The Rwenzori came from a local rwenjura which meant a place for a lot/heavy rain fall, since the area was covered with a lot of ice, it would receive rainfall all year round. The rainfall was unexpected so locals were well prepared to receive it.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park is situated in the western part of Uganda on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The national park covers an area of 998 sq. km and was named after the famous Rwenzori Mountains which is also referred to as the legendary ‘Mountains of the Moon’.
Mountain Rwenzori is the highest mountain range in the whole of Africa, with 6 glacial peaks that include Mount Speke, Mount Stanley, Mount Gessi, Mount Emin Pasha, Mount Luigi da Savoia and Mount Baker. The main peaks can be conceivably compared to those of Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. These two peaks, Margherita (5.109m) and Alexandra (5.083m) on Mount Stanley are adventurous for any adventurous mountain hiker in Africa.
Mountain Rwenzori has 5 kinds of vegetation zones, this is according to the altitude and these include: Montana forest (2000-3000m), bamboo/ mimulopsis zone (2500-3500m), Heather/ Rapanea zone (3000-4000m) and the afro-alpine moorland zone (4000-4500m), which has forests of giants heather plants, giant lobelias and groundsels.
Rwenzori mountains national park has around 70 mammal species recorded which consist of. elephants, chimpanzee golden cat, yellow-backed duiker, buffaloes, blue monkeys, Rwenzori colobus monkeys, forest hogs, hyrax and leopards which are rare and unique to spot.
The national park is the birders haven since it is naturally gifted with approximately 178 species of birds and these include: the Francolins, illadopsis, robin, Rwenzori turaco, apalis, owl, Archer’s ground robin, Olive Pigeon, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, White Necked Raven, barred long-tailed cuckoo, golden-winged sunbird, Lagden’s bush shrike and Mountain Buzzards. The park also harbors the endemic species which are rare to find elsewhere.
The Rwenzori mountain Park Headquarter has limited number of tents, rucksacks and boots for hire. Advanced booking is considered to be very vital because of availability to avoid disturbing clients be sure to speak to them before-hand to establish availability. Park offices also provides crampons, ice axes and ropes for hire, for those planning to try any of the peaks but you may bring your own. Warm objects can usually be bought in Kampala. Food and medicines can be acquired from any decent supermarket in Kampala or Kasese.
Rwenzori Mountain National Park can be reached either use road transport or air transport means. To reach the Park Headquarters at Nyakalegija, one can either travel to Fort Portal or Kasese towns in Western Uganda. Fort Portal home town to kibale forest best place known for chimpanzee trekking and habituation experience, it is 300km from Kampala, can be reached via Mubende town and the journey takes 3-5 hours’ drive.
Kasese- Mbarara is an alternative which is about 350km from Kampala, passing via Maraca, Mbarara and Bushenyi. The Kasese direction, although longer at 6hrs, and considered more exciting as it goes through the exceptional Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda’s famous and popular destination which is most visited.
Air transportation can be properly be arranged from Entebbe international airport using domestic flight By air, you land at Kasese airstrip from where you will be transfer to your hotel/lodge or any other accommodation of your choice, have dinner as you prepare for the next exciting day.
Park activities include; Mountain hiking, Trekking, Wildlife, Birding and primate walking safari. Mountain trekking is the best activity in the park where you one can a beautiful scenic view of the great East African rift valley on fort portal – Bundibugyo side.
