This magnificent park holds the historic statue the Rwenzori mountains that brag about having Africa’s third highest peak, Margherita. The park was born into existence in 1991 and since then it has been crowned and recognized as it was put on board as World Heritage site in 1994 and a Ramsar site in 2008. The insecurities that broke out from the rebellious times between 1997 to June 2001 and the UNESCO site was listed among the world heritage sites in danger between 1999 and 2004.
Uniqueness of the park
- It has the wondrous vegetation zones that change with the change in altitude. The park has five unique vegetation zones that keep changing depending on the level that tourists are on. This intrigues tourists that hike mountain Rwenzori.
- The park owns the highest non-volcanic mountain in the world. Rwenzori is a block mountain unlike the majority that tend to be volcanoes. With the pride of being the highest of the non-volcanic mountains, its tower called Margherita is the third highest peak in the world, Mount Speke being the fourth highest and Mount Baker being the fifth highest in Africa.
- It parks possess mountain Rwenzori which is one of the beautiful mountains that are in Africa with snow that mounts on the peaks of the mountains giving them a name called the mountains of the moon.
Tourist attractions in the park
- Wildlife
Around 70 mammals with six being endemic o the Albertine rift are caught sight of while in the park. Tourists who wish to gaze on creatures that cannot be traced anywhere should consider this park as it has four species that are endemic to the park only, three of which are endemic. Animals like leopards, blue monkeys, antelopes, bushbucks, three-horned chameleons cannot be missed by tourists while on a tour in the park.
- Birds
This park also fit to be a haven of these small singing creatures as its posses with about 217 species where 17 of these are endemic to the park. This park is definitely a bird’s paradise where tourists glimpse of a variety that includes Rwenzori Turaco, Handsome Francolin, Barred long-tailed cuckoo, Rwenzori Batis, strange weaver, golden-winged sunbird among others.
- Equatorial snow peaks
Because of the snow that covers the six towers that make up the Rwenzori ranges, the mountain was named mountains of the moons and tourists who flock into the park and engage on a hike to these white glaciers get to be amazed by the dazzling white that covers the brown landscape of the mountains.
- Lakes
Over 20 lakes are found in the park but the most accessible is Lake Mahoma found in the central circuit forest, Lake Bujuku found in Bujuku valley, the Nyamwamba valley dazzles tourists with the eight lakes that forms a string.
Tourists’ activities in the park
- Bird watching
With over 217 species that fly around the park, chirp and sing with their beautiful small voices, tourists cannot miss on spotting on any of the birds that include Rwenzori Turaco, Long-aeared owl and tourists on a hike will enjoy rare species like bearded vultures, black and swift eagles and much more that are mainly caught sight of while on high altitudes surveying the area for what to prey on.
- Nature walks to Rwenzori Mountains
There are various trails that tourists can venture into following and each is rewarding with a variety of natural designs that complement the state of art of nature perfectly well. The common taken trail is the central circuit zone but non the less trails wounding up to Lake Mahooma, Buraro chimp forest, walks through Kichamba communities reaching out to the Karangra ridge among others. Visitors can take the trail following River Mubuku and glimpse of Baker peaks and clear days give spectacular views of the white snows that cover Margherita.
- Cultural encounters
The Bakonzo tribe is dominant in the areas close to Mountain Rwenzori and there are various cultural trails that have been set up to giggle tourists from the amazing views they get from some of the cultural practices experienced. The Ruboni community camp takes tourists through the Ruboni village with a calm farming practice with guides who lead tourists to blacksmith, traditional healers, basket weavers, storytellers among others. Other cultural trails include Rwenzori Turaco view camp site, Bulemba-Ihandiro cultural trails and they all expose the Bakonjo culture quite well to tourists.
- Climbing mountains Rwenzori
Challenging and yet rewarding a hike to the top of mountain Rwenzori doesn’t just offers spectacular views only but also fascinating views from the white snow that mats on the peaks. There are two trials that lead to the dazzling summit of the mountain. The central circuit trail comes around with a circular tor from the trail head at Mihunga through Nyabitaba with fresh breaths offered by the surrounding and scenic views. The Kilembe trail is yet another intriguing one that has just been opened to reach out to the southern slopes of the mountain from Kilembe through Nyamwamba valley with views that giggle and excite even the tourists brain cells from glacial lakes, mount Baker among others.
Geological features
The vegetation zones in the park are overlapping and go on changing with the different altitudes. The 5 vegetation zones are broken off by the evergreen forest zone that rises up to 2800m, followed by the bamboo zone at 3800m, the alpine zone at 4500m and finally the nival zone that climbs up to 5000m. this block mountain came into existence about three million years ago due to an uplift of crystalline rocks. The aftermath of the uplift are the African Great Lakes of Lake Edward, George and Albert. The range has 6 peaks that includes Margherita which boasts about being the higs3st on them all.
How to hike the mountain
Hiking this mountain has been categorized into two, the low altitude hike that’s below 4000m fit for weak-hearted people and inexperienced hikers and high-altitude hike that’s above 4000m for enthusiastic mountain hikers. The low altitude hike lasts for just 2-4 days and the high-level hike goes for 4-12 days depending on the rate at which the hikers take. While in the spacious environment above the ground, tourists rest in the wooden huts that have beds inside them especially for the night. Tourists who climb this mountain are well attended to by the expertise from the guides who have been skilled in mountain first aid, have rescue procedures in place and frequently check on the wellness of the tourists.
When to climb Rwenzori Mountain?
The dry months of June to September and December to February are the best times for ascending though the rough terrain of the mountain as there are no heavy rains to fill the trails with mud, making the trails slippery among others. Hence tourists can avoid all these by traveling through the dry months of the year.
