Mount Rwenzori National park
Rwenzori Mountains National Park previously referred to as the Mountains of the Moon are situated in the Western Uganda in the Rwenzori Mountains on the border between Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The Rwenzori mountains comprise of six different mountains namely Stanley, Speke, Baker, Emin, Savioa and Gessi with a wide altitude range rising between 1,600 metres to 5,109 metres above sea level. Mountain Stanley’s Peak (Margherita) on Rwenzori mountains at 5,109 metres above sea level making it the highest mountain peak in Uganda and the third highest peak in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. Rwenzori Mountains sit on 996 square kilometres in size covering areas of Bundibugyo, Kabarole and Kasese districts with numerous waterfalls, Lakes, and glaciers. It was established as a National Park in Uganda in 1,991 and later in 1,994 recognised as UNESCO World Heritage site. The explore to first discover and label Rwenzori Mountains on the world map was Henry Morton Stanley on 24th May, 1,888 and recorded it as Ruwenzori a local name to mean “Rainmaker” or “Cloud-King”.
LOCATION OF RWENZORI MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK:
Rwenzori Mountains National Park previously referred to as the Mountains of the Moon are situated in the Western Uganda in the Rwenzori Mountains on the border between Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo covering areas of Bundibugyo, Kabarole and Kasese districts. Rwenzori mountains are one of Africa’s most gorgeous mountain areas with the highest Peak (Margherita) in Uganda and third highest peak in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya making it a beautiful destination to the world-class hikers and mountain climbers. These Mountains are made up of rocky blocks that were thrust up from the Western Rift Valley floor and higher than the Alps thereby supporting a variety of waterfalls, lakes, glaciers, flora and snowfields among. The Park is about 25 KM from Kasese Town and the mountain terrain are steep, cold and boggy making climbing a challenge that would take about 7 days or more to reach its summit with the help of the Local Bakonzo guides.
ATTRACTIONS IN MOUNTAIN RWENZORI NATIONAL PARK:
- WILDLIFE:
Mountain Rwenzori supports a diverse range of wildlife species such as about 18 mammal species, 217 bird species, 9 reptile species, and 6 amphibians among. Large mammals that reside in the forest zone of Rwenzori mountains National Park include African Forest Elephants, buffaloes, giant forest hogs, small antelopes called bushbucks, rare leopards, primates like the chimpanzees, blue monkeys, Rwenzori Colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons among and an existence of endemic bird species like the black Eagle which hunts high up in the park, endangered Lammergeyers that soars overhead, Rwenzori Batis and Rwenzori turaco as well as reptiles like Three-horned chameleons among.
- BIRDS:
An estimation of about 217 bird species is encountered in Rwenzori Mountain National Park and they include the 17 Albertine rift endemic species and other distinct species making it one of the best birding destinations in Uganda. The variety birds to be spotted in the park include the Kivu ground thrush, the black Eagle which hunts high up in the park, endangered Lammergeyers that soars overhead, Dwarf honey guide, Queens turaco, Rwenzori collared bird, barred long-tailed cuckoos, collared apalis, red-faced woodland warblers, slender billed starling, stranger weavers, montane masked apalis, handsome francolin, cinnamon chested bee-eaters, archer’s robin chat, Rwenzori Batis and Rwenzori turaco among.
Activities In Mount Rwenzori National park
- MOUNTAIN CLIMBLING:
Rwenzori Mountain terrains are steep, cold and boggy making climbing a challenge that would take about 7 days or more to reach its summit with the help of the Local Bakonzo guides. The Rwenzori mountains comprise of six different mountains namely Stanley, Speke, Baker, Emin, Savioa and Gessi with a wide altitude range rising between 1,600 metres to 5,109 metres above sea level. Mountain Stanley with the highest peak of 5,109 metres above sea level named Margherita offers a great opportunity for mountaineering, trekking, hiking, and climbing to the Margherita Peak and can be done along two trails that is the Central trail and Kilembe trail.
- BIRDING:
Rwenzori Mountain National Park supports an estimation of about 217 bird species and they include the 17 Albertine rift endemic species and other distinct species making it one of the best birding destinations in Uganda. The variety birds to be spotted in the park include the Kivu ground thrush, the black Eagle which hunts high up in the park, endangered Lammergeyers that soars overhead, Dwarf honey guide, Queens turaco, Rwenzori collared bird, barred long-tailed cuckoos, collared apalis, red-faced woodland warblers, slender billed starling, stranger weavers, montane masked apalis, handsome francolin, cinnamon chested bee-eaters, archer’s robin chat, Rwenzori Batis and Rwenzori turaco among. The dry season in the months of June to August and December to February is the best time to do birding in Rwenzori mountains in Uganda because of the accessible trails making hiking easier.
- NATURE WALKS:
Rwenzori Mountain offers various trails of nature walk through the Central Circuit trail to Lake Mahooma, Nyabitabba, John Matte, Bujuku, Elena, Margherita, and Kitandara then Buraco Chimp Forest guided nature walk to view the Colobus Monkeys, olive baboons, Rwenzori Turacos, three horned chameleons, as well as the Bwamba Pass which is a 1,500 metres high trek over the Rwenzori ridges while visiting Bamboo Forests and isolated mountain villages among.
- CULTURAL EXPERIENCES:
Rwenzori Mountains support cultural experiences in areas like visiting the Ruboni Village to learn about the history, traditional homesteads, cultural dances and life of the Bakonzo people then hiking the Bulema-Ihandiro cultural trails to the Bakonzo traditional museum as well as attending cultural dance performances of folk songs organised by Locals. Other areas of interest to visit while on nature walks are the traditional healers and local blacksmiths.
BEST TIME TO VISIT RWENZORI MOUNTAINS:
Rwenzori Mountains National Park can be visited all year round though the best time is during the dry season months in Uganda which are June to August and December to February. During the dry season months, the weather is stable offering best trekking conditions with clear blue skies, less rains and less slippery trails.
ACCOMODATION IN AND AROUND RWENZORI MOUNTAINS:
Rwenzori Mountain National Park supports a wide existence of stay in and around the park ranging from Budget accommodations, Mid-Range Accommodations and Luxury Accommodations.
The Budget Accommodations include Rwenzori Trekking hostel, Rwenzori Turaco View Campsite, Rwenzori Backpackers Lodge and The Ruboni Community Camp among.
The Mid-range Accommodation such as Equator Snow Lodge, Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge, Rwenzori International Hotel, Sandton Hotel Kasese, and Hotel Margherita among.
Luxury Accommodations/High-end accommodation include Geo lodge, Equator Snow Lodge and Rwenzori Mountain Lodge among.
DIRECTIONS TO RWENZORI MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK:
Rwenzori Mountains are strategically situated in the Western Uganda in the Rwenzori Mountains on the border between Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo and can be accessed by road through two easy routes that’s via Fort Portal and Mbarara or by air to Kasese Airstrip. By road using the shorter route of Fort Portal which is approximately 300KM in about 4 to 6 hour’s drive from Kampala capital city through Mubende to Fort Portal Road then continue to Kasese at Nyakalengija the Park headquarters which is about 25KM north of Kasese. Through the longer route of Mbarara which is approximately 350KM in about 6 to 7 hour’s drive from Kampala through Masaka-Mbarara-Bushenyi to Kasese at Nyakalengija the Park headquarters. This route passes through Lake Mburo National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park offering spectacular views.
By Air, a flight can be arranged from Entebbe International Airport/Kajjansi Airfield to Kasese Airstrip in about 2.5 hours then a road drive to Nyakalengija park headquarters.
THANKS FOR VISITING RWENZORI MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK:
