14 DAYS 4 PEAKS RWENZORI HIKING
This 14-day Rwenzori expedition is our most complete and demanding route — the ultimate Rwenzori challenge for true peak-chasers. Following the classic Central Circuit, you’ll take on four major summit attempts across Mount Speke (Victoria Emmanuel), Margherita Peak (5,109 m), Weismann Peak and Mount Baker. Expect big-mountain days through rainforest, bamboo and alpine zones, with expert local guides and full porter support, paced for proper acclimatisation and built with safety-first planning for changing mountain conditions.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 —
Arrival in Entebbe & hotel transfer
Overnight: Protea Hotel, Entebbe
Day 2 —
Entebbe → Kasese
Overnight: Margherita Hotel, Kasese
Day 3 —
Nyakalengija → Nyabitaba Hut
Overnight: Nyabitaba Hut
Trekking time: 5–6 hours
Day 4 —
Nyabitaba Hut → John Matte Hut
Overnight: John Matte Hut
Trekking time: 6–7 hours
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and meet a Weismann Safaris & Expeditions representative. Short transfer to Protea Hotel. Depending on arrival time, enjoy meals at the hotel and review the next day’s plan with your guide/driver.
Morning drive to western Uganda via the Mityana–Fort Portal–Kasese route (approx. 303 km / 6–7 hours). Scenic road journey through towns and countryside with stops for breaks. Arrive in Kasese, check-in, lunch and rest.
Transfer to Rwenzori Mountains National Park HQ at Nyakalengija for registration and briefing. Begin the trek through Bakonzo settlements and farms into the forest zone, following the Mubuku River and crossing the Mahoma River before climbing to camp. During the day you hike from 1,646 m at Nyakalengija up to 2,652 m at the first hut.
From Nyabitaba Hut you cross the Kurt Shaffer Bridge, through a muddy area. Then the trail climbs up through the bamboo forest. During this day, it takes you to the forest zone up to Kurt Shaffer Bridge and then you start the bamboo/memolopsis zone up to Nyamuleju camp which is the old hut before John Maate camp. This point marks the start of the heather zone where you will see the Ericaceous trees, everlasting flowers, giant lobelia and groundsel and it’s at this point where you can see red duikers, rock hyrax and white Columbus monkeys. The way proceeds through a bog full of typical plants along the Bujuku River. The final point is John Matte Hut, 3.414 m. for spending the night. On clear days, enjoy views of Mount Stanley and the snow-capped Margherita and Elena peaks.
Day 5 —
John Matte Hut → Bujuku Hut
Overnight: Bujuku Hut
Trekking time: 4–5 hours
From John Matte Hut you cross the Bujuku River and enter the lower Bigo bog, a grassy bog where you experience how to jump from tussock to tussock. Currently, there is a constructed walk board on both lower and upper bigo bogs that makes a clear view of the mountain sceneries. And this is the point where you start the alpine savannah zone of little vegetation. During this day you will be able to see the beautiful gardens of giant lobelia, asanasio black berries, wild carrots, Alcamilla, lake Bujuku, sun birds, red duikers, rock hyrax and more. Depending on the weather, you may be able to view the peaks of Mount Stanley, Mount Baker and Mount Speke. You finally arrive at Bujuku Hut, 3.962 m. From Bujuku, here starts the diversion for whom intends to climb Mount Speke. For those climbing Margherita and Alexandra peaks it is advised to proceed to Elena Hut for overnight.
Day 6 — Peak Day
Mount Speke (Victoria Emmanuel)
Overnight: Bujuku Hut
Trekking time: 7–8 hours
Day 7 —
Bujuku Hut → Elena Hut (high camp)
Overnight: Elena Hut
Trekking time: 4–5 hours
Day 8 — Peak day
Margherita Peak → Kitandara Hut
Overnight: Kitandara Hut
Trekking time: ~10–14 hours total
Day 9 — Rest & acclimatisation day Kitandara area
Overnight: Kitandara Hut
Day 10 — Peak Day
Kasese → Entebbe (departure)
Trekking time: 4–5 hours (ascent)
Overnight: Kitandara Hut
Day 11 — Peak day
Mount Baker
Overnight: Kitandara Hut
Trekking time: ~5–7 hours
Day 12 —
Kitandara Hut → Guy Yeoman Hut
Overnight: Guy Yeoman Hut
Trekking time: 5–6 hours
Early start for the ascent of Mount Speke to Victoria Emmanuel Peak, reaching 4,890 m before returning to camp for lunch and rest. This is a high-altitude route with exposed rocky sections that may require hands; in some conditions you may use crampons, an ice axe and rope.
Climb through bog and the Groundsel Gully toward Scott-Elliot Pass at 4,372 m, then take the right-hand trail up boulders to Elena Hut. You move from 3,962 m at Bujuku up to 4,541 m at Elena Hut.
Summit attempt on Margherita Peak (Mount Stanley), reaching 5,109 m depending on conditions. The summit ascent can take 5–7 hours, crossing glaciers, slippery rock, ice and exposed sections. After returning to the hut, descend via Scott-Elliot Pass with views back to Lake Bujuku and surrounding peaks, continuing down to the twin Kitandara Lakes area at 4,062 m.
Complete the Central Circuit by descending through the Mubuku and Kichuchu river valleys, rich in heather-zone flora, then into bamboo forest. Reach Nyabitaba Hut in about 4–5 hours. You may either continue down to Nyakalengija HQ (add 2–3 hours) or overnight at Nyabitaba. Most clients continue to Nyakalengija and transfer to Kasese town.
Early start for Weismann Peak. Trek along the shores of Lake Kitandara, then climb steeply past Bigata Lake to the summit at 4,620 m. This is described as a non-technical peak. Return to camp for lunch and rest.
Early start to climb Mount Baker. From camp at 4,062 m you ascend to 4,842 m (ascent 3–4 hours; descent 2–3 hours). The route is steep and rocky; ropes may be used on steep sections and conditions can be slippery in wet/snowy seasons. Return to camp for lunch and rest.
Steep ascent up the headwall from Kitandara, passing beneath Mount Baker and continuing to Freshfield Pass (4,282 m). Enjoy views toward the Congo (west) and Mount Stanley (north). From the pass, descend along boggy and slippery rock sections toward Bujongolo rock shelter (historic base from the Duke of Abruzzi expedition, 1906). Continue to Guy Yeoman Hut (3,261 m).
Day 13 —
Kitandara Hut → Guy Yeoman Hut
Overnight: Hotel in Kasese
Trekking time: ~4–5 hours to Nyabitaba
+ 2–3 hours to Nyakalengija
Complete the circuit by trekking down the Mubuku and Kichuchu river valleys, rich in heather-zone flora before reaching bamboo forest. Reach Nyabitaba in about 4–5 hours; many clients continue down to Nyakalengija the same day (adding 2–3 hours). You descend from 3,261 m toward 2,652 m (and further down to 1,646 m if continuing to park HQ), then meet your driver and transfer to Kasese for the night.
Day 14 —
Kitandara Hut → Guy Yeoman Hut
End of trip
In the morning, take breakfast and drive to Kampala either through Kasese-Fortportal road (372km) or Mbarara-Masaka road (422km) to reach Kampala /Entebbe for a flight back home.
