Trek Kinyeti Mountains, Hike Imatong Hills In South Sudan

Trek Kinyeti  Mountains, Hike Imatong Hills In South Sudan 

Part of the little-visited Imatong Mountains, composed of Mount Kinyeti, South Sudan’s highest peak offers excellent climbing for those who like a challenge. Located some 200 kilometers southeast of Juba, the Imatong range is a breathtaking series of steep forested slopes, green valleys, lakes, and streams. The mountains rise from their surrounding plains in Eastern Equatoria state and form a natural border with neighboring Uganda to the south.

The Imatong Mountains stand as a striking and beautiful anomaly. The area is South Sudan’s finest example of an Afromontane region – broken chains of forested mountains that are found across the continent, but most notably along the East African Rift. Separated by lowlands, these high-altitude ‘sky islands’ result in distinct and often spectacular ecosystems.

At 2,500 meters, Mount Imatong is only the second-highest peak in the range, surpassed by Mount Kinyeti which reaches 3,187 meters. Kinyeti also lends its name to a valley and river that cuts through the mountain chain, running northward alongside other streams that collectively drain into the Badigeru Swamp.

Mount Kinyeti is the highest peak in South Sudan. It is located in the Imatong Mountains in Ikwoto County of Eastern Equatoria, near the Ugandan border. Kinyeti has an elevation of 3,187 meters (10,456 ft) above sea level. The group of high mountains that contain Kinyeti, extending to the border with Uganda, are sometimes called the Lomariti or Lolobai mountains.

The lower parts of the mountain were covered with lush forest. These are the most northern forests of the East African montane forest ecoregion. The summit is rocky, with montane grassland and scattered, low ericaceous scrubs, low subshrub, and herbs in rock crevices.

On the trail to Mount Kinyeti, there are streams every 2-3 hours, with excellent clean water. There are good campsites that can be cleared with machetes within 5 5-minute walk of each stream. You will need local guides for the trail to Kinyeti, who can be hired at Katire. The forest is very dense once past the old plantation forest and local paths will have to be followed.

It will take fit trekkers 3 days to summit Kinyeti and return to Katire, the majority of people will need 4 days. There is an excellent campsite in Katire on the site of an old colonial house. It has a clean long drop and a stream of water close by.

You will drive early in the morning to Katire town via Torit where you will stop for lunch. The journey will take 5-6 hours and you will spend the night there. Climb off Kinyeti Mountain to base camp A and you will begin the hike very early at 6:00 am after your morning breakfast with the help of an experienced local tour guide and porters. We will set up our camp for the night at base camp A.

Then Climb off Kinyeti Mountain to base camp B where you will set up your camp for the night. You will begin your final climb in the morning after breakfast to the summit and then descend to base camp A where you will camp for the night. Then You will begin your final descent in the morning after breakfast (7:00 am) to back to Katire town.

The forests that cover the mountainsides provide a home to diverse species of wildlife, including African rock python, mountain reedbuck, and colobus monkey. Perhaps even more impressive is the variety of birdlife that the area contains, from grey-headed Nigrita and white-headed saw-wing to the eye-catching emerald cuckoo and yellow-billed barbet. Also named after Mount Kinyeti is the Mount Kineti chameleon, a threatened species. 

Nilotic peoples, including the Lango, Acholi, and Lotuko have also thrived in and around the mountains for centuries through subsistence farming and hunting.

Access to Mount Kinyeti and the best time to visit:

The Imatongs are best accessed via Katire, an old British forestry station. Katire is accessed by a recently graded dirt road from Torit, the capital of Eastern Equatoria state. The journey will take 1-2 hours in a 4x4. You can catch local minibusses infrequently from opposite the main market in Torit. Torit is accessed from Juba, the capital, via a recently graded dirt road. The journey takes 3-4 hours and you can catch minibuses to Torit from the main river bridge in Juba.

Juba is accessed overland from Uganda, or by air from Nairobi, Kampala, and Addis Ababa. The Mountain can be visited all year round, however best time to travel is in the dry season; Nov - Mar each year, otherwise roads can become impassable.

RECOMMENDED PROGRAM.

Arrange and Book with Ultimate Wild Safaris for the Imatong ranges Hiking tour in South Sudan.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mobile: +256 705 087 906 / 760 282 342