Mountain Rwenzori National Park

Mount Rwenzori National Park is a high altitude protected area located in Kasese district in the western part of Uganda situated on the eastern side of the Albertine Rift Valley along the border of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Mountain Rwenzori National park is one of the few Ugandan National Parks boasts being home to Africa’s third highest mountain peak the snowcapped Mountain Rwenzori also known as the mountain of the moon with an altitude of 16700 ft , it is the park’s major tourist attraction and its where the park also derives its name from,

the mountain has a number of magical features which portray it has one of the attractive Alpine Area in the world  with unique feature at different altitudes including Mountainous Vegetation, waterfalls, Snowfields, glaciers, lakes and it glaciers of the mountain are source of water to River Nile the world’s longest river etc. Mountain Rwenzori is one of the most difficult tall mountains to climb in the world with mountain peaks namely Margherita peak, Mount Speke, Mount Baker, Mount Stanley, Mount Emin Pasha, Mount Luigi da Savoia.

the park is one of the two National Parks in Uganda that hold a mountain in its premises the other being Mount Elgon National Park.

Mountain Rwenzori National park covers most of eastern and central part of Mountain Rwenzori with an area coverage of 998 sq km (385 sq mi) famous for hosting unique flora species that distinguish it from the many African National Park, the park boasts for having five distinguished vegetation covers that vary with difference in height and they include montane forest, bamboo forest, tree heath-bog, Hagenia-Rapine scrub and afro-alpine moorland making it one of the most beautiful and uniquely gifted National Parks in the world.

The National Park hosts over 70 mammals, 217 bird species with 19 Albertine Rift endemics. Mountain Rwenzori NP was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994 and ranked among the best hiking areas in the whole Universe. It was also declared a Ramsar Wetland Site in 2009.

History of Mount Rwenzori National Park 

Mountain Rwenzori National Park was gazetted in 1991, later in 1997 rebels occupied the Rwenzori Mountains up to 2001 and it was declared UNESCO World Heritage site in Danger between 1999 and 2004 due to insecurities and a lack of resources in the park.

Attraction at Mount Rwenzori National Park

Wildlife

Mountain Rwenzori National Park is one of the few mountain parks that hosts a wide range of mammals inside the park. The park is home to over 70 wildlife species namely Elephants, Duikers, forest hogs, bushbucks, chimpanzees, golden cats, black and white Columbus monkeys among others.

Bird Species

Mountain Rwenzori National Park is home to over 217 bird species with 19 Albertine endemic species. Some of the bird species include Slender-billed starlings, golden-winged sunbirds, barbets, flycatchers, crimson wings, Apalise, Bush-shrike, Greenbuls, Archers robin-chat, Francolin, Cuckoo, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, Mountain Sooty Boubou etc.

 Mt. Rwenzori.

Mountain Rwenzori is the major tourist attraction in the park, it is the 3^rd highest mountain in Africa after Mt Kilimanjaro of Tanzania and Mount Kenya of Kenya. This snowcapped mountain has 6 different mountain peaks with permanent snow despite it being near the equator. The mountain can be hiked to the highest peak, though it is the world’s challenging mountain to hike. The mountain attracts hikers from all over the world to hike it.

Lakes.

Mount Rwenzori National Park has over 20 crater lakes and the most accessible one id Lake Mahoma located in the central circuit and it is a habitant of a wide range of bird species, some of the other lakes are Lake Bujuku at the shadow of Mount Stanley and Mount Baker in the Bujuku Valley.

Activities in Mount Rwenzori National Park 

Wildlife viewing

Wildlife viewing in the park is done during the morning and evening game drive in 4×4 WD Vehicle, this drive gives visitors an opportunity to get a closer look at the wildlife in the park and some o the wild animals that will be spotted include elephants, leopards, bush bucks, giant forest hogs, bush bucks, over 6 primate species like blue monkeys, olive baboons, black and white Columbus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, chimpanzees among others.

Mountain climbing

Mountain Rwenzori attracts a number of tourists from allover the world to hike it despite it being one of the most challenging mountain to hike, hiking all the 6 peaks take about 6 to 7 days of hiking for experienced hikers and 9 to 12 for inexperienced hikers, there are two trails used to hike namely the Central Circuit trail and the Kilembe trail.

Birdwatching

Mountain Rwenzori National Park is one of the best birding destinations in Uganda with over 217 recorded bird species with 19 Albertine endemic species, permanent resident and migratory bird species and some of them include Slender-billed starlings, golden-winged sunbird, barbets, flycatchers, crimson wings, Apalise, Bush-shrike, Greenbuls, Archers robin-chat, Francolin, Cuckoo, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, Mountain Sooty Boubou and many others.

Cultural encounter

Tourists interested in African authentic culture should visit the Bakonjo people who are the park’s neighbors leaving on the slopes of Mountain Rwenzori. You will get a chance to explore and experience a true African culture through story telling of their history, local music, traditional dance and drama.

BEST TIME TO VISIT THE PARK

Mountain Rwenzori National Park is open to visitors all year round, although the best time to visit is between the months of late June and early September and late February because these months have lower rainfall meaning the roads are less muddy and slippery, vegetation is thin, easing wildlife viewing.

 How to get to Mount Rwenzori National Park 

Mountain Rwenzori can be accessed by both road and air transport.

By Road;

The park can be accessed via the Kampala-Mubende-Fort portal-Kasese road for about 300 km.

The other route can be Kampala-Masaka-Bushenyi-Kasese road for approximately 350 km

By Air;

Tourists can book a charter flight from Entebbe Modern International Airport and fly to Kasese Airstrip which takes 2 and a half hours. After landing, drive for a short journey to the park.

Accommodation at Mount Rwenzori National Park 

Mountain Rwenzori National Park has a number of accommodation facilities ranging from Luxury, midrange and budget like Ruboni community camp, Equator snow lodge, Hotel Margherita, Rwenzori International Hotel, Katara lodge, Mihunga Safari lodge, Rwenzori Turaco View Campsite, Ihamba Lakeside Safari lodge, Rwenzori Backpackers, Sandton Hotel Kasese to mention but a few.