Margherita (5109m), the highest peak of Ruwenzori is the highest of nine peaks excessing 4800m. They are located in the distant mountain range Ruwenzori At the boarder of Uganda and Zair, 50 km north from the equator. This powerfull mountains built of the old precambrian rock spread on the length of 80 and width of 30 km. This area is more or less the same as the one taken up by the Tatras. Their torn rock towers are also similar to our mountains. However, they are exactly twice higher and on its upper parts there are glaciers. The Ruwenzori Range and its abundant rainfalls supply water to the river Nile
The Ruwenzori massif is characterised by abundant rainfalls, thanks to that we can see here amazing, prehistoric plants. It seems that in a minute a giant dinosaur can appear from behind them. At the height of 3500 there are very beautiful muds, which have to be crossed in special fishing boots. On our way we can hear the sounds of chimpansees and marmots. We can also meet elephants and other animals. The most interesting is the world of plants here. Bamboo forests, colourful muds, thick prehistorical forests at the height of 4500m and soft mess undergrowth, these are the things we can see on our way. And all the time we’ll have a breathtaking view on the peaks and glaciers.

Finally we’ll get even there. We’ll face a hanging glacier and we’ll climb a ladder fixed on a vertical wall.
Difficulties; you must be ready for an 8-9 days all day wandering sometimes in the mud reaching our knees, sometimes up the ladders leaning at the Walls. During the ascent we’ll have to cover a glacier and 30 m high vertical wall which has a ladder and ropes fixed in its most difficult part. Additionally a guide will secure us using a rope. We can skip reaching the peak and just go trekking around it because it’s one of the most beautiful places for trekking on the Earth.
We have to remember that an additional difficulty will be caused by the hight but the acclimatisation is gradual and thorough.
Caution! It’s impossible to take part in the expedition if staying at great heights or in tropics is harmful to your health e.g. because of some heart and lungs diseases or pregnancy etc.

COST:

15 000 pln

The price includes:
The organisation of the expedition, flight to Entebbe and back, public transport at our destination, transport to the national parks and on safari, accommodation in hotels in Kampali, Kasese and other cities, in the mountains accommodation in mountain shelters, food; two meals down the mountain, in the mountains, on safari and rafting we take additional provisions as a third meal, during trekking the food is prepared by a cook, 8 days trekking along Ruwenzori Circut trail, ascending the highest peak of the massif, hiring guides, porters and cooks (one guide per two people), entrance fees to; Ruwenzori and Marchinson Falls National Parks, accommodation in the Ruwenzori National Park, rafting on the river Nile with excellent guides, trekking insurance, sickness insurance, basic training, club’s fee.

The price doesn’t include; visa (60 $), tips (70-100$), additional voluntary trips: gorillas (800$), chimpanzees (100$), entrance fees not included in the costs, excess luggage on the plane (20kg) and in the mountains as well (25 kg)

APPLICATIONS:

1.To confirm your application, please, pay 3500 pln for the ticket and insurance to the bank account Stowarzyszenie „Annapurna Klub„  Santander Bank  34 1090 1652 0000 0000 6404 1166 with annotation: Ruwenzori- flight ticket. Please, inform us about the payment, the best via e-mail or post.
2.Please, send us your name, surname, date and place of birth and address via e-mail or post.

ITINERARY:

First we fly from Warsaw to Entebbe. After the night spent in Kampala and doing the formalities connected with entering the Ruwenzori National Park we go by bus to Kassese (450 km, 8h). This is a city that reminds of the wild west and we spend a night there. From Kassese we go to the park’s gates, from where after a next check-in and weighting our luggage we can set off. First day we reach Nayabitaba Hut, situated at 2652 m. We ascent in great heat. On our way we can meet elephants (more often their dung) and hear chimpansees. Next day offers more interesting views, we ascent Matte Hut (3414). We have to cross a suspension bridge over a river, next the trail leads through bamboo forests and thick green jungle with trees covered with “beards”. in the shelter we have the first occasion to hear local marmots shrieks, which will be heard later many times. Third day we cover the biggest muds on our way. We’ll do it wearing thigh length fishing boots. First we reach Lower Bigo Bog, then a very steep passage and finally Upper Bigo Bog where some wooden footbridges have still remained.. From Upper Bigo we can see the mountains; on the south – Mount Baker, on the west Mount Stanley and on the north Mount Pele. Finally through the meadow full of slushy holes we get to Bujuku Hut (3962m). Next day we cover a steep and short passage to Elena Hut (4430 m.). On our way we have to face a bit of mud, dark and thick forest and ladders on a steep slope. Next day we ascend the highest peak of the Ruwenzori massif, which is Margerita (5109 m). Those of you who are interested only in trekking have a day to rest.

First we cover a very steep gully, then a few rocks and finally we get to a glacier. We put on crampons, harness and an ice axe and get on the glacier.
First on a flat ground, then passing Alexandria, the second highest peak of the massif, we descend on a steep slope and next ascend a pass that divides both summits, from where we have a foggy view on Congo. From the pass we start a short rock climbing during which, in its most dangerous part we are secured with a ladder . Finally we are on the third peak of Africa – Margerita, but the views are the best in Africa here. From the peak we descend to Elena Hut to get rest. After that we descend further, to Kitandara Hut, situated at beautiful lakes, admiring wonderful views on the way.
Next day we start with ascending Freshfield Pass (4282m). From here we can admire a view on the whole valley, which we are just leaving, we can see Mt Stanley and Elena Hut. The trail leads through a very varied terrain. First the path is comfortable and wide, then we descend on slippery stones. We cross a picturesque stream and the ground becomes more and more slushy. From time to time we move along streambeds, we jump from one tuft of grass to another, trying not to land in mud. Another time we walk along a very narrow path next to a rocky wall. We have to carefully omit the mud and roots. The trail finishes in Guy Yeoman Hut (3261m). The seventh day we move to Nayabitaba Hut along narrow paths and through thick forest, sometimes the paths situated at the edge of precipices and waterfalls, are dangerously exposed. This loop ends in our shelter. The next day we descend to the gates of the park. We have to say goodbye to our cook, guides and porters here.
The next day we go to Rwanda to see the last flocks of gorillas in the world. They live high in the Virunga mountains. Even if visiting gorillas is too expensive, it’s worth to visit Rwanda, as, apart from Ethiopia, its the most mountainous country on this continent. There is no flat area there. Picturesque hills are covered with thatched roofs and green fields. We get to Ruhengeri situated at the foot of volcanoes, the Virunga mountains (up to 4500m) covered with a jungle.

The gorillas live on this volcanoe’s slopes. To visit the biggest flock we have to get up very early, go by car first, and enter the jungle at dawn. We follow the guide and the gorillas footprints. To get through the thick jungle we’ll need a machete, what makes the trip more difficult is also the height which is reached very quickly.
Sometimes in few hours we’ll have to cover the height difference of 2000 km searching for the gorillas, forcing our way through and slipping. And finally… meeting a gorilla face to face is an unforgettable experience. They look at us from 4m distance. The guides are able to make gorillas sounds. Very often it can save our lives, if any of the gorillas attacked us, the guide could make a sound imitating a leader of the flock – Silver Back. All the gorillas, of course apart from the Silver itself, which is usually calm and gentle, are afraid of this sound. After an hour we descend back to the civilisation.
Next part of the expedition is travel through the capital of Rwanda – Kigali back to Kampali, the capital of Uganda, where we stay for a night and leave the equipment. We go north to the Murchinson Falls National Park. On our way we pass Masindi. Landscapes are a bit different than in other parts of the country, we can see mostly savannah. Finally we get to Albert’s Nile. We spend a night in a camp listening to the sounds of Africa sometimes visited by a monkey, marabou or an African pig.

Safari, which is a cruise on the river Nile, starts early in the morning. During the cruise we can admire flocks of hippoes, colourful birds, a lot of crocodiles, some of them waiting with an open mouth. For sure we’ll see elephants, giraffes, antelopes and other animals that come to drink the water from Nile. Finaly we get to the famous Murchinson waterfall.
On our way back we can visit chimpansees and through Masindi we get back to Kampali.
After short rest we set off for probably the most exciting part of our expedition hich is rafting on the river Nile. We’ll have to face the passages of the fifth level of difficulty in six levels scale. Fortunately, thanks to well specialised guides, this will be safe. There will be also 2 cascades of fifth and sixth level of difficulty, a few cascades of third and fourth level, lots of rowing on flat passages. It’s difficult not to fall to the river with the whole boat but once we managed not to do it. After that we get back to the capital.
The possible left time can be spent at Victoria Lake.

Day by day itinerary
– flight to Entebbe
– doing the formalities
– travel to Kassese
– travel to the gates of the park and ascending Nayabitaba Hut (2650m)
– ascending through bamboo forests and „hanging beards”to John Matte Hut (3414m)
– ascending through muds to Bujaku Hut (3960m)
– ascending through an old forest and steep rocks to Elena Hut (4430m) 4 h.
– ascending the summit (5109m)- through the glacier and rocky wall, descending to Kitandara Hut
– Descending to Guy Yeoman Hut (3260m) on our way – Freshfield Pass (4280m)
– Descending to Nayabitaba
– Descending to the gates of the park, travel to Kassese
– travel to Ruhengeri (Rwanda)
– visiting the last living mountain gorillas at „film location – gorillas in the mist”
– travel to Kampala
– travel to Murchinson Falls
– safari cruise on the river Nile, famous waterfalls, possibility of visiting chimpansees.
– return to Kampala
– rafting on Nile, one of the most exciting on the world.
– rest at Victoria’s Lake.
– return to Poland

NEEDED EQUIPMENT:

-Shoes, the best light but warm and durable trekking ones, 1-1,5 too big
– Waist high fishing boots
– Mountaineering boots or other boots appropriate on a glacier (voluntarily, if you have poor trekking shoes)
– Warm socks – 3 pairs (thick, thermal, but quick dry)
– Other socks (the best anti sweat, quick dry, a lot of spare pairs)
– Polar fleece trousers – polar 100 (2 pairs)
– Anti sweat underpants (1-2 pairs)
– Wind and waterproof trousers (e.g. goretex)
– Trousers with detachable trouser legs
– Sandals or other light shoes
– t-shirts (cotton, breathable, few spare ones)
– 1-2 polar fleece jackets – polar 100, 1-2 polar fleece jackets – polar 200 (one with a hood)
– wind and waterproof jacket, the best goretex
– 2-3 pairs of polar gloves protecting from wind (e.g. goretex over-mitts or skiing gloves)
– hat
– hat protecting from the sun
– telescopic sticks
– trekking gaiters
– synthetic sleeping bag (min -10), down filled one gets damp too quickly
– foam pad
– NRC foil
– Articles of toilet
– 2 rolls of toilet paper
– big rucksack (70l)
– small rucksack (40l)
– headlamp and spare batteries
– vacuum flask 0,7l – 1 l
– sunglasses or glacier glasses
– chemical warming agents (especially when your shoes are nor warm enough)
– vaccination book with a vaccination against fever registered
– passport copy
– climbing equipment; crampons adjusted to your shoes, ice axe, harness, 2 locking biners, 2 loops (rope 50-70 cm), 2 prussic loops or a – – rope 5m long, diameter 5mm
– Pack all things into durable bags so that they wouldn’t get wet or put a cover on your bag.
– Take a lot of clothes that dry quickly for a change.