Arrival, early morning, Entebbe Airport where you are met and greeted by our representative. Drive to Kasese, heading for Rwenzori Mountains National Park, the setting for your adventure. Overnight at Hotel Margherita, HB.

Hotel Margherita is situated west of Kasese town, in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. Hotel Margherita is the venue of choice for trekkers and mountaineers alike since the inception of trekking trips into the Rwenzori range. The hotel has been providing professional services to visitors to this beautiful part of the country since the early 1950's when Hotel Margherita first opened its doors to visitors. Since then tourists have marvelled at the views of the Rwenzori of which the hotel has an unsurpassed vantage of. The rooms available range from two Executive Suites to the Standard Double & Single rooms. An apartment flat is also available that can accommodate a family of 5. A strong emphasis is placed on making the rooms very comfortable for you.

A trip to the Rwenzoris is an exhilarating and rewarding experience but one which must be well planned. The key to an enjoyable visit is to “be prepared!” The central circuit hike takes six nights/ seven days and reaches an altitude of 14,000 ft (4,267m) above sea level. The conditions on the mountain are a challenge to even an experienced hiker. This mountain is reknown for its un-engineered steep and slippery trails and frequent rain. Rainfall and cold temperatures, bogs, mud, steep terrain and high altitude make it a challenging trip. Never the less it is exciting! You need to try it! Since during much of the year mud, rain, mist and wind occur daily, adequate clothing (and a mental attitude!) for these conditions are a must. The periods of July – August and December – February are relatively dry and for inexperienced hikers the best seasons for a trek. During any season, raingear, good sleeping bag, warm hat, gloves, heavy socks, gum boots, gaiters and a walking stick for balance (and to probe the mud) are recommended. A basic first aid kit is a necessity.

Porters will be carrying your heavy equipment and food, leaving a small pack with raingear, warm clothes (on higher sections), camera, water bottle, snacks and lunch. Purchase your own food (in Kasese or Kampala). Rwenzori Mountaineering Services (RMS) can provide cooking utensils and cooks.

Plan to arrive at Rwenzori Mountains National Park and the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services (RMS) offices at Nyakalengija in the morning so as to have ample time to rent equipment and be availed with guides and porters. Begin your hike by leaving the park headquarters (5,400 ft/1,646m), walking past typical mud and wattle daub Bakonzo homes and gradually moving upward through elephant grass and garden plots. It takes approximately 40 minutes to reach the park boundary (which can be a pleasant half or one-day trip for someone not going further). The trail then follows the Mubuku River, crossing recent landslide areas (to be negotiated carefully) and involves climbing over rocks and bluffs, before reaching the Mahoma River in about 2½ hours. After crossing the river there will be a steep climb through open bracken fern slopes and Podorcarpus Forest up to Nyabitaba hut (8,700 ft/2,652m) reached about an hour and a half past the Muhoma River crossing. During this part of the trip, you may be able to hear chimpanzees and sometimes you can see black and white colobus and blue monkeys behind the hut and catch glimpses of brilliantly coloured Rwenzori Turaco (a bird of the tree tops). Total time for an average hiker from Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba is about 5-7 hours and total elevation gained is 4,000 ft (1,200m). Slower hikers could take considerably longer, so insist on leaving park headquarters before noon to avoid being on the trail after dark (7pm all year around).

Returning toward the road head from Bujuku is all downhill and you can reach John Matte camp in 4-5 hours. One will pass Bigo hut about an hour from John Matte where a track leads to Mt Gessi, Mt Emin and Lac de la Lune. The walk to John Matte hut (11,200ft/3,414m) is through a challenging bog, full of extraordinary plants and the slow pace can be a delightful chance to examine and photograph this unique environment. The typical time to reach John Matte from Nyabitaba is 7 hours so an early start is important.

If you are going to climb Mt Stanley up to Margherita (16,763ft/5,109m), the 3 rd highest point in Africa, Elena hut is your staging point. It can easily be reached from either Kitandara or Bujuku in 3-4 hours. In snow or ice at these altitudes, your porters require proper clothing and foot covers. Irene Lakes hut is the staging point for a much more difficult and technical climbs and is located beyond Elena hut.

Going downhill, you now turn north for the most interesting day of the trip, assuming the weather is clear. After passing the second Kitandara Lake, you cross over huge boulders at the foot of Mt Baker on one side and the glaciers of Savoia and Elena on the other. You then pass through Scott Elliot down to Bujuku. The trip down is extraordinary with Lake Bujuku on your right and Mt Speke rising on your front left. The walk takes only 4 hours, 4541m.

From Guy Yeoman, you will pass Kabamba, a very pleasant place to spend the night with its large rock shelter, waterfall and bathing spot though the water is very cold. Continuing on, you will pass the Jujongolo rock shelter, the base camp of the Savoia 1906 expedition and cross Freshfield pass to Kitandara hut. It is one of the more picturesque areas with the hut resting quietly by a lake of the same name. The walk will take long, 6-7 hours. 3990m.

John Matte back to Nyabitaba is another 4-6 hours. The circle has been completed and you will cruise back to the road head, 2650m. Return to base station and your hotel warmth, good food and well earned rest. Overnight Hotel Margherita, HB.