What to expect on a safari in Rwenzori Mountains national park

What to expect on a safari in Rwenzori Mountains national park? Rwenzori Mountains national park is Uganda’s national park in the western side of the country. The national park is situated in Kabarole, Kasese, and Bundibugyo district where it covers over 998 sq. km. Rwenzori Mountains National Park was gazetted in 1991 by the Uganda Wildlife Authority with the aim of protecting different attractions that were in the park at the time.

Rwenzori Mountains national park has got a lot of attractions which tourists can see while on a safari in the park. The national park has got over 70 mammals, 217 bird species, 15 primates, lakes, rivers, and the famous Rwenzori Mountain. These are some of the things tourists should expect to see while on their safari in Rwenzori Mountains national park

Things to expect on a safari in Rwenzori Mountains national park

Seeing mountain Rwenzori

Mountain Rwenzori also known as the mountains of the moon is found on the western side of Rwenzori Mountains national park right inside the park. Tourists on a safari to this national park can either views Mount Rwenzori while carrying out different park activities or hike the mountains. Hiking is the most done activity on Mount Rwenzori and hikers can reach different levels of the mountains depending on the number of days they have.

Hikers to Uganda should go try Rwenzori mountains inside Rwenzori Mountains national park because that mountain is every hiker’s dream come true. It’s the tallest mountain in Uganda with its highest point at 5109m and that is Margherita peak on Mount Stanley. Good hikers can hike to Margherita peak in 9 to 10 days and hikers who are unable to get to the summit can stop at different levels of the mountain.

Hiking to the top of Mount Rwenzori is a dream come true for many climbers in the world. Hikers would have gone through different vegetation zones, they will be able to see the different attractions on the slopes of the mountains as well as those surrounding the mountain. At the top of the mountain, they will be able to take pictures and record videos.

Seeing animals

On a safari to Rwenzori Mountains national park, tourists should expect to see a number of animals that have been recorded in the park. The national park has a total 70 mammals and 5 primates that have been so far recorded. These mammals live in different vegetation covers on the slopes of mountain Rwenzori and other park areas.

mountain Rwenzori mammals to see in include Elephants, leopards, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, rocky hyraxes, Rwenzori otters, black-fronted duikers, African civets, red duikers, chimpanzees, l’hoest’s monkeys, Rwenzori climbing mouses, vervet monkeys, Angola colobus monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons and red colobuses to mention but a few among others.

Seeing mountain Rwenzori bird species

Tourists especially birders should expect to see different bird species on a safari to Rwenzori Mountains national park. Over 217 bird species are said to be living in the vegetation covers of Rwenzori Mountains national park. 19 of these species are said to be endemic to the Albertine region and tourists can never see them anywhere else in the country.

On a safari to Rwenzori mountains national park, birders will have high chances of seeing bird species such as Rwenzori hill babbler, tambourine dove, marabou stork, grey-throated barbet, African green pigeon, long-toed lapwing, grey-headed kingfisher, little egret, speckled mousebird, blue-headed coucal, white-browed coucal, Eurasian kestrel, crowned eagle, blue spotted wood dove, malachite kingfisher, brown woodland warbler, African penduline tit, least honeyguide, little grebe, common sandpiper, levaillant’s cuckoo.

Other mountain Rwenzori bird species to spot are, African emerald cuckoo, scarce swift, African wood owl, scaly throated honeyguide, African swift, olive woodpecker, white-necked raven, dusky kit, golden-crowned woodpecker, northern black flycatcher, speckled tinkerbird, chestnut wattle eye, African marsh harrier, dusky blue flycatcher, brown-throated wattle eye, chinspot batis, grey tit flycatcher, red-headed malimbe, doherty’s bushshrike, and pied cow to mention but a few.

Different vegetation zones

Rwenzori Mountains national park has unique vegetation covers on the African continent. On a safari to Rwenzori Mountains national park, tourists should expect to see different vegetation which includes savannah grassland zone, montane forest, bamboo zone, heather zone, alpine zone, rock zone, and glacier zone. Tourists will see the different vegetation zones depending on the altitude they are at.

Lakes and rivers

Rwenzori Mountains national park has got different lakes and rivers found on Mount Rwenzori. Lakes are found at different stages of the mountains while rivers have their sources on the slopes of the mountain. Rivers and lakes are some of the things tourists should expect on a safari to Rwenzori Mountains national park. Lakes include Mahoma, Bujuku, Kitandara, Irene, and rivers include Nyamwamba, Mubuku, Ruimi, Butawu, Nyamugasani and Lamya to mention but a few.

Getting to Rwenzori National Park

Rwenzori Mountains national park can be accessed from Kasese or Bundibugyo using either road transport or air transport. Road transport is the most used means of transport because it’s affordable. It’s about 400km from Kampala/Entebbe to Rwenzori Mountains national park which is about 6 hours drive on the road.

Tourists from Entebbe/Kampala can get to Rwenzori Mountains national park using road routes. The first route is from Kampala/Entebbe via Mityana, Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Fort Portal, and Bundibugyo to the park. The other route is from Kampala/Entebbe via Mpigi, Masaka, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Ibanda, Kamwenge, and Kasese to the park.

Tourists can also access Rwenzori Mountains national park using air transport which lands at Kasese airstrip. Aerolink Uganda and Bar Aviation Uganda are some of the airline companies that have flights from Kajjansi Airstrip and Entebbe International Airport to Kasese Airstrip. It’s from here that tourists drive to Rwenzori Mountains National Park for a few hours to the park.