Mt Rwenzori Hiking Gear

Parking list for Rwenzori Mountaineering services. Mountain Rwenzori is also called “Mountains of the Moon”. It’s situated in western Uganda shared by Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are various peaks at Mountain Rwenzori namely Mount Stanely at 5109m high, Mount Speke at 4844m high, Mount Baker at 4844m, Mount Gessi at 4715m high, Mount Luigi da Savoia at 4627 high and Mount Emin at 4791m high on DRC side.

Non-cotton shirts/ silky

Something that can get dry quickly or wick away moisture is commendable. It’s better to carry at least half clothes of your total trekking days.  You don’t need a shirt for every day. There are some places to give a shirt a good rinse along the way (at John Matte hut there’s a river so close).

Long sleeve shirts

Long-sleeved shirts protect you from insect bites, and direct sunshine, and warm your body in coldness. Two can be enough for your Rwenzori trip. Forget about the cotton long sleeve that’s just going to absorb your sweat and stink up your bag and room; replace it with lightweight, breathable polyester.

Waterproof hiking boots/ shoes

One of the most important hiking gear is a pair of waterproof hiking boots. The challenge involves crossing streams, climbing stairs, and navigating soggy open meadows. To avoid wetting your feet, a pair of waterproof boots is recommendable.

Pairs of pants

You can test your preference.  You can choose jeans or trekking light pants. Jeans are only fine when they are not tight and when it doesn’t rain.

Sandals

You need sandals to relax your feet especially when you are not on a hike. You can also get tired of boots and then put on sandals, especially after a long day hiking. They will as well help you move around the hut, visit the latrines as well as take a shower in the bathrooms.

A water proof jacket

Being a mountain, it can rain any time so it’s important to carry a rain jacket/waterproof jacket to keep you dry. It can be added to the long-sleeved shirt.

Sunglasses – they can protect your eyes from direct sun rays. If you are short or long-sighted, feel free to come with your usual sunglasses recommended by your doctor. All in all, every hiker must carry protective sunglasses.

Waterproof pants

Rwenzori is a rainmaker and it would be wise to at least pack a pair of waterproof pants. Those trekking in the rainy season, you will have to pack them since it will be raining any time.

Pairs of cotton socks

Socks that can absorb moisture from your feet are commendable. Due to the challenging hike, you will not have the energy to wash clothes so, carry pairs that are equivalent to the number of the hiking tours. You will also need socks for the nights to keep your feet warm.

Backpack – You will need a backpack to carry most important items to used during the day. If you will hire a porter to help you carry your simple bags a waterproof bag is commendable.

Comfortable sleeping bags

The slopes of mountain Rwenzori are cold and sometimes temperatures can go below 3 degrees at some camps. You should therefore invest is wool or strong warming bags. I recommend a mummy style 0 degree sleeping bag that’s warm enough even at higher altitude.

Headlamp and torches

Because there no electricity in the huts you will need a head lamp or flashlight help you find your way in the night. For those going to Margherita peak the hike from the hut starts at 2am, so you will need to invest in a good head lamp with a long-life battery because you will be hiking through bare rocks and ice in the dark.

Microfiber towel

The higher you go the colder it becomes; you will get a running nose. A cotton towel would be best but since it takes long to dry, forget about it. Instead, go for a soft quick drying microfiber towel.

First aid kit

During the hike, anything can happen in terms of injury and sickness. For that case, the kit should have essentials like a bandage for any twists, antidiarrheal like Imodium or some other sort, iodine wipes for any cuts, pain killers, moleskin for blisters, high altitude medication in case you are concerned about altitude sickness.

Cameras and extra batteries

While on Uganda safari, expect to take as many photos as you can due to a variety of attraction. On Mount Rwenzori, expect to see beautiful features like scenery, plants, rivers, lakes and waterfalls. Your camera battery and space will go down so it would be wise to carry extra camera battery and memory cards.

Enough snacks

During the hike, the providers will give a little snack but you can as well add some personal favorite snacks. The recommended include protein bars, multivitamins, or anything that is good for your health as you hike.

Garden gloves

During cold time, it’s advisable to put on gloves to keep you warm especially in cold nights or when moving on the glacier areas since it’s too cold.