Reviews
NL
Email Mc Dons | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
December 2014, one month research trip to Mount Rwenzori (The Mountains of the moon)
Richard, Mark, Stephan and i, planned a trip to the Mount Rwenzori which locals call the “Mountain of the moon”. It was the second time for my colleagues who had begun this scheme and had made the first phase. It was my first time in Africa and in particular in Uganda the pearl of Africa indeed, It was through Mark’s gossip and inspirations about the first trip success and about the beauty of the hidden but wonderful, beautiful mountain sceneries which he believed people in the world had not known yet and wished they could explore and discover the still virgin Eco system of fauna and flora in Mount Rwenzori. The mountain has huts which accommodated us with other Belgian citizens.
Interesting was Meeting an expert Sebastian the Director of Riverine Safaris and a Mountain Guide at the airport who we had informed about our return back to the Uganda in time, he was found waiting for us and since we knew about his services as had lead Richard and partners in the first trip 2010. He warmly welcomed to Uganda and later to the Lodge in Kampala for our first Night.
Sebastian is too resourceful young with all the mountain experience ranging from rock and glacier climbing, Nature interpretation, weather and time prediction skills, through him I was to know why Rwenzori mountain is called the “Mountain of the moon”, the history of the whole mountain, revealing the secretes of the Mountain gods which in the past were usually visible and how those times it was dangerous to annoy them through talking funny stories, making noise and how getting outside the hut at night would make you meet them and take you to the wild of the Mountain, how whenever you happen to see them and try take pictures of them, what danger it was those times.
This expedition was an exhilarating and rewarding Mountain Challenge experience. The central circuit hike took us 28 days and 27 nights. Since we could have more than 1 night in a Camp to pursue all activities according to our research plan. Rwenzori is a very unique block Mountain of such steep, slippery trails and frequent rains. Rainfall and cold temperatures, bogs, mud, steep terrain and high altitude make it a challenging trip but real rewarding in life and what one can never think of.
For peak climbers, it is more awesome and rewarding experience at Margarita peak 5109m which I managed to climb with the support of Sebastian pulling me where it was hard for me to make it, putting all my trust in him that he cannot allow me drop and slide down. According to our guide Sebastian, explained that Ruwenzori’s main four peaks rise above 4000m and which are all viewed while on highest Margarita Peak 5109m a.s.l – on Mt. Stanley
Alexandra Peak 5091m a.s.l – on Mt. Stanley
Edward Peak 4843m a.s.l – on Mt.Baker
Vittorio Emanuele Peak 4890m a.s.l – on Mt.Speke
Reaching Elena hut I began creating fear in my heart moving on too slippery rocks, but I could not late any one among us know on climbing the steep Ruwenzori’s ridges till we finally descended down to Kitandara camp that I could talk. On sharing my fears I had, Sebastian advised us a bout the best dry season being mid-June to mid-September and mid-November to mid-March while the other months is just rain and snowing. Weather condition in the mountain of the moon is unpredictable any time is hot teatime or cold water time.
Please do not ignore reviewing the Mountain Checklist for your trip
walking stick for balance and to probe the mud.
1 snow glasses,
1 day bag
1 sleeping bag
1 pr. of mountain boots
1 jogging suit
2 pairs. of woolen socks
2 pairs. of trekking trousers 2 cotton shirts warm
Woolen underwear 1 warm pullover
1 woolen cap 1 pair of gloves, woolen mitten
1 parka, extra-large with hat
1 torch, headlamp incl. batteries
Necessities on the mountain:
1 trekking bag
1 pr. of jogging shoes
1 sun hat
Handkerchiefs
5 prs. Of socks
1 pr. Snow glasses
Leggings up to the knee(Gaiters)
Rain proof and warm gear
Photo equipment
Pocket knife
Appetizer
Drugs against:
Stomach upsets
Headache
1 elastic bandage, Elastoplasts
Water purification tablets
Vitamin C tablets
Sun lotion 20
Lip ointment
For summit climbers;
1 pair. of crampon Proof Mountain boots
1 ice axe
1 Harnesses
1 pair of crampons
1 pc of 50 meter climbing rope depending on the number of the group
NB: Most of these climbing equipment’s can be hired at the base camp
For anyone out there, mountain climber, any other persons planning and willing to experience mountain Challenge in your life time in the world, plan to meet Mount Rwenzori on the boards of the Democratic Republic of Congo with RIVERINE SAFARIS which with a lot of passion i recommend for any other person intending to reach your dreams of mountain climbing you might have had for various years. Inquire and seek to make a trip with Sebastian
Mc Dons
US
Email [email protected] | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Completion of research about world wide Global change - Rwenzori Mountain 2014 December
Finally we came up to the conclusion of our research about global change. Buy December last year 2014, we managed to come up with our last findings having been helped by Bakamwegha Sebastian the Director owning Riverine Safaris a tour agency based in Kampala the capital of Uganda and my team of Richards, Steven and Mc Dons. We loved to use again engage Sebastian though committed with work in Kampala because we had been guided by him before during our first phase of research and having shared lots of facts a bout Uganda's climatic changes and how Rwenzori mountain used to be in the past and what it is now. We found this tour Operator more resourceful in our research due to his mountain experience and about tourism in Uganda as a whole.
Rwenzori mountain is more exciting mountain, very unique and with lots of sceneries to see such as green vegetation zones, the shape of the mountain, various river streams, nice looking three horned Chameleon. Most people call it the Rwenzori challenge because of it land scape, hikes and especially during rain season when its to too wet and slippery.
We did not find problems in communications while interacting with the local habitants along the slopes of the mountain since our guide would interpreter, services were good such as the Mountain Huts, very trusted escorts, Mountain cooks were skilled in preparing food according to order and served on time since every thing was under Sebastian's management he loved to see every thing pushing on, our expected results were attained according to our research objectives since we had some one in guide and good in advises and making various decisions hence making our trip more interesting and a success.
You should never be troubled for not making your self an inquiry to Sebastian at riverine safaris or seek any relevant information concerning tourism in Uganda, i strongly believe he can make it for you too by planing your trip in Uganda.
I highly recommend Riverine safaris for your trip to Uganda and seek whether Sebastian would be free for that period. Meet him and late me know how your tip was
Mark Anderson
GL
Email Barnett Joseph | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Riverine safaris to remember and have no regret or doubt for your booking cost
We are still in Uganda on our late days to get back home but I and my family have indeed tested the thrill and credibility of what potential tour operator looks like and how I wish it should be across the globe when we choose to plan our family vacation in Uganda with Riverine safaris. Something impressing and important about these guys is their kind of professionalism and some kind of honest they have showed to us and being so helpful whenever you need help about anything in Uganda. On arrival everything was set and just waiting for us to arrive ready with a fleet of confortable van, very interesting. With this company your impressively welcomed at the airport with a gift of either yellow banana or anything unique accompanied with sweet briefing from the director of the company himself very free young but knowledgeable in tours across Uganda and Rwanda.
From the guides, tour van, Accommodation and meal were so appetizing. When we left Kampala to Murchison falls national park, we began enjoying our trip by stopping at Ziwa Rhino’s sanctuary very few in number. Murchison fall it being the largest protected area in Uganda, has mostly majority of wildlife viewing different kinds of animals in the park and lots of birds. Most specular about the park is the top of the fall which we couldn’t imagine such big, large river actually fitting in a narrow gorge making a reflection of a very beautiful rainbow. Nice accommodation in Paraa lodge
Leaving Murchison National to kibale National park was our largest drive but with our very reliable guide, we couldn’t mind much that even though one could get a sleep, could still weak up live on the local roads of Uganda. We managed to interact with Chimpanzee in Kibale park our very first time seeing them feeding and playing their extraordinary games you may think they are happy seeing you or welcoming you jet they are just enjoying their natural Environment because what they have that man does have is the too much hairy body but all other characteristics and nature are for man, very exciting Chimpanzees in Kibale National park and Kyambura riverine gorge in Queen Elizabeth National park all in the west of the country.
More of it is the tree climbing Lions in Ishasha Queen Elizabeth National park. It is un believable scenario that Lions can climb straight trees with their prey till one wishes to see them him/herself and they are always in large numbers in a tree some feeding, others resting from hunting and others using trees and un under cover techniques in trees waiting for a prey to approach by and drop unto to it very enjoyable viewing them close but in trees. Uganda is indeed worth it and the pearl of Africa
The following morning we drove south wards to Bwindi Impenetrable National park another destination of amazing, lovely creatures and loved by many tourists across the world. We had a great night at Buhoma camp having great warmth since the place is cold enough preparing for an attempt Gorilla tracking the following morning. This section of Uganda is too cold in the evening, morning and especially when it rains that one need warm wearing’s as any time is tea time. Tracking these creatures in the Impenetrable is a rewarding experience searching any of the Gorilla families in the Impenetrable jungle like is the case tracking Chimpanzee in Kibale.
One of our guides makes a joke that it’s like when God make his creation balance, the beam balance bent much more to Uganda in terms of natural creations as the country is the most ranged with nature because whatever you will look at or pass by is a resource of nature that one would love to grab, free fresh air in the forests and across rivers since some of Uganda’s water stream are flowing from mountainous areas some having snow on top like mount Rwenzori also in western Uganda.
Lake Mburo National park also located in the west of Kampala gave us a wonderful nature walk tour and a game drive with in the park having lots of wildlife to enjoy.
Recommendation
Riverine safaris is one of the best and actually the best tour Operators to book with offering classic trip in Uganda and Rwanda where you finish up your trip with only happiness, joy and smiling, good and professional guides, good food and accommodation booking, great and reliable family tour vans, the honest showed, and much more about this Operator, real suitable for Uganda’s tourism because their work is perfectly done without doubt.
Our next plan is to try climbing mount Rwenzori Mountains and Mountains of the moon 5109m which the director told us about, being where his career in tourism began as a mountaineering guide as we felt like we are even trekking at the very time of the story about the Mountains. Hopeful come January or February 2016
Email David Ayumwi Lyimo | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Is the best
It very great i recommended for all friend to do trip with this company