Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Rwenzori Mountains National park which straddles at an area 996km2 was recorded as World Heritage Site in 1994 to protect the slopes of Rwenzori Mountains-fabled Mountains of the moon, which stretches about 120 km along the Congo border. The Rwenzori Mountains are as a result of the Rift Valley formation and they are Block Mountains.
The Spectacular Rwenzori Mountain is the second highest mountain in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro. Rwenzoris have Mount Stanley which features the main Margherita (5109m) peak and Alexandra (5083) and these peaks are only next to Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya in the whole of Africa.
Mountain Rwenzori has got six glacial peaks and they include Mount Emin Pasha, Mount Stanley, Mount Speke, Mount Gessi, Mount Baker and Mount Luigi da Savoia. In 1906, the Italian Prince Luigi Amedeo da Savoia, Duke of Abruzzi became the first European to climb the peaks.
- Best visited in dry season
- Uganda, East Africa
- Mountain climbing
- Can rain any time
- Good fitness level required
Tourist Attractions
Rwenzori has one of the best lush vegetation that is divided into various altitude zones; the health and alpine zones (from 3000 to 4500m), the bamboo forest (up to 3000m), and the forest zone (between 1800 and 2500m).
The park features forests of giant moorland plants, giant groundsels and lobelias. 70 species of mammals have been recorded in Rwenzori Mountains including elephants, the yellow-backed duiker, golden cat and the rare chimpanzees.
This mountain park is also home to 117 species of birds and the most famous are the Albertine Rift endemics such as the Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, cuckoo, Owl and robin among others
Tourism Activities
The most preferred activity is the famous “central circuit” trial. The hike takes 9 days and 8 nights to reach the main peaks. There are however other possible shorter hikes in the north and the central area of the Rwenzori mountains. These trails can reach an altitude of 4000m above sea level. This means you will require high mountain equipments to take on the hiking activity.
Where to stay in Rwenzori
Accommodation facilities that have been established to provide luxury and comfortable services include Equator Snow, Sandton Hotel and Margherita in Kasese. At the base of the mountain, Ruboni Campsite caters for visitors who wish to enjoy a comfortable stay but still spend less on accommodation.
How to get there
Rwenzori Mountains National Park rises over 4000m above the floor of the Albertine Rift Valley which is a few kilometers from the equator.
By Road; From Kampala, one can reach Nyakalengeja park trailhead from the north about 375km through Fort portal.
From Kampala through Mbarara, it is about 450km to reach Nyakalengeja trailhead-25km north of Kasese town and 17km off the Kasese Fort portal road.
By Air; There are scheduled are flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese airstrip and visitors who wish to fly can ask their tour operators to arrange for them.