaks, This day you walk through Coffee plantations, homesteads, schools and interact with local Bakonzo people the inhabitants of the Rwenzori mountains to have a night the Amundsen community camp at the edge of the national park, it takes you between 3-4hours to reach the community camp.
Day 3: 1st day of the hike: Rwigho Camp 3300Masl
After breakfast, take on the trail which bends west on the ridge overlooking the Kasuka and Isule valleys and onward to Kebitakuli for a rest while and take a breath and thereafter, hike through the montane rain forest overlooking bamboo forested valleys. Encounter plant species like the Disa stairssi, Scadoxus cyrtanthiflorus, Impetiens apiculata and spot or hear calls of black and white colubus monkeys, The Rwenzori Turaco and other birds. On trail you will spot chimpanzee nests and droppings or hear their calls. The trail will lead you through the heather zone and reach Rwigho Camp for an overnight. It will take you only 5-6 hours.
Day 4: 2nd day of the hike Kambeho – 3700Masl
After breakfast, the trail takes you through the heather trees (Ericathiasis) with lots of moss hanging over these trees. The is the heather zone with a lots of heather trees, scencio trees, alchemila, black berries, and many more plant species. While on trail you will be able to spot black and white Colobus monkeys, Varvet monkeys, sun birds, the Rwenzori turaco a rare beautiful bird in the park. On this day you will see lots of giant lobelias, everlasting flowers and rock shelters. Overnight at Kambeho Camp. This hike will take you 5 – 6 hrs with a stopover for a hot lunch at Mitiyighaghire.
Day 5: 3rd day of the hike Lamia Camp – 3650Masl
After breakfast, start with a climb along river Lhume, in the early morning hours of the day when still fresh and strong with urge to climb the only steep Mughuli bypass. As you think of slopping down to Lake Mughuli which is within MTN network coverage to give you a chance to call friends and family members about the beauty and experience encountered on the trail. There are several short peaks which one can easily climb depending upon what time you have arrived in the camp and how you feel. The vegetation along the Lake is so beautiful to catch up your eyes. Animals you might see along the trail are the Rwenzori red-duiker, rock and tree hyrax and wild pigs. Around the camp, you can have a self guided walk to explore the water falls. The approximate time taken from Kambeho to Mughuli Camp is about 6-7hrs hike with a stopover for a hot lunch at Mulhalhama resting view point.
Day 6: 4th day of the hike Lake Bukurungu Camp – 4291Masl/ Bigo camp – 3442Masl
This camp is set in the heart of the two mountains of the Portal Peaks and Mount Gessi; it is a relaxing point to acclimatize for those interested in climbing the Portal Peaks and Mount Gessi. Five hours from Mughuli camp takes you through a very gentle crossing passing the vegetation of the alchemila, several giant lobelia species and the wonderful and unknown leaf looking like human palm. From Mughuli Camp to Bukurungu Camp will take you 5 – 6hrs.. On this day if the weather is clear, your eyes and hands on the camera will have all the main peaks of Edward on Mount Baker, Margherita and Alexadra on Mount Stanley, Vittorio Emanuela on Mount Speke, Kihuma on the Portal Peaks and Mount Gessi at glance.
Day 7: 5th day of the hike Mount Speeke (4890Masl) and a night at Bujuku camp (3977Masl)
An early start from Bigo Camp through the upper Bigo bog to the Bujuku Lake will give you chance to try the Speke mountain past Lake Bujuku. This is as an acclimatization point for you. In Later in the evening come for a night at Bujuku Camp.
Day 8: 6th day of the hike Irene lake Camp – 4495Masl/ Elena Camp – 4541Masl
After a cup of coffee get set off to Irene Lakes camp through the beautiful valley filled with giant lobelias, giant heather trees, groundsels, helichrysum and lots of stunning waterfalls, Finally you find yourself along L.Bujuku a lake collecting its waters from the melting glaciers of Mt. Speke, Mt. Stanley and Mt. Baker. Having trailed a long side the lake, you will continue for a one hour and a half to reach Irene Lakes Camp.
Day 9: 7th day of the hike Margherita peak – 5109Masl back to Bigo camp
Wake up at 4.30am early in the morning for a cup of coffee and thereafter, start the climb to the main Margherita peak summit 5109m the highest point in Uganda and third Highest Mountain in Africa. While on top and assuming the weather is clear, you will be able to see the rest of the peaks on the Rwenzori Mountain range like Vittorio Emmanuelle on Mt. Speke, Edward on Mt. Baker, Mt. Albert and if the weather is good you opt to climbing all the twin peaks of Margarita and Alexandra all on Mt. Stanley. Though distance looks short but it can take you long hours to reach the summit due to fog and mist. After a good time, have a view of DR Congo. Be one of the people who have left their foot prints on top of the Mountains of the moon and confirm your arrival on this point with a breath taking and say yes I have made it. After your successful view and pictures, descend to Bukurungu/Bigo camp.
Day 10: 8th day of the hike Bigo to Nyabitaba camp
After breakfast, descend through the heather zone route with beautiful views of the Rwenzori Mountains Range. Join the cook at Omokomujungu for a hot lunch as an energizer. Thereafter, continue descend crossing the Kurt Schafer bridge at River Mubuku and Bujuku River confluence and on to lake Mahoma Camp for an overnight rest. While on trail, you will see more of the black and white Colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, a lots of bird species like the starlings, sun birds, the great blue Rwenzori turaco, the Ross’s turaco and many of the butterfly family. It will take you 6 hrs from Bigo camp to Lake Mahoma Camp.
Day 11: final descend
After breakfast, the cook will give out packed lunch and you can have picnic at some point while descending through Panga ridge onward to RMNP/ Mihunga Park Gate to complete Rwenzori- Bukurungu Trail. Travel to your hotel in Kasese town for dinner with Rwenzori Ranges Hikers Association Directors to share your mountain experience.
Day 12: Return to kampala or Entebbe airport:
After will Transfer to Kampala, stopping for lunch on the way. Will stop at the Equator for lifetime photo shooting at the center of the earth. End of tour.
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