Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Rwenzori Mountains are one of the most exciting and challenging mountain ranges to trek in the world, this mountain range is protected by Rwenzori Mountains National Park lieing in the Southwestern corner of Uganda long the border with Democratic Republic of Congo next to the Great Virunga National Park. The park covers an area of 386 square miles and its boundaries pass through the districts of Kabarole, Bundibugyo and Kasese.

Because of its natural beauty, rare plants, lakes, river, waterfalls, hot springs, glaciers and mountains, Rwenzori Mountains National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994. The park covers an area of 996 square kilometres of vegetation, lakes, rocky outcrops, cliffs, high glaciers and snow-capped peaks creating a unique and mystical world waiting to be explored.

The height of the peaks may not match taller mountains elsewhere in the world, the highest point – Mount Stanley’s Margherita Peak is 5,109 meters, although this is still the 4^th highest peak in Africa. The range receives less numbers of visitors do to its remote location, fluctuating weather conditions, startlingly diverse vegetation, remoteness, viewpoints which all make the adventurous trekking a very special experience. 

Rwenzori Mountains

Named “Mountains of the Moon” by the Alexandrine geographer Ptolemy in AD 150, the Rwenzori Mountains range is the main attraction in Rwenzori Mountains National Park. The range consists of six distinct mountains, Stanley, Speke, Baker, Emin, Gessi and Savioa. Mt Stanley’s 5109m Margherita Peak is the third highest point in Africa.

The explorer Henry Stanley placed the Rwenzori on the modern map on the 24^th May 188. He labelled it “Ruwenzori”, a local name that he recorded as meaning “rain maker” or “cloud-king”. The oldest person to reach the Margherita Peak was Ms Beryl Park, aged 78. Back in AD150, the geographer Ptolemy wrote of a snow-capped mountain range in Africa, which he claimed represented the source of the Nile and which he named Montes Lunae – the mountains of the moon.

Wildlife in Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is home 18 mammal species, 217 bird species, 9 species of reptiles and 6 species of amphibians. Large mammals in the park include elephant, buffalo, giant forest hog, bushbuck, chimpanzee and leopards and present in the forest zone, but they are rarely seen. Though elephant droppings and footprints are frequently found and chimpanzees heard while blue monkeys and the endemic Rwenzori colobus may be sighted.

Birdlife in Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori is home to 217 recorded bird species, most of which live in the forest zone close to the park boundary. Species of interest include the Ruwezori turaco, Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori double collared sunbird, handsome francolin, strange weaver, Rwenzori nightjar, Archer’s robin-chat and red-throated alethe among others.

Vegetation on Rwenzori Mountains

The Rwenzori Mountains is also known for its vegetation. Standing over 5000m high, this is the prime habitat for the botanical big game peculiar to East Africa’s highest mountains. The lowest o these zones, between the park boundary and the 2500m contour, is montane forest. This gives way to the bamboo (2,500-3,000m) followed by groves of Rapanea and giant heathers garlanded with lianas, epiphytes and lichens, and encased in garishly coloured mosses (3000- 4000m). Above 4000m, the mountainside opens out into moorland dotted with the emblematic – and in some cases endemic – species of giant lobelia and groundsel for which the Rwenzori is famous.

Local People

The Bakonzo people thrives on the slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains and the mountain is centre of their culture and cosmology. The peaks are the home of their principal god, Kitasamba, whose name may not be spoken on the mountain. Eighteen sacred Konzo sites on the mountain have been identified, mapped and protected as worship areas.