Rwenzori Central Circuit Trail | Camps & Mountain Huts

The lodging along the Rwenzori Central Circuit Trail is indicative of the route’s maturity as the longest and most well-traveled hiking route in the Rwenzori Mountains. Positioned at intervals that correspond to a day’s trek, the Rwenzori Central Circuit is the most logistically comfortable full-mountain alternative. The huts are substantial timber structures with bunk-bed sleeping arrangements, shared kitchen spaces, and rudimentary toilet facilities.

Because of the extreme humidity and low temperatures that can occur at night in the Rwenzoris, it is highly recommended to stay in a hut instead of a tent if you are not well-prepared for the challenge of tent camping.

Nyabitaba Camp (2,650m)

Located at the beginning of the Rwenzori Central Circuit Trail, near the Nyakalengija trailhead, Nyabitaba Camp is the first overnight stop following a four- to five-hour hike through the thick montane forest of the Albertine Rift. At an altitude of 2,650 meters, perched on a ridge above the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers’ convergence, Nyabitaba serves as a decompression point. It is here that the mountain starts to feel tangible, the sounds of the lower world fade away, and the stars, when the clouds part, show with a clarity that reminds you of how far you have come from the lowlands.

Here, in a hut with minimal cooking and washing facilities, numerous hikers can sleep on bunk beds. On the seven-day Central Circuit route, it is customary to spend the first night at this mountain camp, which is also the most popular.

John Matte Camp (3,414m)

John Matte Camp is named after a revered and pioneering Rwenzori guide whose extensive mountain expertise laid the groundwork for early mountaineering in the area. John Matte is on the boundary between the heather and moorland zones, when the vegetation begins its most spectacular transformation into the alien Afro-alpine world above. He is located at 3,414 meters in a lovely valley above the treeline. Here, the hut serves as a kitchen for the guide and porter crews and a place for trekking parties to sleep on bunk beds. It is hard to put into words the profound alpine ambience of an evening at John Matte, when the cloud rolls in tightly about the cabin and the enormous heathers become black silhouettes in the mist.

Bujuku Camp (3,977m)

Bujuku Camp holds a special place in the hearts of many hikers as they embark on the Central Circuit. Located at an elevation of 3,977 meters, it overlooks Lake Bujuku, the most expansive and picturesque alpine lake in the Rwenzori, and is framed on three sides by the towering peaks of Mount Stanley, Mount Speke, and Mount Baker.

One of the most memorable parts of a Rwenzori expedition is waking up in Bujuku on a clear morning, with the lake surface calm and the glaciers of the Stanley Massif catching the first light from above. A vital acclimatisation stop before the high-altitude camps above, the camp hut beds trekking parties in a bunk-bed layout.

Elena Camp (4,541m)

Located at the highest point of the Rwenzori Central Circuit Trail, Elena Camp serves as the main base camp for the last ascent to Margherita Peak (5,109 m).

Perched at an impressive altitude of 4,541 meters, it lies directly beneath the Elena Glacier. One of the things that truly elevates the Margherita summit climb from a mere long walk to a true mountaineering accomplishment is the experience of spending the night here, where the air is noticeably thin and the nighttime temperatures drop well below freezing. In order to prepare trekkers for an early summit departure, usually between midnight and 02:00 on summit day, the hut at Elena is intentionally simple: it provides shelter, heat, and a place to sleep. The altitude drama makes up for the lack of comfort.

Kitandara Camp (4,027 m)

Our guides have long held the opinion that Kitandara Camp, situated next to the twin Kitandara Lakes—two tarns formed by glaciers and linked by a narrow valley corridor—is one of the most picturesque places to spend the night in the whole Rwenzori mountain range.

Countless hikers have chosen to prolong their stay at the Kitandara Lakes just to witness the changing light as the sun sets over the mountain and the lake reflects the remaining sky colour. At an elevation of 4,027 meters, Kitandara serves as both an overnight halt for hikers coming down from the Elena-Margherita summit push and an important acclimatisation stop on the 7-day Central Circuit route.

Guy Yeoman Camp (3,261 m)

Located at an elevation of 3,261 meters in the transition zone between moorland and heather, Guy Yeoman Camp is the last overnight stop on the Central Circuit before returning to the Mihunga gate.

The Guy Yeoman hut, named after a park warden whose conservation efforts in the Rwenzori Range were important during the early years of national park management, provides a welcome break on the long descent, giving trekkers an opportunity to reflect on their mountain experience before getting back to the comforts of civilisation.