DAY 2: Transfer to Sine Camp

From 1,450 meters, you will begin the ascent to Sine Hut at 2,680 meters, where you will spend the night. The ascent begins at the mountain’s footsteps. Starting on the valley level, this journey winds its way through the towering trees of the Afro Montane Forest Zone. As you make your way up, you’ll witness a plethora of birds and maybe even some blue monkeys darting about. As they sway through the branches, sightseers might catch a glimpse of fifteen to twenty black and white Colobus monkey troupes. Rare sightings of the L’Hoest monkey—a symbolic emblem of the Bukonzo people and a protector of their traditions—or distant sounds of wild chimpanzees are not unheard of. Forest trees, bamboo thickets, low bushes, flowers, fungus, and a plethora of vines adorned with moss and lichen lend an awe-inspiring air of mystery to the area. Just 300 meters away from Sine Hut, at Enock’s Falls, you’ll find a picture-perfect setting that would make a wonderful screensaver. Sitting on a small ridge at an altitude of 2,596 meters, our wooden huts are surrounded by towering trees, providing a picturesque backdrop for the Afro Montane forest. From here, you can gaze down at a magnificent waterfall that cascades over the rocks below.

DAY 3: Climb to Mutinda Camp

At eight in the morning, hikers hit the trail and soon find themselves in the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone, a challenging ascent with numerous steep stairs. Due to the mud and slippery conditions, progress is slow in the bamboo zone during the rainy season. At 3,147 meters, in the Heather-Rapanea Zone, you’ll find Kalalama Camp. Here, you may rest and have a cup of tea or coffee before continuing on to Mutinda Camp. The atmosphere and forest are wonderful as you climb 551 meters and 1.8 km. The path winds its way along a ridge top, ascending and descending a few small knolls; it crosses multiple small streams and passes near moss-covered waterfalls as it descends into the valley before climbing again.

DAY 8: Descend to Base Camp

The day begins from Hunwick’s Camp with an ascent up a ridge towards McConnell’s Prong, where you can see all three peaks in all their glory, as well as Scott Elliott’s Pass. Eventually, we reach Oliver’s Pass, which is at an elevation of 4,505 meters, after continuing forward. Starting at Hunwick’s Camp and ascending Olivers Pass, a 3-kilometer track leads to the confluence of the Nyamwamba River. From there, the river flows downhill through Kilembe and Kasese to Lake George in Queen Elisabeth National Park. The trail then crosses below Weismann’s Peak.

Kiharo Camp, nestled in a deep valley surrounded by towering cliffs and thick vegetation, is reached after the trail winds its way down the valley from the confluence. After passing through each bog on your descent through the valley, you’ll come across an unusual ridge of stones and earth. This peculiar feature was actually pushed there by glaciers that moved slowly but eventually melted, leaving behind a pile of rocks and debris. After that, you’ll drive to Fort Portal to break the journey, where you can have dinner and spend the night.

Places to Stay: Fort Portal’s Mountains of the Moon Hotel