3-Day Mahoma Loop Trek | Rwenzori via Central Circuit Trail
A three-day trek along the Mahoma Loop, which is a section of the core circuit of the Rwenzori Mountains, provides a great opportunity to learn about the local wildlife and plants. Spending three days hiking through the Rwenzori Mountains is the perfect way to take in the stunning scenery without committing to a lengthier trek to the glacier peaks. Beautiful alpine meadows and verdant montane forests are only two of the landscapes that the Mahoma loop passes through.
On a tight budget but yet want to go trekking in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park? Join the knowledgeable rangers at Rwenzori Trekking Services for a three-day walk along the Rwenzori Mahoma Trail as you discover the abundant wildlife and plants of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Stunning valleys with nine lakes, towering Margherita glaciers, bearded lichen hanging from enormous heathers, and rocky cliffs, crags, and snow-capped summits make up the Rwenzori Mountains. Climbing through different vegetation zones is an integral part of the most fulfilling hiking experiences since it enriches the walk by exposing hikers to new types of flora and fauna.
This one-of-a-kind trail, which is also one of the most breathtaking hikes on the planet, has never been accessible to the general public. Climbing through different vegetation zones is an integral part of the most fulfilling hiking experiences since it enriches the walk by exposing hikers to new types of flora and fauna. This one-of-a-kind trail, which is also one of the most breathtaking hikes on the planet, has never been accessible to the general public.
3-Day Mahoma Loop Trek Highlights
- Day 1: Nyakalengija to Omukakiizi
- Day 2: Omukakiizi to Mahoma lake
- Day 3: Mahoma Lake To Nyakalengija
3-Day Mahoma Loop Trek | Rwenzori via Central Circuit Trail
Day 1: Nyakalengija (1560 m)—Omukakiiza (2500 m)
Your first stop after breakfast will be at the 1,646-meter headquarters of Rwenzori Trekking Services. A tour guide or tourism official will now brief you on the current situation. Before entering the forest, the trail passes the plantations and houses of the mountain residents. It then continues via vegetable plots and elephant grass. As you make your way through the virgin rainforest, you’ll pass via Mubuku Valley and Kyambogho Ridge.
Primates such as blue monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and the rare L’Hoest’s monkey can be seen as you climb the thickly wooded ridge. At an elevation of 2,977 meters, you will eventually reach Omu’kaKizza Rest Camp. At an elevation of 2,160 meters, the settlement of Kasese offers breathtaking views of the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Day 2: Omukakiiza Camp (2500 m)–Lake Mahoma Camp (3000 m)
Mahoma Lake, at an elevation of 3,515 meters, will be reached on the second day of your expedition. A spectacular woodland with tall heather and verdant moss layers will greet you as you make your approach to the lake. Help the mountain elephants find their way through the bamboo and heather forest and replenish their fluids at the hot spring.
A spectacular display of huge lobelia and everlasting flowers (mimulopsis eliotii) may be found in the Rukenga Valley, which can be reached over the ridge. Set up camp at Mahoma Lake for the next leg of your adventure. When the weather is nice, visitors to Mahoma Lake can see the Portal Peaks, Mount Stanley, and Mount Baker.
Day 3: Lake Mahoma Camp (3000m) through Nyabitaba Return to Nyakalengija
To get back to the Mubuku Valley—a home of three-horned chameleons—after breakfast, take a stroll around the lake, past the Nyabitaba Ranger Post, and up the Mpanga hill. Head down to the settlement of Kasese, commonly known as Nyakalengija, after you’ve rested at Nyabitaba.
End of the 3-Day Mahoma Loop Trek | Rwenzori via Central Circuit Trail