After ten expeditions into the Rwenzori Mountains, I've learned that success starts long before you reach the trailhead. Here are the lessons every climber should know before taking on Africa's toughest mountain range.
People ask me this question almost every week.
"How do I prepare for the Rwenzori Mountains?"
Most people expect me to send them a packing list or a training plan.
Those things matter. In fact, they're essential. But after ten expeditions into the Rwenzori Mountains, seven successful summits, climbing every major mountain in the range, and experiencing everything from scorching sunshine to snowstorms, hailstorms and relentless rain, I've learned something far more important.
Preparation doesn't begin with your backpack.
It begins with your mind.
I learned that lesson on my very first expedition.
In December 2023, I stood at the beginning of the Bukurungu Trail with butterflies in my stomach. I'd only started mountaineering a year earlier. Before the Rwenzoris, I'd climbed Sabyinyo, Muhabura, Gahinga, Moroto and Napak. Those mountains gave me confidence, but everyone I spoke to described the Rwenzoris differently.
"They're brutal."
"They're the toughest mountains in Africa."
"They'll humble you."
To be honest, I believed every word.
I wasn't even sure I'd make it past the first day.
The Bukurungu Trail didn't make me feel any better. The sun was unforgiving, the climbs seemed endless, and mentally I kept questioning whether I had made the right decision.
Then something changed.
As we climbed higher, the landscape opened up before me. Waterfalls disappeared into clouds. Giant groundsels rose from the mist like something from another world. Valleys stretched farther than I could imagine.
At that moment, fear gave way to curiosity.
I stopped asking myself, "Can I finish?"
Instead, I started asking, "What else is waiting around the next corner?"
That simple change in mindset carried me through the expedition. It eventually carried me across every major mountain in the Rwenzori Range in just seven days. To this day, I'm proud to have become the first Ugandan to climb every major mountain in the range—and to do it in a single seven-day expedition.
Since then, I've returned to the Rwenzoris ten times, and every expedition has taught me something new.
The first lesson is simple: train your mind before you train your legs.
People spend months asking me how to get fit. Should they run? Should they climb stairs? Should they lift weights?
My answer usually surprises them.
Fitness is important, but mindset is everything.
I've seen incredibly fit people struggle because they'd already convinced themselves they couldn't continue. I've also watched hikers with average fitness reach the summit because they simply refused to quit.
The Rwenzoris are demanding. There will be rain. There will be mud. There will be steep climbs that seem never-ending. If your mind is prepared for those moments, your body will usually follow.
That doesn't mean physical fitness isn't important. Quite the opposite.
The stronger your legs, lungs and heart are before your expedition, the more you'll enjoy every day on the mountain. The Rwenzoris involve long ascents, steep descents and many hours of hiking at high altitude. Your heart works harder, your breathing changes and fatigue builds day after day.
Before your expedition, spend time hiking, climbing stairs, strengthening your legs and improving your cardiovascular fitness. You don't need to become an elite athlete. You simply need to arrive ready to enjoy the journey instead of merely surviving it.
The next lesson is one many people underestimate: pack the right gear.
Good equipment won't make the mountain easier, but bad equipment will make it much harder.
Invest in quality waterproof hiking boots, proper waterproof clothing and warm layers. The weather in the Rwenzoris changes quickly, and rain is never far away.
One thing that surprises many visitors is the gumboots. Because of the famous Rwenzori bogs, you'll probably spend much of your trek wearing them. If you've never walked long distances in gumboots, practise before you arrive. It seems like a small detail, but it makes a remarkable difference once you're on the mountain.
Another thing I encourage every climber to do is learn about altitude before arriving.
Altitude affects everyone differently. I've guided experienced hikers who struggled with altitude sickness, and I've watched first-time trekkers adapt surprisingly well.
Read about the symptoms. Understand how your body might respond. Most importantly, never ignore your guide if they notice something isn't right.
The mountain always rewards patience.
There's another piece of advice I rarely hear anyone mention.
Take a basic rock-climbing class before coming to the Rwenzoris.
You don't need to become a climber. You simply need to become comfortable using your hands, trusting your feet and moving confidently across exposed rock.
Mount Speke has long rocky sections, while Mount Stanley, especially beyond Elena Camp on the way to Margherita Peak, requires scrambling over exposed terrain and using fixed ropes.
Those sections become much less intimidating if you've experienced something similar before your expedition.
Of all the lessons the mountain has taught me, perhaps the most memorable came from one simple mistake.
We were crossing one of the Rwenzori's notorious bogs.
Our guide kept repeating the same instruction.
"Step where I step."
I thought I could see a better route.
One step later, I was knee-deep in mud.
It was embarrassing, but it taught me something I'll never forget.
The guides know these mountains better than anyone. When they tell you where to step, when to slow down or when to rest, trust them. They're not guessing.
They're keeping you safe.
After ten expeditions, I've seen the Rwenzoris in almost every mood imaginable. I've climbed in blazing sunshine, walked through relentless rain, experienced hailstorms and snowstorms, watched the glaciers shrink year after year, and helped climbers through difficult moments with altitude sickness.
No two expeditions have ever been the same.
That's why I never stop respecting these mountains.
The Rwenzoris don't care how experienced you are. They don't care how fit you are. They simply ask you to arrive prepared, stay humble and keep putting one foot in front of the other.
So if you're thinking about climbing the Rwenzoris, remember this.
Train your mind before your legs.
Get your body ready.
Invest in good gear.
Learn about altitude.
Become comfortable on rock.
Listen to your guides.
Respect the mountain.
Do those things, and you'll give yourself the best possible chance of not only reaching the summit, but truly enjoying one of the greatest mountain adventures Africa has to offer.
The Rwenzoris have a remarkable way of teaching lessons that stay with you long after you've left the trail.
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