The Magic of Hiking the Great Rwenzori Mountains
Are you interested in a low or high altitude hiking experiences through the Great Rwenzori Mountains? It’s all possible in Africa’s third highest peak, commonly known as the ‘mountains of the moon’. For the low-altitude mountain hiking experiences, travelers have to be prepared to climb up to 13,123 feet (4,000 meters) above sea level and these take between two to four days while the high altitude hikes go beyond 13,123 feet, taking between four and twelve days.
Hiking the great Rwenzori Mountains is a spectacular experience that can be done as a stand-alone trip or combined with other adventures. Such adventures include gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park, as well as wildlife viewing within the nearby Queen Elizabeth National Park.
While the Rwenzori Mountain doesn’t receive as much hype and praises as Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, climbers who take on this exceptional block mountain are always amazed. This is because of the remote location, changing vegetation zones across the slopes of the mountains and different altitudes, varying weather conditions, lower visitor numbers and completely out-of-this-World experiences.
About the Rwenzori Mountains National Park
The 996-square kilometer Rwenzori Mountains National Park was first gazetted in 1991 and received a Global recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 because of its biological diversity, then a Ramsar Site in 2008. This park is home to over 70 mammal species such as blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, forest elephants, giant forest hogs, leopards, chimpanzees and bushbucks among others. It is also an important birding area with more than 217 bird species, including 17 species endemic to the Rwenzori ranges and 59 species that are endemic to the Afro-tropical highlands biome. Some of these animals and birds will be encountered for a magical experience while hiking the great Rwenzori mountain.
Rwenzori Mountains ranges are comprised of 6 beautiful mountains. These include Mount Stanley (the highest at 5,109 meters), Mount Speke (4,890 meters/16,043 feet), Mount Emin (4,798 meters/15,741 feet), Mount Baker (4,843 meters/15,889 feet), Mount Savioa (4,627 meters/15,328 feet) and Mount Gessi (4,715 meters/15,470 feet). For the ultimate Rwenzori Mountains hiking experience, you will need at least 9 days in the area.
You might have hiked Mount Everest, Mount Kilimanjaro or the Alps but if you haven’t taken on the jaw-dropping Rwenzori Mountains, then you don’t know what you have been missing. First, the Mountains sit along the Uganda – Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border, so, the ranges are protected by the 996 sqkm Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda. This protected area is marked by stunning rocky outcross, different vegetation types, Glacial lakes, snow-capped peaks, cliffs and open spaces, as a result, these provide out-of-this-World escape into the mystical World.
How hiking the Great Rwenzori Mountains is done
Hiking the great Rwenzori Mountains requires moderate fitness levels, although its highest peak, Margherita, is defined as a ‘technical climb’ with a certain level of fitness. There are a number of hiking options ranging from two to twelve days, catering for the aspirations of birders, botanists, nature lovers, animal lovers and travelers interested in breathtaking views. The climbing trails are sometimes longer for private groups to offer enthusiastic climbers with a once in a lifetime opportunity of acclimatizing to elevations where tranquility, magnificent views and sense of achievement can be achieved.
So far, there are two renowned Rwenzori Mountains’ hiking trails leading to the Margherita peak at 5,109 meters above sea level and they include;
The central circuit
Being the oldest, the central circuit emerges from Nyakalengija and was launched by Luigi di Savoia in 1906. Trekking this circuit normally takes 7-9 days to complete.
The southern circuit
This is another popular trail on the Rwenzori Mountains that was launched in 2009, starting from Kilembe. It normally joins the central circuit at Kitandara lakes and normally lasts 6-9 days to complete.
What to pack when planning your hiking the Great Rwenzori Mountains experience
To achieve the ultimate experience while hiking the great Rwenzori Mountains, travelers are advised to pack different required hiking gear. This includes comfortable safari trousers, gardening gloves, long-sleeved shirts, safari cap, sturdy hiking boots, lightweight rain jacket and a camera for capturing all the beautiful views during hiking. You can also include thick cotton socks, sleeping bag of good quality, toiletries (lip balm, toothbrush, hair comb, hand sanitizer, toothpaste, wet wipes and small towel). A water bottle, first aid kit with altitude sickness tablets, plasters, pain killers, bandages and tweezers, a rainproof backpack, energy giving snacks, warm sweaters and binoculars among others are also necessary for this trip.
When to hike through the Great Rwenzori Mountains
Hiking the great Rwenzori Mountains can be done throughout the year, but if you choose the wet seasons, which are March to May and October to November, be prepared for fog and snow. As a result, the views will be disrupted since heavy rains usually make trails muddy and slippery. During the dry months of June to early September and December to February, less rains are experienced and fog is reduced hence peaks are clearer. Because of this experience, the dry seasons are the best and high seasons for Rwenzori mountaineering tours.
Besides the Rwenzori, other mountain climbing tours in Uganda are provided on Mount Elgon along the Uganda – Kenya border, the Virunga Mountains that run across Uganda, Rwanda and DRC, Mount Moroto, Kadam and Morungole in the Karamoja sub-region within north-eastern Uganda.
