1 Day Rwenzori hiking safari

This 1 Day Uganda hiking safari in Mt Rwenzori national park takes trekkers exploring the foothills and lower slopes of the Rwenzori mountains in Kasese. Since the park is located far from Kampala and Entebbe airport, this mountain climbing excursion starts in Kasese or the closest areas like Fort Portal and Rubirizi to Kilembe.

About the mountain

Rwenzori is the tallest mountain in Uganda and the third highest in East Africa after Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Mt. Kenya in Kenya. The highest peak of the Rwenzori’s- Margherita peak on Mt Stanley stands at 5109m. It is normally covered by snow all year round and is a source of various rivers (River Nyamwamba, Nyamughasani, and Mpanga among others) that flow through the Rwenzori region including Kasese and Fort Portal.

During the 1^st and 2^nd centuries, the magnificent mysteries around the mountain started attracting European missionaries and geographers including Cladius Plotemy who wrote about the mountain as the source of the mighty River Nile and also nicknamed it “The Mountains of the moon”. In 1888, Henry Murton Stanley visited Mt. Rwenzori and thereafter added it to the world map. The mountain got its name from a Lhukonzo word “Ruwenzori” which translates as “Rainmaker”.

1 Rwenzori hiking safari

Detailed itinerary of the day Rwenzori hiking tour

Rise up early morning and have breakfast at your lodge or residence. Get ready with all the requirements for the adventure and you will meet your safari driver for a transfer to Trekkers Hostel in Kyanziki, just past Kilembe, about 12km from Kasese town. Take a walk to the UWA ranger post located about 2.2km at 1,727m asl. Go through a briefing from the rangers about the day’s activities plus the dos and don’ts.

Options for the one Day Rwenzori trek

Trek towards Samalira camp
Trek up the Nsuranja Valley towards Kalalama Camp

Option 1: Samalira camp

The hike takes you through montane forests which are made up of an interesting and wide variety of flora. A steady climb for the initial trek leads you via several streams of water and rivers that flow due to the melting of glaciers at the mountaintop. You will continue through the montane forest which is characterized by thick undergrowth and tall trees. Different sounds of birds are heard. As you go on with the hike, you will notice that the trees appear taller and straighter. Break for lunch at the camp located at 2,570m. There is a chance to spot troops of blue monkeys or black and white monkeys as they play around the forest. After lunch, hike up half a kilometer to a cave that is known to be a former hideout for poachers. From here, you will descend back to the UWA rangers post, Kilembe, and connect to Kasese.

Option 2: Kalalama Camp

The trek starts with a steady climb through the untouched montane forest with an amazing variety of birds. If you don’t sight chimpanzees, there is at least a likelihood of seeing their nests and much to learn about the primates from the guides. the trek goes on through Nsuranja valley, to Kalalama camp where you will have your lunch and proceed up to Musenge Rock shelter. Start descending to Kilembe and drive to Kasese town.

End of tour

The tour includes;