8 Day Rwenzori Mountains High-Altitude Glacier Trek

Start at the park gate (1,615m), register, and meet porters. The trail slices through dense riverine forest with vines, moss-draped mahogany trees, and booming waterfalls. Blue monkeys leap overhead and hornbills call through the canopy. Expect sweaty uphill sections and wooden bridges across streams. Climb steadily to Nyabitaba Hut at 2,651m. Evening views stretch toward the Portal Peaks if skies are clear. Dinner and overnight. Temperature drops sharply at night.

Descend briefly to cross the roaring Bujuku River on a suspension bridge. From here, the real grind begins. Push up steep slopes into bamboo and giant heather forest, often slick and muddy. Wooden boardwalks help in swampier patches. As altitude increases, vegetation transitions to towering heather draped with bearded lichen. Views open up toward Mount Stanley ridges. Arrive at John Matte Hut (3,414m), perched above the Bujuku River. Evening tea, hearty dinner, and a cold night’s rest.

Morning descent into the Bigo Bog, one of the trek’s legendary mud zones. Boardwalks cover only parts of the route, so expect slow, careful footwork. Pass Bigo Hut and continue across high-altitude swamps surrounded by Afro-alpine vegetation: giant lobelia, groundsel, everlasting flowers. Reach Lake Bujuku tucked under Mount Baker, Speke, and Stanley’s snow-covered walls. A final push takes you to Bujuku Hut (3,962m). Tonight’s altitude may feel tough: deep breaths, warm clothes, and plenty of fluids.

Trail climbs steeply toward the upper Bujuku Valley, crossing rocky moraines and metal ladders pinned to cliff faces. Snowfields and glacier remnants begin to appear. Vegetation fades into bare rock and ice. The air thins noticeably as you reach Elena Hut at 4,541m on Mount Stanley’s flank. Early dinner and early bed. Gear prep for glacier ascent. The temperature is often below freezing. This is where summit nerves kick in, but also the excitement.

Wake before dawn, rope up, and strap on crampons. Cross the Elena Glacier and tackle fixed ropes over the Stanley Plateau. Expect icy stretches, possible crevasses, and steep snow slopes. Sunrise casts pink light across the entire Rwenzori range and Congo forests far below. Final rocky scramble to Margherita Peak at 5,109m. Emotional moment. Photos, deep breaths, and then the descent begins. Retrace over glaciers and drop down to the serene Kitandara Lakes. Overnight at Kitandara Hut, surrounded by misty peaks and emerald water.

Climb steeply to Freshfield Pass (4,282m), a windswept saddle overlooking the Democratic Republic of Congo. Begin a long descent through rocky valleys, waterfalls, and bogs. Vegetation returns gradually. Guy Yeoman Hut (3,505m) sits beside the Mubuku River, framed by towering cliffs. Legs will definitely feel the downhill punishment.

Steep descent through bamboo forest and mud-slicked paths. Pass the Kichuchu rock shelter and cross several rivers again. Arrive at Nyakalengija trailhead, collect completion certificates, and say goodbye to guides and porters. Fresh clothes, lunch in Kasese, then drive back toward Kampala with tired legs but enormous pride.