Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Africa’s longest mountain range, presumed to be the Mountains of the moon: the legendary source of the Nile described by Ptolemy in AD150. Endure days of mud, cold, rain and pasta meals to walk on the fabled snows of the Mountains of the moon. The Rwenzori is not volcanic like East Africa’s other major mountains but is a block of rock upfaulted through the floor of the Western Rift Valley.

The park was leaglised national park in 1991 and was recognized as a World Heritage site in 1994 and Ramsar site in 2008. Uganda’s highest point: 5,109m above sea level on Mt Stanley's Margherita Peak. Mt. Stanley is bisected by the border with DR Congo.

The explorer Henry Stanley placed the Rwenzori on the map on 24th May 1888. He labelled it ‘Ruwenzori’, a local name which he recorded as meaning “Rain-Maker” or “Cloud-King.”

Rwenzori Mountains National Park protects the highest parts of the 120km-long and 65km-wide mountain range range. The national park hosts 70 mammals and 271 bird species including 19 Albertine Rift endemics, as well as some of the world’s rarest vegetation.

With some climbing equipment you could take 7 days to climb Rwenzori. It’s a truly rewarding experience.