Mountains of the Moon

Entebbe to Kasese

We drive westwards via Fort Portal to Kasese with lunch en route.

The transfer will take 7 to 9 hours. 

The bus journey will take us through the outskirts of Kampala then through some of the rich Ugandan agricultural land and up into the tea plantations around Fort Portal.  We will have time to provide an overview of what we have learned and experienced as journalists and personally during our visits to Uganda.

The day starts with the short vehicle transfer to the starting point  at Trekkers hostel Kilembe, 1450 m . You will have a thorough briefing from the guides, check equipment and start the trek to sleep at Sine Camp at 2596 meters following a height gain of 1146 meters. Sine Camp is set between tall forest trees on a narrow ridge where you may sit and enjoy the beauty forest while you look down at a long set of rapids and waterfall crashing over the rocks. Sine is just below the bamboo zone and the area around has many different bird species. 150 meters from the camp is Enock falls which is set in vivid green vegetation and hanging vine. Truly beautiful.

After a hearty breakfast we start the hike to Mutinda Camp at 3582 meters, giving you a height gain of 1092 metres.

The trail takes us through the Bamboo and Heather-Rapanea Zone which can be rather wet and muddy with some high steps. It is important to take it slow and take in the breathtaking beauty. The route meanders up and over several small knolls along a ridge top and drops down the side of the valley crossing several small streams and passing close to moss covered waterfalls with very unique beautiful plant and flower species found above 3000m like Giant Heather trees whose trunks are covered in green moss with old mans beard (Usnea lichen) hanging from the branches to Mutinda Camp which is set near a small river and waterfall. We should arrive around midday which gives those who are energetic the option to climb up to the top of the Mutinda Lookout (one to two hours up and one hour down) The views are amazing as you stand on moss covered rocks at 3,925 meters with views across the Rwenzori Mountains and down to Kasese town and Lake George. For those clients who are climbing to Margherita  climbing Mutinda 3,975 meters is also an excellent way to acclimatise and reduce the risk of high altitude sickness
Sleep at Mutinda Camp at 3.582 metres.

Today we hike to Bugata camp at 4062 meters, with a height gain of 412 meters through the valley of unique and beautiful plant species, streams and waterfalls. Today the trek gets more challenging with the steep ridges, mud and boggy sections and high steps but a very scenic section as a reward. First you cross the Mutinda valley through the tussock grass and everlasting flowers interspersed with many Giant Lobelias before climbing a steep section up to the Namusangi Valley (3,840 meters), with sheer waterfalls and looking back you get fantastic views of Mutinda Peaks. The Namusangi Valley is wide, with many ups and downs as the trail climbs steadily to Bugata Camp at 4062 metres.

The Rwenzoris are one of the heaviest rainfall areas in the world and the weather is very changeable, so we can expect to walk through some boggy areas and even though we have chosen the driest period we are likely to encounter rain. 

Hike to Hunwick’s Camp at 3974 meters, via Bamwanjara pass at 4450m. From the pass on a clear day you get excellent views of the three main peaks. The trail passes down the valley and around the edge of some bogs and thick ever green vegetation, moss and lobelia. Here is possibly the best place in all the Rwenzori to observe the Malachite Sunbird. Farther on there are some steep sections before a steady climb up and over a ridge to Hunwick's Camp which is situated on the top of a deep valley and has good views of Mt Stanley, Mt Baker, Weismanns Peak and McConnell’s Prong.  

Hike to Margherita camp at 4485 meters, passing down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitandara which is very stunning with deep water and a beautiful vegetation, climbing through Scott Elliot pass to Margherita camp.

The camp is on the spot where the Duke of Abruzzi, who was the first European to summit mount Stanley,  camped when making his climb to Margherita Peak in 1906. He named the peak after Queen Margherita of Italy.

Wake up at 2am and catch an early breakfast before heading off to climb Mt Stanley at 2.30am. The early start is necessary as the weather is very changeable with heavy clouds and snow falls from 1 pm to 4pm as the clouds rise up from the extensive Congo rainforests. Due to this there is a strict turn around time of 10am so if you do not reach the peak before then you must turn around in the interests of safety. Margherita glacier has been affected by global warming and the outer edges of the glacier are becoming steeper with one section of about 200 meters more than 60% grade. Climbers need to closely follow the instruction of guides.

For those trekkers with less mountaineering experience we suggest that you stay on Stanley glacier and climb up to a good vantage point on a rocky outcrop on the southern edge of Alexandra Peak to enjoy fantastic views over Congo and the lower mountain ridges

After ascending the peak at 5,109 metres we descend directly down to Hunwick's Camp at 3.874 metres.

Hike down to Bugata Camp at 4062metres.

This camp is situated above Bugata Lake with views across Lake Kopello to Weismann’s Peak, which is often covered with snow then down the valley views of Lake Africa and Lake Kanganyika and the many small peaks towards Mutinda Camp. The area is covered with tussock grass, everlasting flowers (Helichrysum), St John’s Wort, giant groundsel and Giant lobelia (Lobellia gibberoa).  There are many Red Forest Duiker (Cephalophuc nigrifrons rubidus) which are a sub-species only found in the Rwenzori Mountains. 

Descend down to Kiharo Camp at 3430 meters, overnight at Kiharo camp set in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation. with great chances of seeing a number of different unique bird species endemic to Rwenzori.

Hike down to Samalira Camp at 3174 metres.

through pristine montane forest, with tall trees thick undergrowth and a multitude of different species of birds and primates.

On the way down we break out of the bamboo to fantastic views of the valleys and hills below looking across to Lake George and Queen Elizabeth National Park in the distance. The equator lies just north of Lake George. Samalira Camp is at 3,147 metres and offers great views of the surrounding landscape and Kasese town. (Mobile network available at this camp)

Descend down through the Bamboo zone to a heavily forest ridge home for many primates such as black and white Columbus monkeys and back down to the basecamp. Debrief and Transfer to Sandton Hotel for dinner, a shower and some well earned rest.

Tipping: This is a good opportunity to tip our guides and porters. The recommendation is $5 per day for guides and $2 per day for porters this can be put together and handed to the ground operations manager who helps share it with the group.

Transfer at 7am to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in south western Uganda on the edge of the rift valley. It contains almost 400 species of plants, and also protects an estimated number of 320 mountain gorillas roughly half of world’s population, including several habituated groups which can be tracked. It also provides shelter to a further of 120 mammals, including several primate species such as baboons, Chimpanzees and Antelopes. They are around 350 species of birds. Lunch will be en-route. We will aim to arrive  in the late afternoon. 

Early morning wake up and breakfast (packed lunch). We drive or walk to the starting point (the starting point depends on which group of gorillas you trek.)
The trekking session starts at 8am or 9am according to UWA ranger, guides andcan take anything from one to eight hours according to how far the Gorillas are from the starting point. The trek takes you through pristine montane rain forest with a very rich fauna and flora that includes other primates, forest elephant and an enormous diversity of birds.

One of the reasons that Ugandan Wildlife Authority has been succesful in conserving the mountain gorillas and their habitat is that they have developed a close working relationship with the  neighbouring communities. If time allows it is possible to visit and talk with local farmers. 

Transfer to Kampala, stopping over in Mbarara for lunch after which we will head on to stop at the Equator for some pics and drum makers. Expected time of arrival is 6pm. 

Transfer to the airport at 00.30 am to check in at 01.00 for flight home departing 03.50 am.