Rwenzori Off The Beaten Track - Bukurungu Trail

Day 1: Transfer to Amundsen camp (2210m) Rwenzori-Bukurungu trail

As a long travel the previous day from Kampala to Kasese, you wake up 08:00hours and have your breakfast before you drive/walk to the Rwenzori Ranges Hikers Association  office in Kasese twon to meet your guide and check your equipment and other necessities before you travel to Mukorokimi, the starting point to the Mountain, It is from here that you meet the Guides and porters that Escort you to the Higher peaks, This day you walk through Coffee plantations, homesteads, schools and interact with local Bakonzo people the inhabitants of the Rwenzori mountains to have a night the Amundsen  community camp at the edge of the national park, it’s a walk that takes you between 2-3hours to reach the community camp.

Day 2: Rwigho Camp 3300Masl

After breakfast, take on the trail which bends west on the ridge overlooking the Kasuka and Isule valleys and onward to Kebitakuli for a rest while and take a breath and thereafter, hike through the montane rain forest overlooking bamboo forested valleys. Encounter plant species like the Disa stairssi, Scadoxus cyrtanthiflorus, Impetiens apiculata and spot or hear calls of black and white colubus monkeys, The Rwenzori Turaco and other birds. On trail you will spot chimpanzee nests and droppings or hear their calls. The trail will lead you through the heather zone and reach Rwigho Camp for an overnight. It will take you only 5-6 hours.

Day 3: Kambeho 3600Masl

After breakfast, the trail takes you through the heather trees (Ericathiasis) with lots of moss hanging over these trees. The is the heather zone with a lots of heather trees, scencio trees, alchemila, black berries, and many more plant species. While on trail you will be able to spot black and white Colobus monkeys, Varvet monkeys, sun birds, the Rwenzori turaco a rare beautiful bird in the park. On this day you will see lots of giant lobelias, everlasting flowers and rock shelters. Over-night at Kambeho Camp. This hike will take you 5 – 6 hrs with a stopover for a hot lunch at Mitiyighaghire.

Day 4:  Lamia Camp3750Masl

After breakfast, start with a climb along river Lhume, in the early morning hours of the day when still fresh and strong with urge to climb the only steep Mughuli bypass. As you think of slopping down to Lake Mughuli which is within MTN network coverage to give you a chance to call friends and family members about the beauty and experience encountered on the trail. There are several short peaks which one can easily climb depending upon what time you have arrived in the camp and how you feel. The vegetation along the Lake is so beautiful to catch up your eyes. Animals you might see along the trail are the Rwenzori red-duiker, rock and tree hyrax and wild pigs. Around the camp, you can have a self guided walk to explore the water falls. The approximate time taken from Kambeho to Lamia Camp is about 6-7hrs hike with a stopover at Mulhalhama resting view point.

Day 5: Lake Bukurungu Camp 4091Masl/Bigo camp /3442Masl

This camp is set in the heart of the two mountains of the Portal Peaks and Mount Gessi; it is a relaxing point to acclimatize for those interested in climbing the Portal Peaks and Mount Gessi. Five hours from Lamia camp takes you through a very gentle crossing passing the vegetation of the alchemila, several giant lobelia species and the wonderful and unknown leaf looking like human palm.  From Lamia Camp to Bukurungu Camp will take you 3 – 4hrs.. On this day if the weather is clear, your eyes and hands on the camera will have all the main peaks of Edward on Mount Baker, Margherita and Alexadra on Mount Stanley, Vittorio Emanuela on Mount Speke, Kihuma on the Portal Peaks and Mount Gessi at glance. If you are heading to the peaks then you will descend to Bigo camp which takes between 1-2hours.

Day 6: Irine lake Camp 4495Masl/ Elena Camp 4541Masl

After a cup of coffee get set off to Irene Lakes camp through the beautiful valley filled with giant lobelias, giant heather trees, groundsels, helichrysum and lots of stunning waterfalls, Finally you find yourself along L.Bujuku a lake collecting its waters from the melting glaciers of Mt. Speke, Mt. Stanley and Mt. Baker. Having trailed a long side the lake, you will continue for a one hour and a half to reach Irene Lakes Camp.

Day 7: Margherita peak 5109Masl back to Bujuku/Bigo camp 

Wake up at 4.30am early in the morning for a cup of coffee and thereafter, start the climb to the main Margherita peak summit 5109m the highest point in Uganda and third Highest Mountain in Africa. While on top and assuming the weather is clear, you will be able to see the rest of the peaks on the Rwenzori Mountain range like Vittorio Emmanuelle on Mt. Speke, Edward on Mt. Baker, Mt. Albert and if the weather is good you opt to climbing all the twin peaks of Margarita and Alexandra all on Mt. Stanley. Though distance looks short but it can take you long hours to reach the summit due to fog and mist. After a good time, have a view of DR Congo. Be one of the people who have left their foot prints on top of the Mountains of the moon and confirm your arrival on this point with a breath taking and say yes I have made it. After your successful view and pictures, descend to Bujuku/Bigo camp.

Day 8: Bujuku/Bigo to  Nyabitaba Camp

From Bujuku/Bigo camp you walk down valley through John Matte, down to Nyamulenju rest shelter where you can have your lunch and stretch through mosh-covered rocks and follow the trail which drops you to Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers and reach Nyabitaba camp for dinner and overnight. The walk takes between 6-7hours.

Day 9: Nyabitaba camp- Mihunga Park Gate

After breakfast, descend through the heather zone route with beautiful views of the Rwenzori Mountains Range onto Mihunga Park gate to complete your adventurous trek of the Rwenzori at Mihunga Park gate. While on the trail, you will see more of the black and white Colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, a lots of bird species like the starlings, sun birds, the great blue Rwenzori turaco, the Ross’s turaco and many of the butterfly family. It will take you 3-4 hrs from Nyabitaba camp to Mihunga Park gate to join your driver to Kasese town for a shower and WiFi before you can be hosted for a dinner by management of Rwenzori Ranges Hikers Association to welcome you back. Over night at lodge.