Hiking Rwenzori upto Margherita
Hiking Rwenzori up to Margherita (5,109 m) is touch experience which requires physical fitness. The ideal recommended days to reach on Margherita peak and back are nine days of great hiking experience. Tourist or hikers with an average fitness and climbing ability takes can spend eight days. For larger groups hiking Rwenzori Mountain, we recommend not below nine days the fact is not all climber are able to take and keep the same hiking pace.
Hiking Rwenzori up to Margherita starts from Nyakalengija through the Bakonzo settlements to Rwenzori mountains national park gate where you will be registered before beginning to hike. You will start the central circuit trail trek through the thick tropical with high elephant grass and dense bushes. This forest is home to various animal species like forest elephant, chimpanzee, hyrax, black-and-white Colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys, duiker, and three-horned chameleons among many more. Some of the bird species include; Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco and so on and this takes you 1060m to Nyabitaba hut where you will have an overnight.
From Nyabitaba hut, the magic turns so pure as you move through thick shrubs and forest for about 30 minutes to the Kurt Shafer bright which is at the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. You will then move through the bamboo mixed with montane forests and slippery moss-covered rocks for a couple of hours. As you hike you will also expect to see various bird species that live in the forest. You will continue to move up to Nyamulejju rock shelter where the first hikers used to at times camp and you’re able to see Mount Stanley and Mount Speke if the weather is clear. It takes you about in 5-6 hours depending your peace to John Matte hut where you will have dinner and spend the night.
It is always a great experience hiking Rwenzori up to Margherita peak, traversing through John Matte hut continuing by crossing River Bujuku and through the forest to the lower bigo bog. This is a swampy area in a valley and is a home to the giant lobelias. This area used to be hardest part of the Rwenzori since the area is so boggy, jumping from one tussock to another was not so easy for most hikers more so females. Currently, there is a walk board up to the end of the boggy area which makes the walk much easier for trekkers. As you move you will expect to see giant lobelias, everlasting flowers, and groundsels. You will then take a steep hike along a ridge which will lead you to the start of the upper bigo bog. There is also a boardwalk up to Lake Bujuku. After the boardwalk, you will try to move through the remaining small boggy area with no walk boards to Bujuku hut. At this point, you will have a view of Lake Bujuku, Mount Speke, Mount Baker, and Mount Stanley. At this point, you are able to ascend mount Speke and Mount Stanley, all the way takes 5-6 hours to reach Bujuku hut for your overnight.
From Bujuku to Elena hut takes you 5-7 hours hike through passing the sides of the upper Bigo bog. You will then hike through the steep slopes of Lake Bujuku. Elena hut is at the rocky part of Mount Stanley and the area is too cold. At this point, you are at the highest mountain of the Rwenzori and you will have a direct view of Mount Baker and Mount Speke. Sometimes it is hard to view these two mountains because they are covered by fog. On your next day starting from Elena hut hiking to the top of Mount Stanley, through the Stanley plateau and Margherita Glaciers. The guide will teach you how to use the equipment while on the ice. At the top, you will have a view of Irene Lake, Mount Speke, and the surrounding environment. Then descend to Elena Hut for Lunch and later proceed to descend to Kitandara through the Scott Elliot pass to Kitandara, it is the most beautiful point of the Rwenzori. His is a full day hike to Kitandara approximately 10-12 hours. Explore the Margherita peak as you take as more as photography. Continue the following day to descending back Nyakalengija and this may take you 3 to 2 days.
Visitors usually compliment the hiking of Rwenzori Mountain with a visit to Bwindi forest to track gorillas in Uganda, one of the greatest encounters in the world meeting the shy primates in their natural habitat. Bwindi Forest now holds the highest number of mountain gorillas with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda coming the second place in the entire world.
