Margherita Peak, Mt. Stanley, 8 day trek

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1 RWENZORI TREKKING Margherita Peak, Mt. Stanley, 8 day trek This 8 day itinerary will take you deep into the Rwenzori Mountains to Margherita Peak, the tallest peak on Mt. Stanley and Africa s third highest point Day 0 International Flights Arrival in Kampala Arrive in Kampala. Overnight in a centrally-located hotel. We can arrange your international flights and accommodation in Kampala for you. Contact us for a quote. Please note that these are not included in our published climb rates. Day 01 Transfer Kampala to Kasese. Overnight at a local hotel. Transfer from Kampala to Kasese. Overnight at a local hotel. There are a range of hotels and guesthouses available to suit different budgets in and around Kasese and nearby in Fort Motel, from the very basic (the Trekkers Hostel) to simple B&Bs (Hotel Sandton). Please contact us for options. Your Financial Protection All monies paid by you for the air holiday package shown [or flights if appropriate] are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL For more information see our booking terms and conditions.

2 Day 02 To Sine Hut 10.2km 4 to 6 hours FBA Your trek departs from the Trekkers Hostel in Kyanjiki, 12 kilometres from Kasese. Here your guide will introduce you to the rest of the support team and conduct a thorough kit check. Today s walk is approx 8 km, expected time 5 to 7 hours. The start height is 1,667 metres, climbing to 2,596 metres. Leaving the Trekkers Hostel at approx. 10am, you walk 2.2km to the UWA rangers post at 1,727m, where you will be briefed on the rules of the Ruwenzori National Park. As you leave the rangers post you walk along a path through tall grassland and ferns which gives way to magnificent rainforest. As this is a new route the forest is largely untouched and carries a wide variety of trees and plants. Many species of bird can also be heard and seen in this rich environment, as can Chimpanzees and Colobus monkeys. Upon entering the forest, the first few kilometres of the trail climb steadily, crossing several small streams and rivers. The trail becomes gradually steeper as you approach the bamboo zone and ascend to your camp for the night, Sine Hut, located just below the bamboo zone on a narrow ridge. Day 03 To Mutinda Camp 6.8km 5-7 hours FBA After a hearty breakfast you commence walking. The trail becomes steeper as you enter the bamboo zone. It is also, during the rainy season, very muddy. As you near the top of the ridge you 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. You ll be in the giant heather zone now, as you approach Kalalama Camp (3,150m). After a rest at Kalalama Camp, continue along an undulating trail to Mutinda Camp. The trail is less steep from here on out, and will see you drop down into a beautiful valley. Expect to reach Mutinda Camp (3,680m) late afternoon. Day 04 To Bugata Camp 4.2km 3 to 4 hours FBA Your starting height today is 3,680 metres. You climb to 4,200 metres on the top of the confluence between the Nyamwamba and Namusangi Valleys, before dropping to Bugata Camp at 4,030 metres. Trekking along the valley floor, you will pass small bogs and giant lobelias. Both sides of the valley are lined with sheer cliff faces as we near the confluence of the Nyamwamba and Namusangi Valleys. Bugata Camp at 4,065 metres is situated above Lake Kopello, and has spectacular views looking down the Namusangi Valley, the valley of the nine glacier lakes.

3 Day 05 To Butawu Camp 6km 5 to 6 hours FBA Today s route is designed in part to help you acclimatise. Starting at 4,030m, you climb to the top of Bamwanjara Pass (4,450m), before dropping to Butawu Camp at 3,975m, meaning you rest tonight at a slightly lower altitude. The climb to the top of Bamwanjara Pass, from where you will be able to enjoy spectacular views of the main peaks ahead on a clear day, is steep. From the Pass it is a steady descent to the Kachope Lakes. The Kachope Lakes area is one of three known areas of the mountains where the rare Rwenzori Leopard can be seen. Little research has been done on this animal, which is considered even rarer than the Snow Leopard you shouldn t expect to see one! After passing Kachope Lakes, it is a short climb to Butawu Camp at 3,975m. Day 06 To Margherita Camp 4.1km 4 to 5 hours FBA Today s walk is a relatively easy ascent of approx. 330m. Leaving Camp 4 you trek past the Kitandara Lakes before beginning a steady climb to Scott Elliott pass and finally, Margherita Camp, situated right on top of the pass with fantastic views down the valley to Lake Bujuku and Mt Speke. To the south you can see the Kitandara Lakes and Weismann s Peak. Camp 5 is situated at 4,460 metres in a flat sheltered position covered with moss, where you can get a good night s sleep before your summit attempt. Day 07 To Margherita Peak 11.2km 8 to 10 hours FBA Starting at a height of 4,460m and climbing to 5,109m, at the summit of Margherita Peak, today s climb will take around 8-10 hours 4 to 6 hours up to Margherita Peak and 3 to 4 hours back down to Butawu Camp.

4 Wake at 3am and set off after a tea or coffee and energy snack. It takes about one and a half hours to reach Elena hut (4,540m) which we bypass on the way to the peaks. After Elena the climb is steep but firm underfoot as you are walking on hard rock. You reach the edge of the glacier at 4,765m, where you will need to put on crampons and harnesses at set distances. Although there are relatively few crevices along the glacier, the guide will lead the way and ensure you take the safest route. The scenery is spectacular and as you start to reach the upper areas of the glacier and the saddle between the two peaks, Alexandra and Margherita. The sun will just be peeping over the horizon giving you a chance for fantastic photographs. You then reach the upper weather station (4,830m) where you climb down to a ladder (4,803m) and onto the upper glacier leading to Margherita Peak. It is a short climb and rock scramble to the top of Margherita peak, during which you will be roped up. At times the rocks are covered with snow and ice and may be slippery but for the most part it is firm rock. The exhilaration of reaching the top is enormous as you look across Albert Peak to the DRC then east across the spectra of the Rwenzori Mountains. After enjoying the scenery and signing the book, you descend using the same path down to Margherita Camp/Butawu Camp). Day 08 To Bugata Camp 10.1km 5 to 7 hours FBA Starting at Margherita Camp/Butawu Camp, you trek down to Kitandara Hut at 4,025m, where the trail drops a little more to pass just above Kachope Lakes at 3,975m and then over Bamwanjara Pass (4,450m), before finally dropping to Bugata Camp. This is the same route you took during days 5 and 6. Overnight at Bugata Camp. Day 09 To Kasese via Kalalama Camp 19km 6 to 10 hours FBA Today you descend via the Namusangi Valley across open moorland and large areas of tussock grass. As this is a valley floor it is rather wet and at times boggy. It is a good idea to have rubber boots for this section.

5 Continuing down the valley you pass several small waterfalls, eventually reaching Mutinda Cave, with fantastic views of the Mutinda Peaks directly above. It is possible to camp here, though we will not be doing so today. Crossing the Mutinda valley, you approach Kalalama Camp, perched on a high ridge overlooking the Kilembe Valley and Kasese town. On our nine day trek we stay at Kalalama Camp this evening, but you will be continuing down to Kasese at the foot of the mountain. Leaving Kalalama Camp you descend through the bamboo forest and down the ridge to the Rangers Post, arriving early afternoon. After debriefing, it is a short walk down to the Trekkers Hostel. Day 10 International Departure Morning transfer to Kampala in time for evening flight home.