Rwenzori Mountains – Central Circuit with Margherita

Rwenzori Mountains National Park: A World Heritage Site

A brief about the “Mountains of the Moon”

• Size: 996km²
• The park was gazetted in 1991 and was recognized as a World Heritage site in 1994 and Ramsar site in 2008.
• The original name was “Ruwenjura” a local Bantu word meaning “the Rain Maker” which was changed due to wrong pronunciation by the Europeans.
• Highest point: 5,109m above sea level on Mt Stanley’s Margherita Peak. Mt. Stanley is bisected by the border with the DR Congo.
• The Rwenzori is not volcanic like East Africa’s other major mountains but is a block of rock up-faulted through the floor of the Western Rift Valley.
• The Rwenzoris were christened the “Mountains of the Moon” by the Alexandrine geographer Ptolemy in AD 150.
• The explorer Henry Stanley placed the Rwenzori on the world map on 24th May 1888. He labeled it ‘Ruwenzori’, a local name which he recorded as meaning “Rain-Maker” or “Cloud-King.”
• The oldest recorded person to reach Margherita Peak was Ms Beryl Park aged 78 years in 2010.

The Rwenzoris – the fabled Mountains of the Moon – lie in western Uganda along the Uganda-Congo border. The equatorial snow peaks include the third highest point in Africa, while the lower slopes are blanketed in moorland, bamboo and rich, moist montane forest. Huge tree-heathers and colorful mosses are draped across the mountainside with giant lobelias and “everlasting flowers”, creating an enchanting, fairytale scene.

As early as 150AD, Claudius Ptolemy wrote of a snowcapped mountain range deep in the heart of Africa which he claimed was the source of the world’s longest river, The Nile. He called it “Mountains of the Moon.” Indeed, over the centuries, mountaineers who later explored these mountains found the high Rwenzori glaciers and snow peaks whose melt waters certainly represent the highest springs of the Nile. The alpine highland glaciers, snowfields and blue cirque lakes make Rwenzori one of Africa’s most beautiful mountain parks. The elusive mountains of the moon whose snow-capped peaks are often veiled by clouds and mist rises up to 5,109m above sea level. Rwenzori is Africa’s tallest mountain range exceeded in altitude by Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya, carrying Africa’s third, fourth and fifth highest peaks that are visible from miles around. Some of its peaks (*incomparable, beautiful and mist-shrouded) carry permanent snow and glaciers, while the lower slopes are covered with dense forest. The Mountain’s slopes above 1,600m are the preserve of hikers who rate the Rwenzori to be the most challenging of all African mountains. A variety of large mammals inhabit the lower slopes but the Rwenzori Mountains are notable more for their majestic scenery and varied vegetation. Its five distinct vegetation zones, montane forest, bamboo forest, tree heath-bog, Hagenia Rapanea scrub and afro-alpine moorland provide a unique backdrop to one of the most magnificent national parks in the world. Several endangered species and very unusual cloud forest flora like giant heathers, groundsels and lobelias, characterize the ranges as ‘Africa’s botanic big game’. In 1991, Rwenzori Mountains was gazetted as a National Park and in 1994 UNESCO inscribed it as a World Heritage and later a RAMSAR site.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park protects the highest parts of the 120km-long and 65km-wide Rwenzori Mountain range. The national park hosts 70 mammals and 217 bird species including 19 Albertine Rift endemics, as well as some of the world’s rarest vegetation.

The Rwenzoris are a world-class hiking and mountaineering destination. A seven- to twelve-day trek will get skilled climbers to the summit of Margherita – the highest peak – though shorter, non-technical treks are possible to scale the surrounding peaks.

For those who prefer something a little less strenuous, neighboring Bakonzo and Bamba villages around areas like Ruboni Community, offer nature walks, homestead visits, African traditional lifestyle experiences, home cultural performances and accommodation, including home-cooked local cuisine.

The Rwenzori Mountain ranges are a world-class tourism attraction and great adventure which any hiker must not miss.

A combination of beautiful peaks, glaciers valleys, rivers, lakes, various species of flora and fauna making it scenic, each of the above contributes to the overall awesome beauty one will observe while on a trek in the mountains. Besides, Rwenzoris, the third highest Mountain in Africa and has several high peaks including the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th highest Mountain peaks in Africa. These include Margherita (5,109m), Alexandra (5,091m) and Albert (5,087m). It rises almost 4,000m above the level of the western rift valley and its large size (about 80km in North – South direction and about 40km across) allows it to be seen far off. Over 20 lakes are found in the Mountain. Furthermore, the Great Rift Valley below and escarpment have resulted into scenic falls and hot springs either on the slopes or in the rift valley such as Ngitte, Rwajimba and Semuliki among others.Ý Because of the scenic beauty coupled with the challenging gradient, the Rwenzoris are adventurous ranges to even international climbers (as well as the numerous caves and lakes); Rwenzori Mountains are worthy a place to visit. Rwenzori Mountains are also one of the few unspoilt Mountains of the world. This has been mainly because of its rugged and dangerous nature yet this wilderness character is an attraction for many climbers and Mountaineers.

The Rwenzoris are renowned for its un-engineered steep and slippery trails and frequent rain. Rainfall and cold temperatures, bogs mud, steep terrain and high altitude make it a challenging trip.

CALSAAR SAFARIS UGANDA shall organize for you a memorable hiking expedition of this great African mountain with convenience.