DESTINATION GUIDE // UGANDA
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
The Mountains of the Moon. Glaciers on the equator, giant lobelia and the toughest trek in East Africa.
996 km2
PARK AREA
5,109m
MARGHERITA PEAK
3rd
HIGHEST IN AFRICA
7-9 days
FULL TREK
1994
UNESCO SITE
Quick answer: Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers 996 square kilometres on the Uganda and DRC border. Margherita Peak reaches 5,109 metres, the third highest point in Africa. A full summit trek takes seven to nine days and requires technical glacier travel near the top.
OVERVIEW AND LOCATION
Rwenzori Mountains National Park At A Glance
The Rwenzoris are the wettest and strangest high mountains in Africa. Unlike Kilimanjaro or Mount Kenya, these are fold mountains rather than volcanoes, permanently draped in cloud and covered in giant heather, lobelia and groundsel that grow to absurd sizes. It is a genuinely hard trek, boggy underfoot for days and the summit requires rope and crampons. Shorter three to four day treks reach the lower valleys without technical climbing.
| Detail | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Location | Western Uganda, on the border with DR Congo |
| Nearest town | Kasese |
| Size | 996 km2 |
| Highest point | Margherita Peak, 5,109 metres |
| Established | 1991, UNESCO World Heritage Site 1994 |
| Trek length | 3 to 4 days for the valleys, 7 to 9 days for the summit |
WILDLIFE AND ACTIVITIES
What You Will See and Do
Margherita Peak
The summit involves glacier travel with rope and crampons, and needs a guide qualified for technical ground. Not a walker peak.
Afro-alpine Vegetation
Giant lobelia, groundsel and tree heather grow to several metres, producing a landscape unlike anywhere else on the continent.
Shorter Valley Treks
Three and four day routes reach the Mubuku and Bujuku valleys, giving the scenery and the vegetation without the technical summit.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
When To Go
| Months | What to expect | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| Jun to Aug | Driest window, best summit conditions | Medium |
| Dec to Feb | Second dry season, good trekking | Medium |
| Mar to May | Heaviest rain, trails waterlogged | Low |
| Sep to Nov | Wet, difficult going underfoot | Low |
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