Sicht auf den Mt. Stanley, Ruwenzori
+49 (0)30 774 9034

- mysticism of the Moon Mountains
- surreal nature
- the heart of Africa
- Rwenzori Safari
- Mountain Gorillas (optional)

Technical skills: Hiking

Stamina - Endurance

A mountain athlete needs endurance above any other specific fitness skill. Cardiovascular fitness is of course always subject to the movement (as climbing rocks or steep ice, you will not be able to transfer your triathlete or running fitness to mountains without being solid in the required mountaineering skills).

1 - Active Tour
Easy treks to EBC or on top of Kilimanjaro. You should be an active person.
 
2 - Sportive Tour
More demanding treks, simple climbs, like the climb of Elbrus. You should be a sportive person regularly exercising (at least 2-3x per week).
 
3 - Demanding Trek / Expedition
Very demanding treks like to the top of Aconcagua, or expeditions at the physical lower level like Ama Dablam. You should be an endurance athlete wit mountaineering experience. You should train endurance at least 3x/week.
 
4 - High Endurance - Expedition
To climb Everest (with oxygen-support) or some of the "easier" 8000m peaks you need a strong endurance. You should train specifically at least 4-5x per week.
 
5 - Very high Endurance - Expedition
Some of our special self-supported 8000m+ peak climbs as on Makalu, or to climb Everest (without oxygen-support) fit into this category. Your endurance should be near the level of a professional mountain athlete. 

Categories

Similar Climbs and Treks - Overview:

Reiseerfahrungen aus unserem Blog

Ruwenzori Trek - Mountains of the Moon

Selected dates:
to

Full service:
4.100,00 €

Airport of departure:

Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, München, Stuttgart


Rwenzori Trek

We organize this trekking trip incl. flight from Europe (major hubs, economy, upgrades on request) with an excellent support in Uganda. There are various safari , active and outdoor add-ons that we can add to this trip.

Gorilla tracking (+2 days):

sharing, double room: EUR 1.450,-
single room: EUR 1.650,-

The additional costs are per person and include all transfers, 2 additional nights and the gorilla permit (currently US$ 700), minimum 2 participants (see Upgrades).

Without flight: We can also organize the tour starting from Kampala. Please ask!

Rwenzori Trekking - Services

Included in your Rwenzori trek:

  • Organization and management:
    - from 2 participants with our local guide
    - from 8 participants with SummitClimb expedition leader
    - a maximum of 12 participants
  • International return flight to Entebbe. Departure from a European airport (major hubs, Economy)
  • Airport transfers to Kampala
  • 2x accommodation (double room, sharing) in Kampala, ****hotel with breakfast 
  • 1x accommodation (double room, sharing), ***Lodge/Hotel, full board
  • 2x accommodation (double room, sharing) at QE-Nationalpark, ****Hippo-Hill Lodge, full board
  • Transport by bus and 4x4
  • Group equipment (kitchen, tents)
  • Cook and experienced kitchen crew
  • Three meals a day (breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner)
  • Water (boiled and prepared)
  • Medical equipment and first aid kit
  • Satellite telephone (only for groups of more than one participant)
  • Local mountain guide of the RMS
  • Porters and personal porter (up to 18kg) per participant
  • All national park fees (USD35 per person per day)
  • RMS (Ruwenzori Mountaineering Service) compulsory services
  • All overnight stays before and after trekking in a double room with full board
  • During trekking overnight stay in simple huts of the RMS
  • Personal tent (single / double) on request

Not included:

  • Travel insurance
  • Visa fee for Uganda
  • Dinner and lunch in Kampala (we usually go out to a restaurant together)
  • Personal equipment
  • Snacks, alcoholic beverages, other personal expenses
  • Tips

Accommodation: Single rooms can be booked during the trip (hotel, lodge). On the mountain, overnight stays are in the lodges, camping in a tent possible only if requested in advance - see Upgrades.

Rwenzori trekking - Itinerary

Day 1  Travel to Uganda
Departure from a European airport.

Day 2 • Arrival in Uganda
Landing in Entebbe. Our driver will be waiting for you at the airport and drive you to Kampala. Check-in at the hotel, relax by the pool and in the evening dinner together to get to know all participants. Africana Hotel*** B&B. 

Day 3 • Drive to the west of Uganda
We drive Via Fort Portale to Queen Elizabeth National Park, not far from Rwenzori National Park. We stay overnight in a lodge outside the park, with beautiful views and the chance to observe wildlife. Hippo Hill Lodge / full board.

Day 4 • To the foot of the Rwenzori
In order to reach the National Park Headquarters in Nyakalegija, we drive to Kasese and follow the signs to the National Park. After another 15km passing small villages, we arrive at the headquarters to register. Our trekking starts! At the beginning, we pass villages, then we go deeper in the jungle, following the valley of the Mubuku River. This lower part of the mountain has a high animal population and with some luck we can see some of them. At the end of the day, as the altitude rises, the vegetation changes and after about 3-4 hours we reach the Nyabitaba hut (2650m) where we stay for the night. Full board. 

Queen-Elizabeth-Park, Uganda (Lion) - Photo: Felix BergMount Stanley, Ruwenzori (c) Photo: Felix Berg
Photos: 1. Lion in Queen-Elizabeth-Park, 2. View on Mount Stanley

Day 5 • Nyabitaba - John Matte
We initially climb along the Nyabitaba Ridge, then cross the valley of the Mubuku River over the Kurt-Schäffer Bridge and follow a steep path through bamboo forests. This soon clears and an afro-alpine landscape with boulders, grass plains and ferns follows. With a bit of luck you will get first views of Mt. Stanley and Point Margerita. After about 5 to 7 hours we reach John Matte Camp (3550m). Full board.

Day 6 • John Matte - Bujuku
We follow the trail to the west through partly very marshy and- depending on the conditions - very wet terrain, which is partly defused by footbridges. Waterproof shoes and walking sticks are very useful here. Today we see special plants like lobelias and giant groundels ("Dendrosenecio Kilimanjaro"), which only grow on the mountains of East Africa. After a steep climb, we reach Lake Bujuku, along the eastern shore and we reach the camp. Approx. 4-6 hours trekking to the Bujuku hut (4000m). Full board.

Lake Kitandara (c) Photo: Felix BergRanger on Ruwenzori (c) Photo: Felix Berg
Photos: 1. Mystic Lake Kitandara, 2. Ranger John descending from Elliot Pass.

Day 7 • Over the Scott Elliot Pass to Lake Kitandara
The most technically demanding day leads us first along Lake Bujuku, then over steep paths and an intermediate pass - with breathtaking views of Mount Stanley and the Stanley Plateau, the largest glacier in Africa - to the highest point of the trekking trip, the Scott Elliot Pass (approx. 4550m)! The descent below Mount Baker leads to the picturesque Kitandara Lake (4000m), approx. 4-6 hours. Overnight at a hut / full board.

Day 8 • Lake Kitandara - Guy Yeoman
We ascend to Freshfield Pass (4400m), a wide plateau below Mount Baker, and then descend over partly steep and slippery paths into the valley of the Mbuku River. There, after a hike of about 4-6 hours, we reach the Guy Yeoman Hut (3500m) / full board.

Day 9  Descent to the Rwenzori HQ
We go back down to Nyabitaba Hut, where the Central Circuit closes, then continue to the headquarters (about 4-5 hours hike). After saying goodbye to the support team, we will be picked up and drive to Hippo Hill Resort, full board.

Day 10  Kampala
Morning safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park where we can see crocodiles, hippos, elephants, lions, garzels, zebras and many other animals. After lunch we drive back to Kampala (5-7 hours) for a farewell dinner. Hotel, B&B.

Extension for gorilla tracking or safari (Queen Elizabeth, Kabale, Murchsion Falls). If you are participating with fellow climbers (please see Rwenzori Expedition under Climbing), you can spend the extra 3 days this way. Please ask us for more information!

Day 11 - 12  Flight back to Europe
Flight & arrival at home.

Preparation for Rwenzori

Adventure travelers are in the right place at Rwenzori. The difficulties of the trails are strongly dependent on the weather conditions, the long journey into the heart of Africa is associated with impassability, but those who get involved will be rewarded with impressions for life.

Weather Conditions

  • Temperatures from +30°C to 0°C
  • Warm to cold wet

Equipment

For the participation in the SummitClimb Rwenzori trekking every participant needs the personal equipment recommended by us.

Travel documents/visa:

Citizens of the EU, Switzerland and most OECD countries can obtain the visa for Uganda on arrival with a passport valid for at least 6 months.

Categories

Rwenzori trekking - Participation

Requirements: You do not need any mountaineering skills, but you should be able to hike in pathless terrain and be in good physical condition. The weather conditions can be morally demanding. Daily trekking stages last between 6-8 hours.

Comparison - Level of difficulty: The ramified paths and the frequent humidity can lead to much more difficult hiking conditions than the famous neighbours in East Africa, Mount Kenya or Kilimanjaro (normal routes). Daily trekking distances are not longer but the paths can become difficult and slippery when wet. We can of course be lucky and walk through the Moon Mountains in absolutely brilliant weather, but you can't rely on it.

In the Alps, the paths in dry condition would be comparable to routes of the SAC scale T3, but in wet conditions they can be compared more to routes of the scale T5-6 due to the type of the terrain (very slippery).

Infos

You can call us at:
+49 (0)30 774 9034

Or send us an e-mail:
info@summitclimb.de

request

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Gorilla Tracking

Journey to the great gentle giants, the mountain gorillas +2 day add-on to your Ruwenzori trek

A trek leads to their habitat in the primeval forests, where we can observe these unique creatures in their natural environment. An experienced tracker from the national park will accompany a small group of up to eight people to the mountain gorillas, who will let us get close to them. This is only possible in Uganda, in the Bwindi National Park, or in the Virunga Mountains in the border triangle of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. There live the last remaining 700 mountain gorillas. Unlike the lowland gorillas of West Africa, which are somewhat smaller on average, mountain gorillas cannot be kept in captivity, so that only here in the national parks is it possible to observe these peaceful giants.

Single room