Day 1: Kampala – Kasese
On arrival you will be picked from the airport and transfer to Kasese town. The drive is about 6 hours. Have lunch and relax the rest of the afternoon as you as you prepare for the next day. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 2: Nyakalengija (1615m) – Nyabitaba Hut
After a briefing from the Rwenzori Mountaineering service you will begin the hike thatt follows the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma trib starting a long, steep climb up to Nyabitaba hut. The hike takes around 5 hours. Dinner and overnight at Nyabitaba Hut
Day 2: Nyabitaba (2651 m) – Mubuku River (Matte Hut (3505m)
The hike takes about 7 hours. The trail leads to the Kurt Shafer Bridge with Mubuku valley just below the river’s confluence. Beyond the river, there is a muddy, slippery trail up through the bamboo forest. Dinner and overnight at John Matte Hut
Day 3 – John Matte (3505m) – Bujuku (3962m)
The route fords the Bujuku River, as you cross the bog a steep climb follows to reach the Upper Big. There are superb views of Mt. Stanley at this cavernous, glacier-carved valley. The last stage of the 3-5 hour hike to Bujuku Hut past Cooking Pot Cave is perhaps the muddiest stage of the expedition. The hut is well placed for parties climbing Mt. Speke. Dinner and overnight at Bujuku Hut
Day 4: Bujuku (3962m) – Scott Elliott Pass (4372m) Kitandara (4023m)
Breakfast and begin from Bujuku hut where the trail crosses more mud before climbing steeply through a forest of giant groundsels, climbing a short metal ladder to ascend the Groundsel Gully. Above the gully, a branch in the trail climbs directly to Elena Hut (4430m) for the ascent of Margherita peak on Mt. Stanley (5109m). The main trail continues up a steep screed slope over Scott Elliot pass, the highest point on the circuit. The pass provides fabulous views back down the Bujuku valley and of Mts. Stanley and Baker towering above. Beyond the pass, the route runs downhill beneath the massive cliffs of Mt. Baker. After passing Upper Lake Kitandara, the 3-5 hour hike ends at the hut beside the Lower Lake Kitandara, a beautiful site surrounded by soaring peaks. Dinner and overnight at Kitandara Hut
Day 5: Kitandara (4023m) Guy Yeoman (3505m)
The hike to Guy Yeoman hut takes around 5 hours. The hut enjoys a lovely location close to the Mubuku River with terrific views of the looming Mt. Baker to the north.
Day 6 – Guy Yeoman (3505m) – Nyabitaba (2651 m)
The descent to Nyabitaba takes around 5 hours but with an early start it is possible to make it all the way down to Nyakalengija.
Below Guy Yeoman, the route descends the cliffs of Kichuchu.
Beyond Kichuchu the muddy path crosses the Mubuku River twice before climbing upwards to Nyabitaba to complete the circuit.
Day 7 – Nyabitaba (2651m) – Nyakalengija (1615m) – Kampala
The descent from Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija takes 2-3 hours. Drive back to Kampala, reaching in the late afternoon.
