Step into the legendary mountains of the moon and experience a trekking adventure like no other. This 4day Rwenzori hike takes you into the heart of Uganda’s mystical and scenic mountain range- home to lush bamboo forests cascading waterfalls, moss-draped trails, and dramatic views that stretch beyond the clouds.
Whether you’re chasing adventure, testing your limits, or simply craving serenity in nature, this trek delivers raw beauty, rich biodiversity, and soul-refreshing elevation. No crowds, no rush—just you and the mountain.
Highlights and activities:
DAY 1: TRANSFER FROM KAMPALA TO RWENZORI MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
Our driving guide will pick you up very early in the morning by 6:00 am and transfer you to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, have lunch in Fort Portal before continuing to the park. Upon arrival, you will be briefed before the hike. The first 2 kilometer climb steadily through the montane forest with tall trees thick undergrowth and a multitude of different bird species and primates, followed by a steep climb up the mini ridge with few rocks and firm footing except immediately after a heavy down pour the forest are untouched and carry wide range of plants and trees. Many bird species can be seen and heard from this area. At this location, groups of 15 to 20 black and white colobus monkeys can easily be seen swinging among the trees. We will hike another half kilometer after a quick break to a little cave that was a poachers’ hideout. Numerous bird species and insect species call the dense bamboo home.
As we progressively go toward the 3000-meter mark the bamboo which is quite lovely gives way to enormous heather trees draped in bearded moss. You will halt at Samalira camp after your day of hiking to enjoy the panoramic views of the foothills leading to Lake George and Queen Elizabeth National Park as well as a clear glimpse of Kasese town on the left. Check in, Have Dinner and a night’s rest.
DAY 2: TREKKING DAY IN THE BAMBOO FOREST
After a heavy breakfast, we cross a small stream after which the climb becomes steep for about 200 meters up a narrow moss-covered ridge. The thick moss covering the ground and rocks under the giant heather trees is spectacular with a carpet of deep green covering the rocky ridge. We ask you to help preserve this pristine environment by keeping to the pathway and avoiding damaging the moss.
The views give us the impression that we could fly as we look across the many ridges and valleys far below. You can see Kalimba village deep in the valley and across Lake George. After a relatively short climb the trail becomes less steep but muddy as we pass over Chavumba (which means heaven).
We cross a small flat valley to climb up a steady ridge through a thick forest of moss-covered trees which, to say the least, is impressive. The trail continues to the top of the ridge at 3,515 meters.
Here we descend steadily for about one kilometer to a rest point before descending a steep drop into the Nyamwamba valley and a well-earned lunch break at Polys Rock Shelter 3,249 meters.
After lunch we climb steadily above the Nyamwamba River for 2.6km. first we walk through old giant heathers covered in old man’s beard moss then at the head of the valley you climb a steep pinch and weave your way through a field of huge boulders.
Due to the high rainfall and swirling mists/fog, the rocks are covered in deep green moss setting an eerie atmosphere but their origin is that they were pushed ahead of enormous glaciers which carved out the deep valleys millions of years age and when these glaciers finally came to rest, they melted leaving a huge pile of rocks in front of them and where they settled left a flat bog which is now covered in clusters of grass. These bogs are usually hard walking and boggy as you walk over a bed of deep peat or plant material several feet deep. After the bog, you climb a short distance to Kiharo Camp at 3,588 meters which are situated directly at the base of granite cliffs of 20 to 40 meters, with towering peaks above. Some people may want to climb one to the short cliff which faces near the camp to fill in the afternoon hours, where you may sit and relax. The environment here is fantastic as where ever you look there are cliffs towering above as the camp is set in a narrow valley with a fast-flowing river on one side.
DAY 3: HIKING DAY TO DESCEND THROUGH THE BAMBOO FOREST
We backtrack past Polys Rock shelter and climb up to the main ridge 3,515 meters where we take the path to the south which crosses to the trail coming down from Mutinda to Kalalama Camp.
After reaching the trail we descend to Kalalama Camp 3,134 meters where we prepare our Lunch while overlooking Kasese and Lake George from a different perspective.
The south is the rugged cliff faces of Rwatamaguta and Karasimbi rising far above us and creating the wonder of the diversity of the Rwenzori Mountains.
We’ll begin our descent through the bamboo forest after breakfast. The area is far moister than the trail on the southern windward side of the mountain, which receives a lot of rain which leads to Samalira camp. At around 2600 meters, when we pass through the sine rock shelter the bamboo gives place to afro-montane forests.
A man named Sine lived in this rock shelter for more than 30 years while poaching animals in the mountains. From there, we’ll descend to the base of the ridge where we can bridge a sizable, swift-moving stream and reach the Musenga rock shelter. We have our lunch here and take a little break before walking the last 6 kilometers to the ranger station through the dense montane forest. After a quick debriefing, we shall say goodbye and hike the final 1.2 kilometers to our waiting vehicles and the trekkers’ hostel. Dinner and a night’s rest
DAY 4: RETURN BACK TO KAMPALA/ ENTEBBE AIRPORT
After a hearty breakfast, we travel back to Kampala, where you will be dropped off at your hotel or the Entebbe Airport, where you will catch your trip home.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS:
| 4 DAYS RWENZORI MOUNTAINS HIKE | |
| Included |
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| Excluded |
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 Travel With Safari Van / Jeep – 4WD |
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