Climbing Rwenzori Mountains

Climbing Rwenzori Mountains: What You Need To Know before Climbing

Climbing Rwenzori Mountains: You want to Climb the Rwenzori Mountains, but you don’t know how to start! Otherwise, you want to reach the Margherita peak, but still you don’t have prior information how to go about it! Never mind! Its not too late to know about the first tips at hand about  the facts about the Rwenzori Mountains, its peaks, routes, the best time to go trekking Rwenzori, what to where, how to get there, the cost of hiking, the tour operators, Where to sleep, the porters among others

7 days Kilembe rwenzori trek cost

Here you will find yourself researching your Rwenzori climb whenever you have a moment. We know exactly how it feels. It’s the urge to reach the Roof of Africa. An unstoppable thirst for conquering Margherita Peak and to know what it feels like to climb the Rwenzori Mountains.

What You Wish to Know about climbing the Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Safety first!

Climbing Rwenzori MountainsWhen it comes to climbing the Rwenzori Mountains,the first question is always “Is it safe to climb/trek the Rwenzori Mountains?”

It is good to know about the dangers associated with climbing the Rwenzori mountains, and the overall safety measures that must be taken to help hikers climb Mount Rwenzori safely and be able to enjoy the sights more effectively, that is to say; what to bring and do beforehand including;

Plan Your Trips early

Curiosity is a quality to be admired, but not when going to climb the Rwenzori mountains. For plenty of reasons, you must plan your hiking ahead of time.

Study the Weather, and choose the Right Route

Being up to date with weather information must be the first thing you should know, when planning to go mountaineering the Rwenzori mountains in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park. This decision will help you choose 1 out of the 3 trails/routes to use and the months suitable for climbing the Rwenzori Mountains.

However, If the weather isn’t favorable, pick another day in another month, even if you have the mandate to go. The Rwenzori Mountains are not a place to take lightly.

Yet if the weather is free of rain or storms, but feels quite cold,  then you are in position to go climbing the Rwenzori Mountains in the Rwenzori mountains National Park.

Dress appropriately.

Look for the right gear that match the trail/route you have chosen. It is advisable you do authentic research about the present trails, and get the right gear for your spot abilities.

It’s always the best idea to continuously investigate and make quick searches about the current conditions of the Rwenzori Mountains national Park, before your actual trip/attempting to climb.

Inform the guides/porters of Where You Are Going When in the park

During the climbing session, you must ensure that you make close connections with the rest of the Rwenzori mountaineers, so that you easily notify them about where you are going.

Make frequent calls, to a close friend within the group to let them know your whereabouts when you are leaving and where you are going; While notifications can be given via social media and text, a written notice should always be included. This is something all Rwenzori mountaineering authorities recommend.

Spend on Good Gear and Clothing

We can’t just keep quiet about the gear. High quality gear and clothing can save your life because of durability. If nothing else, it will give you company.

Footwear

On a rough terrain, high quality boots are a must have. These will take car of your feet by keeping it warm in cold weather, comfortable on rocks and safe on ice. You will need 2 sets of shoes, including a pair of breathable hiking shoes, while the other is waterproof hiking boots. Each will work on distinguished environments, that is Wearing breathable shoes and boots on hot days, while the waterproof boots for cold days and on days when the routes will take you along the bogy regions, river and streams.

You should also pack an extra  pair of socks, because some can easily get tone and worn out and get holes while in the boots. While some can fail to dry when washed, or when you walk through mud, or otherwise when it rains on them. Socks can get worn down in boots and get holes. There are also high chances when you will run into water without waterproof boots and find yourself with wet feet.

 

Base layers

Each season has its own base layers, that is, in winter, fleece-lined base layers are a plus, yet for summer, it is a minus. But it should be taken into consideration that if the weather is below freezing, a moisture-wicking layer can be useful. Sweating during weather that is below freezing can put one at a risk for hypothermia if you will be out for a very long time.

But if it’s just a short day-trip, thermal or fleece-lined base layers are fine if it’s cold.

Shell Layers for climbing the Rwenzori Mountains

The shell layers must be waterproof & water-resistant, since the weather conditions is unpredictable, that it may rain or otherwise you might be near wet areas. Therefore, get a shell jacket and a pair of shell pants. You can wear them separately or together at your own discretion.

A high quality pair of gaiters:

Carrying gaiters is also a better idea to keep away from rocks, dust and snow out of your boots for a snowy, dusty & rocky terrain, you can comfortably walk.

Basic Necessities

Beginners Guide

If you are hiking the Rwenzori mountains, you must carry basic necessities, due to unavoidable circumstances like water, soap(in case you want to bathe), moisturizers, towels, toiletries, toothpaste, pads (for women) among others.

Plenty of Water

Hiking mountain Rwenzori is a challenging factor that requires frequent hydration all the way through the summit, for which water is necessary.  It is essential you carry enough water for drinking in a hydration pack that fits in your hiking pack.  You can also, bring an extra bottle of water with you in case you run out. If you’re planning on eating on the trail, carry extra water measured for cooking your meals.

A First Aid Kit

A first aid kit is one of the essentials you must carry along, when climbing/hiking the Rwenzori mountains. You should never start summiting the Rwenzori ranges without a first aid kit. We recommend a first aid kit made specifically for hikers, with tools inside which can keep you from getting infections if you get hurt and you can customize it to your needs. Your first aid kit should consist of: Antiseptic wipes, Gauze, Band-Aids, An elastic bandage, Collapsible scissors, Gloves, Burn ointment, OTC Pain medication, Water purification tablets

You can customize it by adding your personal medications or allergy medications, either for the elements or food allergies in something you’ve4 eaten on the trail that you didn’t know contained the ingredient.

For more information of rwenzori mountains,  and about the Rwenzori trekking safaris, email us at:  info@rwenzorimountainsnationalpark.com, call/whatsApp us on +256774819223

Rwenzori Mountains Safety Precautions

Safety precautions for Hiking the Rwenzori Mountains

Whether you have all the necessary gear for hiking the Rwenzori Mountains, you still need a few safety precautions for hiking the Rwenzori Mountains for a safe hike in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

Trusted tour operators will provide all the recommended equipment at hand  for a successful Rwenzori hike. They can also make regular follow ups just to enure you are safe within the park.

Take Your Time

Summiting Rwenzori mountains is not a race but a marathon. Don’t rush, as this can leave you weary, sore, and oxygen-deficient. Pace yourself by keeping it slow & steady along the trail can help you keep, off fatigue. Work closely with your guides so that you don’t exceed your capabilities.

Take frequent breaks:

Nyabitaba hut

Get Appropriate Acclimatization

It is advised your take short brakes more often so as to relax and keep you away from burning out. This becomes most important as you draw closer to the Margherita peak, where the air becomes thinner and there are chances for altitude sickness.

Acclimatize:

If you can acclimatize to higher altitudes before setting off for your trek, you will feel more comfortable and ready to face whatever comes your way as you as you summit.  The best way to acclimatize is to reach your destination a few days earlier and condition yourself with some day hikes.

Drink Plenty of Water

Make sure to drink plenty of water while trekking along the trail and always move handy with enough extra water.  Rwenzori mountains has many rivers, from which porters can help draw water. It is always advisable you carry your bottles you trek through the trails. For those who prefer it treated, you can come handy with the purifying tablets so that you can easily treat your water, whenever it is collected into your bottles.

Eat Enough Food To gain enough Energy

Three meals are provided each day, alongside half day breakfast. You can always  come with lots of energy giving snacks on the mountain, so that after along day trek, you’ll definitely crave for some of your favorite snacks. Bringing your own snacks will ensure you have the snack you crave—and at a reasonable cost.

Bring a Travel Thermos & Tea

If you like hot beverages in cold weather, you may opt to bring a thermos. This will help keep your drinks as hot as possible even in the cold. You may also consider bringing your own teabags. While hot water is provided, the tea can get pricey in the tea houses!

Get a Good Night’s Rest

You will be surprised by how comfortable the huts in Rwenzori Mountains National Park are. So if you are a light sleeper, we recommend, you bring some foam earplugs for a good night’s sleep. Whereas during trekking, it might be warm, it is  definitely cold at night so make sure you have warm sleeping bag and thermals..

Prepare for Cold and Rain

The weather is always cold  all year round, which calls for warm hat and thermals while sleeping and take a Nalgene bottle filled with hot water to keep it in your sleeping bag to stay warm. Even if it looks like a sunny day, enshure  that to carry a poncho in your day pack. The weather on the mountain can change quickly.

Bring Handi-Wipes

While bucket showers are available at the tea houses, it’s often not worth braving the cold to use them. Most guests opt to use handi-wipes for a quick freshen-up at the end of the day.

 Remember Sun Protection

Since your skin and eyes need enough protection, you can carry along sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect your eyes and skin. So ensure that you apply sunscreen, or wear glasses and sun protected lip balm so that you can often so as to protect yourself from the sun burn. While sunglasses are a must have, sunburns happen so fast at high elevations, so ensure you apply sunscreen and sun-protective lip balm a few times a day as well as a hat.

Don’t Carry too Much

Don’t overload your daypack., keep it light & filled with only essentials that will be easier & more enjoyable to carry. When you arrive at the base, we will provide you with porters who will carry for you your luggage on the mountain. All you need is to carry a day pack with the things you need during the day trek as you won’t have access to your luggage until you reach the camps in the evening where you will have dinner & spend an overnight.

Make sure to carry your valuables, prescriptions, extra layers, rain gear, water, camera, snacks, and sunblock in your daypack as well as moleskin or duct tape in case of blisters.

Don’t overpack your daypack. Keeping your daypack light and filled only with essentials will help your trekking be easier and more enjoyable.

Read the Terms of Service

You can find a lot about how an Everest Base Camp trekking company handles emergency situations by their terms of service. A well-established company will have Terms of Service that cover in-detail what can go wrong in Nepal and how the company manages those situations. This is good to know in advance.

One thing you can be assured of with Himalayan Wonders is that no matter what happens, we will do our best to make sure you have a great trek and that you can be assured the full support of our team. We have been running treks for almost a decade now and experience is definitely something that counts!

Wear Layers

Wearing layers regulates body temperature and helps stay comfortable while trekking. It’s much better if your layers have zippers so that you have have more control of your body temperature.

Conclusion

If you are interested in Rwenzori Trekking in Uganda, you will be more glad to hear that the experience is open to everyone. You just have to be prepared and by following the Rwenzori Mountains Safety Precautions offered above, you’ll be ready to cross climbing Mount Rwenzori off your bucket list in no time!