The story of
this expedition
From Brussels you fly to Entebbe, on the shore of Lake Victoria. From there we drive west until the plains run out and a mountain range disappears into the clouds, on the border with Congo. This is the Rwenzori, also known as the Mountains of the Moon. Often you only see the summits once you are already deep inside them.
At the park gate we leave the road behind. The first days take you through rainforest and bamboo, over tree roots and through mud that can reach your knees. Higher up the forest turns into a world of moss, heather and giant plants several metres tall, with small lakes in the mist. A local mountain team of porters comes with us. We sleep in simple mountain huts and camps, cook our own expedition food, filter our water from the streams and climb a little higher every day.
Above 4,500 metres the ice begins. On summit day we leave in the dark, crampons on and roped up, across the glacier of Mount Stanley to Margherita Peak: 5,109 metres, the highest point in Uganda and the third highest summit in Africa. The final section is a scramble over rock. In clear weather you look out over Uganda and Congo at the same time.
Through the forest
mud, roots and bambooThe first days take you through dense rainforest and bamboo. The path is a trail of tree roots, slippery stones and mud that sometimes reaches your knees. On the wettest stretches you hop from tussock to tussock or walk on planks across the bog. Boots are no luxury here. Under the canopy it is humid and mild, and you hear water everywhere. You learn to find your pace on ground where no two steps are the same.
Through the mist
moss, lakes and giant plantsHigher up the forest opens out. Heather as tall as trees hangs thick with moss, and between it stand giant lobelias and other giant plants several metres tall that you hardly see anywhere else. Dark little lakes lie between the rocks, the mist opens and closes, and at night it often freezes. We climb a little higher every day and sleep in a simple mountain hut or camp, so your body has time to adjust to the altitude. Every day we measure your oxygen saturation.
On the ice
Margherita Peak, 5,109 metresThe last night before the summit you sleep high, close to the ice. We leave in the dark with head torch, helmet and crampons, and move as a rope team across the glacier of Mount Stanley. This ice lies some forty kilometres from the equator and gets smaller every year. The last stretch to Margherita Peak is a scramble over rock, with fixed ropes where needed. In clear weather you see Uganda on one side and Congo on the other from 5,109 metres.
What makes this
expedition unique?
Glacier on the equator
Crampons and rope on one of the last glaciers in Africa.
Third highest summit in Africa
Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley, 5,109 metres, on the border of Uganda and Congo.
Giant plants in the mist
Walking through valleys of moss and plants that grow metres tall here.
From rainforest to ice
Bamboo, bog, heather, rock and snow in a single expedition.
In the Rwenzori the mud is harder than the altitude. Day after day you sink in up to your ankles or knees, and you feel that in your legs by the time you reach the glacier. That is why the preparation puts the emphasis on endurance and why we practise with crampons and rope beforehand. That way you still have energy left for the ice on summit day.Koen De LeeuwFounder and expedition leader, known from De Expeditie on PlayParacommando · Wilderness First Responder Meet Koen
De Expeditie
De Tijd
Humo
Play MediaHow we
work
Self-sufficient,
never alone
Once we pass the park gate, we are off grid. A local mountain team of porters comes with us, but we cook our own expedition food on the stove, filter our water from the streams, keep our evening clothes dry and learn to deal with mud, cold and altitude.
You learn to move with crampons, ice axe and rope, guided by an experienced X Guide you meet long before departure, during the preparation programme.
Safety and
guidance
Safety is our highest priority. Our X Guides hold a Wilderness First Responder certificate and work with a locally certified mountain team that knows the Rwenzori.
We carry satellite phones and GPS tracking, do a daily health check with oxygen saturation measurement at altitude and work with fixed safety procedures and an evacuation plan. The weather and the condition of the ice help decide whether and when we go for the summit.
Before departure we carry out a thorough risk analysis and prepare everything down to the last detail.
Preparation
of 3 to 6 months
The programme starts after you sign up with a kick off. Monthly group training sessions and a technical training follow, with a final check two weeks before departure.
Everything
at a glance
All prices are per person and exclude flights. We book flights together with you during the preparation programme.
- Departure
- January to February 2028
- Duration
- ± 10 days. We set the programme and exact dates together with the group.
- Level
- Challenge4/5
- Group
- 6 to 12 participants
- Price
- €7,600 ppIncl. preparation programme
Included
- Preparation programme of 3 to 6 months
- Professional X Guides
- Locally certified mountain team: local crew and porters
- All permits and fees for Rwenzori Mountains National Park
- Technical climbing gear: crampons, ice axe, harness, rope and helmet
- Survival equipment and sleep setup
- Navigation, stoves and water filters
- All overnight stays
- All meals during the expedition
- All local transport
- All local tips
Not included
- Flights
- Transport to and from the airport
- Personal clothing (top, bottom, footwear)
- Insurance (cancellation and search and rescue)
Frequently asked questions
See all questionsWhere is the Rwenzori and how do I get there?
The Rwenzori lies in western Uganda, on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. You fly from Brussels to Entebbe and travel west with the group to the foot of the mountains. Local transport is included. We book flights together with you during the preparation programme; they are invoiced separately.
How high is Margherita Peak?
At 5,109 metres, Margherita Peak is the highest summit of Mount Stanley and the highest point in Uganda. After Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya it is the third highest summit in Africa. We climb gradually over several days so your body can adjust to the altitude, with a daily health check including oxygen saturation.
What is the weather like in the Rwenzori in January and February?
January and February are among the drier months, but it is never completely dry here: rain, mist and mud are part of the Rwenzori. In the rainforest the days are mild, higher up it often freezes at night. You receive a packing list built on layers, and we go through it together at the kick off.
Is there really ice on the equator?
Yes. Mount Stanley still has glaciers, some forty kilometres from the equator. They get smaller every year. On summit day we cross the glacier with crampons and rope.
How hard is the climb and do I need climbing experience?
The level is Challenge (4/5). The difficulty lies mainly in the mud and the wet days one after another, and in a long summit day over ice and rock above 5,000 metres. You do not need climbing experience: you practise crampons, ice axe and rope work in the technical training of the preparation programme. You do not have to be a top athlete, but you spend months building your endurance.
Where do we sleep during the expedition?
In simple mountain huts and camps inside the national park. A local mountain team of porters comes with us; along the way we cook our own expedition food. Element X provides your backpack and sleeping bag, which you receive before departure.
How safe is an expedition in the Rwenzori?
Safety is our highest priority. Our X Guides hold a Wilderness First Responder certificate and work with a locally certified mountain team. We carry satellite communication, do daily health checks including oxygen saturation and work with an evacuation plan and fixed safety procedures. The weather and the condition of the ice help decide whether we go for the summit.
What is included and what is not?
Included: the preparation programme of 3 to 6 months, professional X Guides, a local mountain team with porters, all permits and park fees, technical climbing gear, survival equipment and sleep setup, all overnight stays, all meals during the expedition, all local transport and local tips. Not included: flights, transport to and from the airport, personal clothing and insurance (cancellation and search and rescue).
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Your expedition in the Rwenzori
starts with a conversation
Your preparation is included and starts 3 to 6 months before departure.