Short safaris to Mount Rwenzori national park

A short safaris to Mount Rwenzori national park gives you an opportunity to go to the western side of the country in Bundibudyo district. The safari takes you to a park where you participate in a few activities due to limited time but all worth it. Mount Rwenzori national park is 996 sq. km in size with different attractions such as Mount Rwenzori, birds, animals, lakes, and rivers to mention but a few.

A short safari to Mount Rwenzori national park is one of the tour packages designed for tourists with limited time in the country. The national park is one of the best to visit, especially for hikers during a Uganda safari. Depending on the number of days, tourists can choose a few activities to do while in the park. While on a short safari to Mount Rwenzori, you can choose from the activities below what you want to do.

What activities can be done on short safaris to Mount Rwenzori national park

Mount Rwenzori hiking

A hiker needs 10 to 12 days hike Mount Rwenzori and get to Margherita peak the highest point on the mountain. On a short safari to the park, tourists who are interested in hiking can do so for a few days and reach a certain level of the mountain. Hikers can do mountain climbing for 2,3,4,5 and we believe they can reach a certain level of the mountain.

Whatever level of Mount Rwenzori hikers will reach, they will be able to see different attractions on the slopes and also those in the nearby areas. Good hikers have a high chance of reaching Guy Yeoman hut at 3261m in 5 days. Birds, animals, vegetation, Mount Baker, River Mubuku, Lake Mahoma, and much more will be spotted during the short hikes.

Bird watching

Over 217 bird species have been recorded in Mount Rwenzori national park and this is not a bad number to look out for. On a short safari to the park, tourists who are interested in bird watching can go for birding activities with armed ranger guides around different areas of the park which are said to be harboring a high population of birds.

Bird watching in Mount Rwenzori national park will introduce you to birds such as Rwenzori turaco, African thrush, black-headed heron, mountain buzzard, handsome francolin, strange weaver, evergreen forest warbler, yellow-billed barbet, African black duck, lemon dove, kivu ground thrush, red faced woodland warbler, black tailed oriole, chestnut winged starling, afed pigeon, marabou stork, blue-headed coucal.

grey-headed kingfisher, African green pigeon, African hobby, grey tit flycatcher, long-crested eagle, African pied wagtail, brown woodland warbler, African penduline tit, Albertine boubou, speckled tinkerbird, grey cuckoo shrike, black goshawk, blue breasted bee-eater, African paradise flycatcher, African marsh harrier.

Baglafecht weaver, tropical boubou, white-necked raven, grey-headed sunbird, cinnamon bracken warbler, alpine swift, African grey woodpecker, African palm swift, stripe breasted tit, scarce swift, little egret, white wagtail, Rwenzori turaco, cabanis’s greenbul, little grebe, Rwenzori hill babbler to mention but a few.

Nature walks

Nature walks are done by tourists who still have some time in the park and would love to see what nature has for them. Mount Rwenzori is a wonderful place with hidden attractions that tourists can only see when they walk on foot to different areas of the park. Nature walks within Mount Rwenzori national park are guided activities led by armed ranger guides who make sure that the tourists are safe throughout the activity.

Nature walks in Mount Rwenzori national park are done using different trails that take tourists to different areas such as Lake Muhooma, Buraro Chimp Forest, Ruboni community, and River Mubuku among others. During nature walks, you will see different birds, animals, water sources, Mount Rwenzori and you will have an opportunity to meet local people along the way.

Cultural encounters

Tourists who are interested in culture can visit any of the nearby communities after a major activity on a short safari to Mount Rwenzori national park. Bakonjo are some of the locals living around the park and the local guides can lead tourists to their homes. Here they can interact with the leaders, participate in a few community activities, support their businesses, and in the end get entertained by traditional dancers through dance and drama.

When to have short safaris to Mount Rwenzori national park

The dry season June to September and December to February is the best time to have short safaris to Mount Rwenzori national park. These are called the dry season because there is little rainfall and plenty of sunshine within the park. During the dry months, the vegetation on the slopes of the mountain and inside the park is short and scattered with good views of different attractions. The hiking trails are dry and easier to walk through which eases the hiking.

Tourists who get time in the rainy season can still visit the park although it’s not so much recommended. March to May and October to November have too much rainfall and little sunshine which affects most of the park activities. The hiking trails and walking trails are muddy and slippery, vegetation is tall with unclear views and the roads to the park are in poor conditions.

Getting to Mount Rwenzori national park

Tourists can get to Mount Rwenzori national park using road transport. From Entebbe, tourists can get to Rwenzori Mountains national park using different routes and whichever route tourists use, they will get there in a single day. It takes 7 to 8 hours to get to the park and the total time taken depends on the number of stopovers as well as the speed of the driver.

From Entebbe/Kampala, tourists drive through Mityana, Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Fort Portal, and then Bundibugyo. Tourists can also drive from Entebbe/Kampala drive through Mpigi, Masaka, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Bushenyi, and Kasese to Rwenzori Mountains national park where Mount Rwenzori is found.