8 days Kilembe hike
Day 1: Kilembe to Sine camp
Upon arrival at Kilembe Gate ( RTS ) offices , you will be welcomed by the team of Rwenzori Trekking Services and the team will start by orienting you about the Rwenzori trekking services contract.
After you will pay the park entrances and other necessary registration with the Rwenzori Mountains National Park officers of UWA. The hike from Kilembe to Sine Camp is a 5-6 hour trek, covering about 9.5 kilometers starting at Trekkers Hostel in Kilembe and reaching Sine Camp at 2596 meters. The trail ascends through the Afro-montane forest for the first 6km before a steeper climb leads to the camp. Along the way, you will encounter diverse flora and fauna, a river crossing, and Enock’s Falls, which is just 200 meters from the camp.
Day 2: Hike from Sine Camp to Kalalama camp
After your breakfast, you will set off for the trek from Sine to Kalalama camp. This hike is a challenging ascent into the bamboo and heather zones of the Rwenzori mountains typically done as part of a longer trek. The trail starts from Sine Camp (2,596m) and climbs about 550 meters over several hours to reach Kalalama Camp (3,147m), passing through thick bamboo forests and crossing streams along the way. The hike offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and lowlands, and many hikers return to Sine Camp to descend the next day
Day 3: Kalalama Camp (3.147m) to Mutinda Camp (3.688 m)
After an early morning breakfast, you will set off for trekking through the Bamboo Zone comprising of steep climb with many high steps, and later reach the resting point where you will enjoy half day’s lunch and later continue along the heather zone, and trek through several streams, waterfalls, and the typical green moss vegetation. You will also walk through Giant heather trees, and arrive at Mutinda camp at 3.688m, which is also named after the Mutinda Peaks. It is from this point that you can hike up to the Mutinda Lookout, at 3.925m which is a 90 minutes walk , plus 60 mins descent to the camp. You will later arrive at the camp for dinner and an overnight.
Day 4: Mutinda Camp to Bugata Camp (4.062 m)
Trek through the boggy terrain with the typical wet vegetation and tussocks, after then you will enter the Alpine Vegetation Zone with the Presence of the giant lobelia, the groundswell and the everlasting flowers while crossing the Mutinda Valley. Hike up the steep section to Namusangi Valley, crossing various bogs as you ascend to Bugata Camp at 3.062m where you will have your dinner and an overnight. You have dinner and spend the night. You will be briefed about the following day and then retire to your cabins for the night.
Day 5: Bugata to Hunwick’s Camp (3.974 m)
After an early morning breakfast, you will proceed with your trek to Hunwick’s Camp. Hike along the steep slopes, as you walk across various bogs to Bamwanjara pass at 4.405n. Enjoy breathtaking views of the snow caped peaks, while you head on to rest in a small shelter for a lunch break. This Trek takes you through the lower and Upper Kachope lakes and McConnell’s Prong which are mostly muddy and steep. Arrive at Hunwick’s camp in the evening for dinner and an overnight.
Day 6: Hunwick’s Camp to Magherita Camp
After your morning breakfast, Start your day with walking along the ridge, crossing several wet areas and small rivers flowing from both Mount Baker and the fresh fields pass. Trekking up Scott Elliott Pass is amazing as you walk through and rise up the ridge of Mt. Stanley to Margherita Camp at 4,485 meters, which is located below Elena Hut of the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services. The Magherita camp which is sheltered with a ring of rocks, was once used by an Italian Prince Luigi Amadeo di Savoia, and Duke of the Abruzzi.
you are expected to arrive late in the evening. Dinner, preparations for the next day and an overnight stay in at the camp.
Day 7: Magherita Camp to the Summit and then back to Hunwicks camp
You will wake up at 2:00am for your early morning breakfast, after which you will set off for the longest and strenuous walk to the summit of Magherita which will start at 3:00am The early movement to Magherita peak of Mount Stanley is mainly aimed at reaching the glaciers before sunrise since the heat from the sun causes the glaciers to melt, thus making the roots to be totally impassable.
Hiking through the steep heights to Magherita peak requires enough physical strength. Proceed with your hike over the glaciers close, after then you will climb to an exposed section of the rock, which is bolted and roped, to get on the ridge running up to the top of the Margherita peak at 5.109m
Upon reaching the peak, you will be endowed by the beautiful scene of the whole country, as you are now at the highest point of the country. Lunch will be served at the peak, after which you will descend to Hunwick’s camp for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 8: Descend from Hunwicks camp to Trekkers
After your breakfast, you will trek from Hunwick’s Camp, descend to Oliver’s Pass, and then follow the Nyamwamba River valley down to the park’s base camp in Kilembe, where Trekkers Hostel is located. The full descent typically covers a long distance (around 11km to 15km depending on the specific route) and takes several hours to complete.