Rwenzori Mountains National Park is located in South western corner of Uganda along the border of Uganda with Democratic Republic of Congo next to the Virunga national park. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site declared in 1994 because of the natural beauty, rare plants, lakes, rivers, hot springs, glaciers and mountains. Rwenzori Mountains were listed by world geographic among the best hikes in the world.
Rwenzori Mountains national park covers an area of 386 square miles straddling through Kabarole, Bundibugyo and Kasese districts. Rwenzori Mountains national park stretches along Rwenzori Mountain ranges the highest mountain ranges in Africa at 5109 meters above the sea level with Mount Stanely’s Margherita Peak the 3rd highest peak in Africa. Mount Speke is Number 4 and Mount Baker as the 5th in Africa. Rwenzori Mountains were formed as a result of a huge rock that squeezed/lifted from the floor of the East African Rift Valley, other mountain ranges on Rwenzori are Mount Gessi, Mount Luigi da Savoia and Mount Emin Pasha.
Rwenzori Mountain ranges boost about 20 lakes including Lake Mahoma the most accessible lake, lake Bujuku lieing in the valley of Mount Stanely, Baker and Speke. Dams in the ranges are created on a string of 8 beautiful lakes in the Nyamwamba trail including Lake Kitandara. The ranges are dominated by varied vegetation covers including montane forest, bamboo forest, tree heath, hagenia-rapanea scrub and afro-alpine moorland.
Wildlife and birdlife in Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Animals of Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Rwenzori Mountains national park hosts about 70 mammal species including golden cats, giant forest hogs, red duiker, forest elephants, rock hydrax, Rwenzori Colobus, Rwenzori otters, the Rwenzori climbing mouse, Sitatunga, servalline genet, Mongoose, Leopards, the Uganda clawed frog and primates such as as blue monkeys, Angola colobus monkey, black-and-white colobus monkeys and Chimpanzees.
Birds of Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Rwenzori Mountains national park is one of the Important Birding Areas in Uganda hosting over 217 bird species including 19 Albertine Rift Endemics, most of the birds are found in the forest zone of the park and they include African Long-eared Owl, Archers’ Robin-chat, Barbets, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Blue-headed Sunbird, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Collared Apalises, Crimson wings, Dusky and Shelley’s Crimsonwings, Dwarf Honeyguide, Evergreen Forest and Bamboo Warblers, Flycatchers, Golden-winged sunbirds, Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbirds, Golden-winged Sunbird, Grauer’s Cuckoo-shrike, Greenbuls, Grey-chested Illadopsis, Grey-winged Robin, Handsome Francolin, IIladopsis, Kivu Ground Thrush, Lagden’s Bush-Shrike, Lammergeiger, Long-eared Owl, Montane Masked, Montane Rwenzori Nightjar, Montane Sooty Boubou, Olive Woodpecker, Oriole-Finch, Red-faced Crimsonwing, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, Red-throated Alethe, Regal and Purple-breasted Sunbirds, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori Turaco, Slender-billed Starling, Strange Weaver, Stripe-breast Tit, Western Green Tinkerbird, White-collared Olive-back and White-starred Robin,.
ACTIVITIES TO DO IN MOUNT RWENZORI NATIONAL PARK
Mountain hiking
Mountain Rwenzori is of the best mountains on the African continent to do mountain climbing experience, climbing the mountain is an exhilarating and rewarding experience doe using several demarcated trails. For an amazing experience, hikers need to have adequate preparation so the encounter the challenging conditions which can be harder sometimes even to an experienced hiker.
Climbing Mountain Rwenzori is mostly done on the central hike circuit which takes six nights and 7 days to reach the summit of the mountain “Margherita peak” the 3rd highest peak in Africa at the altitude of 4,267 meters above the sea level, there different starting point for different trails that are Nyakalengija central circuit and Kilembe trail located near Kasese town and Kazingo nature walk trail head located near Fort Portal Town. These trails pass through glacial lakes, heath forest, alpine plants, lush valleys, bogs with a lot of lobelia and to the snow.
Trails used to climb Rwenzori Mountains include
The Central Circuit Trail
The central circuit trail is the most challenging and most preferred trail for hiking to the summit of Rwenzori Mountains by senior climbers, hiking on this trail involves acclimatization before heading to the Margherita peak. Hiking on this trail involves climbing from Nyakalengija office at 1,646 meters after briefing to Nyabitaba Hut at 2,652 meters on a hiking of 10 meters, on your second day you climb from Nyabitaba Hut to John Matte Hut at 3,414 meters then to Bujuku Hut at 3962 meters for 6 kilometers on the 3rd day. On the 4th day you climb 4 kilometers from Bujuku gut to Elena Hut at 4,430 meters, on the 5th day you will climb to the Margherita peak at 5,109 meters for 2 kilometers one way and get back to Elena Hut on 5th day. On the 6th day you climb from Elena Hut to Guy Yeoman Hut at 3,261 meters then back to Nyabitaba Hut, lastly, from Nyabitaba Hut you will trek to Nyakalengija at 1,646 meters for 10 kilometers.
The Kilembe Trail – The Kilembe Trail starts from Kilembe near Kasese Town and ascends through the southern parts of the Rwenzori Mountains, this route passes via Nyamwamba valley, glacial lakes with beautiful scenery points before joining the central circuit at Lake Kitandara. Climbing on this trail you will be able to see Mountain Baker. During this experience expect to spend nights at various huts along the way, these huts are highly maintained and porters are available to help you with your luggage.
Hikers climbing Mountain Rwenzori, should consider symptoms and treatments of hypothermia and other forms of altitude sickness affecting trekkers at above 2500 meters, altitude sickness can affect anyone regardless of age, fitness or previous mountain hiking experience. The most effective way to over altitude sickness is by descending to the lower altitude.
Hikers are advised to carry the following items such as sleeping bay, warm clothing, waterproof over trousers, plastic bags for wet clothing and plenty of snacks. For hikers not interested in the long hike to the summit of Rwenzori Mountains, 3 days hike can be arranged in the lower foothills of the mountain, the hike offers you beautiful scenery and an opportunity to spot various bird species.
Bird watching
Rwenzori Mountain national park is a bird watchers’ haven and one of the best birding spots in Uganda and recognized as an important birding area (IBA), the park is a home to over 217 bird species including Albertine Rift endemics. Bird watching in Rwenzori Mountains national park provides birders with an opportunity to spot several bird species such as African Long-eared Owl, Archers’ Robin-chat, Barbets, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Blue-headed Sunbird, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Collared Apalises, Crimson wings, Dusky and Shelley’s Crimson wings, Dwarf Honeyguide, Evergreen Forest and Bamboo Warblers, Flycatchers, Golden-winged sunbirds, Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbirds, Golden-winged Sunbird, Grauer’s Cuckoo-shrike, Greenbuls, Grey-chested Illadopsis, Grey-winged Robin, Handsome Francolin, IIladopsis, Kivu Ground Thrush, Lagden’s Bush-Shrike, Lammergeiger, Long-eared Owl, Montane Masked, Montane Rwenzori Nightjar, Montane Sooty Boubou, Olive Woodpecker, Oriole-Finch, Red-faced Crimsonwing among others.
Nature and Hiking walks
Rwenzori Mountains national park is one of the best spots to do hiking and nature walks experience in Uganda, this experience is offers in the adjust communities of Ruboni and Turaco along the slope of Mountain Rwenzori. Hikers can walk along Mubuku River where you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Baker and Portal peak and sometimes Mountain Margherita on clear days, during the guided hike and nature walk lookout for squirrels, Vervet monkeys, chameleons and several birds
Cultural encounters and Community trails
Cultural encounters and community trails in Rwenzori Mountains are done in the Ruboni Village of the Bakonzo people living on the foothills of Rwenzori Mountains, during the guided walk in the village you will be able to watch the Bakonzo people demonstrating their daily activities such as gardening, rearing of livestock, preparing local dishes from farm to meals, visit the local black smith and the traditional healer, witness the making of weavers (weaving) and be entertained by local dances and drama. Alternatively, you go for guided walk on a trail of about 7 hours leading you to various Bakonzo cultural sites through the holy.
Access to Rwenzori Mountains national park
Rwenzori Mountains national park is situated in the western Uganda with Kasese as the nearest town, the park can easily be accessed from Kampala the capital of Uganda. By road the park is accessed using Kampala via Mbarara to Kasese or Kampala via Mityana – fort portal to Kasese.
Alternatively, chartered or scheduled flights are available from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kasese airstrip then connect to the park by road.
Where to stay in Rwenzori Mountains national park
There is no accommodation facility inside Rwenzori Mountains National park, the available facilities are got from Kasese and Fort Portal town and they include
- Equator snow Lodge
- Ruboni community camp
- Mihunga Safari Lodge
- Trekkers Hostel
- Hotel Margherita
