Rwenzori Mountain N.P

There are three routes that ascend onto the high Rwenzori. The Kilembe Trail enables nine-day expeditions to summit Mount Stanley and a shorter, six day option to the more accessible, but equally scenic, Mt. Luigi da Savoia.

The Central Circuit which reaches and returns from Mount Stanley in seven days. The Bukurungu Trail ascends from Kitumba
to Mount Gessi.

Peak climbing;
The highest peaks on the six mountains that form the high Rwenzori can all be climbed. The most popular is the 5109m Margherita, the highest point on Mount Stanley and the roof of the Rwenzori. Summiting on Stanley, Speke, and Baker is a physically demanding activity, frequently in bad weather, and for which specialist
equipment and technical experience is required. An ascent of Mount Stanley requires a minimum of seven days on the mountain.

HIKING; The real appeal of the Rwenzori lies, arguably, not in the joy of reaching the top, but in the opportunity to hike through superb mountain scenery enlivened by equatorial snow and outlandish vegetation. With this in mind, shorter hikes to lesser peaks are becoming increasingly popular.

A popular destination on the Kilembe Trail is the 4627m Mt. Luigi da Savoia which offers afro alpine vegetation, patches of equatorial snow and, weather permitting, grandstand views towards Mount Stanley, the summit of which lies three days distant. Nyakalengija Trailhead offers a two-day hike to the scenic Lake Mahoma in the bamboo forest.

The Kazingo Trail enables a day-long traverse of the north Rwenzori ridge between the Fort Portal plateau
and Bundibugyo town in the Semliki Valley on the west side of the mountain.

Essential equipment;
Sleeping bag, camping mat, warm clothing, gloves, rain gear, including good waterproof trousers, head-mounted torch, lots of plastic bags (to keep fresh clothes dry and to quarantine wet and muddy garments), energy snacks and any necessary medication. Hiking boots are required on the peaks, but on other days, gumboots are more useful. Specialist gear for climbing the peaks can be hired from your trail operator.