KENYA MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
7 Days Rwenzori
Mountains National Park
The Rwenzori Mountains National Park borders with Democratic
Republic of Congo close to Kasese district. They are one of the
thrilling and pleasing experiences is a trip into the Rwenzori.
The Rwenzori trip must be planned and you have to be prepared
for this hike that takes seven days and reaches an altitude of
14,000ft above sea level. Described by Ptolemy in AD150 as
Mountains of the Moon, the 120km Rwenzori sequence is regarded
to be the legendary snow-capped mountain.
The Rwenzori have distinctive glacier peaks visible for miles
around and its slopes above 1,600m are the preserve of hikers,
who rate as the most challenging of all mountains in Africa.
Although the 998 sq km Rwenzoris are more distinguished for
their regal scenery and varied vegetation, a variety of mammals
inhabit the lower slopes.
Porters carry your heavy equipment and food. It is advisable to
purchase your own food.
The Central Circuit Trail
Day 1
Arriving early at Rwenzori Mountains National Park and the
Rwenzori Mountaineering services (RMS) offices at Nyakalengija
in the morning to have sufficient time to rent equipment and be
availed with guides and porters is indispensable. Hiking starts
from the park headquarters 5,400ft (1,646m), walking past mud
and wattle homes of Bakonzo and gradually moving upwards through
elephant grass and garden plots.
This takes you 40 minutes before reaching the park boundary.
Here, the trail follows the Mubuku River, crossing landslide
areas, and climbing over rocks and bluff. This takes you about
2˝ hours before reaching the Mahoma River. Past the river, there
follows a steep climb through open bracken fern slopes and
Podorcarpus Forest up to Nyabitaba hut 8,700ft (2652m). At this
point, you will have gained an elevation of 4,000ft (1,200m) and
it will have taken you a total time of 5-7 hours from
Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba if you are an average hiker.
You may be able to hear chimpanzees, and sometimes see black and
white colobus and blue monkeys behind the hut, and catch sights
of radiantly colored Rwenzori Turaco at this part of the trip.
When you cross the valley and move to the north of Nyabitaba
hut, the rocky and largely unclimbed Portal Peaks which rise
above 14,000ft (4,627m) will not be missed.
Day 2
From Nyabitaba hut the trail leads westward for ˝ km before
dropping steeply to Kurt Shaffer Bridge, crossing below the
confluence of the Bujuku and the Mubuku Rivers.
Turning right to the bridge and climbing the central circuit
anti-clockwise lets you avoid the clockwise direction which is
more difficult and adds considerable danger. The muddy, slippery
trail climbs steadily up through the bamboo forest after
crossing Kurt Shatter Bridge.
After ˝ an hour, you encounter an area of slippery boulder
hopping. This is considered the most difficult and dangerous
footing of the circuit by some hikers. You will reach the hut at
Nyamuleju and its accompanying rock shelter after 5 hours of
travel from Nyabitaba. Mts. Speke and Stanely can be seen on a
rare clear day from top of the rock near the hut. Here, the
giant lobelia and groundsel zone starts. This is one of the
remarkable vegetation type found no where else in the world
except high-altitude tropical African Mountains.
The walk to John Matte hut
(11,200ft/3,414m) takes about an hour through a taxing bog, full
of extra regular plants and the slow pace can be a charming
opportunity to examine and get something on film this only one
of its kind environment. To reach John Matte takes about 7 hours
from Nyabitaba. It is advisable to start this part of the
journey early enough since some hikers consider it the most
tiring and longest day of the circuit.
At John Matte, you can have a stopover and enjoy the unique
vegetation in bog and begin your return journey to Nyabitaba the
following day.
Day 3
Cross Bujuku River and enter lower Bigo bog (after leaving John
Matte). Here, your first real experience of jumping from tussock
to tussock on a grassy bog begins.
This trail is boggy and follows the left edge of lower Bigo bog
before reaching The Bigo hut and its rock shelter. A steep
section past the hut leads to upper Bigo bog. After 1 ˝ hours
beyond the upper bog, and after climbing through drier ground
and criss-crossing the river, you reach Lake Bujuku whose
southern end is in a majestic setting with Mt. Baker to the
south, Mt. Stanely to the west and Mt. Speke to the north. Away
from the north end of the Lake is a rock shelter called Cooking
point and a short distance extra is Bujuku Hut 13,000ft (3962m),
auspiciously located for parties climbing Mt. Speke.
This hike requires technical skills and special equipment. This
trail (from John Matte to Bujuku) takes around 3-5 hours and at
this point, an elevation of 1,800ft (560m) is gained. Bujuku's
hut position and recurrent mists can make it rather cold.
Chances of seeing Red duikers are high if you moved around on a
nature walk at night. Calls of the Rock hyraxes are common.
Day 4
This takes you to a newer trail which rises and falls twice
before finally climbing steeply through magical moss draped
groundsel vegetation 14,345ft (4,372m) to Scott Elliot Pass.
A short strong ladder is at the steepest section and the right
hand branch will lead to Elena Hut 14,700ft (4,430m). The trail
is steep, rocky and can be slippery when soggy or icy. After a
sheltered break, you head for a second trail right to Elena Hut.
This your base camp for climbing 16,763ft (5,109m) to Margherita
peak which requires a day or two and can be attempted with an
ice axe, mountain boots, crampons, and ropes. The circuit trail
continues to the left over Scot Elliot Pass and enters an alpine
zone of sparse low vegetation and stark rough boulders.
Conditions for hypothermia are ideal if the weather is bad.
You may enjoy spectacular views northward of Margherita, Elena
and Savoia Glaciers, and Mt. Baker 15,889ft (4,843m) towering
above you to the left of the trail as you leave the Pass. Going
up and declining, the trail descends past Upper Lake Kitandara
through thick mud to lower lake and Kitandara Hut 13,200ft
(4,023m). Towering peaks surround this exquisite site though the
sun sets early and the nights can be cold. 3-5 hours are needed
to complete the expedition from Bujuku Hut to Kitandara Hut.
Your trail from Bujuku to the Pass will enable you gain an
elevation of 1,400ft (425m). At this point, Scott Elliot is the
highest and some hikers will be slower due to greater effort
required at these altitudes.
Day 4
An early start from Lake Kitandara which is 14,050ft (4,282m) to
the Freshfield Pass is advisable to shun overheating. Viewing
westward on clear days leads into neighboring Democratic
Republic of Congo and northward, Margherita and its glaciers
still control the horizon.
Freshfield Pass is a long even traverse through stunning high
alpine mossy glades until after 30 minutes, when the trail
begins the circuit's long two-day descent. The first 1km can be
slippery and mist or rain can make tracing the trail intricate.
Optional rock shelter overnight stopovers are present at
Bujongolo and Kabamba though it is advisable to thrust on
through ostensibly never-ending mud to Guy Yeoman Hut 10,700ft
(3,261m).
Day 5
Here, you should begin your journey back early, so as to get to
Nyabitaba Hut before dark. The pathway from Guy Yeoman is
moderately intricate in some spots.
As you approach Kichunchu where the trail parallels and twice
crosses the Mubuku River mostly in deep mud, helping each other
and descending very slowly facing the slope instead of facing
outward is recommended. Archetypal hikers take about 5 hours
from Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba.
Depending on the condition of your knees and the desire to have
a comfortable bed and bath, the decision to continue to
Nyakalengija (which takes 2-3 hours) would be worthwhile. If you
like bird watching, walking late in the evening would be
rewarding. You may also sight the occasional blue tailed monkey
and your sharp eyes can catch a glimpse of the brilliant green
although variable Rhinoceros chameleon.
Day 6
If you spent a night at Nyabitaba hut, descend to the Park
Headquarters. This takes approximately 2-3 hours.
KILIMANJARO CLIMBING --- 7 Days
Day 1
You are picked up from Arusha or from Kilimanjaro Airport and
drive to Marangu bypass Moshi Town. You pass through
flower-studded meadows with coffee and banana farms of the
Wachagga, inhabitants of the lower slopes, and finally you reach
the hotel. There you will meet your local guides / porters and
make a final check-up on all your mountain equipment.
Hotel Capricorn / Kibo Hotel (D).
Day 2
The route begins at the National Park – Marangu Gate at 6000ft.
It is 5.5 miles (3 to 4 hours) walk through rain forest,
attractive in all its shades of green and accompanied by the
melody of an orchestra of colorful tropical and alpine birds.
The path leads you to Mandara Hut.
Mandara Hut – 2,743m
Day 3
The second day’s journey is a short walk from the forest into
the moor-land to Horombo Hut, and is reached in some 5 or 6
miles trekking. Horombo Hut – 3,720M
Day 4
Mist and vegetation including cactus – like giant groundsel,
gradually disappear as you pass the last water and near the
saddle, a sort of high altitude desert with a lunar landscape
between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. Kibo Hut is reached in 6
to 7 hours (10 miles).
Kibo Hut – 4,700m
Day 5
About 1.00am you are awakened and begin the steep, most
demanding, final ascent through scree and snow to the top of
Kibo. By about day break, you should reach Gillman’s point on
the Crater rim. Time, weather and stamina permitting, you should
comtinue for about 45 min. of easier hiking to the highest point
<<Uhuru Peak>> - 5,895m (where there is a superb view of
scintillating ice walls set off by rugged rocks tot the left,
the central ash cone with its dome like <<glacier>> and ice
chams of the Crater floor). After a rapid descent to Kibo Hut
for a meal and rest, you continue down to Horombo Hut.
Day 6
It is a long walk from Horombo to Park Headquarters at Marangu
Gate, where you are awarded an official Climbing Certificate by
Tanzanian Guides. You continue down to your hotel for a
well-earned hot bath, meals and overnight.
Capricorn Hotel / Kibo Hotel (D).
Day 7
In the morning, you drive back to Arusha or to Kilimanjaro
Airport for your return flight. (B).
