Rwenzori Trekking Cost: Park Fees, Routes and Packages for the Mountains of the Moon (2026)

A Rwenzori Mountains trek is one of the hardest and most rewarding walks in Africa, and the cost is easier to plan than many people expect. This guide sets out what a Rwenzori trek costs, from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) park fees to the all-inclusive packages sold by trekking operators, along with the main routes, the best time to go and how to reach the trailheads, as of October 2026.

The prices below come from UWA's published conservation tariff and from operators' own websites. UWA's tariff states that prices can change without notice, and operator prices are quoted "from", so confirm the current figure when you book.

How Rwenzori trekking works

Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers almost 1,000 square kilometres along Uganda's border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its highest point, Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley, reaches 5,109 metres, making it the third-highest summit in Africa.

Unlike Uganda's gorilla parks, you do not book a single permit from UWA for a Rwenzori trek. UWA charges park entrance and hiking fees, but the mountaineering itself is run by licensed operators who supply guides, porters, cooks, food and hut or camp accommodation. UWA's tariff says as much: mountaineering services are provided by Rwenzori operators and are not priced on the tariff. In practice, most trekkers buy a package that already includes the UWA fees.

UWA park fees (as of October 2026)

These are UWA's charges for Rwenzori Mountains National Park, per person, for foreign non-residents, then foreign residents, then East African citizens.

Park entrance: 35 US dollars, 25 dollars, 15,000 Uganda shillings, for each 24 hours in the park.

Rwenzori mountain hike: 50 dollars, 40 dollars, 50,000 shillings.

Bukurungu, Kazingo, Sebwe and Bugalista Falls trails and the Kinyampanika chimpanzee trail: 50 dollars, 40 dollars, 50,000 shillings each.

Bird watching and nature walks: 40 dollars, 30 dollars, 30,000 shillings.

Entrance is counted in 24-hour blocks from the time you enter, and extra hours are charged as another day, so a seven-day trek means seven days of entrance fees. Children aged 5 to 15 are charged child rates and under-fives enter free. UWA accepts mobile money, card machines, bank transfers and its online portal, and its annual passes do not cover hiking or mountaineering.

What the packages cost

Because entrance fees are charged per day, the length of your trek drives the price. Two operators publish package prices online.

Rwenzori Mountaineering Services, which starts its treks at Nyakalengija on the eastern side of the range, lists these "from" prices per person: a three-day walk to John Matte camp at 510 dollars, four days to Bujuku at 625 dollars, five days for Mount Speke at 850 dollars, the six-day Central Circuit without a summit at 1,200 dollars, the seven-day Central Circuit with Margherita Peak at 1,365 dollars, and nine days for Mount Stanley, Mount Speke and Mount Baker at 1,700 dollars. The company says its packages include the UWA entrance fee, guides, porters, meals and accommodation in the mountains, while climbing equipment is hired separately at its head office.

Rwenzori Trekking Safaris, which has offices in Kasese and Kampala, lists a one-day hike to Nyabitaba from 120 dollars, two days to Lake Mahoma from 280 dollars, the seven-day Central Circuit from 1,400 dollars, eight days from Kilembe to Margherita Peak from 1,750 dollars, and longer multi-peak expeditions from 2,000 dollars for ten days up to 4,050 dollars for eighteen days. It says it charges 100 dollars for each extra peak and 150 dollars a day for unplanned extensions.

On top of the package, budget for travel to the trailhead, a night or two in Kasese or Fort Portal, tips for guides and porters, and gear hire if you are going to the glaciers.

The main routes

Central Circuit: the classic route, starting at Nyakalengija. Rwenzori Mountaineering Services' seven-day itinerary climbs to Nyabitaba camp at 2,651 metres, then John Matte at 3,505 metres, Bujuku at 3,962 metres and Elena at 4,541 metres. Summit day goes from Elena to Margherita Peak and down to Kitandara camp at 4,430 metres, taking about four to five hours up and two to three hours back to Elena. The trek then descends via Guy Yeoman camp at 3,261 metres to Nyakalengija.

Kilembe Trail: an approach from the southern side, near Kasese, usually sold as a slightly longer trek to Margherita Peak.

Short treks: if you do not want to climb into ice, one-day walks to Nyabitaba, two-day loops to Lake Mahoma, and the three- or four-day walks to John Matte or Bujuku show you the bamboo, giant heather and giant lobelia zones without a technical summit.

Reaching Margherita Peak means crossing glacier ice, so you will need crampons, a harness and a helmet, and your guides will rope you up. Operators rent this equipment, but ask exactly what is included before you pay.

When to go

The driest periods are December to February and June to August. March to May and September to November are wetter, but rain can fall in any month, and the trails are famous for deep mud and bog. Waterproof boots or gumboots, gaiters, rain gear and warm layers are essential at every time of year.

Getting there

Kasese is the main gateway, about 437 kilometres west of Kampala and roughly 25 kilometres from the park. The Central Circuit starts at Nyakalengija and the Kilembe Trail at Kilembe, and Rwenzori Mountaineering Services advises arriving at Nyakalengija in the morning to hire equipment and meet your guides and porters. Fort Portal, to the north, is another base if you are combining the trek with Kibale's chimpanzees; see our guide to chimpanzee tracking in Kibale.

Safety and insurance

Altitude is the main risk on summit routes. The slow climb on the seven-day circuit helps you acclimatise, but tell your guide at once if you develop headaches, nausea or breathlessness. UWA's tariff does not list a rescue fee for the Rwenzori, and Rwenzori Trekking Safaris says travel insurance covering evacuation and rescue is required, so check that your policy covers trekking above 5,000 metres.

Planning a visit

Book: choose an operator, confirm what the package includes and whether UWA fees are already in the price, and book early for December and the June to August peak.

Combine: the Rwenzori sit close to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale, so a trek fits easily into a western Uganda circuit; see our Queen Elizabeth National Park fees guide and our Rwenzori Mountains destination page.

Dates: our guide to the best time to visit Uganda covers the seasons across the country.

Photo: Vincent Mugaba / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).