11 Days/ 10 Nights – Rwenzori National Park

Papyrus Guest House is a limited grandeur on the outskirts of Entebbe about 15 minutes from Entebbe International Airport. The guesthouse has 9 deluxe rooms and 5 standard rooms all ensuite with 24 hours of fresh running water. The guesthouse is surrounded by the greenery of the trees perfect for a shady refreshment on the room balconies.

Enjoy the additional amenities like free WIFI, security guards, secure parking space.

Overnight at Papyrus Guest House.

Mountain Rwenzori National park is located in the South west of Uganda and it is very much popular for its snow covered peak (Magherita peak) which is the highest peak in Africa at 5109m above sea level, its peak is bisected at the borderline of Congo and Uganda and its steep escarpments are covered in bamboo, moorland, flowers, giant lobelias and moist montane forest among others.

Due to its magical beauty and astonishing views, the park was gazetted in 1991 and later awarded the world heritage site in 1994. The national park habitats over 70 mammals and 217 bird species inclusive of 19 Albertine Rift endemics and very unique vegetation to find like giant Heather trees whose trunks are covered in green moss with old man beards (Usnea lichen) hanging from the branches.

Tourists visit mountain Rwenzori mainly to participate in the nine-day hike to mount Stanley peak through different trails like Kilembe, central circuit or Bugungu although other shorter treks are also possible to nearby peaks for lesser days.

Overnight at trekker’s hostel.

Starts at Trekkers hostel in Kyanjuki at 9am, with clients first reporting at the UWA headquarters for a briefing from the rangers about the rules of the National Park and registration. Clients hike through the Afro Montane Forest zone with tall forest trees and plenty of wildlife like monkeys, birds and chimpanzees. Overnighting at Sine Hut with a fantastic waterfall view as the waters escalades the rocks far below.

Trek Afro Montane Forest zone. Overnight at Sine Hut

Starts at Trekkers hostel in Kyanjuki at 9am, with clients first reporting at the UWA headquarters for a briefing from the rangers about the rules of the National Park and registration. Clients hike through the Afro Montane Forest zone with tall forest trees and plenty of wildlife like monkeys, birds and chimpanzees. Overnighting at Sine Hut with a fantastic waterfall view as the waters escalades the rocks far below.

Starts at 0830hrs after breakfast through the Bamboo Mimulopsis Zone with very steep slopes and high steps and on a rainy day the slopes turn very slippery and muddy and you will need to go abit slow on the hike. Take a break at Kalalama camp in Heather Rapanea zone enjoy a cup of coffee and a little bit of stretching and proceed for an overnight at Mutinda Camp

Will have you crossing to the Alpine Zone through tussock grass and everlasting flowers to Namusangi valley with sheer waterfalls and amazing view of Mutinda peaks proceed for an overnight at Bugata camp

Continue hiking up to Bamwanjara Pass covered by everlasting flowers and Giant groundsel with the bogs being mainly tussock grass and Giant lobelia whose nectar is the main food source for the Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird, which is common in this area and unique to the Rwenzori Mountains. On reaching the top of Banwamjara Pass you get excellent views of all the main snowcapped peaks where we have a small shelter for you to rest and enjoy the scenery. Overnight at Butawu camp

Will have you walking back along the crest before crossing several wet areas and small gutters coming from Mt Baker and Fresh fields Pass to join Butawu River Margherita Camp at Elena. It’s sheltered with a ring of high jewels and it’s the original camp used by the Italian Prince Luigi Amadeo di Savoia, Duke of the Abruzzi, who mounted a veritably important passage in 1906, composed of biologists, surveyors, a geologist and a shooter. The Italian led platoon, between June and July 1906 climbed the mountains, opening a new runner in the history of mountaineering and disquisition in Africa, and furnishing an answer to the most undetermined geographical questions in the region for centuries. Some of the peaks still have the names, which the Duke chose to recognize the Italian Kingdom and Queen Magherita hence our naming this camp Magherita Camp. From then you have great views of Mt Baker, Scott Elliot Pass.

Wake up at 4.30 am have a quick snack and start climbing to get on the Stanley Glacier before daylight. The rise up from Elena can be delicate if covered in snow and ice but it’s codified as a delicate scramble. Formerly on the Stanley glacier the going is easy still, the rise to Small lake near Margherita Camp Crossing Stanley heading to Margherita Peak in far distance Butawu Camp at 3,974 measures Margherita glacier can be grueling and slippery in bad rainfall
After summiting you also descend directly to Butawu Camp or in the case of bad rainfall, you may need to stay in Margherita Camp still the following day it’ll be necessary to bypass Butawu Camp directly to Bugata Camp.

A bit of a sleep in and late breakfast at 8:30 am start touring by 9 am. The rise up Bamwanjara Pass which is steep and in wet rainfall can be rather slippery making it slow going. While crossing the pass you get the chance to see hyrax sitting at the entrance to their gemstone sanctum warming in the sun. Their main bloodsucker is the Rwenzori Leopard, which is infrequently seen, but sometimes people do get a regard. The leopard has been heavily coddled for its skin in the history and there are many left. There is a shell hard in a small gemstone sanctum for those who misdoubt the actuality of leopard at those heights. Still on a rare occasion on a misty or heavy day, you may be lucky to see one briefly as they move between the jewels. Sleep at Bugata Camp

Early morning set off around Lake Bugata and the outlet of Kopello Lake also climb 200 measures to the convergence of the two denes. As you descend the upper areas of the Nyamwamba Valley there is a large area of thick Giant Groundsel with thick evergreen leafage.

Assuming that you slept in Kiharo Camp, you wake up to the treble calls of the Ruwenzori Turaco and other catcalls. After a hearty breakfast you walk down the vale which is home to numerous species of birds who dive in and out the thick foliage. Chameleons are a common sight as they crawl along the branches of the thick foliage feeding on insects. In the clear areas you may catch a regard of a Duiker still feeding girdled by Giant Lobellias and a variety of unfolding shops. After descending a many kilometers you climb two hundred meters height to a crest overlooking the vale before crossing several small denes and aqueducts to Kyalavula which means view or lookout in the original Bakonzo language with beautiful views down the vale and across to Lake Edward in Queen Elisabeth National Park. Samalira Camp 3,147 measures is positioned in an unrestricted vale at the top of several falls and is the volition to sleeping In Kiharo Camp.

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