Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National Park which is also known as the mountains of the moon is located in western Uganda along the Uganda-Congo border over 298 km from Kampala city. Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it sits on almost 1,000 km² in size, the park holds a third passion as highest rising up more than 16,700 feet above sea level in Africa.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park has various peaks such as Margherita Peak is the highest peak on the ranges making it the 3rd highest peak in Africa with many waterfalls, lakes, and glaciers found here together with its twin peak, Mount Stanley, which is within the park. The 4th and 5th highest peaks, Mount Speke and Mount Baker, are also found in the park. Being found at the floor of the Western Rift Valley, Mountain Rwenzori is a Block mountain formed by faulting.

Wildlife

Mount Rwenzori hosts about 70 species of mammals with 6 Albertine Rift endemics of which 4 are endemic to the park and 3 are rare species in the world. The three-horned chameleons are rare reptiles and unique to elsewhere in the world, as you manoeuvring through dense forest which difficult to spot some mammals, however, other mammals include Rwenzori otters, elephants, and chimpanzees, leopards and elephant, antelope such as bushbucks can be easily seen while in mount Rwenzori national park.

Birdlife

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is now a home of over 217 bird species of which 17 species are endemic to the Park, for example of the bird species include Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Archers’ Robin-chat, White-starred Robin, Rwenzori Batis, Montane Sooty Boubou, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Slender-billed Starling, Blue-headed Sunbird, Golden-winged Sunbird, Strange Weaver and several varieties of Barbets, Greenbuls, Apalises, IIladopsis, Flycatchers, Crimson wings, and Slender-billed Starling.

Vegetation

The park has a high diversity of flora than fauna especially at the slopes of the Rwenzori mountains due to the changing of altitude, for example, Afro-Montane forest 1,800 to 2,500 meters with few trees and moderate in size, Bamboo- Zone 2,500 to 3,000 meters characterize with dense stand with gigantic trees and the ground covered by a thick litter of bamboo leaves, Heather-Rapanea zone 3,000 to 4,000 meters with three different type of vegetation zone while here, Alpine zone 4,000 to 4,500 meters is dominated by the giant groundsel which grows in great abundance on all deep and well-watered soils.

Activities

Hiking Mountain Rwenzori

The vegetation changes at Mount Rwenzori National Park gives you a couple of times a day as the sunsets are magical, showers in the melting ice waterfall with an informative guide who makes the trek up the mountain with you. Breaking the day with thick moss covered ground and rocks under the spectacular giant heather trees which offers you the impression that you could fly as you look across the many ridges and valleys far below. While at Kalalama Camp, you’re granted an opportunity to overlooking Kasese and Lake George from a different perspective.

Climbing Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Climbing Rwenzori Mountains is a must visit for any mountain climber visiting Uganda. The steep slopes give you a great physical challenge that you basically need as a Climber. The Experienced Climbers will enjoy the peak climbing Challenge, and there are two trekking service company at Mountain Rwenzori, trekking the Central Circuit trail drives you to 7 to 8 days to reach on Margarita peak which being governed by local people and the trekking service which runs by the whites drives to 8 days to arrive at Margarita Peak. This is home to a variety of wild animals so apart from enjoying the Mountain climbing only you will also enjoy watching the Wild animals and Flora. It’s really worthy of taking on the Challenge.

Bird Watching In Rwenzori Mountains National Park

This is the highest point you can ever be during your birding experience in Uganda which identity as a home of sound and sights of bird species with quite unique birds due to different altitudes and such can be observed include Strange Weaver, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Nightjar, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, Montane Masked and Collared Apalises, Stripe-breast Tit, Rwenzori Batis, Purple-breasted, Malachite, Blue-headed, Rwenzori Double-collared, Tiny and Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbirds, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, African Long-eared Owl, Western Green Tinkerbird, Olive Woodpecker, Grey-chested Illadopsis, Rwenzori Hill Babbler Grey-winged Robin, Cinnamon Bracken Evergreen Forest and Bamboo Warblers, Lagden’s Bush-Shrike, Mountain Sooty Boubou, White-collared Olive-back, Red-faced, Dusky, and Shelley’s Crimsonwing and many more.

Ruboni Community Visit

Culture visit to Rwenzori Mountains National Park lets you discover over 2,000 Bakonzo people living at the foothills of the mountains of Rwenzori being polite and calm are their identity. Travellers have to wallow through their daily activates which range from raring their traditional animals and crops to preparing nice delicious Ugandan meals with the freshest ingredients, meeting blacksmith and traditional healer of the area, meet basket weavers and storytellers, and enjoy a vibrant dance performance organized by the locals to entertain you which is paramount.

Over 20 Lakes At Mountain Rwenzori National Park

A stunning view which offers you a million dollar picture where you’re likely to encounter over 20 lakes in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park and probably the most accessible of all is Lake Mahoma (2,651m) in the bird-rich forest of the Central Circuit. The beautiful Lake Bujuku which lies at the apex of the deep, glacier-carved Bujuku valley in the shadow of Mounts Stanley as well as Mount Baker and Speke. In the Valley of Nyamwamba, they ascended through the tail in Kilembe, glacial moraine deposited in the valley created a dam which has formed a string of eight enjoyable lakes.

Best time

The best time to climb the mountains is from June through to August – from December to February.

Getting there

There are two routes by Road; From Kampala via Mubende to Fort Portal which is 300km can take visitor about 4hrs.

From Kampala via Masaka- Mbarara- Bushenyi to Kasese, which is about 350km can take tourists roughly 6 hours. This route is conceivably more exciting as it goes through the Lake Mburo National Park.

By Air, Scheduled flight is available from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese Airstrip with 2 daily flights from where visitors are able to move a short journey to the park.

Accommodation

Equator Snow Lodge and Hotel Margarita offer you excellent and International service in luxury style Rwenzori international hotel in mid-range and Tour holiday inn, Ruboni community camp, Rwenzori view guest house as the budget option.