Day 1 - Arrival (D)
After arrival in Entebbe, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kampala.
Overnight in a hotel.
Day 2 - Green forest, small villages, past banana, tea and cotton plantations - Kasese (B,L,D)
In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel in Kampala. Passing several small villages, green forests, banana and tea plantations, the approx. 7-hour drive leads to Kasese.
Overnight in a hotel
Day 3 - Start of the Trekking - Nyabitaba-Hut (2,650m) - (B,D)
After a short drive to the starting point of the trek, guides, porters and cooks will be selected for the tour in Nyakalangija. After a leisurely hike, first through the village and past banana plantations, the national park boundary is reached after 1.5 hours. With a bit of luck, you can see chameleons in the fern or blue monkeys in the trees. In any case, one is accompanied by many and beautiful butterflies. Along the Mubuku Riber we continue through forest and open fern landscape. After a 4-5 hour hike, the Nyabitaba Hut (2,650 m) is finally reached. The Nyabitaba Cabin lies directly in the forest on a mountain slope and offers a beautiful view of the Portal Peak.
Overnight in the Nyabitaba Hut
Day 4 - Crossing the Bujuki-River to John-Matte-Hut (3,480m) (B,L,D)
After a 1.5-hour hike down through the forest and green fern landscape, the suspension bridge over the Bujuku River is reached. There it goes steeply uphill through dense vegetation as well as over roots and stones. The more you gain in height the more moss-hungry and mystical the scenery becomes. At the end of the walk open moor areas with giant lobelia are reached. A short distance over wooden planks along the lakeshore, after a total of 6 hours of walking you will reach the John Matte Hut (3.480m).
Overnight at the John Matte Hut
Day 5 - High moor area to Bujuku Hut (3,970m) (B,L,D)
Today you can expect a moor area with giant lobelia and beautiful views of the mountains of Rwenzori. Before you reach the plateau, it's a bit through the rain forest and past tree heaths. Afterwards, the Bujuku River is crossed on boardwalks and past tussock grass. The moor area is completely covered with screed webs, so that this section can be crossed easily and with plenty of time for taking pictures. At the end of the hike, it goes up again steeply to the Buju Lake. After a total of 5-6 hour hike, the Bujuku Hut (3,970 m) is finally reached.
Overnight in the Bujuku Hut
Day 6 - Ascent to Elena Hut (4,540m) (B,L,D)
Today, the mountaineers separate from the enjoyment walkers of the Central Circuit. The first route goes over swampy terrain, later on ladders and boulders on a small hill. Here is a last beautiful view of the valley and the surrounding mountains of the Bujuki hut. The path continues on a ridge constantly uphill. At about 4400m you reach a rock zone. To the Elena hut you walk now without vegetation and over slabs.
Overnight in the Elena hutToday, the mountaineers separate from the enjoyment walkers of the Central Circuit. The first route goes over swampy terrain, later on ladders and boulders on a small hill. Here is a last beautiful view of the valley and the surrounding mountains of the Bujuku hut. The path continues on a ridge constantly uphill. At about 4400m you reach a rock zone. To the Elena hut you walk now without vegetation and over slabs.
Overnight in the Elena hut
Day 7 - Climbing Margharita-Peak (5,109m) (B,L,D)
Today, the ascent of Margherita Peak awaits you. Already before sunrise, the Elena Hut is broken up to reach the summit as early as possible. The path leads over rocky terrain to the glacier. Arriving at the glacier, we put on the crampons and ropes. Finally, a ridge is reached over the steep and column-rich glacier. Over this rocky ridge, you reach the Margherita Peak with the help of rope securing devices. From here, in good weather, there is a fantastic view over the mountain peaks and into the Congo.
After enjoying the view, the ascent path back to the Elena hut. The path to the Kitandara Hut leads through the fantastic variety of plants of the Ruwenzori.
Walking time: approx. 9 hours
Overnight in the Kitandara hut
Day 8 - Fresh Field Pass (4,215m) - mystical fairytale forest - Guy Yeoman Hut (3,505m) (B,L,D)
Directly from the Kitandara Hut, you will climb over a block of stones and along a gully to the Fresh Field Pass (4,215m). An open space with tussock grass leads to the rainforest. In this section of the route the atmosphere becomes more and more mystical. Huge trees with multicolored moss-hangings truly make a fairy-tale forest stand out. Downhill and past a beautiful waterfall you reach after a 6-hour hike in the middle of a flower meadow lying Guy Yeoman hut (3,505 m).
Hiking time: 5-6 hrs.
Overnight in the Guy Yeoman hut
Day 9 - Descend over ladders and through bamboo forest - Nyabitaba Hut (2,650m) (B,L,D)
It used to be a key part of the Central Circuit. Long steep rocks had to be overcome on the descent. Today you can comfortably descend this section on ladders. After this key point, the path winds through bamboo and rainforest over wooden planks and marshy spots to the Nyabitaba Hut. Trekking time 4-5 hrs
Overnight in the Nyabitaba Hut
Day 10 - Last trekking day (L,D)
On the already known way it goes first steeply downhill and then leisurely continue to the national park boundary. At the reception of the National Park, you will receive a Certificate of Mountaineering confirming that you have successfully completed the Central Circuit.
Afterwards we continue to the hotel.
Overnight stay in a hotel
Day 11 - Kasese - Kampala (B,L,D)
Today ends your exciting travel in the Ruwenzori Mountains. Your driver will take you to your hotel in Kampala.
Overnight in a hotel
Day 12 - Departure (B)
Your driver will take you to the airport in Entebbe in good time.
