The montane forest begins with wonderful beautiful Rwenzori Mountain vegetation which always leaves visitors breathless for a while. This is also because of its origin in nature and diverse vegetation around the ‘Mountains of the Moon’.
The enjoyable beautiful vegetation, ranges from tropical rainforest, which are characterized by dense stands. The ground is covered by thick litter of bamboo leaves, which are evergreen trees and nice looking. With few exceptions, trees are of a moderate size, so the forest canopy tends to be broken and vegetal biodiversity spreads around trees with yellow flowers. Shrubs and herbaceous plants are plentiful, which includes the Rwenzori blackberry and Rubus dogetti among others.
Vegetation Zones on Rwenzori Mountain
The natural Rwenzori Mountain vegetation has been classified as belonging to five distinct zones, determined largely by altitude and aspect. The higher altitude zone is covered by heath and Afro-alpine moorland. It is the favorable place to enjoy the state of solitude while meditating with good melodies of different species of birds living in the tropical vegetation with.
Despite its high altitude, the alpine meadow nature vegetation does not have trees. Here, the flora at higher altitude tends to grow larger especially the rare species which are only found in the afro-alpine vegetation zone. These include groundsels and lobelia plant species such as Giant heathers, senecio longeligulatus and Senecio adnivalis.
A wide spread of the vegetation here is much, depending on the altitude it gives the five vegetation zones in the park. The altitude ranging from 1,000 – 2,000m, is covered by grassland vegetation. From 2,000 – 3,000m, the park enjoys montane forests, as well as, bamboo vegetation zone from the altitude of 2,500 – 3,000m. The heather vegetation zone runs from 3,000 – 4,000m and lastly, between 4,000 – 4,500m, the mountain is full of an afro-alpine moorland vegetation zone.
The gigantic spread of the vegetation is dependent on the altitude. For instance, for an altitude ranging from 1,000 – 2,000m, the park is covered by grassland vegetation. Then from 2,000 – 3,000m the park enjoys montane thick forests, while from the altitude of 2,500 – 3,000m, you are guaranteed for an enjoyable place where you feel free to put down your pen in the bamboo vegetation zone. Heather vegetation zone is set from 3,000 – 4.000m) and lastly, at an altitude of 4,000 – 4,500m, the mountain is full of afro-alpine moorland vegetation zone, which make you get the feeling of victory at the top. These make up the five Rwenzori Mountain vegetation zones.
Due to high rainfall in this area, the uniqueness of flora on Rwenzori mountain can not be found elsewhere in East Africa. The flora on Rwenzori mountain tends to grow larger, especially the rare species which are only found in the afro-alpine vegetation zone. These include groundsels and lobelia plant species, due to its high altitude.
What to Enjoy When You Visit Rwenzori
Paying a visit to Rwenzori Mountains offers you an opportunity to see rare species of flora and fauna that form Rwenzori mountain vegetation, such as varieties of giant groundsel as well as giant lobelia. In addition, there are heathers which are six metres high, covered with beautiful luxury canopies that unleash a thick color of chilling vapor.
Enjoying the vegetation on the ‘mountains of the moon’, at one of the highest point you can ever be at during your safari, is totally unique. The mountain sits at an altitude of 5,109meter above sea level and its a place where you will feel free without disturbance.
Routes to the tropic forest take you through alpine meadows and natural vegetation which does not have trees because of its high altitude. But the Meadows in the park are also interesting because they have very important ecological value.
During sunny seasons, the open areas favor and attract various flora and fauna that couldn’t grow in other conditions, that’s why your visit at this time is great because you will see rare species of flora and fauna. These include a variety of giant groundsel as well as giant lobelia and even heathers which are six metres high, covered with moss that occupy the mountains peak.
It’s for this variation and uniqueness in Rwenzori Mountain vegetation, that UNESCO deservedly appreciated and named Rwenzori Mountains National Park a World heritage site.
For comparison, researchers can also descend to study more about vegetation in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or farther east, on Uganda – Kenya border, for vegetation on Mountain Elgon.