Mount Rwenzori National Park

Mount Rwenzori National park commonly known as “Mountains of the Moon” is located in Western Uganda bordering the Democratic republic of Congo. The park covers 1,000 square kilometers which is around 386 square miles. Mount Rwenzori National park was established in 1991 and later listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994. Mt Rwenzori is the third highest mountain in Africa after Mt Kilimanjaro of Tanzania and Mt Kenya of Kenya. It stands up to 16,700 feet above the sea level. The mountain is 5110 meters high at Margarita peak which is the third highest in Africa.

Mt Rwenzori is among the unique mountains that are located along the Equator but has permanent snow on the peaks. This is rare occasions in the world but happens in the mountains of the moon. The Mountain has 5 peaks with Margherita peak being the highest peak which is also the third-highest from Africa. Other peaks include Mount Stanley, Mount Speke, and Mount Baker. The ranges of this unique Mountain was brought to the travellers notice by the famous geographical researcher Alexandrian. He described the mountain as one of the best-gifted mountains hence naming it “Mountains of the moon” In 1899 Hendry Morton Stanley explored the mountain and reached to the peak hence naming the peak Stanley and also nicknamed it as “Cloud Mountains”

Mt Rwenzori is a block mountain sometimes also referred to as Fault mountains due to their way of formation. Unlike most of the mountains in Africa which were formed through Volcanic activity, Mt Rwenzori was formed as a result of rocks underneath up faulted through the floors of Great Rift Valley. After the visit of prominent European explorers, the mountain gained more popularity that opened its gateways to the world. In 2010 the record-breaker was witnessed as the oldest hiker who was aged 78 years managed to reach Margherita peak. The hiker was a female traveler called Ms. Beryl Park.

Mount Rwenzori National park is dominated by different vegetation covers that range according to the altitude as its clear that the higher you go the cooler it becomes. The lower slopes of the mountain are covered by the moorland, bamboo and montane forest. As you hike higher you meet another different vegetation according to the adaptation of the plants to the altitude. Mount Rwenzori National park hosts over 70 mammal species and 217 bird species with 19 Albertine Rift Endemics. The key animals are Blue Monkey, Duiker, forest Hog, Chimpanzees, Forest Elephants, Golden cats, Buffalo mention but a few. The birds include the Rwenzori Turaco, Long-eared owl, francolin, Archer’s ground robin, Rwenzori Batis, white-stared forest robin, bee-eaters, Largen’s bush shrike mention but a few.

Mount Rwenzori National park protects the highest part of the Mt Rwenzori covering the dimensions of 120 kilometers long and 65 kilometers wide. Mt Rwenzori is well-known as the most challenging hike in the world. The hikers and mountaineers who hiked have written different documentaries that show that inexperienced hikers need 9 to 12 days to reach the summit of Rwenzori. While the skilled hikers take 6 to 8 days to reach to the peak using technical treks. There are also more options of small hills around the Mount Rwenzori National park that are good deals for people who just want to feel the breeze of Mt Rwenzori.

Vegetation in Mount Rwenzori National Park

The vegetation of the Mountain ranges according to the altitude of the Mountain. The mountain is divided into different altitudes zoning and each zone has different vegetation cover. The montane forests start from the slopes of the mountain with an altitude of 1,800 meters above sea level, as the altitude goes up from 2,500 meters you start seeing the bamboo vegetation covering up. From 3000 meters to 4500 meters the heather and alpine vegetation zone start with giant heather trees and above that is only snow-capped peaks.

Accessing Mount Rwenzori National park

The park is located in the South-western part of Uganda in Kasese district. The park is shared by the three districts those are Kabarole, Bundibungyo and Kasese districts. Its located 25 kilometers from Kasese town. It takes 6 to 7 hours drive from the capital city Kampala through Kasese town. The drive is more scenic as you enjoy villages with plantations enroute to the western part. There are two routes that lead to the park one passes via Fort portal which is 375 kilometers. while the other passes through Queen Elizabeth National Park, the distance is 450 kilometers away from Kampala city passing through Mbarara. One can use private, public means of transport to reach to Kasese town and then hire special hire to the park headquarters. If using local tour operators then you will enjoy more scenic drive with stop from key destinations like the Equator.

Alternatively, there are daily chattered flights from Kajansi or Entebbe International Airport that fly directly to Kasese airstrip. Your driver will meet you at the airstrip and transfer you to your hotel or lodge near the park gates.

Attractions in Mount Rwenzori National park

The park has a good number of attractions that guests can experience while on their safari to Mount Rwenzori National park

Wildlife: Mount Rwenzori National park has more wildlife with a population of around 70 animal species. Rwenzori is one of the few mountain parks which hosts a wide range of mammals inside the park. The remote wilderness of the park which is found in the middle of Ugandan great national parks like Queen Elizabeth national park, Semuliki national park, and Kibale Forest national park has made Mount Rwenzori National park as an animal corridor. The most sited animals include forest Elephants, Duikers, forest hogs, bushbucks, chimpanzees, golden cat, black and white Columbus monkey and many others. Your first two days of the hike is reached with animal viewing.
Mt Rwenzori: This is the key attraction in Mount Rwenzori National park, Mt Rwenzori is the 3rd highest mountain in Africa after Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya. The mountain has 6 different mountain peaks which are all having permanent snow despite being near the Equator. One can hike to the top of these mountains through Central Circuit or Kilember trails. The mountain is one of the world’s challenging mountains in the world. The mountain attracts hikers from different regions of the world.
Lakes: Mount Rwenzori National park has crater lakes with a total of over 20 lakes that are found in Mt Rwenzori. The most and easily accessed lake is Lake Mahoma which is located in the central circuit and home of a wide range of bird species. Other lake include Lake Bujuku which is found in the Bujuku valley at the shadow of Mount Stanley and Mount Baker.
Birds: Mount Rwenzori National park homes over 217 bird species with 19 Albertine endemic species. The park was considered one of the best birding destinations in Uganda according to International Birding Association. The different vegetation zoning has crated great ground for a wide range of birds together with a peaceful environment. The park is still very remote hence a good birding park.

The birds include Slender-billed starlings, golden-winged sunbird, barbets, flycatchers, crimson wings, Apalise, Bush-shrike, Greenbuls, Archers robin-chat, francolin, Cuckoo, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, Mountain Sooty Boubou and many more.

Activities in Mount Rwenzori

Mount Climbing: The unpopular Mountain is one of the challenging mountains in the world. Hiking to any of the six mountains with permanent snow in Mt Rwenzori takes between 6 to 7 days for experienced hikers and 9 to 12 days for learners. There are two trails that can be used for hiking Rwenzori those are the Central Circuit trail and the Kilembe trail. Hiking services are all managed by the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services however the park entry fees are paid to Uganda wildlife Authority.
Bird watching: Uganda the pearl of Africa is a home of over 1000 bird species, Mount Rwenzori National park is one of the key birding destinations in the country. The park has over 217 bird species with 19 Albertine endemic species. Recognized by the international Birding Association as the best birding site. The birding list is long and unique with a well vast birding guide. View birds like Slender-billed starlings, golden-winged sunbird, barbets, flycatchers, crimson wings, Apalise, Bush-shrike, Greenbuls, Archers robin-chat, francolin, Cuckoo, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, Mountain Sooty Boubou mention but a few.

Mt Rwenzori national park is much unique the only monotonous park that can provide the guests with more than one activity. You can remix your Uganda hiking safaris with cultural walks, nature walks, birding, and many more activities.