The Rwenzori Mountains Trek is Africa’s best kept Amazing secret trek, it ranks as one of the top ten “best Iconic things” to do in East Africa. The Rwenzori Mountains are a range of mountains in the Albertine Rifft valley of East Africa. The mountain range runs for about 130 km north to south along the border between western Uganda and the eastern DRC. The Mountains Rwenzori has famously been termed for long as the “Mountains of the Moon”, for centuries the moniker has been synonymous with the Rwenzori due to its unique flora and unearthly beauty.
The Rwenzori Mountain range offers a stunning destination for experienced mountaineers, and is perfect for adventure travelers. It’s tucked away in the remote and sparsely populated western part of the country. Consequently offering visitors a quiet and untouched corner of incredible natural beauty and diversity to explore, these are still by far the biggest glaciers in Africa.
The unique landscape of the mountain Rwenzori range is outstanding, you get to climb from tropical rainforest, through alphine valleys to glaciers. The ascent to the challenging Margherita (5,109m), Africa’s 3rd highiest mountain will see you encounter demanding ascent with muddy conditions and variable weather on your Mountain Rwenzori Trek.
The vegetation is wild, unique and varied, and there are birds and animals living in the forest that can be found nowhere else on earth. The jungle-filled valleys are regular shrouded in mist, while the highest mount is perennially covered in snow (even though its sits near the equator). The views in all directions are absolutely breathtaking!
When it comes to Mountain Trekking in Africa, it all rings at Mount Kilimanjaro. Forget the Kili Crowds, the Mountain Rwenzori Trek will offer glimpses of a vast array of spectacular plants, tress along the different 6 climate zones, birds, wildlife such as Forest Elephants, Leopards, giant forest hog, dear including endangered Rwenzori black-fronted or red duiker, a number of primate species such as blue monkeys, Angola colobus monkey, black-and-white colobus, I’Hoest’s monkeys and Chimpanzees some cute and rarely sighted birds.
You also see tropical rainforest, waterfalls, and other incredible and unique flora, culminating in a high alpine environment like the Andes or Himalayas. This trek is not to be missed for its stunning beauty and outstanding array of habitats and ecosystems.
Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountain range is Africa’s top mountain trek destination, having three of the continent’s five highest peaks. The Mountain’s summits are spectacular, with uncrowded routes and the high-altitude forests that teems with life.
There are two main hiking routes in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park.
The popular one is the Central Circuit Trail which may take about eight days to summit Mount Stanely and the Kilembe Route. The latter one has variations you can choose from while on your Rwenzori Mountains trek.
The route is managed by the Rwenzori Mountaineering Service and the local community that live adjacent to the mountain. This is the oldest trail that is used by the trekkers that would wish to hike the Rwenzori mountains and summit Magherita Peak.
It is the shortest trek to reach the Rwenzori Mountains peak. However there can be some variations on the trek route, the trail typically will take 6-7 days to reach the peak and descend back.
This is the newest trail for summiting Mountain Rwenzori and it is managed by the Rwenzori Trekking Services. The trail takes its route beginning in Kilembe in the south-east, and later joining the central circuit at the Kitandara Lakes. This routes takes quite longer days to summit, usually 7-9 days depending on the hiker’s strength. This makes the route longer than the Rwenzori Central Circuit route.
Kunda tours and travel is your ultimate choice for a satiating safari tour in the ‘Pearl of Africa’ – Uganda.