About This Destination

Embark on a thrilling 10-day Rwenzori mountaineering expedition with 6summits African Expeditions, taking the scenic and less-crowded Kilembe Trail to Margherita Peak—the highest point on Mount Stanley in Rwenzori Mountains National Park. This luxurious route offers an unforgettable trekking experience through stunning landscapes, glacial peaks, and remote alpine camps.

We work closely with Rwenzori community organizations as official booking agents, providing certified mountaineering guides and top-notch logistics for your Rwenzori adventure.

Kilembe Trail Itinerary Highlights:

  • Day 1–2: Arrival and hike to Kalalama Camp

  • Day 3–4: Trek to Mutinda and Bugata Camps

  • Day 5–6: Ascend through Hunwick's to Margherita Camp

  • Day 7: Summit Margherita Peak (5,109m)

  • Day 8–10: Descend via Kiharo Camp and return to Kampala

Starting at 1,450m, this route—also known as the Southern Circuit—is managed by Rwenzori Trekking Services in partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Enjoy wilderness camping at clean, well-equipped mountain camps.

Book your Rwenzori climbing tour today with 6summits, the leading Rwenzori mountaineering tour operator, and explore the legendary Mountains of the Moon with experts. Optionally, book a 9-day trek excluding transfers.


Activities

Itinerary

Upon arrival at Entebbe international Airport, you will be welcomed by our 6summits Rwenzori Mountain Expeditions Safari guide , be briefed about the history of Uganda, Climatic conditions , wildlife conservation and other things to do while on Uganda Safari. You will start on the drive to connect to Kasese town which is the closest point to Rwenzori Mountains National Park. You will have stopover in fort portal town for lunch and relaxing, if time allows you will visit the Toro kings Palace and later proceed to connect to Kasese District heading straight to Ibanda parish.  Embark on your journey to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. Accommodation:  Kilembe Backpackers Hostel or Sandton Hotel

You will enjoy breakfast at the lodge and transfer to the rangers post for the registration and briefing about the Rwenzori Mountains, the first abuzz expedition to Rwenzori, History of the place.  You will head straight to Rwenzori National park’s gate for clearance before entering, which marks the beginning of the Kilembe Route to Summit up to Margherita peak.  Proceed with your day trek to the montane forest where you will encounter various species of monkeys such as Colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and other species of birds like the Rwenzori Turaco. Reach Sine camp where you will enjoy your lunch break alongside other refreshments. Continue with your trek to Kalalama at 3,147 m, from which you will have your dinner, next day briefing and an overnight stay.

You will set off from Kalalama Camp to Mutinda camp.  (Breakfast is served at 7:30am) Start your hike through the bamboo-mimulopsis zone, which consists of a steep climb with many high steps, and later reach the resting point for lunch break alongside other refreshments. Continue with your day’s trek along the heather zone, passing by various streams, as ell as waterfalls, which are mostly covered by typical green moss vegetation.  You will also be rewarded with impressive views of Giant Heather trees, and sometimes in a misty atmosphere. Arrive at Mutinda Camp at 3.688 m-named after the Mutinda Peaks.

Start with hiking up the boggy terrain at exactly 9:00am, after your morning breakfast at Mutinda Camp. Proceed with the typical wet vegetation and tussocks, as you enter the alpine vegetation zone with the presence of the giant lobelias, the groundsel as well as the everlasting flowers while crossing the Mutinda valley. Hike up the steep section up to Namusangi valley, crossing different as head to Bugata Camp at 4.062m It is from this point that you will enjoy the stunning views of Weismann’s Peak and Mount Luigi of Savoy, which is always covered by the snow whereas the vegetation is mostly covered by tussock grass, everlasting flowers, giant groundsel and giant lobelia. Dinner and overnight at Bugata Camp

You will climb up the Bamwanjara pass, which steadily rises with various long flat bogs. During your climb, you will observe the glacial lakes far down in the valley. Upon reaching the top of Banwamjara Pass at 4.450m, you will be rewarded with remarkable views of all the main snow capped peaks and you later come to rest in a small shelter while enjoying the breathtaking scenery. Better yet this trek takes you down to the lower and upper Kachope Lake which is steep and always muddy but provides exclusive views of Kachope Lakes and McConnell’s Prong. Arrive at Hunwick’s Camp (3,974m), which is established on a ridge overlooking snow capped Mount Baker. Dinner and overnight stay at this camp.

After your morning breakfast, Start your day with walking along the ridge, crossing several wet areas and small rivers flowing from both mount Baker and the fresh fields pass. Trekking up Scott Elliott Pass is amazing as you walk through and rising up the ridge of Mt Stanley to Margherita Camp at 4,485 meters which is below Elena Hut of the Rwenzori mountaineering services. The Margherita camp which is sheltered with a ring of rocks was once used by an Italian Prince Luigi amadeo di Savoia, and Duke of the Abruzzi. It is from here that you will observe breathtaking views of Mt Baker, Scott Elliot Pass and some of the high glaciers on Mount Stanley. Since you will walk to Margherita camp for 4.2km, you are expected to arrive late in the evening.   Dinner, preparations for the next day and an overnight stay in at the camp.

You will wake up at 2:00am for your early morning breakfast, after which you will set off for the longest and strenuous walk to the summit of Margherita which will start at 3:00am. The early movement to Margherita peak of Mount Stanley is mainly aimed at reaching the glaciers before sunrise since the heat from the sun causes the glaciers to melt, thus making the roots to be totally impassable. Hiking through the steep heights to Margherita peak requires enough physical strength. Proceed with your hike over the glaciers close, after then you will climb to an exposed section of the rock, which is bolted and roped, to get on the ridge running up to the top of the Margherita peak at 5109m Upon reaching the peak, you will be endowed by the beautiful scene of the whole country, as you are now at the highest point of the country. Lunch will be served at the peak, after which you will descend to hunwick’s camp for dinner and an overnight stay.

You will start your day by climbing up a ridge towards McConnell’s Prong, where you will be rewarded with impressive views of the three peaks of Mount Stanley, Mount Baker and Speke as well as the Scott Eliot pass before reaching Oliver’s pass at 4,505m. The total distance between Hunwick’s Camp and Oliver’s pass is 3km. The trail then cuts across below Weismann’s peak to the confluence of the Nyamwamba River which flows down through Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elizabeth national park. The confluence then meanders down the valley to Kiharo camp, which is established in a deep valley with high cliffs and dense vegetation. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

From Kiharo camp, the path turns off to the right pass along the river. Spot Duikers as you pass along the river otherwise trek down the river itself jumping across the rocks as you pass down. The trails becomes steep with multitudes of waterfalls after a few kilometres down the river, which is why you will have to move away from the river and follow a narrow ridge to bypass steep sections. You will again meet the river where there is a huge rock shelter and a place to rest for a lunch break, after which, you will cross a small stream as you climb up gentle slopes before turning back down to the river to avoid another set of waterfalls which are impassable. The forest along this section is a home many birds species, primates, duikers.  This last day of your Rwenzori Trekking tour in Rwenzori Mountains National Park. You will have dinner and overnight. Accommodation: Kilembe Backpackers Hostel or Sandton Hotel

After Morning breakfast at the lodge, you will set off for your transfer back to Kampala with en-route lunch, after which you will proceed to the airport to catch up with your scheduled flight. Transfers are handled by our road experts that are driven by experienced Safari guides of 6summits

Nature walk and scenic view of Rwenzori Mountains

Rwenzori Kilembe Trek ( 10 Days)

Rwenzori Trekking to Margherita Peak via Kilembe Trail

  • Overnight stay in Huts ( Kilembe Camps)
  • Transfer from Kampala to Kilembe Backpackers
  • Rwenzori Trekking Permit
  • Uganda Wildlife Park Entrance
  • Rwenzori Mountaineering Guide
  • Meals ( 3 meals a day)
  • Medical Insurance AMREF Flying Doctors
  • Uganda Visa
  • Flights to Uganda
  • Air transfer from Kasese to Kampala ( 280 USD ) Aero Link 
  • Rwenzori Mountaineering Equipment
  • Local Taxes