My friends and I are contemplating climbing the Rwenzoris for our 50th birthday. 10 years ago we climbed Kilimanjaro. We don't have any technical climbing experience, but are all in good shape. Does anyone know if this is a doable climb for us? If so, can you recommend an outfitter to go with. And, finally, how safe is that part of Uganda these days.
Thanks so much.
You don't need to have much technical experience, so as long as you're in good shape you should be okay. There are some parts of the climb that get pretty vigorous and some that get damn cold, but that only makes the end feeling better. A good site that gives you a run-down on the specific treks and is a useful resource is http://www.rwenzori.com/.
As far as safety goes, last I knew the only real iffy area I know of on the DRC border is to the north on Lake Albert. The Rwenzori area is good-to-go.
The rainy seasons/dry seasons are changing in Uganda, so make sure you know when the dry season is before you go. It is impossible to hike there during the rainy seasons.
I've been through the Rwenzori maybe a half dozen times, and everytime it would take my breath away. I believe that Rwenzori Mtneering Services (RMS) is the only tourism provider. That's for the central circuit, and it really doesn't compare to other regions in the Rwenzori, and I've been to others, also. Bite the bullet, pay the price, and go with RMS, ask for Dinky to be your guide.
aloha,
ecoej