Mountain Rwenzori is a towering mountain located in Kasese district in the western region of Uganda on the border with Democratic Republic of Congo. The mountain has some of the largest mountain ranges in the world stretching for over 996 square kilometers. Some of the top summits on this incredible mountain are snow-capped offering beautiful sights of glaciers. Rwenzori Mountain has various ecosystems that change per elevation offering unique scenes on each altitude reached.

Margherita Peak is the highest peak of Mountain Rwenzori and is the highest elevation altitude in the country. Margherita is located on Mount Stanley of the Rwenzori mountain ranges. Margherita Peak stands at an altitude of approximately 5,109 meters positioning itself as the third-highest mountain peak in Africa and the first in Uganda. Hiking to Margherita Peak is one of the most beautiful adventures giving visitors an amazing experience of encountering some of the numerous flora and fauna species on this mountain. This hike to Margherita can take hikers around 6-8 days depending on the physique and mental preparedness of the hikers.

Climbing Margherita Peak was pioneered by an expedition from Italy that was led by Luigi Amedeo Abruzzi. Upon arriving at this top summit, Luigi Amedeo Abruzzi named the peak Margherita after the then Queen Italy Margherita. This was in 1906 and this expedition team included the Duke of Abruzzi, J. Petigax, C. Ollier, and also J. Brocherel.

Climbing Mountain Rwenzori to the top peak Margherita begins with a briefing and selection of the climbing gear at the Mountain Rwenzori National Park offices and briefing center. Hikers then commence their hike until Nyabitaba hut at an elevation of 2,651 meters is the first resting camp. Hiking to Margherita Peak is a challenging activity draining even the most experienced hikers thus there are different resting camps at different elevations. These camps or huts help the hikers to relax and recharge before continuing the hike. The last camp or hut Elena is located at Mount Stanley at an elevation of about 4,563 meters facing both Mount Baker and Mount Speke. This camp was built to facilitate the hikers ascending to Margherita Peak, the highest peak.

What to pack on a hike to Margherita Peak?

Hiking to Margherita Peak is both a challenging and fun adventure experience. It is challenging because the hikers get to navigate through the steep and rugged terrain which is often muddy and slippery. This is because of the moist conditions on the mountain. The following are some of the hiking gear to carry for the hiking experience to Margherita Peak.

Hiking shoes/ boots

These are very important because they help the hiker navigate through the rugged terrain of the mountain and the muddy and slippery trails. This is because these hiking boots have a rough and hard surface that is fit for these conditions.

First aid box

Hiking to Margherita Peak is a long and challenging journey thus is very important to carry a first aid box in case of injury or sickness.

Insect Repellent

It is also very crucial to carry an insect repellent on your hike adventure to Margherita to repel the many bites from the flying insects on the mountain.

Raincoat/ jacket

A raincoat is very important in keeping the hiker dry in cases of rain and damp conditions on the mountain.

Plastic bags

Plastic bags have the same importance as raincoats because these plastic bags help keep the hiker’s luggage dry during rainy and damp conditions.

Sleeping bag

After a long hiking day, it is very important to have good rest, relax your body, and recharge. Nights on Mountain Rwenzori are very cold especially in higher elevations thus carrying a suitable sleeping bag can be lifesaving.

Reusable water bottle

Hikers need to be hydrated at all times thus a reusable water bottle is important to carry and keep refilling the water when it is done.

Energy giving snacks

Just like hydration, the body needs to be energized to successfully maneuver through the challenging terrain. This is why energy-giving snacks are crucial and very helpful to the hiker.

Sunscreen

The African tropical sun can tend to be very scorching and for hikers, it can be very disturbing and draining. Therefore, sunscreen is very important because it helps to shield the skin of the hiker from the direct sun rays.