Hiking the Fabled Rwenzori Mountains
The UNESCO world heritage mountain Rwenzori lies on the boarders of Uganda and DR Congo in western region from the capital Kampala, widely known as the mountain of the moon. The mountain has one of the tallest ranges in Africa which are always covered on permanent ice on top. The snow caped equatorial peaks rise to the height of 5,109m and the slopes are overspread in the upland and rich montane forest.
The Rwenzori Mountain has several ranges of which include the highest Mt Stanley Margherita peak 5109m above sea level, Alexandria 5083m, Albert 5087m, Baker standing at a height of 4843 meters and then Speke towering at 4890 meters and fascinating about these is the fact that each of these peaks is entirely covered by non-seasonal glaciers. These peaks can be reached by hiking the Central Circuit trail or the Kilembe Trail. The highest range stretches about 120km long and 65 km wide. Stanley place the mountain on the map by 1888 and labeled it Ruwenzori the local name meaning “rain maker”.
The mountain flora ranges from tropical rain forest through alpine meadows to snow at the peak, it stands the best option for nature lovers.
The scenic view of Magharita Peak- Mt. Rwenzori
Mountain Rwenzori also commonly referred to as the “Mountains of the Moon”, its snow covered peak is the third highest peak on the African continent, while its lower slopes are overspread by a flourishing, Savannah, tropical, bamboo, humid montane forest and alpine moorland. Vast tree heathers plus exciting mosses cover the sides of this mountain while the large lobelias and the endless flowers forming a sociable panorama.
Rwenzori national park, nine hours’ drive west of Kampala, offers crowd-free hiking and a sense of wilderness absent on any other world mountain. The Rwenzori Mountains made a UNESCO world heritage site due to its nonseasonal snow at Margherita peak and it’s the third tallest mountain range in Africa. The mossy heather zone above 3,500 meters is fantastic and UNESCO calls it “Africa’s botanical big game”.
Mountain Rwenzori is an international first-class challenging adventure mountaineering tourist destinations, whose pinnacle the Margherita Peak range can be clutched in gap of 9 to 12 days by advanced hikers. For not advanced climbers are opened to less challenging routes which will as well give them the opportunity to explore the places close to the peaks.
Hikers when reached to the snow zone use either crampons or ropes to challenge the peak, however this can depend on whether condition availing at the mountain. During rainy seasons the snow surface forms cracks making it necessary to use the ropes toward the peak which may not be the case during sunny times. Mountaineering the Rwenzori range is very adventurous and also more challenging, when hiking in case of rain their opportunities to encounter group of sliding rocks.
Beyond a ridge joining Alexandra (5,091 meters high) and (Margherita 5109 meters high) peaks, it’s an overview frozen boulders to the summit. Upon reaching see the sign welcoming to Uganda’s highest point howling celebrations and passionate joy circulating with fatigue. Clouds clearly reveal a panorama more complex and striking than never any other summit to Rwenzori peak surrounded by glaciers and rocky peaks and south down the Albertine rift valley to far Lake George and west into DR Congo.
Besides it uncommon flora species, this national park is best recognized for its unique vegetation. As you make your climbing adventure to its peaks, you will interchange through a stunning progression of varied attitudinal vegetation covers including; the tree heathers, bamboo, montane forest and the afro-alpine. The beautiful afro-alpine zone with its symbolic giant groundsel and lobelia, is one the rarest botanical species only found in the high mountainous areas at altitudes 3800 meters.
Rwenzori-Mountain-National-Park
Mountain Rwenzori National Park discretely climbing is also habitat to approximately 70 different mammal species and close to 220 bird species among which are 19 Albertine Rift Valley endemics, in addition to a range of rare vegetation cover 4 of the species are endemic to this park only plus three other are rare species. Other mammals living within this park are; the Rwenzori otters, chimpanzees, elephants and leopards despite the fact that wild animals are not commonly seen inside the dense forests of this park.
On your hiking in equatorial bamboos and the montane forests there simple sighting of different primate species escorting through tree branches and they may include black and white colobus monkeys, the blue monkeys and the Angola colobus. In addition be on watch on rare occasions for the small antelopes like bushbucks as well as uncommon reptile species including the 3 horned chameleon.
The park is host to 217 bird species some of which are Albertine Rift Valley endemics. 17 of these are endemic to Rwenzori National park therefore representating the park a significant International Birding Area, at an altitude of 1800 meters the forest zone is habitat to a abundance of birds among including the Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Crimson wings, numerous Barbets, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, Flycatchers, Slender-billed Starling, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, White-starred Robin, Iladopsis, Montane Sooty Boubou, Long-eared Owl, Blue-headed Sunbird, Apalises, Archers’ Robin-chat, Handsome Francolin, Golden-winged Sunbird, Greenbuls, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, and a profusion Strange Weavers: Arguably the Rwenzori park is spectacular for birding safari adventures.
However, visitors to the park can likewise participate in a less challenging activities like nature walks to the nearby Bakonzo villages, cultural walks to visit a number of homesteads rewarding with amazing traditional cultural performances by the local people and above it’s an opening to enjoy some of the delicious meals locally prepared here.
The Peak of Magharita range-Mt Rwenzori
