Kilimanjaro vs Rwenzori: The Kilmanajro And Rwenzori Hiking Challenge

A Detailed 17-Day Kilimanjaro vs Rwenzori Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival And transfer to hotel in Moshi or Arusha

Today, you will arrive at Kilimanjaro International airport, you will be welcomed and picked by the driver who will transfer you to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha. Here you will check in, then receive a briefing from you lead guide of the mountain, he will you through the hike what to expect and check your gear. You can ask any questions you have and seek clarity on any issues you may have. This is also a good time to prepare your backpack for the next day. Enjoy dinner at your lodge. Overnight at your lodge.

Day 2: Machame Gate to (1800m) to Machame Camp (3000m)

The adventure of your 6 days machame route itinerary starts off with a transfer from either Moshi or Arusha to Machame gate which is the starting point. At the gate, you will complete with the process of registration formalities with the park authorities while porters and guides prepare the logistics and food supply and all equipment required during the trek. After all this you will be led by your guide from gate start walking into the lush green rainforests. the zone is full of towering tree canopies, ferns and a variety of birds and monkeys. the trail can at times be muddy and slippery especially on a rain day. As you walk deeper into the forest, you will hear the sounds several bird species, damp air. After over 4-6hours of walking about 5km the path slowly climbs uphill through trees until you arrive at machame camp. Here you will rest, have dinner and sleep in your tent that is already set up by the support team.

Day 3: Machame Camp (3000m) to Shira Camp (3840m)

Enjoy an early breakfast at the camp after which you will start on todays trek that is a steep climb through the forest until you reach the moorland zone. The trees begin to thin out and the scenery changes into open grasslands with unique plants like the giant heathers and lobelias. The trail becomes more rocky and less muddy. Continuing further as you walk you are presented with clear views of the mountain above and the valley below. After a few hours you will arrive at Shira camp located on a high plateau. The camp offers stunning views of the sunset, and you will also catch the glimpse of kibo peak the snow-capped summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Spend a night in your tent as the temperatures start dropping more noticeably at this altitude.

Day 4: Shira Camp (3840m) to Barranco Camp (3940) via Lava tower (4630m)

This day is very crucial for acclimatization. The trail gradually climbs upto the lava tower, a large rock formation sitting at 4630m. The air is thinner, and you might start feeling effects of the the altitude like short breath, mild headache or stomach pain. You will take a short break with lunch at lava tower before descending to barranco camp. Todays climb takes you to high elevation and you end up sleeping at lower altitude and it helps the body adapt to the increasing altitude. The path down to barranco camp passes through a scattered plants including giant groundsels. Barranco camp is set in a valley below the great barranco wall offering on of the most beautiful campsite on this route. The journey today is around 10km going for about 6-8hours of walking after which you rest at the camp.

Day 5: Barranco camp (3950m) to Barafu camp (4573m) via Karanga camp (3995m)

Today starts with a fun yet challenging climb up to the barranco wall, a steep rock that looks very difficult from below but very manageable once you start it. After reaching the top of the wall, you are rewarded with amazing views of the valley from barranco camp. Continue with the trail with several ups and down crossing small valleys and rocky ridges, you will reach Karanga camp where you will have lunch and continue to barafu camp. Barafu camo is the base of your summit attempt. It is on a rocky exposed ridge with strong with and cold temperatures. You will arrive and take dinner and some time to rest as you wait to wake up at midnight to start on your summit attempt. The journey today goes for over 7-9hours and its approximately 9km.

Day 6: Barafu camp (4673m) to Uhuru peak (5895m) to mweka camp (3100m)

This is the most challenging and rewarding day of the trek when you will be summiting and realising your dream for visiting Mount Kilimanjaro. The night starts as early as 11pm with preparation of yourself ensuring you have all the equipment for the summit. The trail is steep and filled with volcanic gravel. This night is usually cold and windy, and the oxygen gets lower as you move further. You advised to keep a steady slow pace and drink regularly to keep warm. After over 6-8hours, you will reach stella point 5756m. As the sun rises you will see the glacier covered summit and beauty of the vast plains below. This is an unforgettable moment. Take photos and celebrate your achievement at the peak after which you will descend back to barafu camp for a short break. Then, you will continue descending through the moorland zone to mweka camp located in the upper rainforest. After this long day you will finally sleep at Mweka camp.

Day 7: Mweka camp (3100m) to Mweka gate (1640m)

The final day is an easy walk downhill through the rainforest. This trail can be slippery, especially if it rained the previous night, so be careful while walking. The forest is again full of bird sounds, fresh air and green trees. After a few hours you will arrive at Mweka gate where you will sign out with the park authorities. Here you will also be rewarded with a certificate for successfully reaching Stella and Uhuru peak. You will have a final celebration from your guides and porters before transferring back to your hotel either in Moshi or Arusha.

Day 8: Fly to Entebbe

Today you will leave Tanzania and fly to Uganda. After breakfast, your driver will take you to Kilimanjaro airport. You will take a flight to Entebbe, Uganda where you will be welcomed by a driver who will transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at your accommodation. If you have any laundry before embarking on your Rwenzori expedition today would be a good day for this. Dinner and overnight at your accommodation.

Day 9: Transfer to Kasese

After breakfast, you will travel to Kilembe, the starting point for your Rwenzori mountains trek. You may take a short domestic flight to a near airstrip or enjoy as scenic drive through Uganda’s beautiful countryside. The drive takes several hours but offers views of rolling hills, villages and green landscapes. Upon arrival in Kilembe or Kasese you will check in at your accommodation, and a team of guides will meet you for briefing about the hike. Dinner and overnight at your accommodation.

Day 10: Kilembe (1,450m) to Kalalama Camp (3147m)

Enjoy an early breakafast, you will be briefed and meet your guides and the entire team after which you will start your walk from Kilembe baseat the rangers to the Rwenzori national park the official starting point for trekking the Rwenzori mountains. The walk takes you various vegetation of the forest zone where you are able so see so many makings jumping from one tree to another enjoying their home. Continue with the ascent through this unique yet beautiful zone that is characterized with lots of numerous tree species some of which are medicinal and used as local herbs by the locals .Proceed reaching sine camp for a short lunch break before you embark on your journey that will take you to Kalalama camp where you will be spending your first night immersed in the beauty of the Rwenzori mountains . You will by the end of the enjoy your dinner at the camp as well as engaged by the guides about the next days program.

Day 11: Kalalama Camp (3.147m) to Mutinda Camp (3.688 m)

On days 2 of your 7daysmagherita summit to Kilembe trail starts off with a hot breakfast after which you will walk being welcomed to the bamboo zone by the vibrant bamboo trees. The climb is steep with quite high steps therefore prepare for this steep ascent mentally and physically. After the tedious hike you will meet a place to rest and gain energy taking refreshment or energizers. After this proceed heading to the heather zone, you will cross various streams and waterfalls hidden in the moss vegetation. In this zone the vegetation is amazing having giant lobelias very beautiful within the misty atmosphere. You will later check in at Mutinda camp which is your home for on this second day. Mutinda camp is a very amazing camp named after the mutanda peaks, further up is the mutanda lookout which you can visit for about an hour or so if you are up to it. Mutinda lookout offers amazing views on the mossy rocks where you can spot Kasese town and Lake George.

Day 12: Mutinda Camp to Bugata Camp (4.062 m)

Today, on your 3rd day of the 7days magherita summit is yet another incredible day and you will be hiking to an impressive height of upto 4062meters above sea level. You will start with an adventurous walk through the bog here ensure to have your rubber boots as well as waterproof trousers for ease and comfort. After crossing through the bog over the tussocks , you will then enter into the Alpine zone a another amazing zone of the giant lobelias ( Lobelia gibberoa) and the groundsels ( Senecio adnivalis ) as well as the very beautiful everlasting flowers located within this zone making it a very beautiful and stunning zone in the mutanda valley.Hiking further up you will climb a steep section through the Nyamusangi valley a spot that allows you view the Mutinda peaks , after here you walk through the bogs yet again that finally lead you to Bugata camp where you will have a night. While at Bugata you can easily view weisman peak on Mount Luigi di Savior in the misty atmosphere that is foggy but on a clear day the peak is so visible. Enjoy the ambiance at Bugata camp, a beautiful camp where you also view the democratic republic of Congo. The walk takes you the Twin Lakes of kitandara, and at a near rock of plozza you can view about 9 lakes down the valley including Lake Nurusanja. Bugata camp has a solar system lighting up the night and ensuring hikers can charge their camera batteries.

Day 13: Bugata Camp to Hunwick’s Camp (3.974 m)

Day 4 of the 7days Margherita summit takes you upto Hunwicks camp, that is located on a ridge overlooking Mount Baker. After enjoying your breakfast, set out following your guides who will take you through the trails and telling you more about the Rwenzori mountains with their expertise. Climb to the Bamwanjara pass, a steady climb with flat bogs. The scenery below you are comprised of several glacial lakes take time to view and capture the beautiful lakes of the Rwenzori mountains. After reaching the top of Bnmwmjara pass you have views of the main snow peaks where you can also rest in the small shelter and take in the breathtaking landscapes as well as enjoying a snack. After this continue to lower and upper Kachope lake which is steep and muddy. After all this hustle bustle the goal is to reach hunwicks camp and the camp is located to view mount baker a snow caped peak in the mountain Rwenzori.

Day 14; Hunwicks camp to Margherita camp (4485m)

Day 5 of your 7days Margherita summit is a one that leads you to the very last camp on Kilembe trail the margherita camp that is where the summit attempt starts. Todays walk is quite long and hectic however it’s you are hiking towards your goal. Led by your experienced guides, you will walk along the ridge before crossing several streams emerging from Mount Baker and fresh field pass. You will hike through bouldering rocks till Scot Elliot pass. Heading further you will walk up the ridge of mount Stanely till margherita camp which located just below Ellena camp of the central circuit route. The camp is located with very high rocks, and it’s known to be the original camp used by the Duke of Abruzzi before he summited margherita peak. While at Margherita camp, you can clearly view Scot Elliot pass, Mount Baker and glacier on Mount Stanley. Enjoy the night and dinner at the camp.

Day 15: Summit Margherita Peak and Return to Hunswick Camp

Today is the climax of your 7 days Margherita summit Central circuit trail also the longest and most hectic day throughout your entire stay in the mountains. Wake up at 3am and embark on the journey that leads you to Mount Stanley. The goal is to ensure before sunrise you have walked past the glacier before it starts melting after being heated up by the sun. The hike is steep and requires you to be fit enough, walking through the Stanley plateau, you will then head to the glacier part and here you will be using crampons and your ice axe. Continue after the glacier you will climb to an exposed section of rock which is bolted and roped to get the ridge taking you to the top of margherita camp at (5109m) the third highest point in Africa. Take time to celebrate your achievement of having to reach the highest point in Uganda on this challenging yet rewarding adventure of the Rwenzori mountains. You can choose to also have your packed lunch at this point as you soak into the beauty of the clear skies and beautiful sun is feels just above your head, raise a toast to this and after start descending till you reach Hunwicks camp where you will be sleeping tonight.

Day 16: Descend back to the Ranger post

Wake up early to the sounds of the endemic Rwenzori turaco (Ruwenzori ‘s johnstoni) and other birds and enjoy breakfast. After you will continue with the descend that will lead you again to Ranger post outside the park gate. In this thick forested area, you can stay on the look out for the three horned chameleon in the green vegetation, duikers can also be spotted on a lucky day as they usually feed in the surround of the giant lobelias. Continue down lowering the altitude, you will cross major streams like the Kyalavula stream. Finally walk to the park gate where you will be awarded a certificate for your achievement. Dinner and overnight at accommodation

Day 17: Transfer to Entebbe to catch your flight

Today marks the end of your amazing 17 days Kilmanajro and Rwenzori expeditions an incredible journey through the roofs of Africa. After breakfast, you will check out and either c atch your flight or hit the road and start on your journey towards Entebbe international airport ahead of your flight back home. Enjoy the last views of Uganda’s countryside as you meditate on the remarkable journey conquering both Uhuru and Margherita summit a challenge to tick of your bucket list. Upon arrival in Entebbe, you will either wait for your flight or transfer to accommodation depending on your next atravel plans.

End of the 17-Day Kilimanjaro vs Rwenzori Hike