Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a stunning wildlife park in western Uganda. It borders the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These mountains are also famous for having glacier-capped peaks. This area is often called the “Mountains of the Moon,” making it very appealing. The misty Rwenzori has a unique landscape. You can find stunning lakes, waterfalls, rivers, and mountains. It is also home to rare wildlife species.

Overview

Claudius Ptolemy, a key geographer and astronomer from Alexandria, lived around AD 150. He proposed that the snow-capped mountains near the equator in Africa were the source of the Nile. Ptolemy called these mountains “Montes Lunae” or “Mountains of the Moon.” He based this on reports from an Indian trade merchant named Diogenes.

In 1888, Sir Henry Morton Stanley explored Central Africa. He confirmed and mapped the Rwenzori mountains. The locals named them Ruwenjura or Ruwenzori. This means “the Rain-Creator” or “the Cloud-King.”

After Stanley discovered and mapped the Ugandan mountains, interest soared. Many tourists came to see the unique terrain, animals, and plants. News spread around the globe in 2010 when Ms. Beryl Park, aged 78, made history. She is the oldest person to hike Rwenzori’s Margherita Peak during a Ugandan safari.

Mountains in Rwenzori Park, Uganda

The national park covers 996 square kilometers.

It has six main mountains:

• Mount Gessi
• Mount Emin
• Mount Stanley
• Mount Speke
• Mount Luigi di Savoia
• Mount Baker

Authorities in Uganda established the park in 1991. This mountainous national park is important worldwide. UNESCO designated it as a World Heritage Site in 1994. The park also became a Ramsar Site in 2008. It is also recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA).

The steep Rwenzori massif formed in the late Pliocene. This happened because crystalline rock pushed up from the western rift valley floor. Altitudes range from 1,600 meters to the highest point at 5,109 meters.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park’s highest peak is Margherita. The peak is on Mount Stanley, and it rises to 5,109 meters. They are the tallest in the Rwenzori ranges. Margherita Peak makes the Rwenzori Mountains the third-highest in Africa. Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro are higher. The last glaciers in Africa are on four peaks of the Rwenzori and two taller mountains in East Africa.

Location of the Rwenzori

The mountain range sits at 0.3858° N, 29.8717° E. More than 75 percent of the Rwenzori Mountains are in Uganda. The rest stretches into the Congo. The remaining part lies within the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ugandan districts, including Kasese, Bunyangabu, Kabarole, and Bundibugyo, share the mountains.

Virunga National Park in the DRC borders the western side of the Rwenzori. Bundibugyo District and Semuliki National Park are located north of the national park. Fort Portal City and Kasese Town are also important gateways at the base of the mountains east of the park. To the south, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Edward lie nearby.

How do I get to the Rwenzori Mountains?

Road transport is the primary way to access the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda. Some mountaineers fly to the park’s edge. They fly to Kasese Airport from either Kajjansi or Entebbe International Airport. They can choose charter or scheduled flights. The nearest trailhead, Kilembe Trail, is about 16 km from Kasese Airport.

Traveling from Kampala to Kasese via Mubende and Fort Portal is about 370 km. If you go through Mbarara, it’s around 430 km. Reach other trails, like the Central Circuit, using the Kasese-Fort Portal highway.

Animals and Plants in Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The UNESCO-listed Rwenzori Mountains boast a unique and beautiful landscape. This high-altitude park has nine main vegetation belts, ranging from low to high.

These include:

• Savanna grasslands and woodlands.
• Afromontane Forest
• Bamboo-Afromontane complex
• Bamboo Forest
• Hagenia Mixed Forest
• Ericaceous Forest
• Ericaceous-Afro-Alpine Complex
• Afro-alpine regions
• Mosses, lichens, and glaciers are on the rocky peaks.

Common plants in the Rwenzori vegetation belts include:

• Acacia
• Prunus Africana
• Giant Groundsel
• Scadoxus
• Boarwood
• Podocarpus
• Heathers
• Giant African Bamboo
• Giant Lobelia
• African Redwood
• Epiphytic mosses

These species thrive in this unique environment. People around the world know this park for its rare and unique plants.

Animals

Uganda’s tallest mountains are home to many animals. You can find mammals, birds, fish, insects, amphibians, and reptiles there. Rwenzori Mountain Park is home to a variety of plants and animals. Many species found here are unique to this area.

The park is home to 18 mammal, 6 amphibian, and 9 reptile species. Rwenzori National Park has rivers, lakes, and swamps. These areas are homes for fish, especially Cyprinidae species.

Large mammals include:

• African Forest Elephant
• Giant Forest Hog
• Chimpanzee
• Leopard
• Bushbuck

The above animals are present but are seldom seen.

More visible are Black-and-White Colobus, Blue Monkeys, and Rwenzori Duikers.

Rwenzori Mountain Park is home to over 240 bird species. Among them, 19 are unique to the Albertine Rift.

Notable birds in the Rwenzori region include:

• Rwenzori Turaco
• Rwenzori double-collared sunbird
• Rwenzori nightjar
• Bamboo Warbler
• Rwenzori batis
• Strange weaver
• Handsome francolin
• Kivu Ground Thrush
• And more.

The park is home to 34 reptile species. The Rwenzori Three-Horned Chameleon is the most unique species.

Mountaineering is the top activity in the Rwenzori Mountains. Visitors enjoy forest walks and birding in this rugged national park.

How to Explore the Rwenzori Mountains National Park?

Visitors hike designated trails to enjoy the scenery and wildlife in the Rwenzori. The most notable trails are the Central Circuit and Kilembe Trails.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) authorizes the Rwenzori Trekking Services (RTS) and Rwenzori Mountaineering Services (RMS). They manage trekking trips on the “Mountains of the Moon.” Contact us for customized Rwenzori National Park hiking experiences.

Rwenzori Mountain Trails

Kilembe Trail

RTS runs trekking services on the Kilembe Trail. This trek can take up to 9 days to climb and descend Mount Stanley, which stands at 5,109 m—the highest peak. Hikers may choose a shorter route to Mount Luigi da Savoia (4,627 m), which takes about six days. Rwenzori Trekkers Hostel, located 14 km from Kasese town, serves as the base camp for this trail.

Central Circuit Trail

Managed by RMS in Nyakalengija, this trail to Mount Stanley takes about 7 days to climb up and down. This route is popular. It offers stunning vegetation, snow-capped peaks, and views of Mount Stanley. You can reach Scenic Lake Mahoma via this trail in about 2 days.

RMS is a local NGO run by community members. Tourism revenues help support the community.

Bukurungu Trail

Nyakigumba is on the Kasese-Fort Portal Road. It leads to the Bukurungu Trail. This trail features diverse plants and many lakes. Notable ones include Bukurungu Lakes, Lake Irene, and Lake Bujuku. This beautiful trail is full of plants and animals. It takes about eight days to hike to Margherita Peak through Bukurungu.

Kazingo Trail

A one-day trek on the Kazingo Trail takes you to the North Rwenzori Ridge. This ridge lies between the Fort Portal Plateau and Bundibugyo Town. The Abanyarwenzori Mountaineering Association operates this trail.

Cost of Trekking Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

Rwenzori Mountains trekking costs range from $500 to $3,000. Prices vary based on the number of days, group size, and amenities. Rwenzori trekking fees usually include several costs. These cover accommodation, food, park entrance, and porters for your safari.

Moderate hikes to stunning places, like Lake Kopello in Rwenzori, begin at $120 per person each day. We’re a local tour operator. We create and customize Rwenzori Park hikes for your unforgettable Uganda safari experience.

What to carry along

Trekking the Rwenzori Mountains is harder than exploring Uganda’s savanna parks. You can visit those parks by safari vehicle.

Here are some items we recommend for a great Rwenzori Mountains trekking safari:

Bakonzo locals know a lot about the Rwenzori Mountains. They serve as porters and guides for climbers in the national park. Some of the Rwenzori hiking items may include:

• Warm clothing
• Waterproof raincoats
• Gloves
• Hiking boots
• Trekking poles
• Sun hat
• Headlamp
• Backpack
• Gaiters
• Snacks
• Sleeping bag
• Camping mat

Carry plastic bags and dry clothes when hiking in this rocky national park. They’ll help if you get wet or muddy.

Climate

The tropical climate of the Rwenzori Mountains comes from altitude and topography. The inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) also affects the mountainous park. The weather in Rwenzori Mountains Park, Uganda, is wet and cold.

Temperatures range from -10°C to 18°C. This depends on the altitude and the time of year. Nights in this national park are cold. They reach below the freezing-point temperatures. Rwenzori Mountains Park has two rainy seasons each year. The first runs from March to May, and the second is from August to December.

The best time to visit the Rwenzori Mountains is from January to February and from June to July. These months are drier than the rest of the year. There is little to no rain in Rwenzori Park during the dry months.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park Accommodation

You can stay on the mountain or at its base during your Rwenzori Mountains trekking safari. Kasese Town and Fort Portal City are key areas at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains. They offer a range of affordable accommodation options.

You can stay at these places while hiking in the Rwenzori Mountains:

• Ruboni Community Camp
• Mariana Tourist Hotel
• Mihunga Safari Lodge
• Sandton Hotel

Rwenzori explorers seeking luxury can pick the Margherita Hotel or Equator Snow Lodge.

Parks nearby

Interesting national parks near the Rwenzori Mountains Park include:

• Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Semuliki National Park
• Kibale National Park

These Ugandan parks are very popular for primate safaris, birding, and game drives.