Mountaineering in Uganda: Places For Mountain Hiking Adventures
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Loading... - Catherine Saidi
- 17 Jun 2022
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There are reasons why we like to climb mountains. Mallory gave us one, “because they are there!” Whether mountain hiking means overcoming your fears, pushing beyond your limits, or ticking off your adventure bucket list, mountaineering in Uganda can help you achieve those adventure dreams.
Few destinations in Africa can comfortably combine jungle trekking through age-old tropical forests with exceptional mountaineering through alpine wonderlands and botanical Edens to snow-capped peaks. Uganda can pull off such adventures and throw in a big game-viewing safari across vast savannah reserves and water channels.
From hiking the most challenging Rwenzori Mountain summits to the stunning peak chain of the Virungas, mountaineering in Uganda promises climbing alpine wonderlands and trekking adventures in places where vegetation morphs into cloud-covered peaks.
It doesn’t matter your fitness level; there’s a hiking trail for everyone in Uganda. All you need is a truckload of adventure spirit.
Here are the places for mountain hiking adventures in Uganda that should feature on your safari holiday for next summer.
· The Rwenzori Mountains
· The Virunga Mountains
· Mount Elgon in the east
· Karamoja Mountain Ranges
Hiking Rwenzori Mountains
Climbing the Rwenzori Mountains, the legendary “Mountains of the moon,” is a memorable hike through Africa’s botanical big game. The hiking adventure explores the mist-shrouded mountains of a rugged massif that tower almost 4,000 m above the Albertine Rift Valley, making them visible from great distances.
Hiking the lower Rwenzori mountains takes you through a striking, pristine landscape of alpine vegetation studded with magical giant lobelias, groundsels, and heathers—a Nania-like mystical world into which to escape.
Trekking in Rwenzori is an experience through exceptional natural beauty unique to the region. It is a medley of spectacular snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and V-shaped valleys that would make the Smokey Mountains scream for attention. The Rwenzoris’ fast-flowing rivers, magnificent waterfalls, sky blue lakes, and unique flora leave nature gazers stunned.
From watching bizarre endemic flora, unique landscapes to encounters with threatened animal species such as the African forest elephant, eastern chimpanzee, l’Hoest’s monkey, Rwenzori black-fronted, and red duiker, climbing the Rwenzori Mountains is one of the most thrilling hiking adventures in East Africa.
Unlike the popular Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, Climbing Rwenzori Mountains offers different climbing options because it’s a mountain range with six summits separated by deep gorges; what you won’t find on the Kilimanjaro trails.
· Mount Stanley – 5,109 metres (16,762 ft)
· Mount Speke – 4,890 metres (16,040 ft)
· Mount Baker – 4,843 metres (15,889 ft)
· Mount Emin – 4,798 metres (15,741 ft)
· Mount Gessi – 4,715 metres (15,469 ft)
· Mount Luigi di Savoia – 4,627 metres (15,180 ft)
Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley is the highest peak and most thrilling for mountain climbers. It is also the third-highest peak in Africa, after Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya.
Rwenzori mountains offer various climbing options from a single day to twelve-day. There’s a suitable hiking route for a keen birder, peak climbing fanatic, or slothful hiker who wants to simply enjoy the peace, seclusion, and beauty of the mountains.
Two trekking circuits provide climbing access to the Rwenzori peaks. First is the most intense and impressive is the Southern Circuit, which ascends via the Mubuku and Bjuku valleys from Nyakalengija to meet the Central Trail that winds between the prominent peaks. Professor Scott Elliott pioneered the trial in 1895.
The second trail, known as the Central Circuit, runs up the Nyamwamba Valley above Kilembe near Kasese, meeting the Southern Circuit at River Bujuku. Luigi di Savoia pioneered hiking the trail in 1906.
For a shorter route, skip Nyakalengija altogether and climb the Kilembe Central Trail, managed by Rwenzori Trekking Services (RTS). RTS offers a variety of mountain climbing packages using a combination of trails along (and between) the Nyamugasani, Kamusoni, and Nyamwamba river valleys.
The ascent to Margherita from Nyakalengiya requires 10-12 days through more incredible landscapes than the established Central Circuit.
An alternative ascent from Kilembe takes you through pristine landscapes and astonishing beauty, including a remarkable string of eight lovely glacial lakes in the Nyamugasani Valley.
The most recommended Rwenzori mountain climbing route is the eight-day hiking to Mount Baker summit (4,842m) and back. A more extended 10-12-day mountain hiking expedition can reach Mount Stanley, and shorter hikes to appreciate the scenery can take 3-5 days.
The cost of an eight-day hike with RTS to Mount Baker summit is about USD 1,200 per person, including park entrance, one porter, tented or otherwise, and food (excluding high-energy snacks). A nine-day ascent of Margherita (Mount Stanley) instead of Mount Baker will cost about US$1,280. Shorter treks up to Mutinda or Lake Kopello cost about US$122 per day.
Hiking Virunga Mountains
The Virunga Mountains form a chain of eight stunning volcano peaks studded in the Albertine Rift on the Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC tri-border. Two of them, Nyiragongo (3470m / 11,385ft) and Nyamulagira (3058m / 10,033ft), are still very active (as recent as 2020) and accounted for 40% of African volcanic eruptions.
Hiking Virunga Mountains occurs from the Ugandan side on three mountains, including Muhavura (4127m / 13,540ft), Gahinga (3474m / 11,398ft), and Sabinyo (3645m / 11,959ft).
Fortunately, mountain climbing services on all three volcanoes start at Ntebeko Visitor Center at the base of the volcanos in Mgahinga National Park. Hiking begins at 7:30 am. Bring along a day-pack with energy snacks, a lunch pack, and two litres of water.
Climbing the Virunga Mountains in Uganda costs USD 95 for foreigners ($35 park entrance fee and $60 for the guided trek) per day. Hikers can access Mgahinga National Park from Kisoro town (11km – 30-min drive), where they’ll find most accommodation. Luxury travellers can book at Gahiga Lodge, located a few meters from the park entrance.
Hiking Virunga Mountains is a typical addition to Uganda’s golden monkey and gorilla trekking adventures. Usually, a trip includes two or three nights outside the park with a day reserved for each activity because all have one excursion starting at 7:30 am.
Climbing Mount Muhavura, 4,127 m (13,540 ft)
Mount Muhavura, the third-highest of the Virungas, is the most strenuous climb. Located at the farthest south-end of the Virunga chain at the Uganda-Rwanda border, Muhavura’s enormous conical shape towers at 4,127 meters into the clouds. There is a crater lake on its peak, and at its base, a swampy river separates it from Mount Gahinga.
Seasoned hikers can reach the Muhavura peak in seven hours on a good weather day. The 1200-meter ascent is quite steep, requiring a bank of energy and good physical fitness, even for a seasoned hiker.
Hiking Mount Muhavura begins with a comfortable ascent; it gets very steep between the first hut at 3117 meters and the second hut at 3860 meters. It then eases out towards the summit point. Most hikers never make it beyond the first hut, but those who make it to the top are rewarded with exotic views from the crater lake beyond the rugged Rift Valley landscape.
Descending Muhavira is no joke either; it’s best to take a comfortable pace to avoid excessive muscle and joint stress. You can even ask UWA to camp for the night before your ascent. However, that has to be in writing before your mountain climbing trip. Read More…
