Rwenzori Mountains National Park

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Welcome to Rwenzori

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is located in southwestern Uganda on the east side of the western (Albertine) African rift valley. It lies along Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and borders the DRC’s Virunga National Park. It is situated in the Bundibugyo, Kabarole, and Kasese districts,

Rwenzori Mountains National Park was established in 1991. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 because of its outstanding natural beauty. This is a Uganda safari destination for mountain climbers in Uganda.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Almost 1,000 km2 (386 sq mi) in size, the park has Africa’s third highest mountain peak and many waterfalls, lakes, and glaciers. The park is known for its beautiful plant life.

What Does Rwenzori Mountains National Park Comprises

Rwenzori Mountains National Park comprises most of the center and eastern half of the Rwenzori Mountains. The Rwenzori Mountain is the highest mountain range in the whole of Africa with Africa’s third highest mountain peak.

6 glacial peaks: Mount Speke, Mount Stanley, Mount Gessi, Mount Emin Pasha, Mount Luigi da Savoia as well as Mount Baker. The main peaks can be probably compared to those of Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. The park has glaciers, snowfields, waterfalls, and lakes and is one of Africa’s most beautiful mountain areas.

Wildlife in Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National Park hosts 70 mammals and 217 bird species including 19 Albertine Rift endemics, as well as some of the world’s rarest vegetation

The Rwenzoris – the fabled Mountains of the Moon – lie in western Uganda along the Uganda-Congo border. The equatorial snow peaks include the third highest point in Africa, while 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, fairytale scene.

Fauna in the Rwenzori Mountains

These vegetation zones are home to 70 species of mammal and 177 bird species. Of the mammals, there are elephants, chimpanzees, Rwenzori otters and leopards. Although present, the dense forest means these are seldom seen.

Primates such as colobus (Angola and black-and-white varieties are both thought to be present) and blue monkeys are easier to spot, as are small antelope such as bushbucks and unusual reptiles such as the three-horned chameleon.

Of the bird species present, several are Albertine Rift endemics which makes the Rwenzoris an Important Birding Area (IBA).

The greatest diversity is found in the montane forest where you may see the Rwenzori Turaco, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Long-eared Owl, Handsome Francolin, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Archers’ Robin-chat, White-starred Robin, Rwenzori Batis, Montane Sooty Boubou, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Slender-billed Starling, Blue-headed Sunbird, Golden-winged Sunbird, Strange Weaver and several varieties of Barbets, Greenbuls, Apalises, IIladopsis, Flycatchers and Crimsonwings.

And don’t forget the superstars: up high hunt the lammergeiers and black eagles.

Flora in the Rwenzori Mountains

Aside from the high alpine views, it is the flora of the mountains that has a far greater impact on the visitor than the local fauna.

Water is everywhere – cloud-bound, heavy in the mist, filling mountain streams and making mirrors of lakes.

Temperature below 4,000 metres rarely exceeds 15 degrees Celsius and stays above freezing. This means that life thrives and the plants are dramatic.

The lobelia are massive; heather stretches across the valleys; while garishly-coloured moss creeps across gnarled trees draped with lichen.

A trek will take you through different altitudinal zones of vegetation, each with its own micro-climate, flora and fauna.

The Afro-montane forest covers the slopes between 1,800m and 2,500m and has the most variety. Large established trees push to establish a canopy, whose breaks are filled by dense thickets.

From 2,500m to 3,000m dense forest gives way to bamboo stands, leaves covering the ground in a dense litter and the flowers emerging only once every 30 years.

Above this, until 4,000m, you enter the heather zone. Sphagnum moss and usnea beard lichens pervade and the ground is stabbed with coral pink orchids. Bog-wet valley bottoms are populated by large tussocks.

Above 4,000m the alpine zone hosts giant groundsel, Senecio adnivalis and the torch lobelia, Lobelia wollastonii.

After 4,300m the vegetation begins to thin out until nothing grows except moss, lichen and a few ‘Everlasting’ plants. The plants found above 3,800m are members of some of the world’s rarest botanical communities.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park – A Mountaineering Destination

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Rwenzoris are a world-class hiking and mountaineering destination. A nine- to twelve-day trek will get skilled climbers to the summit of Margherita – the highest peak – though shorter, non-technical treks are possible to scale the surrounding peaks.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park has the highest mountain ranges in Africa. Its highest point lies at 5109m above sea level on Mt Stanley’s Margherita peak is the third highest in Africa.

It lies astride the equator with six peaks and three of these i.e. Mt Stanley, Mt Baker and Mt Speke are permanently covered with snow. The park covers an area of 996 km2.

It was recognized as a UNESCO world Heritage site in 1994 and was listed by world geographic among the best hikes in the world. It lies in western Uganda about 6 hours’ drive from Kampala.

Rwenzori is known as ‘mountains of the moon’ a name given to it by Alexandrine geographer Ptolemy in AD 150. Locally known as Ruwenzori, is translated as “rain maker” or “cloud-king.”

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

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.

Activities in Mount Rwenzori National Park in Uganda

Activities in Mount Rwenzori National Park in Uganda: Mount Rwenzori national park lies in western Uganda along the Congo border.

The national park gets its name from Rwenzori Mountain, also known as “Mountains of the Moon”.

Rwenzori Mountains national park was gazetted in 1991 and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994. The national park covers 996 square kilometers making it among the smallest national parks in Uganda.

The national park is home to 70 mammal species, 217 species of birds including 19 Albertine Rift endemics, as well as some of the world’s rarest vegetation.

Rwenzori Mountain is made up of six glacial peaks namely; Speke, Stanley, Gessi, Baker, Emin Pasha and Luigi di Savoia. The Rwenzoris are a world-class hiking and mountaineering destination.

Visitors on African safari to Uganda interested in visiting the national park can engage in a number of activities such as;

Mountain/ Volcano Climbing:

Mountain or rather volcano climbing is the main activity offered to visitors in Rwenzori Mountains national park. It is one of the highest mountains in Africa and a nine day hike will get skilled climbers to the summit of Margherita which is the highest peak.

There are also shorter, non-technical treks for visitors looking to scale the surrounding peaks. There are two hiking trails in the park, which include;

The central circuit trail which starts at the Mubuku River, which ascends a steep ridge of glacial moraine to Nyabitaba Hut, and ends Margherita peak. Hikers using this trail will take 7 days to reach the summit. The snow-capped mountain peaks mark the highlight of any mountaineering activity on the mountain.
Kilembe Trail; This trail begins from Kilembe near Kasese town which located in the southern part of the national park. This trail takes hikers through the glacial lakes, Nyamwamba Valley and joins the central circuit at Lake Kitandara. Hikers using this trail will be able to explore the three highest peaks, vegetation cover, plant species and sight some wildlife.

Birding:

Birding opportunities in Rwenzori Mountains national park are best done in the montane forest.

Among some of the bird species sighted in the park include Bee-eaters, robins, barbets, Rwenzori Blue Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, Golden winged sunbird, the Western green tinker bird and so many more.

Other bird species to look out for include the Long-eared Owl, Bearded Vultures, Swifts and Black Eagles among others.

Guided Nature Walks:

The communities of Ruboni and Turaco View offer visitors guided forest walks of various lengths just outside the park.

Visitors can also follow the River Mubuku and glimpse views of Baker and Portal Peaks as you hike up 2300 meters above sea level.

On a clear day, hikers can view the snow -capped Margherita Peak which is a very spectacular sight.

The real appeal of Rwenzori lies, arguably, not in the joy of reaching the top, but in the opportunity to hike through superb mountain scenery enlivened by equatorial snow and outlandish vegetation.

Bearing this in mind, shorter to lesser peaks is becoming increasingly popular amongst hikers in the park.

Some of the popular hiking destinations are found along the Kilembe trail, and include the 4627m Mount Luigi da Savoia which offers hikers with stunning views of the afro-alpine vegetation, patches of equatorial snow and glaciers.

The Nyakalengija Trailhead offers a two day hike to the scenic Lake Mahoma in the bamboo forest.

There is also the Kazinga trail that offers hikers a day long traverse of the north Rwenzori ridge between the Fort Portal plateau and Bundibugyo town in the Semliki Valley on the western side of the mountain.

Hikers should look out for the three-horned chameleon and Rwenzori colobus monkey.

Cultural Encounters

Cultural encounters at Rwenzori Mountains national park will give you the opportunity to have in-person encounters with the friendly locals living in communities near the park.

Visitors can take community cultural tours to Ruboni village which is home to over 2000 Bakonzo. This farming village is located at the foothills of Rwenzori Mountains.

Tourists visiting the village are welcomed with joyful folk songs and dances from the local dance troupes, giving visitors a taste of their unique culture.

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