This Mountains Rwenzori National Park covers 996 km, protects the slopes of the famous Rwenzori Mountains, which run for 120 km along the Congo border. It is a bloke mountain they are a result of the formation of the Rift Valley. The Rwenzori is the highest mountain range in Africa, with six glacial peaks: Mount Stanley, Mount Speke, Mount Emin Pasha, Mount Gessi, Mount Luigida Savoia, and Mount Baker. The main peaks, Margherita (5.109 m) and Alexandra (5.083 m) on Mount Stanley are exceeded in altitude elsewhere in Africa only by Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. The first European who climbed the peaks was in 1906 the Italian Prince Luigi Amedeo da Savoia, Duke of Abruzzi.
PARK AT A GLANCE
✓ Size: 996km2
✓Location: Bundibugyo District
✓Altitude:5,109m
Species found in Mountains Rwenzori National Park
The interest in Rwenzori is also on the vegetation, which is divided into several altitude zones: the forest zone (between 1.800 and 2.500 m), the bamboo forest (up to 3000 m), the heath and Alpine zones (3000-4.500 m), with forests of giants heath plants, giant lobelias, and groundsels. There are 70 mammal species recorded (elephants, golden cat, chimpanzee, yellow-backed duiker) and 177 birds, especially Albertine Rift endemics (Rwenzori Turaco, cuckoo, owl, francolin, robin).
Activities in Mountains Rwenzori National Park
Most visitors undertake the excellent “central circuit” trail, which takes 9 days – 8 nights to complete and takes you to the main peaks. However, other shorter hikes are possible in the central area and the North of Rwenzori. High mountain equipment is required, as the trials reach an altitude of 4.000m above.
Accessibility to Mountains Rwenzori National Park
The Rwenzori lies a few kilometers north of the Equator, rising over 4000 m above the floor of the Albertine Rift Valley. The park trailhead at Nyakalengeja can be reached from Kampala from the north via Fort Portal (375 km) or the south passing through Mbarara and Queen Elizabeth National Park (450 km). Nyakalengeja is 17km off the Kasese-Fort Portal Road and 25 km north of Kasese town. Charter flights to Kasese can be arranged from Kampala (Kajjansi) or Entebbe International Airport.
Accommodation facilities in Mountains Rwenzori National Park
At this park, the accommodation facilities are somehow distant in the nearby towns like Kasese and Fort portal. For instance, you rest at Mountain of the moon, Ndali lodge, Kibale safari lodge, Kyaninga lodge (Luxury) Fort Hotel, Rwenzori Travelers Inn (Budget) and the following day go for your mountain trekking experience.