Africa’s highest mountain range, the 5100 metro Rwenzori – or mountains of the moon- is the snowy source of the Nile referred to by early geographers ,17 centuries before European explorers market it on their maps. The high Rwenzori is a montane wonderland, the trails to the snow peaks following glacier carved valleys filled with fantastically colored mosses and rare afro alpine plants that include giant forms of lobelias, heathers and groundsels. Expeditions use a chain of basic huts and campsites to ascend the mountain from KIlembe and Nyakalengija.
The 120km Rwenzori chain is regarded to be the legendary snow capped mountains of the moon, described by Ptolemy in AD150. Reaching an elevation of 5,109 m, it is also Africa’s tallest mountain range, exceeded in altitude only by the free standing Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro. The distinctive glacial peaks are visible for miles around, but the slopes above 1,600m are the preserve of Hikers, who rate the Rwenzori Trek to be the most challenging of all African mountain hikes.
Foreign visitors have been entranced by the mount Ruwenzori area of western Uganda since Henry Stanley and Emin pasha passed thorough in 1889.
For this is, arguably, Uganda’s most dramatic and scenic region. Between Lake Albert in the north and Lake George in the south, the terrain rises above the plains of Semuliki Valley for over 4,000 meters to the snow capped summits of the Rwenzori. Between these extremes, the landscape is pocked with crater lakes and covered with tea plantations, tropical rainforests, savanna and farmland. Varied and abundant wildlife includes big game on the rift valley floor in Queen Elizabeth National Park, rare forest birds in semiliki National Park, primates in the depths of Kibale forest, and the bizarre, giant Afro-alpine plants that grow in the shadow of the Rwenzori snow peaks.
Opportunities for exploring without a vehicle include trekking on the Rwenzori, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest and scenic walks among the Ndali crater lakes.
FLORA AND FAUNA: A variety of large mammals inhabits the lower slopes, but the Rwenzoris are notable more for their majestic scenery and varied vegetation. The trails lead through rain forests rattling with monkeys and birds, then tall bamboo forest, before emerging on the high altitude moorland zone, a landscape of bizarre giant lobelias, towered over by black rock and white snow, lloking for all the world like the set of a science fiction film.
CLIMATE: Altitude affords the Rwenzori region a pleasantly cool climate. Conditions are hotter – with a mean maximum of 28oC (80of) –and drier on the low-lying valley floor.
LANDSCAPES: This distinctive region is dominated by the 5100 meter Rwenzori mountain, the western and southern slopes of which drop into the plains of the western – Albertine – rift valley (620 to 900 meters above sea level). The green and hilly Fort portal plateau to the east is dotted with volcanic craters.
CULTURE AND PEOPLE:
The Rwenzori is home to the Bakonzo mountain people while the semliki valley is inhabited by the Bwamba tribe and a community of Batwa pygmies. The country side east of the mountain lies in the kingdom of Toro, home of the Batoro.
Formation of the Rwenzori Mountains
The Rwenzori Mountain ranges formed due to a shift in the Earth’s crust about 3 million years back. The shift resulted into an uplift of the rock comprising of quartzite, gneiss and granite. The shift in the tectonic plate is believed to have pushed the mountain block upwards and tilted it to make high peaks. Due to erosion and deposition of sediment for over years, it resulted into moulding of the range which today is referred to the Rwenzori Mountain ranges.
The Rwenzori Mountain range has a composition of 6 massifs each of them is separated by deep gorges. While on the Rwenzori Mountaineering experience, the 6 peaks/mountain massifs to trek through include Mount Baker/Kiyanja, the 3rd highest of the 6 Rwenzori Mountain massifs. Mt. Baker sits on altitude of 4843m and feature multiple subsidiary peaks like Edward peak. Mt. Baker’s ridge was first hiked by Rubert Grauer in 1906.
Mount Stanley
Mt. Stanley is 5109m high, making it the highest of all the 6 Rwenzori Massifs with Margherita its highest summit. The Margherita peak features 11 subsidiary peaks and boasts of incredibly spectacular glaciers which include the Stanley plateau. Mt Stanley is what marks the Uganda and D.R. Congo boundary. You can plan a Rwenzori climbing expedition to the Mount Stanly with local tour operators listed on this website.
Mount Speke, this is Rwenzori Mountain’s 2nd highest peak sitting on altitude of 4890m. It has 4 summits include Johnston at 4834m, Ensonga 4865m, Vittorio Emanuele at 4890 and at 4572m, there is Trident summit. Mt. Baker, Speke and Mt. Stanley make up a triangle that encloses the Bujuku Valley. It takes its name from John Speke, the renowned English explorer.
Mt. Emin, 4798m is Rwenzori Mountain’s 4th highest peak. It has 2 peaks that are linked by a narrow ridge including Umberto in the southern side and Kraepelin. Mt. Gessi lies at elevation of 4715m and accessible via the Mugusu Valley. The Gessi peak was initially covered by ice & glaciers but they melted. Its 2 twin peaks include Loloanda and Bottego. Luigi di Savoia Mountain takes its name from the Duke of Ambruzzi who climbed to most of the 6 Rwenzori Mountains peaks.
Topography
The Rwenzori Mountains makes up part of the Albertine rift that is the western rift valley arm of East Africa rift. It boasts of high peaks, beautiful gorges carved by glaciers making its topography unique. Mt. Rwenzori is the only Africa’s mountain range that represents glacial equatorial basement rock which formed due to earth’s uplift.
The Rwenzori Mountain ranges covers the Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains N. Park and Congo’s Virunga National Park which takes 20% of this range. The best hikes in the Rwenzori Mountain ranges include the Central Circuit, Forest, and Margherita.
Things to Do
Mountain hiking/climbing
Rwenzori Mountains National Park offers the best of African mountain climbing experience. The 2 incredible trails leading to various peaks of the legendary Rwenzori Mountain include the Kilembe trail in the south and Central circuit which often takes hikers from 7-8 days to get to the summits to enjoy the magical snow-capped peaks.
Birding
Birding is one of the fascinating activities visitors on Uganda safari shouldn’t miss in Rwenzori Mountains National Park. The park is blessed with diversity of birds which total up to 217 species of birds and these can easily be spotted around the Ruboni, navigate around the montane forest. They include handsome francolins, black and swift eagles, cinnamon chested bee-eaters, barred long tailed cuckoo, long eared owl, blue headed sunbird, golden winged sunbirds, montane sooty boubou, Rwenzori batis, purple breasted sunbird, strange weavers, western green tinker birds, flycatchers.
Accessibility; The Nyakalengija trail head lies off the Fort Portal road, 22km from Kasese. Transport can be arranged in Kasese.
Flora and fauna of the Rwenzori Mountain ranges
Mt. Rwenzori is endowed with diversity of fauna and flora. It boasts of its distinct vegetation variation ranging from African savanna at 1676-2286m, tropical forest to Alpine meadows, heath, bamboo and snow. These harbor a range of Rwenzori Mountains National Park’s diverse wildlife including 70 mammal species especially bush bucks, hyrax, chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, 3 horn chameleon, duikers, elephants etc.
Over 217 bird species range within the varied habitats of Rwenzori Mountains including the Rwenzori Turacos, blue headed sunbird, montane sooty boubou, Rwenzori batis, Archers’ robin chat, long eared owl, barred long tailed cuckoos, slender billed starling. Others important birds include tiny sunbird, greenbul, apalis, golden winged sun birds etc.
Where to stay
In and around Rwenzori Mountains National Park, the available places of stay range from budget to luxury. There are hostels and campsite trail head, basic hiking huts along the loop trail. Nearby Kasese is a midrange hotel, several budget lodgings, and a campsite.
They include;
Equator Snow Lodge
The Equator Snow Lodge is undoubtedly one of the luxury/upmarket lodges set at Rwenzori Mountains ranges base, near Nyakalengija where the park gate is. This luxurious accommodation facility is composed of a restaurant, fully stocked bar, mountain cabins, wooden decks, dining area among other facilities/features.
Hotel Margherita & Campsites
Hotel Margherita & Campsites is a complete hospitality facility with bar, executive suites, conference rooms, single & double rooms, restaurant. It is just 30 minutes’ drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Rwenzori International Hotel
Rwenzori International Hotel is composed of 35 comfortable rooms and other important features such as kitchen, dining room, parking, lounge etc. To access this hotel establishment, it takes Uganda safari travelers 3 minutes to drive from Kasese Airstrip.
Ruboni Community Camp
For visitors on Uganda safari in Rwenzori Mountains National Park and they are interested in budget accommodation, Ruboni Community Camp has you covered. This budget facility is set up at the Rwenzori Mountains National Park gateway and boasts of its remarkable views especially for wildlife and the park’s surrounding. It is composed of 6 private rooms, 3 self contained bandas, camping area, solar power, restaurant among the many facilities/features to make your stay here ultimately comfortable.