4 Days Rwenzori Hiking Safari Tour / 4 Days Rwenzori Mountains Hiking Safari

4 Days Rwenzori Hiking Safari Uganda Tour / 4 Days Rwenzori Mountains Hiking Uganda Safari Never before has this part of the park been developed or open to tourists, although it is often described in guide books as the most beautiful section of the park. You now have a chance for the first time to see this fantastic scenery, the amazing plant-like, and the incredibly beautiful Nyamwamba Valley.

All treks include accommodation (camping) and meals, ropes, harnesses, and crampons if necessary. Equipment such as boots, sleeping bags, woolen beanies (hat), gloves, and raincoats are available for hire. Stretchers and mattresses are provided but you need to bring a warm sleeping bag and clothes.
Please note: UWA gate entrance fees are beyond our control and may change without notice.

Day 1 of the 4 days Rwenzori Hiking Safari Tour: The trek starts at Trekkers Hostel in Kyanjiki 12 kilometres from Kasese past Kilembe,

Rwenzori mountains national park

The road is new tarmac except for the last kilometers making the base camp easily accessible. Best to start trekking by 8.30 am but can leave as late as 10 am. You walk 2.2km to the UWA ranger’s post at 1,727metres. Here the rangers brief you on the day’s activities and rules of the National Park.

Today’s walk is 8.6 km, expected time is 5 to 7 hours Start height of Trekkers base camp is 1,450 meters climbing to 3,171 meters. The first two kilometers climb steadily through a montane forest, with tall trees thick undergrowth, and a multitude of different bird species and primates, followed by a steep climb up the main ridge with few rocks and firm footing except immediately after a heavy downpour. The forests are untouched and carry a wide variety of trees and plants. Many bird species can be heard and seen in this rich environment.

At our lunch spot at 2,570m, you may see troops of 15 to 20 black and white Colobus monkeys or Blue monkeys as they dash through the trees. A few hundred meters beyond the lunch spot the bamboo zone commences and we climb up another half kilometers to a small cave that was previously used by poachers. The dense bamboo is home to different bird and insects species.

We climb steadily and as we approach the 3,000-meter level, the bamboo thins and gives way to giant heather trees covered in bearded moss. Samalira Camp has spectacular views across the foothills to Lake George and Queen Elizabeth National Park while on the left you can clearly see Kasese town.

The equator lies about 30kms south of where you are Samalira Camp is at 3,147 meters, (meaning lookout )and offers great views of the surrounding landscape and Kasese town. (Mobile network available at this camp)

Day 2. kilometres 4 to 5 hours of the 4 days Rwenzori Hiking Safari Tour: After a hearty breakfast we commence walking at 8.15am and at about 500 metres from the camp,

we cross a small stream after which the climb becomes steep for about 200 meters up a narrow moss-covered ridge. The thick moss covering the ground and rocks under the giant heather trees is spectacular with a carpet of deep green covering the rocky ridge. We ask you to help preserve this pristine environment by keeping to the pathway and avoiding damaging the moss.

The views give us the impression that we could fly as we look across the many ridges and valleys far below. You can see Kilembe village deep in the valley and across Lake George. After a relatively short climb, the trail becomes less steep but muddy as we pass over Chavumba (meaning heaven) at 3,316m.

They cross a small flat valley to climb up a steady ridge through a thick forest of moss-covered trees which, to say the least, is impressive. The trail continues to the top of the ridge at 3,515 meters.

Here we descend steadily for about one kilometer to a rest point before descending a steep drop into the Nyamwamba valley and a well-earned lunch break at Polys Rock Shelter 3,249 meters.

After lunch we climb steadily above the Nyamwamba River for 2.6km First we walk through old giant heathers covered in Old man’s beard moss then at the head of the valley you climb a steep pinch and weave your way through a field of huge boulders.

Due to the high rainfall and swirling mists/fog, the rocks are covered in deep green moss setting an eerie atmosphere but their origin is that they were pushed ahead of enormous glaciers which carved out the deep valleys millions of years age and when these glaciers finally came to rest they melted leaving a huge pile of rocks in front of them and where they settled left a flat bog which is now covered in clusters of grass.

Rwenzori Hiking Safari

These bogs are usually hard walking and boggy as you walk over a bed of deep peat or plant material several feet deep. After the bog, you climb a short distance to Kiharo Camp at 3,588 meters which are situated directly at the base of granite cliffs of 20 to 40 meters, with towering peaks above. Some people may want to climb one to the short cliff  which faces near the camp to fill in the afternoon hours.

Again the camp is in 1220 6 person tents with a 10-foot annex where you may sit a relax. The environment here is fantastic as where ever you look there are cliffs towering above as the camp is set in a narrow valley with a fast-flowing river on one side.

Day 3: 7.6 km taking 5 to 6 hours of the 4 days Rwenzori Hiking Safari Tour:

We backtrack past Polys shelter and climb up to the main ridge 3,515 meters where we take the path to the south which crosses to the trail coming down from Mutinda to Kalalama Camp.

After reaching the trail we descend to Kalalama Camp 3,134 meters where we prepare our evening meals while overlooking Kasese and Lake George from a different perspective.

The south is the rugged cliff, faces of Rwatamaguta and Karasimbi rising far above us and creating the wonder of the diversity of the Rwenzori Mountains.

Day 4.11.6 km of the 4 days Rwenzori Hiking Safari Tour: We slowly descend through the bamboo forests.

Here the bamboo zone is wet and boggy particularly after rain as the bamboo sheds large volumes of leaves that retain moisture. The trail is on the southern, windward side of the mountain and gets more rain.

At around 2,600 meters the bamboo gives way to afro montane forests as we pass just above Sine Rock Shelter. As we reach the bottom of the ridge we cross a rather large fast-flowing stream and on the Musenge rock shelter.

Here we have lunch and a short break before we walk the final 6 km through thick mountain montane forest to the Rangers Post 1,727 meters. After a short debriefing, we sign off and walk down to Trekkers Hostel.

End of the 4 days Rwenzori Hiking Safari Tour