8 Day Trekking To 3 Margherita, Edward & Victoria Emmanuel Peaks
3 Peaks Rwenzori Trekking covers 8 days trekking to 3 peaks of Mount Stanley, Mount Speke & Mount Baker via the central circuit trail route in Rwenzori Mountains National Park. The 8 days Rwenzori trekking to Victoria Emmanuel peak, Margherita Peak & Edward peak of the Rwenzori Mountains journeys through scenic forests, coupled with unrivaled wildlife encounters, & sometimes the rare handful of Elephants.
This 8 day trek to Mt. Speke(Victoria Emmanuel Peak), Mt. Stanley(Margherita Peak), & Mt. Baker(Edward Peak) crosses Mubuku River over Kurt Shafer bridge, to John Matte Camp, which presents impressive views of Margherita & Alexandria peaks. From here, the trek proceeds through landscapes covered with Giant Lobelia, via Lake Bujuku to Bujuku Camp, the starting point of Mount Speke hike, which leads through a challenging walk to Victoria Emmanuel Peak at 4520m. After which, the route is then followed with a descent down to the camp, for the next trek up Margherita peak at 5109m. After here slope downwards to Kitandara Lakes Camp, then to trek up Mount Baker
#highlights Of The 8 Days Rwenzori Trek To 3 Peaks
Day 1: Nyakalengija 1650m – Nyabitaba camp 2650m +25°c
Day 2: Nyabitaba camp 1650m – Johnmaate camp 3505m +15°c
Day 3: John Matte (3380m) to Bujuku (3962m)
Day 4: Bujuku camp 3900m – mount speke (Victoria Emmanuel peak 4520m.)
Day 5: Bujuku camp 3900m – Elena camp 4541m -5°c
Day 6: Elena camp 4541m – margherita peak 5109m and kipotigai at once and return back to Elena camp for lunch and continue down to kitandara lakes camp.
Day 7: kitandara lakes camp – mount Baker.
Day 8: Guyeoman camp 3505m – Nyabitaba camp.
Detailed Itinerary For the 8 Day Rwenzori Trek To 3 Peaks
Day 1 : Transfer to Rwenzori Mountains National park
This day 1 of the 8 days Rwenzori trekking to 3 peaks, starts with pick up from your lodge or airport and transfer to Mountain Rwenzori National park in the Western part of Uganda . The drive will take you through the vast landscapes and green vegetation covers . You will enjoy an enroute lunch along the way with a stopover in the tourism city Fort Portal or before depending on the time . Upon arrival you will check in at Snow Heights lodge for dinner and overnight as you prepare for the next days adventure in the mountain.
Day 2: Nyakalengija 1650m – Nyabitaba camp 2650m +25°c
On this day 2 of the 8 days Rwenzori trekking to 3 peaks, you wake up in the cool air nyakalengija hotels, meet your guides,escorts and soon set off on the 5 hours walk Nyabitaba camp at 2650m. You walk through a dense forest canopy,view variety of birds species, monkeys and you may have a chance to see the mountain elephants. Crossing River Mubuku you will then hike through dense and lush forests and find you way through rocks which welcome you to you first accommodation an camp Nyabitaba hut.
It takes 6.5 km from nyakalengija to Nyabitaba camp.
Dinner and an overnight
Day 3: Nyabitaba camp 1650m – Johnmaate camp 3505m +15°c
The gloomy but breathtaking beautiful portal peaks greet you in the morning and shadow your right shoulder as you cross the confluence of the mubuku and Bujuku rivers by Kurt Shafer bridge,climbing and descending through bamboo forest,moss and lichen festooned trees Leeds you to Johnmaate camp.
Here evening sun often brings a tantalizing glimpse of gold struck margherita and Alexandra peaks and you would enjoy seeing the Snow. The views from this camp are incredible and the camp is strategically located adjacent to the River Bujjuku where one can visit and take a shower or relax on the rocls in the river during the dry season because it may be flooded in the wet season.
It takes 7 hrs walk 7.5 km from Nyabitaba to Johnmaate camp.
Dinner and an overnight
Day 4: John Matte (3380m) to Bujuku (3962m)
From John Matte Hut, the trail drops down to cross the Bujuku River and enters the Lower Bigo Bog, the home of giant lobelias. Will enjoy the beautiful but hypnotizing boardwalk through the open valley. Transition through a steep forested section to the upper Bigo bog which gives way to Lake Bujuku, with views of Mount Baker to the south and Mount Stanley to the west. This 4-5 hour hike ends at Bujuku hut. Bujuku is also a launchpad for climbing Mount Speke
Day 5: Bujuku camp 3900m – mount speke (Victoria Emmanuel peak 4520m.)
Prepare with your guides early in the morning as this is considered one of toughest but rewarding climb in the Rwenzoris.
From Bujuku it ascends you to stuhlmans pass with a reason because Dr stuhlmans recognized that Rwenzori is not a single mountain but a range and he was the first European to describe accurately the successive zones of vegetation from foothills to the snowline in the Rwenzoris.
If this enjoyable pass the trail takes you right to the snowline of mount speke up to the top at 4520m.
After taking your wonderous photos return back to Bujuku camp for dinner and breakfast.
Day 6: Bujuku camp 3900m – Elena camp 4541m -5°c
From Bujuku ,climb over a head of the gully, a metal ladder takes you over a steep section after which the trail cuts into two. The trail on your right leads up to Elena camp 4541m and mount Stanley on a steep trail over larger boulders,while the trail on your left leads to Scott Elliot pass 4300m and down to kitandara lakes camp.
From Bujuku to Elena takes 4 hrs walk then dinner and an over night.
Day 7: Elena camp 4541m – margherita peak 5109m and kipotigai at once and return back to Elena camp for lunch and continue down to kitandara lakes camp.
Rising early around 2am ,you prepare with your guide to attempt margherita peak. A difficult traverse of more boulders and steep slippery rocks is followed by an easier but still challenging (remember the altitude) trudge in crampons joined as a team with climbing ropes with your headlamp on the forehead , you will then descend a long the Stanley plateau before the final ascent leading to the summits of margherita peaks .
After taking good pictures from the summit return back to Elena camp for hot lunch and continue down to kitandara lakes camp for dinner and an overnight
Day 8: kitandara lakes camp – mount Baker.
Following a very early morning breakfast you will hike the steepy rocks muddy hills to fresh field pass. From freshfield pass the trail ascends steeply taking you through senecio plants with good views of Congolese sides, mount Stanley.
After taking the wonderous photos on top of mount Baker return back to freshfield pass for lunch and continue down to Guyeoman camp at 3505m for dinner and an overnight.
Day 9: Guyeoman camp 3505m – Nyabitaba camp.
Your final day and all you can think of is a hot bath and a restaurant meal, but you have to wait a bit longer to walk through the bogs and bamboo forest to proceed your second glimpse of Nyabitaba to have a night or just a cup of coffee and onward to nyakalengija. You arrive in mid afternoon, exhausted,but with a smile and memories that won’t wash off with the dirty and tiredness in your hot shower. Dinner and overnight at Snow heights lodge .
Day 10: Transfer to Kampala
Wake up very early and after embark on your transfer back to Kampala , you will drive back to with an enroute lunch . You will reach in time to either catch your flight back or rest according to your schedule.
Margherita of Mt. Stanley, Edward of Mt. Baker, Victoria Emmanuel Of Mt. Baker
