Is climbing Mountain Rwenzori safe?
Is climbing Mountain Rwenzori safe?: If you prepare well enough, do research, and follow the rules and regulations given by the guides, then climbing Mountain Rwenzori is very safe. Safety is one of the things that come first on Mountain Rwenzori. With safety, a hiker must have the right equipment, clothing, food, hiking route, physically fit, and well-experienced guides.
Mountain Rwenzori is the tallest mountain in Uganda with the highest peak at 5109 meters above sea level. Rwenzori Mountain happens to be the third tallest mountain in Africa and it’s found in the western part of Uganda in Rwenzori Mountains national park where it borders Virunga national park of DR Congo. Rwenzori Mountains is a 120 km long and 65 km wide mountain in the western side of Rwenzori Mountains national park.
Rwenzori Mountains is 5109 meters tall with 6 massifs namely Mount Stanley, Mount Speke, Mount Baker, Mount Emin, Mount Gessi, and Mount Luigi di Savoia. Mount Stanley is the tallest on Mountain Rwenzori with the highest point in Uganda at Margherita peak. To get to Margherita peak, a hiker must be physically fit and ready to hike for 7 to 9 days.
Is Mountain Rwenzori hiking safe?
Mountain Rwenzori is one of the safest mountains to hike in Africa therefore hikers shouldn’t be worried when coming for hiking safaris. All a hiker needs is good training to ensure that they are fit enough and also follow the rules and regulations of hiking as taught by the guides before hiking. With well-trained guides, the 7 to 9 days of Mountain Rwenzori hiking will be safe.
Experienced Mountain Rwenzori guides
There are so many well experienced guides on Rwenzori mountains trained by Uganda Wildlife Authority which controls and manages park activities. These guides teach hikers the rules and regulations of hiking and make sure that everyone is safe while hiking. The guides are well trained and know very well how to act in case there is an emergency. The guides on Mountain Rwenzori are highly experienced in preventing, detecting, and treating altitude sickness.
Altitude sickness on Mountain Rwenzori
Not everyone who hikers with a goal of reaching Margherita peak on Mount Rwenzori does reach there. For every ten people who set to hike Rwenzori mountains, about 7 make it to the summit. The other 3 never make it to the summit and return back due to altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is caused by ascending to a high elevation too quickly and not allowing the body to get enough oxygen.
The tallest point on Mountain Rwenzori is Margherita peak which stands at 510i meters above sea level which is a very high altitude. The ore high hike it becomes difficult for the body to adjust to the altitude however you can prepare for hiking by doing exercises. Before hiking mountain Rwenzori, it is better you do a medical checkup and see if you are healthy before booking your safari.
Weather on Mountain Rwenzori
Mountain Rwenzori receives rainfall all throughout the year therefore it is hard to predict the weather. During the rainy season, the area receives plenty of rainfall and in the dry season it receives little and sometimes no rainfall. Hikers are advised to come well prepared for the weather by bringing long-sleeved clothes, gloves, rain jackets, stocks, scarves, and waterproof hiking shoes to mention but a few.
Hiking Mountain Rwenzori
Hiking Mountain Rwenzori happens every day with hikers hiking for 5 to 7 hours per day. The activity starts with a briefing from the park guides who teach the rules and regulations of the activity. Later porters are hired to carry excess luggage and the guides lead the hikers. Hikers are asked to stay in groups for safety reasons and the speed of the hiking group is determined by the speed of the slowest hikers.
Hiking Rwenzori Mountain goes through different vegetation zones with hikers having chances of seeing the different attractions found there. During hiking, hikers find different water sources which include lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. Hikers also pass through different rocks and glaciers especially when they are about to reach the summit.
At the summit of Mount Rwenzori, hikers get the joy of being at the highest point of Uganda which is at Margherita peak 5109 meters above sea level. Hikers are given time to take photos, and record videos at the peak and the surrounding areas which they use for memories. After having a good time at the summit, descending the mountain starts.
What to pack for Rwenzori Mountain climbing?
To climb mountain Rwenzori, you need to prepare properly and pack the right equipment which includes a waterproof daypack, waterproof duffle bag, sleeping bag, gaiters, trekking poles, water bottle, scarf, sun hat, sunglasses, torch, headlamp, warm gloves, waterproof hiking shoes, long-sleeved clothes, stocks, a rain jacket, camera, extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, toiletries, and energy giving snack to mention but a few.
Best time to hike Mountain Rwenzori
Mountain Rwenzori is hiked all throughout the year however the dry season is the best time to hike the mountain. The dry season in Rwenzori happens from June to September and December to February when the park receives little/no rainfall and plenty of sunshine. During the dry season, the weather is very good with clear skies and warm temperature.
Plenty of sunshine received in the dry season keeps the hiking trails dry and easier to walk through. This means that the hikers will reach different levels of the mountain at the right time and the number of days to reach the summit will be less. During the dry season, the vegetation becomes short which gives hikers a clear view of different wildlife that lives there and other attractions on the slopes of the mountain.
Hikers can still hike Mount Rwenzori during the rainy season because the activity is open all throughout the year. The rainy season occurs from March to May and October to November when the area is receiving a lot of rainfall. The rainfall makes the hiking trails muddy and slippery which makes it difficult for hikers to walk through the trails and this leads to an increase in the number of days taken to get to the summit.
During the rainy season, photographers get clear pictures and videos however the vegetation is too tall with unclear views of the different attractions on the slopes of the mountain and the surrounding areas. Too much rainfall can lead to flooding and also falling off of the rocks which can be dangerous for hikers.
The bottom line: Climbing Mountain Rwenzori is safe
With all the above being said, it’s safe to hike mountain Rwenzori so if you have an interest in climbing just do it. Hikers are advised to be physically fit and they can be achieved by doing different trainings before hiking. Hikers are also asked to bring the right equipment which are used while hiking. Lastly, hikers must follow the rules and regulations of hiking as taught by the guides within the park.
