Mountain Rwenzori national park
Mountain Rwenzori national park is a very scenic national park stretching around mountain Rwenzori the highest mountain ranges in Africa, mountain Rwenzori also referred as mountains of the moons a name it got from Alexandrine geographer Ptolemy in AD 150 and it is locally known as Ruwenzori which translates as rain maker or cloud king. Mountain Rwenzori national park is a UNECO World Heritage site listed in 1994 as the best sites for hikes in the world, the park is situated in western Uganda covering an area of 996 square kilometers.
Mountain Rwenzori is the major attraction in Mountain Rwenzori national park, Mountain Rwenzori lies on the border of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo standing at the altitude of 5,109 meters above the sea level. Mountain Rwenzori has a snowcapped summit and comprises of 6 massifs/peaks that include Mount Stanley standing at 5,109 metres, Mount Speke at 4,890 metres, Mount Baker at 4,843 metres, Mount Emin at 4,798 metres, Mount Gessi at 4,715 metres and Mount Luigi di Savoia at 4,627 metres.
Mountain Rwenzori national park boosts many vegetation zones such as montane forest, bamboo forest, tree heath, hagenia-rapanea scrub and afro-alpine moorland, the park comprises of many features such as glaciers, waterfalls, lakes and may species of flora and fauna. There are 20 lakes in Mountain Rwenzori national park and they include Lake Bujuku lieing between Mount Stanely, baker and Speke massifs, Lake Kitandara, Lake Muhoma and many more.
Mount Rwenzori national park is a home to over 70 mammal species living in the various vegetation zones of the park and these include elephants, Giant forest hog, Rwenzori Otter, duikers, bushbucks and Leopard -but are hardly seen. Primates such as blue monkeys, Angola colobus monkey, black-and-white colobus monkeys and Chimpanzees and many more. Mountain Rwenzori national park is an excellent habitat for bird species with over 177 bird species including 19 Albertine Endemic species, these birds include Rwenzori Turaco, Long eared owl, Archers’ Robin-chat, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Blue-headed and Golden-winged sunbird, white-starred Robin, Slender-billed Starling, and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater and many more.
Things to do in Mountain Rwenzori national park
Mountain climbing
Mountain climbing is the safari activity done in Mountain Rwenzori national park, this activity aims at reaching the 6 summits of Mountain Rwenzori that are Mount Stanley standing at 5,109 metres, Mount Speke at 4,890 metres, Mount Baker at 4,843 metres, Mount Emin at 4,798 metres, Mount Gessi at 4,715 metres and Mount Luigi di Savoia at 4,627 metres. To reach these peaks various routes are used, the routes lead to a specific peak they run through various areas of the park. Routes used in Mountain climbing include Central circuit route which takes 7-8 days of completion, climbing on this trail starts from Mihunga towards Bujuku valley through Nyabitaba leading to an altitude of 4,267 meters above the sea level. Hiking on central circuit includes spending six nights at various huts. Other trails used to climb mountain Rwenzori that are Kilembe trail and Nyakalengija central circuit.
When climbing mountain Rwenzori remember to carry a sleep bag, warm clothing, raincoat, waterproof trousers and shirts, plastic bags to keep your clothes, energy giving snacks and personal care items.
Bird watching
Mountain Rwenzori national park is teeming with rich birdlife recorded to be over 217 bird species, the park is a key bird watching area in Uganda and while on this activity lookout for many beautiful bird species living the thick forests of the park such as Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Long-eared Owl, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Strange Weaver, Archers’ Robin-chat, Rwenzori Batis, White-starred Robin, Montane Sooty Boubou, Slender-billed Starling, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Blue-headed Sunbird, Barbets, Golden-winged Sunbird, Greenbuls, IIladopsis, Apalises, Crimson wings, Flycatchers and many more.
Hiking
Hiking safaris in Mountain Rwenzori national park offers an encounter with the beautiful scenery and green cones and rock on mountain Rwenzori, this activity is done on the foothills of mountain Rwenzori on a trail following River Mubuku. As you hike look out for amazing views of peaks such as Baker, Portal peaks and Margherita the highest peak of Mount Rwenzori, you will spot squirrels, vervet monkeys, chameleons and many birds such as Rwenzori Turaco, Long-eared Owl, Bearded vultures, swifts and many more.
Cultural encounters
At the foot hills of mountain Rwenzori there are local communities of the Bakonzo people calling the place a home, the Bakonzo community are visited on cultural encounter experiences while in mountain Rwenzori national park. This activity is conducted on a cultural trail on which you get to watch demonstration of the Bakonzo daily life such as basket weaving, gardens, and livestock rearing, visit the black smith, traditional healer and the elders of the community for storytelling and be entertained y local dances and drama.
How to get to Mountain Rwenzori national park
Mountain Rwenzori national park is found in western Uganda in Kasese and lies in a drive of about 5-6 hours from Kampala where most safaris to the park start from, mountain Rwenzori national park is accessed by road and air transport. By road the park is accessed using Kampala-Kasese via Fort portal road, by air the park is accessed using scheduled or chartered flights from Entebbe international airport to Kasese airstrip.
Where to stay in Mountain Rwenzori national park
There are a range of accommodation facilities offering a place to stay for tourists on a safari in Mountain Rwenzori national park, these include Hotel Margherita, Rwenzori International Hotel, Katara lodge, Equator snow lodge, Tropical Savannah Guest house and many more.
