11 DAYS HIKE OF “THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON
Day 1: KAMPALA – ENTEBBE (47 KMS)
Meet and greet at Entebbe International Airport by Crystal Guide who will warmly welcome you and facilitate seamless arrival formalities. After a short transfer to your hotel you will be briefed about you safari. Depending on the time of arrival e.g. if your flight arrives in the morning, you are advised to have money changed this day. To get to know Kampala, you can visit some of the landmarks in town with the help of our driver/guide. Overnight at Serena Hotel(www.serenahotels.com) / Sheraton Hotel (www.sheraton.com/kampala) for Luxury accommodation or Hotel Africana (www.hotelafricana.com) for Medium range accommodation or Namirembe Guest House (www.namirembe-guesthouse.com) for Budget accommodation. BB
Day 2: KAMPALA - KASESE (415 KMS)
Depart Kampala in the morning after breakfast and go through Uganda's beautiful green countryside. Watch out for the Equator en-route as well as plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits. Proceed to the Queen Elizabeth National Park arriving in time for lunch. After lunch proceed for an evening game drive where you will also see the crater Lakes. Overnight at Hotel margarita
Day 3: NYAKALENGIJA (1615m) - NYABITABA HUT (2651m)
After an early break fast proceed for a 5 hours hike which starts from Nyakalengija walking past typical wattle and mud, Buhonjo home to the national park boundary. The trail then follows the Mubuku River crossing its Mahoma tributary before starting a steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut. During the hike if lucky you may hear Chimpanzee and see black and white colobus monkey and the brightly colored Rwenzori Turaco. Over night at Nyabitaba hut.
Day 4: NYABITABA (2651m) – MUBUKU RIVER (2600m) JOHN MATT (3505m)
This involves a demanding 7 hours hike to John Matt Hut. The central circuit starts a few hundred meters beyond Nyabitaba where the trail divides the right fork leads to the peaks up the Bujuku valley while the path on the left is used for subsequent descent.
The trail leads to the Kurt Shafter Bridge which crosses the Mubuku valley just below the river’s confluence with the Bujuku valley. Beyond the river, a muddy, slippery trail climbs steadily up through bamboo forest. The final hour’s walk too John Matte hut passes through a challenging bog full of extraordinary plants. Over night at John Matt hut.
Day 5: JOHN MATT HUT (3505m) - BUJUKU HUT (3962m)
The route fords the Bujuku River as you cross the lower Bigo bog; a steep climb follows to reach the upper Bigo bog where a board walk has been constructed to assist walkers. In clear weather, there are superb views of Mt. Stanley at the head of this cavernous, glacier- carved valley. Above the bog, after a long steady climb over glacial moraine, criss- crossing the river, the trail reaches the lake Bujuku. The last stage of the hike is perhaps the muddiest stage of the expedition. Overnight at Bujuku hut
Day 6: BUJUKU (3962m) – ELENNA
From Bujuku hut, the trail crosses more mud before climbing steeply through a forest of giant groundsels, climbing a short ladder to ascend the Groundsel gully. This climb needs an ice axe, mountain boots, crampons and ropes.
Day 7: ELENNA – KITANDARA (4023m)
Arise in the morning and head to the margarita peak. You will afterwards return to Elena hut for a cup of hot tea as you relax, then head to the Hut beside lower Lake Kitandara, a beautiful site surrounded by towering peaks.
Day 8: KITANDARA (4023m) – FRESHFIELD PASS (4882m) – GUY YEOMAN (3505m)
Fresh field is a long traverse through tracts of fabulously colorful moss (and more mud) below which the descent to Nyakalengija begins. The trek to guy Yeoman hut takes around 5 hours. The hut enjoys a lovely location close to Mubuku River with terrific views of the looming Mt.Baker to the north.
Day 9: GUY YOEMAN (2651m) - NYAKALENGIJA (1615m)
With an early rise you will be able to descent all the way back to Nyakalengija where you will be met again by your driver guide. You will then transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge (www.mweyalodge.com) for Luxury accommodation, Kingfisher Kichwamba Lodge for medium range accommodation or Albertine Rift Camp for Budget accommodation. FB
Day 10: KASESE – KAMPALA
Transfer back to Kampala. Overnight at Serena Hotel (www.serenahotels.com) / Sheraton Hotel (www.sheraton.com/kampala) for Luxury accommodation or Hotel Africana (www.hotelafricana.com) for Medium range accommodation or Namirembe Guest House (www.namirembe-guesthouse.com) for Budget accommodation. BB
Day 11: KAMPALA- ENTEBBE (47KMS)
Depending on the time of your flight, the guide will drop you at Entebbe ready to depart. |