4 Days Waterfalls Trail – Rwenzori Mountains Trek

After an early breakfast, trek to the footsteps of the mountain to start the climb from 1,450m to Sine Hut, 2,680m, where you will spend the night.

This hike begins at the valley floor, winding through the towering trees of the Afro-Montane Forest Zone. As you ascend steadily, you will encounter a variety of birds and might spot blue monkeys darting through the forest. Occasionally, groups of 15 to 20 black and white Colobus monkeys can be seen swinging in the treetops. Rare sightings of the L’Hoest monkey, a cultural emblem of the Bukonzo people protected by the King or Omusinga, are possible, and you might hear wild chimpanzees in the distance. The forest has diverse plant species, from tall trees and bamboo thickets to low shrubs, flowers, fungi, and vines draped in moss and lichen, creating a stunning visual appeal. Enock’s Falls, located just 300 meters from Sine Hut, provides a perfect photo opportunity. At Sine Camp, situated at 2,596 meters, wooden huts nestled among tall trees on a narrow ridge offer a serene spot to admire the Afro-Montane Forest and a breathtaking waterfall below. For those in good shape, the hike can continue to Kalalama Camp at 3,134 meters, offering more time at Mutinda Camp, where you can climb to Mutinda Lookout at 3,975 meters for spectacular views.

After a hearty breakfast, the trek begins at 8:30 am, leading you into the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone, which involves a steep climb with many high steps. During the wet season, this zone can be quite muddy and slippery, slowing the pace.

Despite the challenging conditions, the forest’s beauty is captivating as you ascend 551 meters over a 2 km distance to reach Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters, located in the Heather-Rapanea Zone. Here, you can take a break, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, and have a snack before continuing up the valley. The trail crosses the hillside, passing some spectacular moss-covered waterfalls, and leads to a large bog where you can admire the magnificent Giant Lobelia flowers.

After appreciating the Lobelia, you will return to Kalalama Camp for lunch. Post-lunch, the trek continues along the ridge through stunningly beautiful Giant Heather trees to Samalaira Camp at 3,170 meters. Along the way, you will cross two small, picturesque streams.

Upon reaching Samalira Camp, you can rest for a while and may choose to follow the path to the base of Samalira Falls, which cascades down a narrow valley lined with Giant Heather trees, creating a spectacular scene. About 100 meters from the camp, you can get a reliable Airtel network signal, allowing you to catch up on messages or emails.

The trail from Samalira Camp ascends 200 meters to cross a ridge before descending into a long valley leading to the Nyamwamba Valley and Cathy’s Falls, which are especially spectacular after heavy rain. A few kilometres downstream, the river plunges into a deep valley. This group of waterfalls was first discovered in August 2020 by John Hunwick, who spent the first COVID-19 lockdown exploring new areas and developing new trail ideas in the National Park.

The first waterfall, Nyamwamba Falls, has a total height of 52 meters and a deep pool at the base where you can swim. Over the next 600 meters, the river rapidly descends through a series of rapids to Ajarova Falls and Plozza Falls.

John named the third set of falls after his mother, Kathleen Plozza, and in honour of his great-great-grandfather, Antonio Plozza (1850–1923), who lived high on the mountainside of the lower Poschiavo valley on the Swiss-Italian border near Tirano and loved exploring the mountains. Overlooking Plozza Falls, there is a covered platform where you can view the falls and enjoy a small snack before continuing. Below Plozza Falls, there are more waterfalls, ending with Bridal Falls, where the water flows over a large flat rock, creating an effect similar to a bride’s veil.

Halfway down these falls, the bamboo zone begins, creating an amazing atmosphere with mist from the falls nourishing the moss-covered bamboo and evergreen grasses and herbs that the Rwenzori Duiker feeds on. It is common to see Duiker along this section, which is also home to the Rwenzori leopard, a dark-coloured leopard unique to the Rwenzori Mountains.

The forest along this section is magnificent and teeming with life, including many birds, primates, duikers, and hyrax. When you reach Forest View Camp at 2,580 meters above sea level, we will stop for the night.

The trail from Forest View Camp descends through tall forest trees and along ridges, offering stunning views of the valley below. At the bottom of the steeper section, you’ll reach Nyamwamba Camp at 1,973 meters, where you can take a break for a snack and drinks. Afterwards, the trail continues down a gentle slope to the park offices and back to Kilembe or your accommodation.