Rwenzori: Margherita Peak

Pre-hike: Departure from Kampala

You need to arrive in Kasese the day before you start the hike. We recommend staying somewhere close to the park gate to make it easier to do the mandatory and necessary gear check with your guides (and receive any gear you might have rented, like harness, crampons, etc.) in the evening.

Day 1: Park gate (Nyakalengija – 1615m asl.) to Nyabitaba Hut (2651m asl.)

Eat a hearty breakfast, then make your way to the park gate at Mihunga at 9 am where you will be briefed by the guides. Start the day’s 6-7 hour trek by passing through farmland to the park boundary. The trail then traverses a thick forest along the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma River tributary before starting a long, steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut.

Day 2: Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte Hut (3505m asl.)

From Nyabitaba hut, follow the trail that drops down through the forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Passing through the bamboo forest, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock. Mount Stanley and Mount Speke are visible from the Nyamuleju rock shelter. Cross into the zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally, skip through the tiring bog to complete 7-8 hours of hiking to John Matte for dinner and overnight at the hut.

Day 3: John Matte Hut to Bujuku Hut (3962m asl.)

From John Matte Hut, the trail drops down to cross the Bujuku River and enters the Lower Bigo Bog, the home of giant lobelias. Enjoy the beautiful but hypnotising boardwalk through the open valley. Transition through a steep forested section to the upper Bigo bog which gives way to Lake Bujuku, with views of Mount Baker to the south and Mount Stanley to the west. This 4-5 hour hike ends at Bujuku hut. Bujuku is also a launchpad for climbing Mount Speke and Margherita (directly via Irene lakes, not recommended unless you know what you’re doing).

Day 4: Bukuju Hut to Elena Hut (4541m asl.)

Leaving Bujuku, the trail takes you through more bog, while climbing the steep slopes west of the lake and through the magical forest of Groundsel Gully. A steep ladder at the end of this ridge brings you to the fork at Omukendege. Take the right up to Elena Hut and Mount Stanley on a steep trail over large boulders.

Day 5: Elena Hut to Margherita Peak  (5109m asl.), return to Elena Hut and then down to Kitandara Hut (4430m asl.)

This long and tough summit day begins in the dead of night with a torch-lit scramble up the rocks above Elena hut to the Stanley plateau for the first glacier crossing. Descend into more rocks via the Irene Lakes junction then ascend again to the base of the steep Margherita glacier. A final long push taking care to plant your ice axe and crampons firmly while avoiding crevasses will deliver you to the glorious summit. Work your way back down past Elena, stop for a quick change of clothes and some food, then pick up your pack and continue down to Kitandara to rest at a lower altitude.

Day 6: Kitandara Hut to Guy Yeoman Hut (3261m asl.)

Take on the trail that ascends steeply up the headwall, spreading out from the base of Mount Baker and continuing along the south side of the mountain to Fresh Field Pass (4282m asl.) From the pass, take on the long high alpine mossy trail. Thereafter start the descent through steep rocky trails and the rock shelter at Bujongolo, the base camp for the historic expedition by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906, until you arrive for an overnight at Guy Yeoman hut after 6-7 hours.

Day 7: Guy Yeoman hut via Nyabitaba hut to Nyakalengija (park gate)

Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu. Beyond Kichuchu the boggy path crosses the Mubuku River twice through a bamboo forest before climbing up to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit. Continue past Nyabitaba Camp to complete your trek through Mihunga gate to Nyakalengija, at the base.

Time to celebrate with a hot shower and a cold drink: You’ve made it!