Mount Rwenzori National Park
Location: Western Uganda on the borders of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Size: 998 sq km.
Status: National park 1991; Designated United Nations World Heritage Site in 1994.
Habitat:
Rwenzori mountain range with six major peaks, Mt Stanley (5,109m), Mt Speke (4,890m) Mt Baker (4,843m), Mt Emin (4,798m), Mt Gessi (4,715m) and Mt Luigi di Savoia (4,627m). The highest peak in the Mt Stanley complex is called Margherita peak (5,109).
Major attractions:
- Snow capped peaks and five different Vegetation Zones; grassland (1000-2000m), montane forest (2000-3000m), bamboo/ mimulopsis zone (2500-3500m), Heather/ Rapanea zone (3000-4000m) and the afro-alpine moorland zone (4000-4500m).
- A wide variety of large mammals on the lower slopes including elephants, buffaloes, chimpanzees, blue monkeys, Rwenzori colobus monkeys, duikers, forest hogs, hyrax and leopards.
- 200+ bird species recorded in the park of which 19 are endemic to the mountain including the Rwenzori Turaco, Francolins, Olive Pigeon, White Necked Raven and Mountain Buzzards.
Other attractions: Numerous lakes and rivers, Bakonjo farmlands.
Climate
The climate is generally wet with two annual rainy seasons: from March to May and from September to mid December. Rainfall varies with altitude, reaching up to 2,000-3000 millimetres per year and is heaviest on the eastern slopes facing the prevailing winds.
There are dry seasons usually from June to August and mid December to mid March, but even then there can be periods of sustained rainfall.
Accessibility
By Road: A 7-8 hour drive from Kampala – Uganda’s capital city either via Fort Portal (375km) or Mbarara and Queen Elizabeth National Park (450km). Nyakalengija trailhead is 17km off the Kasese-Fort Portal road and 25km north of Kasese town.
By air: Arranged private charter to Kasese air strip and a road transfer to the park.
Safari activities:
- Hiking
Africa’s most challenging mountain range is the major holiday activity to undertake in the park. You will go through all the vegetation zones ending on the glacial peaks. A full hiking experience requires seven days but you can request for a shorter hiking safari.
- Nature walks on which different animals can be seen as well as birds
Rwenzori Mountain National Park Lodges and Accommodation
- Ruboni Community Campsite
- Rwenzori International Hotel
- White House
- Hotel Margherita
CONTACTS
+256414 232657
++256 772 367972
info@hotelsinuganda.com
Accommodation on the Mountain for Mt climbers:
Huts on the 'Circuit' route include, huts of Nyabitaba, John Matte, Guy Yeoman, Elena, Kitandara and Bujuku.
