The perfect guide to hike Rwenzori mountains (mountain of the moon )

Guid to hike Rwenzori mountains, hiking the Mount Rwenzori is a breath-taking activity, and getting ready to discover the untamed beauty of Africa’s inscrutable mountain ranges. Rwenzori Mountain, also known as the mountain of the moon, is located on the border of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo, it was described as the mountain of the moon by a CE-geographer Ptolemy in the 2^nd century because it sits high in the clouds and long thought to be the source of the world’s longest river, Nile. The word Rwenzori means “rainmaker “or “Rain mountains” in the Bakonjo local language because they believed the mountains were home to their god “Kitasamba” who resides from a high altitude and cannot be accessed. The Baganda people who viewed the mountain from afar named it “Gambalagala” meaning my eyes pain referring to the shinning snow.

Mountain Rwenzori is 120 km (75 mi) long and 65 km (40 mi) wide siting slightly north of the Equator, stretching from Lake Albert to the north and Lake Edward to the south on the Congo- Uganda border, and falls steeply westwards to the Western Rift Valley located in the Rwenzori Mountain National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage site hosts the third highest point of Africa at Margherita Peak after Mount Kilimanjaro of Tanzania and Mountain Kenya of Kenya and it’s the highest non-volcanic and non-orogenic mountain in the world. Rwenzori is one of the most exhilarating mountain ranges to climb in the heart of Africa. stretching from Lake Albert to the north and Lake Edward to the south on the Congo- Uganda border. Mountain Rwenzori has glaciers that are fast quailing as a result of continuous ice melting caused by Global warming that has been going on for decades definitely worth a view.

Mount Rwenzori is repute for its diverse eco-system, dramatic scenery, unique flora and Fauna, walking trails, landscape, this mountain offers one of the most challenging trekking experiences on the planet, tougher than Kilimanjaro but it has lower altitude sickness risk because its trekking trails are longer giving you more time to adapt.

Rwenzori is not a Volcanic origin like other African Mountains rather a gigantic horst of 6 Sierra separated by deep gorges form the highest to the lowest namely Mount Stanley 5109 m (16762 ft), Mountain Speke 4890m (16040 ft), Mount Baker 4843 m (15 889ft), Mount Emin 4798 m (15741 ft), Mount Gessi 4715m (15 469 ft), Mount Luigi di Savoia 4627m (15180 ft). the mountain’s largest ranges are separated by river valley that deeply cut between them and eventually drain into the Semuliki River. Hiking Mountain Rwenzori is Price, its summits hide in the cloud cover which are periodically created by the moist airstreams from the Atlantic and Indian Ocean.

Wonders at the Rwenzori Mountains are endless, it is economically important because of its copper and cobalt deposits mined at Kilembe mines and surprisingly the Hydropower used by the mine are got from the range’s largest river, River Mubuku. The local people living on the lower eastern slopes of the mountain that’s the Konjo and Amber, are cultivators of beans, sweet potatoes and bananas.

CLIMBING THE PEAKS OF THE RWENZORI MOUNTAINS

MOUNT STANLEY

Mountain Stanly is the highest point in the Rwenzori mountains and the third highest point in Africa at its Margherita peak with 5109 meters (16763 ft) set above Africa’s ice cover beyond the Margherita Glacier. Mount Stanley is shared by Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and boasts being the highest point of both the countries high enough to support glaciers and glacier lakes in the upper Valleys.

Mount Stanley has numerous summits with Margherita peak being the highest point among the ranges, it was named after Queen Margherita of Italy and Luigi Amedeo Abruzzi led the first expedition that first climbed the peak in 1906 who later climbed the rest of the 5 highest mountains of the Rwenzori. The mountain is classified in two categories: the highest and the lowest altitude, the highest takes 7- 8 days to reach and the lowest take 3-4 days to reach its peak.

Mount Stanley was named after the Explorer Sir Henry Morton Stanley, an author and adventurer who was the first European to reach the range. The mountain has several summits consisting of 9 out 10 that rise above 4900 meters (16000 ft) namely Margherita Peak 5109 m (16763 ft), Alexandra 5091 meters (16703 ft), Albert 5087 meters (16690 ft), Savio 4977 meters (16330 ft), Ellena 4968 meters (16300 ft), Elizabeth 4929 meters (16170 ft), Phillip 4920 meters (16140 ft), Moebius 4916 meters (16130 ft), Great Tooth 4603 meters (15100 ft).

How long do they take to hike the Margherita Peak?

MOUNT SPEKE

Mountain Speke is the second highest mountain in the Rwenzori Mountain ranges with 4890m (16040 ft), the mount is located in Rwenzori Mountain National Park in Uganda.it is near Mount Stanley with 3.55 km (2.21 mi) south- southwest. Mount Speke together with Mount Baker and Stanley form a triangle that encloses the upper Bujuku Valley. Mount Speke was named after thee explorer John Speke though he never climbed to its summit but is the one who mapped the source of the White Nile in 1862. Mountain Speke summits were named after the Italian royal family and was approved by the British protectorate who were the rulers of Uganda by the time. Mount Speke’s summits are Vittorio Emanuele 4890 meters (16040 ft), Ensonga 4865 meters (15961 ft), Johnston 4834 meters (15860 ft), Trident 4572 meters(15000ft).

MOUNT BAKER (Kiyanja)

Mount Baker is the third highest peak in the Rwenzori Mountains and the fifth highest mountain in Africa with a height of 4844 meters (15892 ft), it is located 2.8 km (1.7 mi) form the border of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo in Mountain Rwenzori National Park. the nearest peak to Baker is Stanley at 2.26 km (1.40 mi) west. The first climber to reach baker only stopped at its ridge line in Feb 1906 that’s Austrian mountaineer Rudolf Grauer, a party of two British missionaries and later in April the same year an English expedition of Alexander F.R. Wollaston, M. Carruthers and A. B. Wosnam also reached its ridge line. The peak of the mount was first reached on by an expedition led by Duke of the Abruzzi who as well climbed the other 5 highest mountains of Rwenzori.

Mount Baker was named Kiyanja by the Bakkonjo people and Abruzzi named it Baker after Sir Samuel Baker, a British explorer of the 19^th Century who was the first European to sight and visit Lake Albert which is few kilometers northeast of the Rwenzori Mountains. He also reported a sight on a great mountain masses in the south of Lake Albert. It has been reported that Mount Speke and Baker lost their glaciers

MOUNT EMIN

Mount Emin is the 4^th highest mountain in the Rwenzori mountains, 6^th highest in Africa and 3^rd highest peak in Democratic Republic of Congo located in DRC near its border with Uganda, it lies the north of the peaks formed by Baker, Stanley and Speke. Mount Emin was named after Mohamed Emin Pasha, a German doctor who spread scientific and geographical information about central Africa during his research there. Mount Emin’s summits are located between Uganda and Congo border though the easiest access point is in Congo, they are only two Umberto 4798 meters (1574 ft), Kraepelin 4791 meters (15720 ft) they are located on either side of along a narrow valley.

Mount Emin was first climbed by Luis Amadeo de Saboya in 1906.

MOUNT GESSI

Mount Gessi is the 5^th highest peak on the Rwenzori ranges on the northern part of the Triangle along the narrow canyon that extends southwards and splits from Mount Emin, named after an Italian explorer Romulo Gessi. The mount features the twin peaks of Lolansa 15470 ft and Bottego 15418 ft.

MOUNT LUIGI DI SAVOIA

Mount Luigi di Savoia is Uganda’s fourth highest peak on Mountain Rwenzori, the mountain is the only one out of the six that Duke of Abruzzi didn’t hike and yet it is one of the most thrilling mountain ranges the scenery, vegetation, walking trails and more are breath taking and leave you aweing. The mount has along ridge with many summits namely Stairs 4545 meters, Sella peak 4627 meters, Weismann peak 4620 meters.

HOW TO PREPARE TO CLIMB MARGHERTA PEAK

Hiking Margherita peak is considered one of the hardest hikes in the highest mountains, challenging more than Mount Kilimanjaro hence one is required to be physically fit with some hiking experience of high altitudes and mentally stable. All the climbing equipment will be provided except crampons, you will be led by a professional climbing crew that will guide during the hike process.

ESSENTIAL GEAR AND EQUIPMENT

Useful Medicine like non-prescription pain killers and other basic first aid supplies, water purification tablets, sleeping sun screen, Dark sunglasses, Layered clothing, Trekking poles, Long sleeved trekking shirts, T-shirts, Hiking and Climbing Pants, Mountain Jackets, Warm hat for high altitude climbing, Rain gear, Head lamp, Fleece vest, Crampons, Ice screw, Helmets, Ice axe, Caribinas, Harnesses, 1X Mountain gloves, Down Jacket, Slings, Mountain Boots, Comfortable walking shoes, comfortable camp shoes and sandals, Gaiter, waterproof sacks, sleeping bags, pack light weight long underwear, Fleece jacket and sweater, Pants or shorts incase of weather changes, sleeping Mat, Climbing pack to keep personal documents safe, Rubber hiking shoes, cotton socks, rubber gum boots(optional).

Note: your bags have to be as light as possible.

GROUP SIZE

Usoke Explorers offers groups and solo hikes. During group hikes, when you select a date, we determine how many other individuals plan to be on the hiking safari that very date. In some cases when no has your day booked too then we resort to a private tour. The maximum number of hiking group is 8-9 persons in high altitudes well as in low altitudes the trek goes up to 15 individuals.

WHY GO CLIMBING IN THE RWENZORI MOUNTAINS

Embark on an unparalleled adventure in one of Africa’s most captivating wilderness, Mount Rwenzori National Park. Both seasoned and intrepid trekkers are offered a rare and exhilarating challenge that is priceless and yet marvelous.

Adventures looking for a unique and captivating experience of once in a lifetime should try hiking Mountain Rwenzori, the experience is mixed with a thrill of untouched nature. Wonders who enjoy challenging activities that don’t segregate in skill levels, climbing Mountain Rwenzori is not only about physical accomplishment but goes beyond and immerses you in a unique ecosystem that offers wide range of animal life and plant that you walk the rest of the Planet and don’t find anywhere else.

The sense of solitude and discovery is profound, with fewer crowds allowing a deeper connection to this pristine environment. Every step brings you closer to the heart of the Rwenzori’s ancient mystique, where the vibrant cultures of the Bakonjo and Bamba people enrich your journey. Your climb not only rewards you with breath-taking vistas and the triumph of reaching snow-clad summits but also contributes to crucial conservation efforts and supports local communities. This is not just a hike; it’s an immersion into a world of unrivalled natural beauty and cultural heritage, offering memories that will last a lifetime.Top of Form

BEST TIME TO CLIMB THE RWENZORI PEAKS

Just like most of the hiking destinations the best time to the hike the Rwenzori Mountain ranges is in the dry season which has stable weather conditions in the months of December to February and June to August, the skies are clear during this time offering better visibility with eye-catching panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, the rain falls are minimal enhancing enjoyment and making trekking a little bit easy.

Usoke Explorers Safari Experts are here to take the safari planning stress off your shoulder. Book Your trekking Safari today.