Hello,
This for those interested by trekking the rwenzori with RMS (Rwenzori mountaineering services). The website http://www.rwenzorimountaineeringservices.com/ is no longer in use by RMS, they do not have the control on it, but ex-employees still have the password. So any information coming from an e-mail or phone call to the addresses and numbers detailed in the website are NOT related with any RMS employees. I've made the experience at my expenses.
I was in e-mail contact with a Mr Elisha, an ex-RMS employee who claimed he was an RMS staff. He answered all my questions by mail and was very accurate. In the end of the process, when we agreed on prices and itineraries, he gave me a few account numbers (german based, US based and Uganda based) so that I could make a deposit. I did a deposit of 1,000US$. Fortunately enough, it was blocked somewhere by a careful bank. I did not realize it when I first arrived in Kasese.
It was such an nightmare when we arrived in Kasese. When we arrived, this guy, Elisha came (in the hotel, somehow he looked like he did not really wanted to go to the office, so that led me to think something was wrong), after we summarized the planned trip, he wanted all the money. I said 'ok, but let's go to the office so that you make me a proper receipt'. Somehow he was in contact we the accountant who looked very uncomfortable. The accountant did not tell me at once that he was an imposter so that it added to the already confused situation.
At some point I realized something was wrong. I lost my trust in RMS. But the manager called me and proposed me to negotiate directly with him in his office at the HQ (base of trail). And there he told me that he was about to send the police after this guy because he refused to hand him the password over and was detouring people from its organization.
Conclusion of this: do not trust this website or any information you get from phone calls or e-mails. Go directly to the head office at the base of the trail (in the Kasese office, there is only an accountant who can't decide on anything (nor itinerary, nor discount)). Go and check with Mr Stanley, the manager.
And the end of the day, we had a nice experience thanks to the guides who were skillful. However, we met another group with RMS guides, who were not that skillful, so it depends on who you will go with. But the prices are very high for what it was, and the wages of the staff are very low. So tips are expected to be high and you should foresee a minimum of 150US$ for tipping your team at the end of this difficult trek.
Good luck,
Tim
