Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Rwenzori is the tallest mountain range in Africa and several of its peaks are permanently snow-capped. Found within Rwenzori Mountains National Park, its highest point is Mt. Stanley's Margherita peak with 5,109m, which is the third highest in the whole Africa. Because of its beauty and diversity, UNESCO named the Rwenzori Mountains National Park a World Heritage site in 1994, and World Geographic named it one of the best hikes in the world. The park is also designated as a RAMSAR site and an Important Bird Area.

Rwenzori Mountains National park covers 996 square kilometers, 70% of which are areas found above 2500 metres high. The park is located in western Uganda, approximately a 6 hours drive from Kampala within the Albertine rift near the districts of Bundibugyo, Kabarole and Kasese. The park was named after the Rwenzori mountains, which balance on the spine between Uganda and DRC, and possess a compellingly spectacular scenery that is punctuated with colorful vegetation and sparkling glaciers. The landscape in the area swiftly shifts from thick bamboo, heather zone into the afro alpine, something that is palpably magnificent. With every hour and every altitude gain, the landscapes, colors, and critters are ever-changing, just like information from a fairy-tale. The lower slopes 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”, creating an enchanting and phenomenal scene. These lobelias as well as Senecio(groundsel)are emblematic giant forms found within the Afro-alpine altitudinal vegetation zone, which is one of the world’s rarest botanical communities that is limited to East African mountains above 3800m.

The Rwenzoris are known as 'the mountains of the moon', a name given to them by Alexandrine geographer Ptolemy in AD 150. Locally known as Ruwenzori, which is translated as 'rain maker' or 'cloud king'. The Rwenzori was placed on the map on 24th May 1888 by European explorer Henry Stanley, after whom one of the peaks was named. He labeled the grand feature ‘Ruwenzori’, a local name which he recorded as meaning “Rain-Maker” or “Cloud-King.” It is Stanley again who under the spell of utmost impression, boundedly christened the place with the term cloud mountains. The Rwenzori is not volcanic like East Africa's other major mountains, but is a block of rock up faulted through the floor of the western Rift valley. The hike will take you through varied vegetation covers which include montane forest, bamboo forest, tree heath, hagenia-rapanea scrub and afro-alpine moorland. The park is gifted with a number of high mountain ranges; Margherita (Stanley mountain) being the highest, Emin, Karisimbi, Mawenzi, Luigi di Savoia and many more.

A trip into the Rwenzoris is an exhilarating and rewarding experience but adequate preparation should be made. The key to an enjoyable visit is to be prepared! The conditions on the mountain are a challenge to even an experienced hiker. Despite such technicalities, the oldest recorded person to reach Margherita Peak was Ms Beryl Park aged 78 in 2010. The central hike circuit takes six nights or seven days and reaches an altitude of 4,267m above the sea level. While on the hike, you will spend nights at various huts which are well maintained and you will have porters to help with the luggage, that you need to go along with. There are different starting points for different trails you can take on your hike: Nyakalengija central circuit and Kilembe trail are located near Kasese town whereas Kazingo (nature walk trailhead) is located near Fort portal town. For those not in for the entire trail, you can have 3 days trek in the lower foothills of the mountains which takes you through beautiful scenery and birding spots.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park acts a play ground for many species of animals that call this their home.The park teems with a richness in bird life of over 217 bird species, including 17 Albertine Rift endemics. At about 1800 meters, the variety will leave you captivated with the Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Long-eared Owl, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Strange Weaver, Archers’ Robin-chat, Rwenzori Batis, White-starred Robin, Montane Sooty Boubou, Slender-billed Starling, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Blue-headed Sunbird, Barbets, Golden-winged Sunbird, Greenbuls, IIladopsis, Apalises, Crimson wings and Flycatchers. Let that sink in!! The 120km-long and 65km-wide Rwenzori mountain range also hosts 70 mammalian species as well as some of the world’s rarest vegetation. The mammals include six Albertine Rift endemics, elephants, chimpanzees, Rwenzori otters, giant forest hog and leopards although they are hardly seen. Primates like the colobus (Angola and black-and-white varieties), and blue monkeys are also part of the game. The Buraro Chimp forest as well provides a chimpanzee tracking experience which one would experience on a visit to the home of primates in Kibale Forest National Park. Small antelopes such as the bushbucks and unusual reptiles like the three horned chameleon are not exceptions. The mountain ranges boast of 20 lakes with Lake Mahoma being the most accessible.

Hikers should consider symptoms and treatment of hypothermia and other forms of altitude sickness. Above 2,500m. Altitude sickness can affect anyone regardless of age, fitness, or previous mountain hiking experience. The most effective treatment is descent to lower altitude. Don't forget to carry the basic items for your hike: a sleeping bag and warm clothing. The hike usually takes place within the range to the glacier that sits on the highest peaks. One can also enjoy day hikes through the thick tropical jungle at the foothills that are coupled with unique activities like fishing by the use of hands in streams that are said to be akin to the Torentine river in the Game of Thrones. During the hike, one gets a chance have a look at the turaco, a multi-colored bird as well as the fabled three horned chameleon, which thanks to the dense existence of insects, survives!! Up the slope, meandering streams of rivers keep unveiling, offering a magnificent view of the aura that causes one to wonder where the hell everyone else is!! Statistics have it that, of the 15,000 tourists from all over the world who have climbed the Rwenzori mountains, only just a few thousand who have reached the Margherita Peak. This is credited to the intensity of the hike up the mountain, that offers a gruelling experience to every adventurer that signs up for the task. During the hike, bad weather can always kick in due to the torrential rains that normally brace the area. This causes many to duly trudge along in a torchlight procession to the top, for which reason one is encouraged to carry gumboots, heavy clothes and enough drinking water. The change in atmosphere is usually palpable that breaks become a necessity. However, with the presence of guides, a collection of ropes, pulleys and ladders, the straddle along the vertiginous ridgeline can then always continue with the tenacity of a struggling 1900 car engine as one looks forward to the summit day. Once at the pinnacle finally, one reflects upon the journey and compares it to a proverbial walk in the park, making him/her to burst in high altitude euphoria!

The communities bordering the park offer an amazing cultural bonding in form of music, dance and drama, food preparation, craft making and folktales. You can reach the park from Kampala via Fortportal or via Mbarara. You can also take scheduled or chartered flight from Entebbe to Kasese Airfield.

Activities in this park include: Mountain Hiking, Bird Watching, Nature Walks, Cultural Trails, Community Walks. During the community walks, you will have plenty of opportunities to witness the locals at the foothills conducting their cultural lifestyles and activities like cultural dances. If you lucky enough, you might even get some lessons on drumming and dancing. You will also get the opportunity to visit the Ruboni village where you will learn about the lifestyles of old of the forefathers of the mountains of the moon. If nature, silence and adventure are the only luxuries left in the world today, Rwenzori mountains National Park offers them all!!