Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is situated in Kasese district in the western part of Uganda, bordering Congo. The mountains have also been known as “mountains of the moon.” The mountain rises at an elevation of 5110 meters above sea level.

Mount Ruwenzori is the third highest mountain in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, with Africa’s third, forth and highest peaks. Mount Rwenzori is the hardest to climb of all African mountains and it will therefore require physical fitness.

Mount Ruwenzori was gazetted as a national park in 1991 and it was declared by UNESCO as a world heritage and Ramsar site in 1994. The park covers an area of about 996 kilometers squared. Mount Ruwenzori is characterized by blue lakes, snow fields, alpine highland glaciers, dense montane and bamboo forests, heath, moorland, groundsels, Lobelias and hagenia.

Mount Ruwenzori meltwater represents the highest springs of the Nile, which is the world’s longest river. In 150AD Claudius Ptolemy claimed the snow-peaked mountains to be the source of the mighty Nile. This mountain is a must-visit when you go on Uganda safari holidays.

Mountain climbing

Mountain climbing is the main tourist activity in Mount Rwenzori National Park, which is located in the mountains, provides stunning views and is said to be one of the most spectacular places on earth. Day hikes can also be organized for those who don’t want to reach the mountain peaks. Mount Ruwenzori is very challenging; therefore, you must be in good shape to take a 7-9 day journey to the top.

Wildlife

The Ruwenzori mountain slopes are filled with various wildlife species, making 18 species of mammals, 6 species of amphibians and 9 species of reptiles. Some of the animals seen in the Ruwenzori Mountains include elephants, leopards, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, bush bucks and many more.

There are also various primate species in the Ruwenzori mountains like blue monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzees and many more.

Birds

Ruwenzori Mountains National Park boasts 217 species of birds. Some of the birds in the Ruwenzori Mountains are the Ruwenzori collared bird, the queen’s turaco, Shelley’s crimson wing, the dwarf honeyguide, the red-faced woodland warbler, the Kivu ground thrush, the strange weaver, the barred long-tailed cuckoo, the purple-breasted sunbird, and the collared apalis and montane masked, to mention a few.

Cultural experience

For a feel of authentic African culture, tourists can explore the neighboring Bakonjo villages on the mountain slopes and learn about people’s ways of life and how they have adapted to staying on these mountain slopes for years.

Nature-guided walks can also be organized and the local traditional dancers can perform their traditional dances. Tourists visiting Ruwenzori Mountains National Park can sleep in Equator Snow Lodges, Ruboni Community Camp, Hotel Margherita, Ruwenzori International Hotel, Katara lodge and many others.

Mount Ruwenzori National Park can be reached from Kampala within 5-6 hours; however, tourists can fly into Kasese Airfield from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield.