Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National Park with its snow capped peaks lie along and shares the western border of Uganda with the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is regarded to be legendary snow-capped mountains of the moon, described by Ptolemy in AD150. The highest peak reaches an elevation of 5,102m, it is also Africa’s tallest mountain range, exceeded in altitude only by the free standing volcanoes of Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro. The distinctive glacial peaks are visible form miles around, but the slopes above 1600m are the preserve of trekkers who rate the Rwenzori to be the most challenging of all African trekking tours.

The park covers a total area of 998 square kilometres and is 120 km long. The mountain has several peaks with the highest being Margherita peak. This peak is the goal of the main trekking route known as the Central Circuit Trail. The main attraction in the Rwenzori is the luxuriant vegetation found above 3000m which includes the Giant lobelia. It is also a home birds such as the Rwenzori turaco and Olive pigeon. A variety of large mammals inhabit the lower slopes including chimpanzees. The best time for trekking and mountaineering is during the dry seasons from mid December to March and from June to mid August. For the one who is not that into trekking but wants to see the area it is possible to go for a few hours nature walk on the lower slopes of the mountains.