Rwenzori Mountains National Park is located in the western part of Uganda. It is famous for its greatest feature the Mountain Rwenzori with its highest peak being Margherita, this is said to have been named by the Queen of Italy, also referred to as the “Mountains of the Moon” it stretches 65 kilometers width and 120 kilometers length, the national park grows along the sides of one of the few east African block mountains, it was gazette in the 1991 as a national park and later declared a UNESCO world heritage site by the 1994, the slopes of the mountains run lakes and rivers which are major water supplies to the local communities of the Bakonjo and Bamba people who live in the surrounding foothills of the mountain.
The Rwenzori national park was first put in the world map by the early explorers, the mountain and its growing vegetation is undeniably one of the best things you can see in the world, it boasts a snowcapped mountain placed along the border with the democratic republic of Congo, the vegetation of the park ranges from farmlands, montane forest, bamboo forest, heathers, and ground sel, there are animal species present on the ecosystem although these are rare to encounter for example mountain duikers, forest elephants, bush bucks, and over 200 species of birds of which are endemics to the destination.
Rwenzori Mountain hike is one of the greatest things to do in the national park, it is among the few areas of Africa offering the best hikes, in east Africa it second after mountain Kilimanjaro, there are trails used to reach the summit including the central trail and the Kilembe trail also known as the southern circuit, these are managed by the Rwenzori mountaineering services, owned and operated by a Ugandan based English man, hikes take up to 7 days to reach the peaks led through by experienced hikers, the speed is for experts and would there need one to be mentally prepared and physically fit. Enroute you will experience the amazing views of the surroundings, environment, lakes and rivers. Hiking Rwenzori Mountain begins in the morning with a briefing from the park rangers, they will also check if you have all the necessary requirements needed for a events to be a success. From the park headquarters you will then head out to the adventurous treasure of the park.
Rwenzori Mountain Hike is best done during the dry season in the months of December- February and June -September, the trails are drier and less slippery to access, expect sunshine during this time, however due to the continued changes in weather globally expect to have rain even during the dry season, in the wet season, it is not a good idea to go hiking in the park as the glaciers melt out and can be truly difficult to pass through them. It is advisable to bring warm clothes proper hiking boots, water proof covers for phones and cameras, backpacks , hand gloves and any other items of personal nature,