TREKKING DEL RWENZORI EN 8 DÍAS. CON ASCENSIONES AL MONTE SPEKE (4890m)Y MARGHERITA (5109m)
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 35.35 mi
- Elevation gain
- 16,647 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 16,693 ft
- Max elevation
- 16,556 ft
- TrailRank
-
71
5
- Min elevation
- 5,259 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Coordinates
- 516
- Uploaded
- January 30, 2018
near Nyakalengija, Western Region (ئۇگاندا)
Viewed 3402 times, downloaded 64 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
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IMPORTANT NOTE: THE DIFFICULTY WITH WHICH I CATALOG MY ROUTES IS REFERRED TO MOUNTAINEERS USED TO WALKING, WHO WORK WITH EASY OVER ALL TERRAINS, NOT FOR OCCASIONAL HIKERS. IF YOU HAVE LITTLE EXPERIENCE, ADD ONE MORE DEGREE TO THE DIFFICULTY OF MY ROUTES SO YOU DON'T GET SURPRISES.
Notice: The routes described here, as well as the tracks for GPS, are merely indicative. The security measures of each itinerary are the responsibility of the person who carries them out, which will depend on the weather conditions and the physical and technical preparation of the person who carries them out. All the information available here is informative, exempting the authors from any responsibility for any mishap that could be suffered by anyone who voluntarily or induced makes the route.
Spectacular and hard journey made in 8 days to visit the "Mountains of the Moon" or Ruwenzori Mountains, a wild paradise lost at the end of the world. The route is facilitated just enough since from the Nyabitaba Refuge the roads are really wild in some sections (marshland areas, mudflats, abundance of roots and very abrupt paths) which gives an almost epic dimension to the entire unsuitable route for delicate ankles or people who are a little clumsy when walking. The reward is well worth it.
We complete the route with two ascents. The first to Pico Speke (4890m), an ascent with some difficulty due to the uncomfortable terrain, very abrupt and lacking in trails, with some entertaining sections. The slipperiness of the area (due to the abundance of rain and fog) does not make things much easier. We use this first ascent to acclimatize for the second ascent, in this case to the highest peak in Uganda (and the third highest massif in all of Africa, after Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya), Pico Margherita (5109m), also has its entertainment, especially the second glacier (Margherita Glacier) that you cross and some climbing (and down-climbing) areas between the two glaciers and just before the top.
We leave from Nyakelengija, where the park registration office is and where the luggage to be carried is weighed, in addition to hiring the staff. There is a good path to the Nyabitaba Refuge, where we spent the first night (we got quite a deluge before we got there).
The second day things change quickly, as soon as you cross a suspension bridge over the Bujuku River. Then it's time to put on your wellies, because we are going to immerse ourselves in a wonderful world of mud, wet roots, swamps and steep paths that do not seem suitable for normal walkers. At first it is somewhat uncomfortable to walk with wellington boots on such uncomfortable terrain, but immediately you get the hang of it and even like the subject, especially when you see that you can step almost wherever you want without fear of getting hit by the knee-deep water (the problem is that in the swamp areas it can reach your hip unless you're jumping between kills) This second day of trekking we arrived at the John Matte Refuge (precisely after an entertaining zone of boggy roots ). The views from this refuge are spectacular both towards the back and, above all, towards the peaks towards which we are going (with the permission of the clouds).
The third day we crossed two good swamps, facilitated with wooden platforms (otherwise, it would be practically impossible to cross them) and then we continued the ascent until we reached one of the most spectacular and suggestive places of the entire route, the wonderful Bujuku Lake, a world of peace and silence, also facilitated with a wooden platform since it is another good area of the swamp. Near this lake is the homonymous refuge where we will spend the 3rd and 4th night.
The next day we made the entertaining climb to Pico Speke (4890m) to acclimatize and to admire the spectacular views that are obtained from the top. The day did not go well at all and we could not enjoy the views at the summit.
On the 5th day we went up to the Elena Refuge, in the heart of the massif. We used a shortcut to gain height from the beginning of the stage and not have to descend the main path and then climb the whole section after losing altitude. We arrived early and went to bed early, since the next day we had to get up quite early.
On the 6th day we left very early to try to reach the summit of Pico Margherita as soon as possible (as the day progresses, it is normal that there are more chances of more clouds appearing that will take away any possibility of contemplating from above). We reached the first glacier (East Stanley Glacier) with the first light of day and crossed it without any problem (it is quite flat and without cracks). Immediately you have to descend an entertaining section (we do it with the help of ropes carried by our guides) of walls and large rocks (before the glacier receded so much, this section was much easier). Then we climb a stretch of moraine that takes us to the foot of the Margherita Glacier. This one is more complicated than the previous one, since it has some sections with a certain slope, it has a lot of ice, and the final upper section (which is spectacular due to its formations twisted by the wind) has some exposure, so you have to be extremely careful . Thus we arrive at the foot of the summit, where there is a last rocky step where we must remain attentive, both going up and down (we use ropes). The views from the summit of Pico Margherita (5109m) are impressive, and we are lucky that the clouds that we had when we were approaching the top are gone. The return to the Elena Refuge is long and you have to retrace your steps, carefully. We make a good stop to have a drink and continue our route to go down to the valley and continue our descent to the beautiful Kitandara Lakes. In the second of them is the Kitandara Hut, where we will spend the night, after a long day.
On the 7th day we started the journey with a good climb (through well-disturbed terrain with crossed roots and mud) up to the Freshfield Pass. From there the views are spectacular, with Mount Baker nearby and further away and to the central part of the massif, with the Margherita among others. From the pass everything will be descended (at first quite muddy), making an approach to a waterfall, before reaching the Guy Yeoman Refuge, where we will spend our 7th night.
On the 8th and last day, we decided to combine the two stages we had planned into one. We passed a section called "el Tobogán", an apt name, since I slipped on a couple of occasions with an interval of just a few seconds. We then went through the Nyabitaba Refuge, where we had spent the first night. There we made a stop to have a drink, finally being able to take off our wellies, and continue with normal trekking shoes. The last stretch seemed like a highway to us.
In summary, a spectacular tour but not suitable for all audiences. Highlight the detail that with the exception of the first (and last) section to the Nyabitaba Refuge, where you can go with normal shoes and, of course, the ascents to the two peaks, the rest of the route is done with wellies due to that the terrain is quite swampy and is usually very muddy. At first it is not very comfortable but you quickly get used to it and you are more comfortable. To a large extent, it is for this reason that I have classified the route as difficult.
Notice: The routes described here, as well as the tracks for GPS, are merely indicative. The security measures of each itinerary are the responsibility of the person who carries them out, which will depend on the weather conditions and the physical and technical preparation of the person who carries them out. All the information available here is informative, exempting the authors from any responsibility for any mishap that could be suffered by anyone who voluntarily or induced makes the route.
Spectacular and hard journey made in 8 days to visit the "Mountains of the Moon" or Ruwenzori Mountains, a wild paradise lost at the end of the world. The route is facilitated just enough since from the Nyabitaba Refuge the roads are really wild in some sections (marshland areas, mudflats, abundance of roots and very abrupt paths) which gives an almost epic dimension to the entire unsuitable route for delicate ankles or people who are a little clumsy when walking. The reward is well worth it.
We complete the route with two ascents. The first to Pico Speke (4890m), an ascent with some difficulty due to the uncomfortable terrain, very abrupt and lacking in trails, with some entertaining sections. The slipperiness of the area (due to the abundance of rain and fog) does not make things much easier. We use this first ascent to acclimatize for the second ascent, in this case to the highest peak in Uganda (and the third highest massif in all of Africa, after Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya), Pico Margherita (5109m), also has its entertainment, especially the second glacier (Margherita Glacier) that you cross and some climbing (and down-climbing) areas between the two glaciers and just before the top.
We leave from Nyakelengija, where the park registration office is and where the luggage to be carried is weighed, in addition to hiring the staff. There is a good path to the Nyabitaba Refuge, where we spent the first night (we got quite a deluge before we got there).
The second day things change quickly, as soon as you cross a suspension bridge over the Bujuku River. Then it's time to put on your wellies, because we are going to immerse ourselves in a wonderful world of mud, wet roots, swamps and steep paths that do not seem suitable for normal walkers. At first it is somewhat uncomfortable to walk with wellington boots on such uncomfortable terrain, but immediately you get the hang of it and even like the subject, especially when you see that you can step almost wherever you want without fear of getting hit by the knee-deep water (the problem is that in the swamp areas it can reach your hip unless you're jumping between kills) This second day of trekking we arrived at the John Matte Refuge (precisely after an entertaining zone of boggy roots ). The views from this refuge are spectacular both towards the back and, above all, towards the peaks towards which we are going (with the permission of the clouds).
The third day we crossed two good swamps, facilitated with wooden platforms (otherwise, it would be practically impossible to cross them) and then we continued the ascent until we reached one of the most spectacular and suggestive places of the entire route, the wonderful Bujuku Lake, a world of peace and silence, also facilitated with a wooden platform since it is another good area of the swamp. Near this lake is the homonymous refuge where we will spend the 3rd and 4th night.
The next day we made the entertaining climb to Pico Speke (4890m) to acclimatize and to admire the spectacular views that are obtained from the top. The day did not go well at all and we could not enjoy the views at the summit.
On the 5th day we went up to the Elena Refuge, in the heart of the massif. We used a shortcut to gain height from the beginning of the stage and not have to descend the main path and then climb the whole section after losing altitude. We arrived early and went to bed early, since the next day we had to get up quite early.
On the 6th day we left very early to try to reach the summit of Pico Margherita as soon as possible (as the day progresses, it is normal that there are more chances of more clouds appearing that will take away any possibility of contemplating from above). We reached the first glacier (East Stanley Glacier) with the first light of day and crossed it without any problem (it is quite flat and without cracks). Immediately you have to descend an entertaining section (we do it with the help of ropes carried by our guides) of walls and large rocks (before the glacier receded so much, this section was much easier). Then we climb a stretch of moraine that takes us to the foot of the Margherita Glacier. This one is more complicated than the previous one, since it has some sections with a certain slope, it has a lot of ice, and the final upper section (which is spectacular due to its formations twisted by the wind) has some exposure, so you have to be extremely careful . Thus we arrive at the foot of the summit, where there is a last rocky step where we must remain attentive, both going up and down (we use ropes). The views from the summit of Pico Margherita (5109m) are impressive, and we are lucky that the clouds that we had when we were approaching the top are gone. The return to the Elena Refuge is long and you have to retrace your steps, carefully. We make a good stop to have a drink and continue our route to go down to the valley and continue our descent to the beautiful Kitandara Lakes. In the second of them is the Kitandara Hut, where we will spend the night, after a long day.
On the 7th day we started the journey with a good climb (through well-disturbed terrain with crossed roots and mud) up to the Freshfield Pass. From there the views are spectacular, with Mount Baker nearby and further away and to the central part of the massif, with the Margherita among others. From the pass everything will be descended (at first quite muddy), making an approach to a waterfall, before reaching the Guy Yeoman Refuge, where we will spend our 7th night.
On the 8th and last day, we decided to combine the two stages we had planned into one. We passed a section called "el Tobogán", an apt name, since I slipped on a couple of occasions with an interval of just a few seconds. We then went through the Nyabitaba Refuge, where we had spent the first night. There we made a stop to have a drink, finally being able to take off our wellies, and continue with normal trekking shoes. The last stretch seemed like a highway to us.
In summary, a spectacular tour but not suitable for all audiences. Highlight the detail that with the exception of the first (and last) section to the Nyabitaba Refuge, where you can go with normal shoes and, of course, the ascents to the two peaks, the rest of the route is done with wellies due to that the terrain is quite swampy and is usually very muddy. At first it is not very comfortable but you quickly get used to it and you are more comfortable. To a large extent, it is for this reason that I have classified the route as difficult.
Waypoints
Door
Wilderness hut
Intersection
8,720 ft
Cruce
Bridge
8,468 ft
Puente sobre Río Bujuku
From here the road changes radically. It's time to put on the water boots.
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Lake
12,746 ft
Lago Bujuku
Haven of peace. Undoubtedly one of the strong points, landscaping, of the route. Facilitated by wooden platforms. Although there is some stretch very, but very entertaining .... it is very easy to "screw up".
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Risk
13,802 ft
Paso sobre roca tumbada
Rock step of about 15m, with about 45 or 50 degrees of inclination and quite slippery. The exit is grabbing a senecio and rising to pulse.
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Panorama
Summit
Waypoint
13,120 ft
Etapa marcada con poca precisión, Inicio
Just take it as a reference, since the actual track can differ quite a bit. It is the 4th day of trekking (without counting as such the ascent to Speke)
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Waypoint
14,800 ft
Etapa marcada con poca precisión. Final
Just take it as a reference, since the actual track can differ quite a bit.
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Waypoint
16,211 ft
Glaciar Margherita
More difficult than the section that we walk through the Stanley Glacier. It has some section with slope, it is more ice and the top part has exposure.
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Intersection
14,278 ft
Cruce
Dejamos a izquierda camino que viene de Bujuku
Mountain pass
14,009 ft
Freshfield Pass
Quite bogged down by the two slopes, although with spectacular views
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Intersection
9,137 ft
Cruce al Lago Mahoma
Dejamos a derecha el camino que va al Lago Mahoma.
Comments (9)
You can add a comment or review this trail
Ths for sharing this great experience! My I contact you for more detailed information? And ask for suggestion regarding guides?
Hi Olgina! Of course you can contact me or send me a private message if you need more info. I'll tell you later the info of the guides we used, that were from the National Park. We recomend them!
Hola!! somos dos chicos de Murcia ( he visto que conoces mi tierra) interesados en realizar el trek despues de que se truncara por motivos personales la ascension a Kilimanjaro. Rwenzori siempre estuvo ahi como plan B a sabiendas que seguramente era mejor plan y finalmente las circunstancias nos llevan hacia alli. Con que agencia de las dos realizaste el trek? o tuviste intermediario?
Podrias facilitarme tu correo o numero para hacerte algunas consultas?
Muchas gracias y enhorabuena...
Buenas Nako147! Acabo de ver vuestro mensaje ahora mismo de pura casualidad. No entiendo porqué no me ha llegado ninguna notificación a mi correo de vuestro mensaje. Supongo que ya será tarde para contestaros a las preguntas que tuviérais sobre el trek. Lo siento de veras!
Si seguís interesados y aun, no tengo inconveniente en pasaros la información que os pueda ser útil. Ya me dices si no es demasiado tarde (que supongo que lo será después de tanto tiempo).
Un saludo! Me reitero en mis disculpas.
Estic interessat en anar-hi em podrieu passar el contacte d'amb qui vàreu fer la ruta? Soc Xavi. No sé si puc enviar missatge directament a un usuari.
Me parece una auténtica maravilla!!!
Que pasadaaaa ver este trekking 😍
Tomo nota!!!
Muchas gracias por compartir Gran Lamorosangel!!!
Un fuerte abrazo
Nos vemos en la Montaña!!!
Es uno de los treks más espectaculares y exigentes que he realizado. Sin duda te lo recomiendo totalmente.
Muchas gracias por valorarlo. Ojalá algún día lo puedas hacer!
Un abrazo enorme 🤗 gran amigo Pepe !
Nos vemos prontito en la montaña!
¡Hola!
Buscando información sobre Uganda y este trek di con tu ruta. ¿Con qué guía lo hiciste? Si pudieras mandarme algo de información te lo agradecería (estoy en Facebook / Instagram o LinkedIn buscando mi nombre).
Muchas gracias