Hike 114: Rwenzori Mountains

  • Date: Dec 2021.
  • Location: Rwenzori Mountains – Uganda.
  • Route: Central Circuit Trail.
  • Difficulty: Very Hard.
  • Duration: 8 Days.
  • Peaks done: Margherita Peak and Mt. Speke: Vittorio Emanuele Peak.
  • Total Distance: 64.1 km.
  • Total Elevation Gain: 5,069 m.

Day 1: Mihunga Gate (1,700 m) to Nyabitaba Hut (2,651 m).

  • Distance: 6.5 km.
  • Time: 3 hr 38 min.
  • Elevation Gain: 923 m.
  • Elevation Loss: 63 m.

.

Day 2: Nyabitaba Hut (2,651 m) to John Matte Hut (3,414 m).

  • Distance: 9.7 km.
  • Time: 6 hr 11 min.
  • Elevation Gain: 961 m.
  • Elevation Loss: 161 m.

.

Day 3: John Matte Hut (3,414 m) to Bujuku Hut (3,962 m).

  • Distance: 6 km
  • Time: 5 hr 31 min
  • Elevation Gain: 592 m
  • Elevation Loss: 26 m

.

Day 4: Bujuku Hut – Mount Speke (4,890 m) – Bujuku Hut.

  • Distance: 6 km
  • Time: 11 hr 7 min
  • Bujuku Hut Elevation: 3,962 m
  • Mount Speke Vittorio Emanuele Peak: 4,890 m
  • Elevation Gain: 818 m

.

Day 5: Bujuku Hut (3,962 m) to Elena Hut (4,541 m)

  • Distance: 2.8 km
  • Time: 4 hr 30 min
  • Elevation Gain: 606 m
  • Elevation Loss: 34 m

.

Day 6: Elena Hut – Margherita Peak (5,109 m) – Elena Hut.

  • Distance: 5.6 km
  • Time: 10 hr 45 min
  • Elena Hut Elevation: 4,541 m
  • Margherita Peak Elevation: 5,109 m
  • Elevation Gain: 609 m

.

Day 7: Elena Hut (4,541 m) to Kitandara Hut (4,023 m)

  • Distance: 4.3 km
  • Time: 2 hr 51 min
  • Elevation Gain: 109 m
  • Elevation Loss: 639 m

.

Day 8: Kitandara Hut (4,023 m) to Mihunga Gate (1,700 m).

  • Distance: 23.2 km
  • Time: 12 hr 6 min
  • Elevation Gain: 451 m
  • Elevation Loss: 2,671 m

This is the toughest hike I’ve done yet! The terrain is difficult to deal with. It’s steep, muddy, very boggy, slippery rocks.. The weather is also a challenge. It was cold and rained a lot.

As tough as it was, it is such a beautiful mountain range. The rivers, lakes, glaciers, mountain peaks.. Amazing scenery!

I’m happy that I managed to do 2 peaks: Margherita Peak (5,109 M) and Mount Speke Vittorio Emanuele Peak (4,890 M). Both were tough climbs with some technical parts.

One comment on “Hike 114: Rwenzori Mountains

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *