five days trek to weismann's peak-rwenzori mountains
Day one
The Afro-Montane Forest Zone's large forest trees line our path as we ascend the valley floor to begin. There are several birds along this slow ascent, and there's a chance to spot blue monkeys darting through the jungle. Visitors may occasionally catch a glimpse of groups of 15 to 20 black and white Colobus monkeys swinging through the trees. Rare sightings of the L'Hoest monkey, which is protected by the King of Omusinga and is one of the cultural symbols of the Bukonzo, are possible. You may also hear wild chimpanzees in the area.
From forest trees to bamboo thickets, low shrubs, flowers, mushrooms, and numerous moss and lichen-covered vines dangling from the tall trees, the area is home to a broad range of plant species. Only 200 meters from Sine Hut, Enock's Falls presents a wonderful opportunity to create a wonderful screensaver for your memories.
The wooden cottages at Sine Camp, 2,596 meters above sea level, are positioned between large forest trees on a ridge, where you may sit and take in the grandeur of the Afro-Montane forest as you gaze down at a magnificent waterfall thundering over rocks far below. The warmth of the campfire and the opportunity to talk with the guides about the mountains and local customs appeal to certain customers.
Sine is located close to the bamboo zone, and the neighborhood is home to a wide variety of bird species. Enock Falls, which is surrounded by vibrant green flora and hanging vines, is located 150 meters from the camp. genuinely lovely. Sleep at Sine or, for those who are physically able, continue on to Kalama Camp at 3,134 meters for more time at Mutinda Camp, where you can ascend to Mutinda Lookout at 3,975 meters with wonderful views.
The Afro-Montane Forest Zone's large forest trees line our path as we ascend the valley floor to begin. There are several birds along this slow ascent, and there's a chance to spot blue monkeys darting through the jungle. Visitors may occasionally catch a glimpse of groups of 15 to 20 black and white Colobus monkeys swinging through the trees. Rare sightings of the L'Hoest monkey, which is protected by the King of Omusinga and is one of the cultural symbols of the Bukonzo, are possible. You may also hear wild chimpanzees in the area.
From forest trees to bamboo thickets, low shrubs, flowers, mushrooms, and numerous moss and lichen-covered vines dangling from the tall trees, the area is home to a broad range of plant species. Only 200 meters from Sine Hut, Enock's Falls present a wonderful opportunity to create a wonderful screensaver for your memories.
The wooden cottages at Sine Camp, 2,596 meters above sea level, are positioned between large forest trees on a ridge, where you may sit and take in the grandeur of the Afro-Montane forest as you gaze down at a magnificent waterfall thundering over rocks far below. The warmth of the campfire and the opportunity to talk with the guides about the mountains and local customs appeal to certain customers. Sine is located close to the bamboo zone, and the neighborhood is home to a wide variety of bird species. Enock Falls, which is surrounded by vibrant green flora and hanging vines, is located 150 meters from the camp.
Genuinely lovely. Sleep at Sine, or physically fit individuals who want to continue on to Kalama Camp at 3,134 meters may do so, giving them additional time at Mutinda Camp where they can ascend to Mutinda Lookout at 3,975 meters with wonderful views.
Day two
At 8.30 am, after a hearty meal, the hike begins, and you enter the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone, which requires a difficult ascent and numerous, tall steps. The bamboo zone gets quite muddy and slippery during the rainy season, which makes moving slowly. But as you travel 1.8 kilometers and gain 551 meters in elevation to reach Kalalama Camp, located at 3,147 meters in the Heather-Rapanea Zone, you can take a break and have a cup of tea or coffee before continuing on to Mutinda Camp.
The trail meanders up and over a few small knolls along a ridgetop, then descends down the valley side before ascending once more. Along the way, it crosses several small streams and passes close to waterfalls with moss growing on them. Then, you gradually incline your way up the bank of a lovely river that is lined with moss and cascades over rocks beneath giant Heather trees, the trunks of which are coated in green moss and with old man beards (Usnea lichen) hanging from the branches. As you ascend the deep valley, which is home to a huge diversity of plants and flowers, the trail winds and turns. Because there are so many giant Heather trees in this valley, it has a certain beauty that is frequently obscured by mist.
When you stand on moss-covered rocks at 3,925 meters with views across the Rwenzori Mountains and down to Kasese town and Lake George, you may choose to hike to the summit of the Mutinda Lookout (one to two hours up and one hour down). Climbing Mutinda, at 3,975 meters, is a great way to acclimate and lower the risk of high-altitude sickness for clients who are climbing Margherita or any of the major peaks.
Day three
The track is muddy here, especially during the rainy season, but with some practice, you can move from tussock to tussock to make the walking smoother. To make it a little bit simpler, we have built a number of boardwalks across the worst of the bogs and are still building more. Before ascending a steep part of the Namusangi Valley (3,840 meters), which ends abruptly with spectacular waterfalls and breathtaking views of the Mutinda Peaks, you cross the Mutinda valley amid tussock grass and everlasting flowers mixed with several Giant Lobelias. The trail climbs steadily to Bugata Camp at 4,062 meters across the vast Namusangi Valley, with numerous ups and downs and bog crossings.
Bugata Camp is positioned high above Bugata Lake at the top of Bamwanjara Pass, offering views of Lake Africa, Lake Tanganyika, and the numerous minor peaks leading to Mutinda Camp, as well as views across Lake Kopello to Weismann's Peak, which is frequently covered in snow. Tussock grass, St. John's Wort (Hypericum becquaeritii), huge groundsel (Senecio adnivalis), and huge lobelia (Lobellia gibberoa) are all present in the area. There are lots of Red Forest duikers, a subspecies found solely in the Rwenzori Mountains (Cephalophuc nigrifrons rubidus).
The amenities at Bugata Camp are good, including solar lighting, clean restrooms, and sinks with warm water that the guides may have prepared for you to wash in. In the event that a helicopter rescue is required, Bugata also has a helicopter pad (GPS reading: N 18.312 E29 53.457). However, you should be aware that a helicopter in Uganda costs about $10,000 per hour of flight time, which is significantly higher than in other nations. Therefore, you need insurance in case of a rescue.
Day four
Climb Stella Peak, 4,626 meters, and Weismann's Peak, 4,620 meters. Weismanns Peak is reached after 3.7 kilometers, followed by 800 meters to Stella Peak and back. 9 km in total, 4–6 hours. The hike begins by traversing a slope beneath tall cliffs above Bugata Lake. Next, we circle a ridge point to reach Lake Kopello, where we stroll along its edge. According to studies, the lake's water temperature averages 2 C. The four lakes in the valley below may be seen clearly as you ascend. When it's snowing or icy, the final portion to the peak, which is steep and on solid rock, can be challenging. Ropes may be required for safety. On a clear day, you get stunning views of everything.
Weismann's Peak has a relatively flat or dome-shaped top, and the dense moss that covers the rocks there creates a lovely ambiance. The 4,626-meter Stella Peak is close to Weismann's but requires a full technical ascent because it's risky and requires experience and a strong mind for heights. We do not suggest going across to Stella Peak.
From the peak, we immediately descend 3,460 meters to Kiharo Camp in the Nyamwamba Valley. With the rocky peaks rising above and a wide area of dense giant gravel, dense evergreen vegetation, and moss, the head of the valley has its own unique microenvironment. You'll notice as you make your way down the valley that the ground is made up of a number of flat, bog-like places where, millions of years ago, glaciers once rested and melted, leaving a wall of large rocks in front of where they lay.
Many Red Forest duikers (Cephalophuc nigrifrons rubidus) may be found in the valley. At 3,460 meters, Kiharo Camp is surrounded by evergreen trees and bubbling streams. The night is filled with the sounds of rock hyrax calling from high above in the steep cliffs, especially during the dryer months.
Day five
Distances between Kiharo Camp and the park gate are 16 km, and the trekkers hostel is another 2.8 km away. The hike takes between 5 and 8 hours, so those who need to catch planes back to Kampala or continue on to other destinations must depart Kiharo early.
The trail down the Nyamwamba Valley is mostly downhill, incredibly gorgeous, and features some of the nicest scenery in the Rwenzori Mountains, including deep valleys, woods, moss-covered rocks beside the river, and tumbling waterfalls. It took us six years to find a path through and a route that is simple enough for tourists to use on this section of the trail. The explorer and geologist McConnell attempted to ascend this valley in 1937 but was unsuccessful, forcing him to turn around and look for another path up the mountain. Fortunately, you can now visit this breathtaking valley.
The path branches off to the right and follows the river for a few kilometers after Kiharo Camp. You might see a duiker peacefully feeding as you pass along the river in the places that are clear. In the National Park, this region may have the highest number of Rwenzori red duikers. A few kilometers further down the river, it steepens and is dotted with numerous magnificent waterfalls. We walk up and over a steep ridge after the waterfalls, then descend through the deep forest with breathtaking views of the valley below. Before returning to Base Camp, we make a lunch stop at Forest View Camp. A wonderful experience and a fitting finale to an amazing adventure