Mountain Rwenzori National Park was founded in 1991 and recognized as a world heritage site in 1994 in southwestern Uganda in the districts of Bundibugyo, Kabarole, and Kasese. Mountain Rwenzori National Park is 998 square kilometers in size, with Mount Rwenzori as the main attraction, possessing four peaks: Margherita (5109 m), the highest peak; Mount Stanley (4890 m); Mount Speke (4843 m); and Mount Barker (4843m). It is divided by the border of the DRCongo. The park hosts 70 mammals and 217 bird species and has glaciers, snowfields, waterfalls, and lakes. There are 398 km from Kampala to kasese gateway of the park, which is about a 5.5-hour drive.
Mountain Rwenzori National Park AREAS OF INTEREST
Margherita Peak is the highest peak in Uganda and the third mountain range in Africa that is snow-capped, and the route to the peak is called Elena Hut, taking 8 days of climbing. This was first climbed in 1906 by the Duke of Abruzzi, J. Petigax, C. Ollier, and J. Brocherel.
Equatorial snow peaks: These are located in the north of the equator, and the highest peaks in this area are Mount Stanley (5109 m) , Speke (4890m), andr (4843 m), and they bear permanent snow and glaciers and can be accessed through the Kilembe and Central Circuit trails.
Lakes. There are various lakes, over 20, in the park, but the most accessible is Lake Mahoma (2651m) in the central circuit forest and Lake Bujuku, which lies in the deep and glacier-caved-in Bujuku Valley.
Mountain Rwenzori National Park ANIMALS
Forest elephants, black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, Lhotse’s monkeys, hyrax, blue monkeys, bushbucks, otter duikers, and Angola colobus monkeys
Birds
Ruwenzori duiker, Rwenzori turaco, western green tinkerbird, strange weaver, montane sooty boubou, slender-billed starling, barred long-tailed cuckoo, long-eared owl.
ACTIVITIES in Mountain Rwenzori National Park
Bird watching: There are different bird species in the park, over 217, that include the long-tailed cuckoo, African long-eared owl, white-collared olive-back, oriole-finch, western green tinkerbird, strange weaver, Rwenzori batis, Ruwenzori turaco, and many others.
Mountain climbing: The mountain has different types of vegetation and climate where there are farmlands with crops because of the favorable land terrain and submontane vegetation that favor their growth. There are also different routes that are followed, that is to say, the central circuit trail and the Kilembe trail; these can lead you to the peaks.
Cultural exchange: There are chances to observe the community, people’s lifestyles, and activities like cultural dances, crafts made, and the Ruboni village.
Hiking: You follow the trails up to Lake Mahooma and Buraro Chimp Forest through the communities of Kichamba to the Karangura Ridge.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Margherita. It is a luxury accommodation facility located in Kasese District, 45 minutes’ drive to the Ibanda trailhead in the park. It has 36 rooms ranging from executive suites to standard double and single. They have a bar and a restaurant, gift shops, and a children’s playground.
Equator Snow Lodge: The cottages are built around the river rocks, self-contained, and each has a fireplace to keep the tourists warm on the cold nights. This is a luxury lodge that provides breakfast and lunch in the restaurant and has a bar. They have 4 cabins.
Tropical Savannah Guest House is a mid-range accommodation facility located along the Mbarara-Kasese highway in Kasese district and 5 hours and 47 minutes from Kampala to the lodge. It has a bar with both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages and a restaurant that serves the buffet breakfast. The guest house has standard double rooms (2 large double beds).
Roboni Community Camp. This is run by the community found at the gateway (Nyakalengijo central circuit gate) of the park that is 380km from Kampala that offers village tours, forest trail walks, and hill climbing. They have cabins, self-contained bandas, small twin rooms, non-self-contained rooms, and a restaurant.