Rwenzori mountains national park is also referred to as the mountains of the moon and it is found in the south western part of Uganda. the mountain is also located on the border of Uganda and Congo.
A minimum of 7 days is recommended for a hike on Mount Rwenzori to get to the summit of the mountain which is the Margherita peak. The Margherita peak is also among the highest peaks in Africa. This mountain is among the destinations where hiking tours in Uganda are carried out during the year.
There are 6 peaks which are found on the Rwenzori mountains and they include Mount Stanley at 5109 meters, Mount Speke at 4890 meters, Mount Baker at 4843 meters, Mount Emin at 4798 meters, Mount Gessi at 4715 meters and Mount Luigi di Savoia at 4627 meters.
Mount Rwenzori is a snow capped mountain and the mountain is also said to be among the permanent sources of the River Nile and it is also a vital water catchment area. The mountain also rock outcrops, cliffs, glaciers and also diverse vegetation.
The Rwenzori mountains are also considered a world heritage site in 1994 and it was gazetted as a national park in 1991. The mountain was referred to as the Mountains of the moon by the Alexandrine explorer Ptolemy and Henry Stanley labeled it Ruwenzori which means “rain maker”.
When visiting Rwenzori mountains national park, you will hike through different zones including the Afro montane vegetation zone, bamboo zone, heather zone, moorland zone, and also glacier.
Hiking routes for Mount Rwenzori
Rwenzori mountains is the third highest peak in Africa and each year many tourists visit the national park to hike to the summit of the mountain.
Different trails are used during hikes on Rwenzori mountain and they include Kilembe, the central circuit and also the Bukurungu trail. The highest point on Mount Rwenzori is the Margherita peak (5,109 meters).
The oldest trail on Mount Rwenzori is the central circuit which can be hiked by both experienced and non-experienced hikers. This route passes through 5 climatic zones and also has amazing views. The central circuit route is also the easiest and shortest route used for hikes on Mount Rwenzori.
Another trail which is followed during hiking Mount Rwenzori is the Kilembe trail which is also known as the southern circuit. This route is managed by the Rwenzori trekking services and it is the longest route on the mountain. Kilembe trail has breathtaking views and you can also see lakes and glaciers as well as flora and fauna when hiking along this trail. it takes 7 to 8 days to hike to the summit of Mount Rwenzori using the Kilembe route.
Bukurungu trail is another route which is used for hiking Mount Rwenzori and it is a good route for lovers of nature. When following this trail, you can see lakes such as Mughuli, Bukurungu, Bukuju and Irene. this trail is also an open trail and it takes 8 days of hiking on the Bukurungu trail to get to the top of Mount Rwenzori.
How to get to Rwenzori mountains national park
The park can be accessed by road and also by flight. The flights to the national park can be got from Entebbe international airport to Kasese airstrip. Scheduled and charter flights can be booked for flights to Kasese airstrip during trips to Rwenzori mountains national park.
When getting there by road, the drive takes about 6 hours and there are two routes which can be used during tours to the destination. The first route is from Kampala or Entebbe to Kasese via Fort Portal and Mubende which is the shorter route.
The second route which can be used to access Rwenzori mountains national park from Kampala or Entebbe to Kasese is via Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi to Kasese. This route is the longer route and you can stop over at the equator when using this route during safaris in Uganda.
Rwenzori mountains national park can also be accessed from the Democratic republic of Congo and also from Rwanda.
Best time to visit Rwenzori mountains national park
Tours around Uganda can be carried out at different months of the year and the time of the year which is considered the best time for hikes when visiting Rwenzori mountains national park is June, July and August and also around December to February.
June to August is considered a good time for the summit attempt to Margherita peak and it is also the dry season. The months from March to May are the rainy season and tourists avoid these months during tours. The months of September to November are also avoided for tours to the destination due to the misty conditions on the mountain. The dry season is also the high season with many tourists visiting Mount Rwenzori to reach the Margherita peak.
During the months from December to February when visiting the park the weather is characterized by warm days and cold nights.
Visit Uganda and enjoy hiking the highest mountain in Uganda during a Uganda tour in the south western part of the country.
