What is Rwenzori Mountains national park famous for

What is Rwenzori Mountains national park famous for?: Rwenzori Mountains national park is a renowned national park in western Uganda. Home to the tallest mountain in Uganda and some beautiful wildlife species. Rwenzori Mountains national park is Kasese, Kabarole, and Bundibugyo in the western part of Uganda on the borders with DR Congo. The national park is an ideal place for those tourists who want to do bird watching and hiking which is done on the third tallest mountain in Africa.

From the Rwenzori mountains to the rivers, lakes, and wildlife, the national park is one the best to visit in western Uganda. The safaris in Rwenzori Mountains national park might not be as popular as those that are done in other national parks within the country but those who visit the park leave satisfied. A lot of activities and attractions are within the park and they have made the area famous not only in Uganda but to the outside world.

What is the Rwenzori Mountains national park famous for?

Mountain Rwenzori

Mountain Rwenzori is not only famous in Rwenzori Mountains national park but also in the world. It’s the third tallest mountain in Africa with a height of 5109m above sea level and that is at Margherita peak on Mount Stanley.  Moun Rwenzori happens to be the most famous attraction in Rwenzori Mountains national park. This is because it’s the tallest mountain in Uganda and the third in Africa.

For tourists to explore Mount Rwenzori, they must take part in hiking activities which are organized to different stages of the mountain. Hiking mountain Rwenzori takes different days but for those that want to hike to the summit which is Margherita peak they will need 9 to 10 days. To hike Mount Rwenzori hikers need to be physically fit as they go through difficult terrain.

Hiking Mount Rwenzori is done using different trails and it’s the armed ranger guides that go with the hikers. There are porters that help tourists in carrying excess luggage at a small fee. There are chefs at different points where hikers spend nights and these are there to prepare meals.

While hiking Mount Rwenzori, hikers get an opportunity to meet the different attractions on the slopes of the mountain. Among the attractions are vegetation, rocks, animals, birds, and rivers to mention but a few. Hikers go through different vegetation zones which are over 6 as they hike to the summit of the park. Hikers who happen to hike up Margherita Peak are herons because that is the highest point of the park at 5109 m above sea level.

Vegetation

Rwenzori Mountains national park is famous for its rare vegetation on the African continent. Inside the national park especially on the slopes of mountain Rwenzori, tourists find different vegetation types during mountain climbing. There are over 6 vegetation zones on the slopes of mountain Rwenzori and the luckiest to see them are the hikers who reach the summit.

Savanah grassland zone is found at 680m to 1800m and it comprises grass, shrubs, and trees. Afro montane starts at 1800m to 2600m comprises of prunes Africana & podocarpus. Bamboo forest zone starts from 2600m to 2900m and it includes herbs, shrubs, sedges, grasses. Afro montane moorland zone is found at 4000m to 4500 and it has shrubs, lobelia, grass tussocks, and dendrosenecio Woodland. The last is rocky or glacier zone which is found at 4500m and 5109m and these have mosses and lichens.

Birds

Rwenzori Mountains national park is a popular destination for bird watching in western Uganda. There are over 217 bird species said to be living in Rwenzori Mountains national park and about 19 of these are endemic to the Albertine region. Bird watching is among the most done activities within this park especially by tourists who do bird watching in western Uganda.

Birds of Rwenzori mountains national park include Angola swallow, grey crowned crane, Rwenzori batis, regal sunbird, Rwenzori turaco, stout cisticola, dwarf honeyguide, cinnamon bracken warbler, mackinnon’s shrike, black billed turaco, grey chested illadopsis, streaky seedeater, grey winged robin, kivu ground thrush, ruppell’s staling, red-winged francolin, little bee-eater, northern fiscal, African pied wagtail, road throated alethe, yellow-bellied waxbill, mountain buzzard, grey-headed nigrita.

Great blue turaco, variable sunbird, blue-headed sunbird, black-headed heron, masked apalis, white wagtail, archer’s robin chat, red-eyed dove, little greenbul, black-crowned waxbill, laughing dove, glossy ibis, lapped faced vulture, rameron pigeon, European bee-eater, slender-billed greenbul, speckled pigeon, green breasted pitta, palm nut vulture, green white eye, grey heron, and handsome francolin to mention but a few.

When to visit Rwenzori Mountains national park

Tourists should visit Rwenzori Mountains national park in the dry season which happens from June to September and December to February. During this period there is little or rainfall in the park and this does not affect park activities. The walking trails are dry and easier to go through, the vegetation is short with good views of wildlife and the roads leading to the park are passable.

Tourists can still visit Rwenzori Mountains national park in the rainy season of March to May and October to November. During this period, there is plenty of rainfall in the park and a few tourists travel however those that do travel get discounted accommodation facilities as well as tour packages. During the rainy season, tourists should know that hiking/nature walk trails in the park are slippery, the skies are not clear and the roads leading to the park are impassable.

Where to stay on your visit to Rwenzori Mountains national park

There are lots of accommodation facilities where tourists can stay for a night or more while on a safari in Rwenzori Mountains national park. These accommodation facilities range from budget to mid-range to luxury options and include Equator Snow Lodge, Ihamba Lakeside Safar Lodge, Hotel Margherita, Rwenzori International Hotel, Ruboni Community Camp, Rwenzori Backpackers, Muhinga Safari Lodge, and Rwenzori Turaco View Campsite among others. Those hiking Mount Rwenzori have got where to stay at every stage of mountain climbing.