Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountain National park is one of the scenic national parks in Uganda stretching around the Rwenzori Mountains – the highest mountain ranges in Africa with its highest point – Mountain Stanley’s Magherita Peak at 5,109 meters above the sea level which makes it the 3rd highest peak in Africa.

Though Rwenzori Mountains lies astride the equator, its 3 peaks that is Mt. Stanley, Mt. Baker and Mt. Speke are permanently covered with snow. The lower slopes of the mountain are blanketed in moorland, bamboo, and rich, moist montane forest. Huge tree heathers and colorful mosses are draped across the mountainside with giant lobelias and “everlasting flowers” The Mountain has 6 peaks in total and they include

• Mount Stanley (5,109 metres (16,762 ft))
• Mount Speke (4,890 metres (16,040 ft))
• Mount Baker (4,843 metres (15,889 ft))
• Mount Emin (4,798 metres (15,741 ft))
• Mount Gessi (4,715 metres (15,469 ft))
• Mount Luigi di Savoia (4,627 metres (15,180 ft))

Rwenzori Mountains referred to as the Mountains of the Moon where named by a geographer Alexandrine in AD 150, locally the mountain‘s Rwenzori is translated as “rain maker or cloud king”. The Mountains consititute a vital water catchment considered to be the most permanent source of the River Nile, it also has a maltitude of fast – flowing rivers forming waterfalls and stratified vegetation.

Rwenzori Mountains National park covers an area of 996 square kilometers, the park was gazette as a protected area in 1991 and in 1994 it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and listed by world geographic among the best hikes in the world.

 Rwenzori Mountains national park is located in western Uganda bordering DRC’s Virunga national park which covers a small piece of the Rwenzori’s, the park is about 6 hours’ drive from Kampala and can be accessed from Kasese city at the base of the mountains.

 Rwenzori Mountains National park protects the highest parts of the 120 kilometers – long and 65 kilometers wide Rwenzori Mountain range, the park hosts 70 mammal and 217 bird species including 19 Albertine Rift endemics and some of the world’s rarest vegetation types.

Animals of Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National park is a home to 70 mammal species including Elephants, Giant forest hog, Rwenzori Otter, duikers, bushbucks and Leopard, these animals are hardly seen because of the thick forest cover. There are also primates such as  as blue monkeys, Angola colobus monkey, black-and-white colobus monkeys and Chimpanzees.

Birds of Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National park is one of the important Birding Areas in Uganda hosting 217 bird species including 19 Albertine Rift Endemics, most of the birds are found in the forest zone of the park and they include Rwenzori Turaco, Long eared owl, Archers’ Robin-chat, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Blue-headed and Golden-winged sunbird, white-starred Robin, Slender-billed Starling, and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater among others.

Lakes

Rwenzori Mountain Ranges boast of 20 lakes including Lake Mahoma which is the most accessible, Lake Bajuku that lies in the valley of Mt. Stanely, Baker and Speke. There are also dams that created on a string of 8 beautiful lakes on the Nyamwamba trails including Lake Kitandara.

Safaris and Activities to do in Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Mountain Hiking

Rwenzori Mountains offers some of the best hikes in the world and exploring this mountains of the moon is done on 2 routes that lead to the Rwenzori peaks that is the central circuit trail and the Kilembe trail.

There is a more established option that ascends the Mubuku and Bujuku valleys from Nyakalengija to the Central circuit that winds between the prominent peaks, the other routes runs up the Nyamwamba Valley above Kelembe near kasese.

Expeditions exploring the Rwenzori Mountains are organized and managed by the Rwenzori Trekking Services and Rwenzori Mountaineering Services – a local community tourism group established to help the locals benefit from tourism which has been a centre to their existence for centuries. This organization employs local men as guides and porters and invests the profits in community projects.

Hiking on the central circuit takes 6-7 days to reach an altitude of 4,267 meters above the sea level, during this hike you will spend nights at various huts which are well maintained and you will be accompanied by porters to help with the luggage along the way. There are different starting points for the different trails that are Nyakalengija central circuit and Kilembe trail are located near Kasese town whereas Kazingo (nature walk trailhead) is located near Fort portal town.

For hikers who are not interested in hiking any peaks of the mountain, they can hike on the lower foothills of the mountain through the beautiful scenery and spot several birds.

Caution: hikers should consider symptoms and treatment of hypothermia and other forms of altitude sickness, above 2500 meters, altitude sickness can affect anyone regardless of the age, fitness or pervious mountain hiking experience.

Bird watching in Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains national park is one of the best birding spots in Uganda, the park hosts over 217 bird species including some of the Albertine rift endemics which are found in varied vegetation covers. Some of the birds to lookout for include Rwenzori Turaco, Long eared owl, Archers’ Robin-chat, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Blue-headed and Golden-winged sunbird, white-starred Robin, Slender-billed Starling, and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater among others.

Nature and Hiking walks

Nature and hiking walks in Rwenzori Mountains national park are offered along the slopes of Mountain Rwenzori following several trails, one can follow River Mubuju for views of Baker and portal peaks or sometimes views of Magherita the highest peak. During nature and hiking walks, lookout for vervet monkeys, squirrels, chameleons and several bird species.

Cultural encounters and Community trails

This activity offers visitors with an encounter with the local people and an opportunity to get a deeper insight in the local lifestyle of people living on the foothills of the mountain, you will watch the local people go on with their daily activities such as gardening and animal husbandry, preparing daily meals (from farm to meal), visit the black smith, traditional healer, basket weavers and be entertained by local dance and storytelling performances.

Alternatively, you can take a trail to culture sites of the Bakonzo through the holy valley, this trail takes approximately 7 hours.

How to get to Rwenzori Mountains national park

Rwenzori Mountains national park is located approximately 437 kilometers west of Kampala  and can accessed via Fort Portal or Mbarara by road  and using scheduled or chartered flight from Entebbe to Kasese Airfield then connect to the park by road.

Where to stay in Rwenzori Mountains national park  

• Equartor Snow Lodge