Day 6 | The view descending from the Summit and Margarita Camp.

Quick Overview of the Trek

We took eight days to summit Mt. Stanley. While there is a 7 day option available, you need to not only be ready for even greater altitude change in a shorter time, but you will miss one full day of being in the Rwenzori Mountains. Also, it is worth considering your trekking speed in rubber boots, on very muddy trails. You will need to move with extra speed for a 7 day trek.

If you choose Rwenzori Trekking Services (RTS), you will follow the Kilembe trail. Each of the two services use different trails and different huts so you will not interact with anyone who is not trekking with RTS.

Day by Day Itinerary for the Rwenzori Mountain Trek

Day 1 (1146 m/3,670 ft ascend): Meeting at the old hostel to check gear, get rubber boots, review the map, get a porter, meet your guides and head out. We used the rubber boots offered by the RTS and found them perfectly adequate and spent most of the next 8 days in those same boots. The rest of our trekking party purchased and brought their own rubber boots for use.
The first 2km of the trek is essentially walking up a washed out road until reaching the park entrance. Guides mentioned that RTS is thinking about moving their hostel to the park entrance to eliminate this community walk and we have to agree that it would enhance the overall trek. It is also the first few hundred meters of your day one 1136 meter ascent (3,760 feet) and takes 30-40 minutes.
-There is an entrance fee of $35/night, payable in dollars, shillings or by credit card. If you decide to pay with dollars, make sure you have new, crisp bills with no marks or tears on them. Once paid, we entered the park and headed up steeply for the remaining ascent. The lunch stop has an overhang and a privy and marks the end of the 1136 meter ascent. From there, it is a fairly level 30 minute walk to Sine Camp. Sine Camp is known for its beautiful waterfall that provides a welcome shower after an intense hot day through the tropical rainforest.

Day 2 (1,092m/3,583 ft ascend): Walking out of the tropical rainforest provides some cooler relief and this day we moved from tropical rainforest to Bamboo Forest and into the Heather Zone. Monkeys live in the Bamboo Forest and we were able to get pictures of several species of monkeys. In the morning, there is a beautiful ridge traverse and it is also on Day 2 where we broke free of the rainforest and started to see some of the expansive Rwenzori flora and fauna. We also were introduced to boardwalks and ladders encountered the rest of the trek. The day ends at Mutinda camp which is at the base of Mutinda peak. If interested, you can drop your pack and head up Mutinda peak for some additional climbing.

Day 3 (474m/1,555 ft ascend): This is the first mandatory rubber boot day. Day 2 may require rubber boots depending on the amount of rain but on Day 3, no options are offered (only rubber boots). The end of the day is the highest camp of the trip except for the base camp Margherita. The day was very muddy causing some very slow walking sections as we all got used to the rubber boot walking. Also, the Heather Zone provides much more diverse terrain including tussocks, heather, and streams. The day ends at Bugata camp which is in the Alpine zone and also has the first heliport in the event an evacuation is needed. It is the Alpine zone where the views open up further as you work your way into the mountains. The weather is also much cooler and down outer layers are needed when the sun goes down.

Day 4 (100m/328ft ascend camp to camp w +/- 500 m/1,640 ft over pass): The day begins with a 500m/1,640ft climb out of Bugata camp to the Bamwanjara pass. Bamwanjara was a porter at the turn of the century and there is a nice tribute to him at the pass that is a worthwhile read. The man hiked barefoot to the summit.
The ascent is via several metal ladders and a few boardwalks and the descent (500m/1,604 ft) is steep and very muddy. Once over the pass, you will encounter several very boggy sections and finish the trek with a steep 150m (500 ft) climb into Hunwick camp. Hunwick is considered the crossroads of the trek as those who climb to the summit return to Hunwick the same day. Meanwhile, those heading up to the summit similarly pass thru for the night. It’s a great place to gather data on summit weather and conditions. The entire day is spent in the Alpine zone

Day 5 (511m/1,677 ft): While it is a relatively short day to Margherita base camp, the beauty on Day 5 is stunning. We passed two beautiful lakes and the views going up and down were some of the best the entire trip. The first two hours of the trek are in the Alpine zone at which point we switched out of our rubber boots upon reaching the Moreland zone and hiked the remaining two hours in our hiking shoes. It is nice to have hiking shoes on for the bouldering section. Overall, one of the best paths of the trek.
-Upon reaching Margherita base camp, there is a briefing on the following day logistics and then a distribution of equipment (if needed). Guides will carry ropes (or share that duty with clients). Clients carry crampons, ice axes, harness, carabiners, and helmets.

Day 6 (summit 5109m/ 16,762 ft): Wake at 1am to leave camp at 2am. Rwenzori Trekking Services has a cut-off of 10am which means if the summit is not achieved by 10am, they will turn around and head down. The 2am start is designed to get to the summit by 10am. In general, the climb is up to Mt. Stanley glacier, a walk across the glacier, followed by a walk across eroded glacier. Then a 60 degree climb/crampon walk up Margherita glacier, followed by a scramble/walk/crampon to the top of Margherita peak. RTS organized their guides so that there was one guide for every two clients.
-Once summited, the return is to Margherita camp for lunch and a brief rest and then a walk back down to Hunwick camp for the night. This is a very long day.

Day 7 This is also a very long day, 9-12 hours based on the route taken. Some in our party reversed the direction going up and over Bamwanjara pass thru Bugata camp and ending at Kiharo (the shorter route by 2km). Others took the longer route going over Oliver’s pass which allowed for an extra climb of Weismann’s peak (for those interested). While going the same route back seemed a disincentive, the reality is that with intensive mist/fog, moving in the opposite direction, and the high focus on walking in rubber boots, much new terrain was seen. The day begins in the Alpine zone and ends in the Heather Zone at Kiharo camp.

Day 8 Waterfall day!!! There are four named waterfalls each grander than the previous along the path on day 8. At the last waterfall, we stopped and changed into our hiking shoes. Although this is a descending day, we took at least two sidles which were surprisingly steep in order to get around the river. At the bottom, it is necessary to sign out at the ranger station which is a quick process. From there, the walk back to the old hostel is completely downhill.

Other Trek Options

As noted previously, there are other treks available of a lesser distance, 3, 4, and 5 day treks that will allow you to view the splendor of the Rwenzoris at a slower pace. There is also a 4 day waterfall trek focused on the Kilembe waterfalls. These shorter treks would still be considered strenuous with all of them starting their treks out of Sine camp, the 1,146m/3,670 ft Day 1 climb. Check Rwenzori Trekking Services website for their latest routes and prices. Keep in mind that the other company has their own routes and trails so offerings may change substantially.