Frequently Asked Questions

The Rwenzori Mountains are in the south-west of Uganda, on the border with the DRC. The range covers a length of 71 miles along the border, and is one of the just 3 places in Africa with permanent glaciers (although these are melting at an alarming pace).

Yes, the Rwenzoris are the highest mountain range in Uganda. The highest point within the range is marherita at 5,109 metres on Mount Stanley. There are 3 other notable peaks in the Rwenzori range: Mount Baker (4,842m), Mount Speke (4,890m), and Weismann’s Peak (4,620m).

Karangura trekking services runs treks north of Rwenzoris. Karangura peak stands at 3012m.

We run group treks and solo treks. You can book any date and the number of other people in the group will depend on how many other travelers have booked to be in the mountain for those dates. If no one else has booked for your dates, the trek will run as a private trek. Maximum group size is up to 15 pax.

All the accommodation during the trek is in tents. The camps are set at designated point to minimize the impact on the environment. You need to carry a sleeping bag for your warmth.

The meals are designed to keep you healthy, safe and well-fed during the trek. Our cooks can cater for all the allergies.

Pro-tip: bring some of your favorite snacks with you. They are a great motivator during the trek.

Below is a list of food served during our treks:

Dinner:

Irish potatoes,pumpkin,rice,meat,mixed vegetables,chicken,spaghetti,pasta,noodles,cheese,peas,mixed vegetables/mushroom/ onion/tomato soups.

Breakfast :

eggs, beef sausage,bacon,potato patties,bread,milk,oat/millet/rice porridge,teas,coffee,hot chocolate,pancakes,baked beans on toast.

Lunches:

Chicken salad sandwich, cheese and tomato sandwich,300ml juice ( apple and mangoe),tuna salad sandwich,eggsandwich,chapatti and jam, vegetable ( tomatoes,onions,French Beans,cabbage,eggplants,green pepper) yellow banana.

There are no mosquitoes in the Rwenzori Mountains as the conditions are too cold. You should still carry insect repellent.

The Rwenzori Mountains are on the Uganda DRC border. UWA rangers patrol the park and the mountains, the Uganda- DRC border is heavily guarded by UPDF.

The trekking guides have completed regular courses that cover everything from guiding,customer care,nature interpretation,birding,product development, tour planning, tour conducting and first Aid.

The team is also constantly in the mountains finding new routes and keeping existing ones open.so when there are no visitors, they are not idle.

If the trek is considered unsafe, the guides will call it off.

The typical day hiking in the mountains is 7 to 9 hours depending on the distance between camps.

All water is drawn from fresh water streams and purified. You should therefore bring water purifiers that can deal with at least 3 litters a day. We boil water at night for teas and coffee, and you can fill up your water bottle the night before with the same boiled water.

We recommend that you have an experience with at least one high- altitude hike.

Most people with decent fitness and some experience hiking at altitude will be fine on the low altitude treks. The Rwenzori routes are long, which in itself enables you to acclimatize as you trek (slowly)

However a lot of it comes down to mindset and determination. If you are in good shape and determined, you should be fine on the mountain.

We only use solar lights and torches at our camps. The camping places are not yet built-up with cottages.

Tipping in Uganda is not obligatory but many travelers do leave tips – and this extra money really helps boost the income of people working in the tourism industry. For cooks, you can tip 10% for good service,Guides 15% , 10 % for porters and if you want to tip a taxi driver, then you can round up your fare.

Kazingo village, karangura subcounty kabarole district P.O BOX 845 Fort portal, Uganda Call: +256 (0) 789181691| +256 (0) 753323699/ + 256 (0) 787325870 E-mail: tugumekennethapuu@gmail.com

Unfortunately, there are only a few banks that accept Visa credit cards and the likes for transactions. Master cards, not widely accepted either and only a small number of banks do accept traveler cheques. Therefore, we advise you to bring cash and have money changed upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport. US dollars, Euro and Pound Starling are easy to change, although for some expenses, like the payment of visa, it is easier with US dollars.

NOTE: US dollar bills from the year 2001 and below are NOT accepted!

Different types of vaccinations are recommended and required before entering Uganda. Besides bringing mosquito repellents, we advise you to carry malaria prevention medications. Vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory, just as a cholera stamp in your vaccination passport. Immunizations against DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio) and Hepatitis A are recommended as well. Please consult your local doctor or health department for a detailed and updated advice.

Once you confirm the final itinerary with us, we request you  to pay a 30% deposit of the total cost. Note that availability of accommodations and permits is not guaranteed until officially confirmed by us. Reservations will be made as soon as the payment has been received on our account.

Our bank offers Electronic bank transfers and our Swift code will be sent to you for the transactions. Please note that all bank charges are at the expense of the client.