RWENZORI MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK - HIKING TRIPS AND TREKKING TOURS

 

African Jungle Tours is one of the premier safari companies to East Africa arranging the most affordable mountaineering tours. Our safaris cover the best of Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania with tour itineraries designed around clients' needs, interest and time offering you the opportunity to enjoy the diversity of wildlife Africa is endowed with . Would you desire to undertake a Uganda Safari, primates tracking such as a mountain Gorilla trek, chimp tracking or bird watching, Africa Adventure Safaris is ready to offer you the best options.

 Background: Rwenzori Mountains National Park is located in the Rwenzori Mountains also referred as “Mountains of the Moon”. Ptolemy, a roman geographer, cited the Rwenzori to be the source of the legend of the Mountains of the Moon. This park covers 996sq km size. Rwenzori is Africa's third highest mountain peak after Mt Kenya being the second and Mt Kilimanjaro being the highest in Africa. The mountain also has waterfalls, lakes, and glaciers and rich plant life. The Mountain of the Moon run for about 120km Congo boarder west of Kasese and Fort Portal and Margherita(5,109m) is the highest peak followed  by Alexandra (5,083m) on Mount Stanley The Rwenzoris are not volcanic by origin but are a block mountain.

Rwenzori is remarkable for its flora than fauna.  There are several large mammals like elephant, golden cat, servelline genet, giant forest hog, bushbuck; chimpanzee and southern tree hyrax are present though rarely seen. However, the blue monkey, black and white Columbus may be seen. Rwenzori is a home of 241 bird species of which 19 are endemic to the mountain such as Rwenzori turaco, cinnamon chested bee-eater, Archer’s ground robin, Lagden’s bush shrike, slender-billed starling and montane sooty boubou among others.

 Vegetation: Above an altitude of 2,500m, the forest (1500 -2500m) gives way to dense bamboo forest stands and messy tangles of Mimulopisis. Followed by the vegetation of heather and alpine zones (3000 – 4500), which is characterized by the giant heather trees, giant lobelias and drab beards of lichen.

 Highlights: Rwenzori Mountain is popular for its challenging hiking and climbing. It requires good physical fitness and stamina since most hikers regard this trail to be much tougher than the trails of Mount Kilimanjaro or Mt. Kenya. One can hike the mountains in 3 or 5 days as long as they fully experienced but usually most people hike it for six to seven days.

Accommodation

The central mountain circuit goes along with basic mountain huts therefore you should take your own sleeping bags and sleeping mats.

Camping and rooms are available at the Circuit’s Nyakalengija trailhead at Ruboni campsite and RMS Guesthouse.