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Equipment for hiking Rwenzori mountains
The Rwenzori mountains are snowcapped mountains in western Uganda and is also referred to as the mountains of the moon. The highest point on the mountain is the Margherita peak at 5109 meters and the right equipment can get you there through the different zones on the mountain.
The equipment used for hiking Mount Rwenzori includes the essential items to pack for the adventure on the mountains. The Rwenzori mountains are snowcapped mountains in western Uganda and is also referred to as the mountains of the moon. The highest point on the mountain is the Margherita peak at 5109 meters and the right equipment can get you there through the different zones on the mountain. The different equipment to pack for the hike on Rwenzori mountains includes camping equipment, cooking equipment, photography equipment, lighting equipment, trekking poles as well as personal items. Some of this equipment can be rented at an affordable price of around 5 USD to 30 USD and hikers can also carry their own equipment.
Camping equipment
Camping equipment for the hike on Mount Rwenzori include the following;
- sleeping bags can be pitched at the different camping grounds on the mountain
- sleeping tents which can be single tents or double tents and there are some camps which have hut accommodation on the mountain
- Mattresses
- Sleeping bag liners also help to keep dust off the sleeping bags.
Cooking equipment
Cooking equipment is also important for hikes on Mount Rwenzori as the meals are prepared by the cooks who move with the hikers.
- Cutlery such as forks, spoons and knives, spatulas
- Foodstuff is purchased prior to the hike and is carried along and prepared at the different camps where the hikers spend their night and some of the items include energy giving foods and snacks, food rich in carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and also proteins
- light stove for preparing the meals
- Utensils such as cups, plates, cooking pans, kettles
Three meals a day are recommended for the hikers on the mountain and the food types recommended include. The carbohydrates help with altitude sickness and provide energy needed to hike since altitude can affect diet. Hydration is also important during hikes on Mount Rwenzori due to the level of intensity it takes to hike the mountain. About 2 to 3 liters of water is recommended for hiking on the mountain and it also helps with altitude sickness.
Photography equipment
Photography equipment to pack for the hike on Mount Rwenzori includes;
- Cameras
- Lenses capture images from a distance
- Tripod stands help to record group pictures or take pictures at a wide angle
- Selfie sticks can be used especially for cellphone pictures
- Extra batteries
- Memory cards provide alternative storage for the pictures and videos taken
- Camera bags are used to store the equipment safely during the hike
To be able to capture the precious memories while on Mount Rwenzori photography equipment is needed although smaller cameras are easier to carry for the hike to avoid too much luggage which makes hiking tiresome.
Lighting
Lighting equipment provide light during the hikes on Mount Rwenzori especially in the night time and also during the summit hikes which start as early as around midnight or 2:00 am in the morning. They include the following;
- Headlamps
Some of the features of a good headlamp include strong battery life, light weight and lighting a long distance of about 70 meters.
- Torches
Torches can also be carried along for the hikes on the mountain as source of light.
- Power banks
Moving with power banks during the hikes also helps with charging of items like cellphones although network spots maybe difficult to get while on the mountain.
Trekking equipment
Trekking equipment assists the hikers during their daily movements while on the mountain and they include the following;
- Trekking poles which help with balance during hikes on the mountain and they also hold some weight of the hikers which helps to reduce fatigue. These poles can also be hired prior to the hike on the mountain.
- Crampons are attached to the footwear and they help during hikes especially in the glaciers and the snow-capped peaks.
- Ice axes also come in handy when hiking on Mount Rwenzori especially climbing Mount Stanley and Mount Baker and they help during ascend and descend from the snowy peaks. The ice axes can also be rented although some hikers have their own.
Personal items
Some of the personal items to pack for the hike in Rwenzori mountains include the following;
- hiking shoes
- warm clothing,
- insect repellant,
- Toiletries such as soap, cream, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hairbrushes, deodorant, wet wipes, tissue, lip balm, shampoo, sanitary towels for females or tampons
To protect hikers from the sun during their hikes on Mount Rwenzori some of the items to pack include sunscreen, sunhats, moisturizing lotion and also sunglasses.
First aid kit
A good first aid kit for a hike on Mount Rwenzori includes items such as;
- blister plasters or band aids
- allergy medicine
- pain killers
- bandages
- malaria tablets
- Altitude medicine
- Antiseptic creams
Clothing
The type of clothing which is recommended for the hikes on Mount Rwenzori is warm clothing such as;
- noncotton shirts,
- long sleeved shirts
- long trousers
- sandals
- rain jackets
- waterproof pants
- warm socks
- cotton towels
- gloves, gaiters
- sun hats
- warm jackets
- fleece sweaters
- ponchos
- scarfs
Luggage
When hiking on Mount Rwenzori, personal luggage can also be brought along for the hike. However, hikers are encouraged to pack necessary items for the hike and the extra luggage can be kept safely at the hotel before the hike. The luggage to carry along includes;
- waterproof bags to protect luggage during hikes especially when it rains
- laundry bags to keep dirty laundry
- daypack to carry along during the hikes in the day time
- travel bag
It is also recommended to carry luggage not exceeding 15kg to 20 kg during the hike. There are porters who can be hired at a small fee to assist the hikers with their luggage during the hikes on Mount Rwenzori.
Travel requirements
Other items apart from hiking equipment to carry along for the Mount Rwenzori hike include;
- Visas to enter the country which can be applied online prior to the travel to Uganda. The visa can be the Ugandan visa or an East African visa.
- Passports which are valid for at least 6 months are required to enter Uganda
- Covid vaccination certificates for fully vaccinated travelers
- Yellow fever vaccination certificates.
