The Beginner’s Guide to Trekking in the Rwenzori Mountains
The Beginner’s Guide to Trekking in the Rwenzori Mountains. Trekking the Rwenzori Mountains in western Uganda—legendary “Mountains of the Moon”—requires planning via official operators like Rwenzori Trekking Experts or Rwenzori Trekking Services for routes up to Margherita Peak. Key details include the Central Circuit Trail (rwenzoritrekkingexperts.com) and Kilembe Trail (rwenzoritrekkingservices.com) taking 7 to 8 days, park fees of $30 per day, and famous muddy paths requiring rubber boots.
The Rwenzori Mountains
Positioned between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Tanzania, Uganda is a land bound country that is famous for its richness of wildlife and various scenery. From the arid grasses of the savannah to the deep, luscious rainforest, to the enormous length of Lake Victoria and the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains, it really does have it all!
For hikers looking for mountainous treks close to the equator, the Rwenzori Mountains offer a great lure. Better known to many as ‘the summits of the Moon’, the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda include six of the tallest summits in Africa. And while the Rwenzori Mountains receive less tourists than Mount Kilimanjaro in the neighbouring country of Tanzania, they provide a secret paradise for trekkers seeking adventures away from the crowds.
Despite offering so much in terms of paths and biodiversity, the Rwenzori remains a trekker’s paradise off the tourist beat. As adventure travel experts, we at Rwenzori Trekking specialise in creating experiences to some of the world’s most renowned sites, like Uganda, enabling you adventure beyond the ordinary and stretching your normal bounds. The result is a life-changing and unforgettable adventure.
In this blog, we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions regarding travelling to the Rwenzori Mountains. For more information regarding our visits to Uganda, get in touch with our friendly team at Rwenzori Trekking Experts HQ who would be pleased to answer any of your queries. For more extensive information about mountains in Uganda, head over to our blog on the mountains of Uganda and for more general information check out our ultimate guide to Uganda.
Where are the Rwenzori Mountains?
The Rwenzori Mountains are located in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park in western Uganda. The Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers around 1,000 km² and consists of the main part of the Rwenzori mountain group which includes Africa’s third highest summit, Mount Stanley (5,109m). The park contains many natural habitats of endangered species, rich and unusual flora, glaciers, waterfalls and lakes, and is one of the most beautiful alpine areas in Africa. No journey to Uganda is complete without a visit to the Rwenzori Mountains.
The nearest population center to the Rwenzori Mountains is the city of Kasese. Kasese is bordered by Kabarole and Bundibugyo districts in the north, Lake George and Kamwenge in the east, Bushenyi and Lake Edward in the south and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the west. If you are visiting Uganda your experience begins and ends at Entebbe International Airport (EBB), easily reached by air with daily flights that are just over an hour. Flights from Entebbe leave daily at 7am and 12.30pm, and dovetail nicely with trek departures. We fly out of Kaese at 10:45pm and 2:45pm everyday on the return trips.
Alternatively, you can take a public bus from Kampala, the capital and largest city in Uganda, to Fort Portal, and then on to the Rwenzori Mountains (6-8 hours). Buses leave from Kampala city centre every hour and cost roughly 50,000 Ugandan Shillings (UGX), which is around £11 (GBP) or $14 (USD).
You can fly to Kasese or take public transit, but the easiest way to get throughout Uganda is in a private cab. It’s pretty cheap and it’s a lot safer. We would suggest arranging a private transfer to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, not much more expensive but much more efficient than taking a bus or flying.
When you book a trip with Rwenzori Trekking Experts we arrange all the transfers for you.
Facts about the Rwenzori Mountains
The Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda are the largest mountain range in Africa, consisting of 6 major peaks and probably at about 120km in length.
The “Mountains of the Moon” is an old term used to describe the Rwenzori Mountains as it was thought that the streams from the Rwenzori Mountains became one of the sources of the River Nile, because of their snow-capped summits which glisten like the moon.
The Rwenzori Mountains are a mountainous supply of water for the household water demands of more than 5 million people in the Rwenzori region.
All the mountains in this area are named after the respective explorers that arrived to Africa in the early years of colonialism.
The park was gazetted as a park in 1991 and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
The park has a rich fauna with more than 70 species of mammal, 217 species of bird, 9 species of reptile and 6 species of amphibian.
Highest peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains
Mount Stanley (5,109m)
Mount Stanley is the tallest of the six summits in the Rwenzori mountain range and is the third highest peak in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, standing at an impressive height of 5,109 metres. There are a lot of trekking routes to its highest peak, Margherita Peak, and you’ll need a minimum of 7 days in the mountains to reach here. The journey to Mount Stanley is no mean feat, requiring days at altitude, across some tough terrain. You will also use ropes and crampons as part of the ascent and because of this it is often considered to be a tougher climb than Kilimanjaro.
Mount Speke (4,890m)
Mount Speke is the second tallest in the Rwenzori mountain range at 4,890m. It forms a triangle with Mount Stanley and Mount Baker around the upper Bujuku Valley. European explorers, when they first came to the region looking for the source of the great Nile, named this peak after John Speke. Speke painted the source of the White Nile in 1862, without ever having hiked to its summit. Mount Speke is thickly clothed with vegetation and is cut by several streams and rivers, owing to the considerable rains it receives.
Mount Baker (4,844m)
Mount Baker is 4844m high and is the fifth highest mountain on the African continent. It is located 2.9 kilometres to the Ugandan border to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The three mountains with Mount Stanley and Mount Speke form a triangle around the upper Bujuku Valley. Mount Baker was named after Sir Samuel Baker, the first European to see Lake Albert, just northeast of the Rwenzori. From the top of Mount Baker, you can see the twin peaks, the Margherita glacier, Mount Speke and the stunning grandeur of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Mount Emin (4,791m)
Mount Emin (4,791m) in the Rwenzori Mountains is named for the central African explorer, Mohammed Emin Pasha. The mountain is never snowed on, yet it is the fourth highest peak in the Rwenzori range, and the sixth highest in Africa, with narrow rocky ridges making it a challenging climb. The peak is often accessed from the south west of the ridge in Rwenzori Mountains National Park and easily accessible from the Mugusu Valley which extends into DRC.
Mount Gessi (4,715m)
Mount Gessi is located in the Rwenzori Mountains north of the triangle formed by Mount Stanley, Mount Speke and Mount Baker. These summits were once glaciated but have since melted away. The trek to the summit starts in Mugusu valley through groundsel forests to Roccato pass, then through heavy scrub and slabs to the ridge between the peaks.
Mount Luigi de Savoia (4,627m)
The Rwenzori Mountains National Park has many mountains, including Mount Luigi di Savoia. Its summit, called “Sella”, 4,637 ft., is the fourth highest in Uganda and the sixth in Africa. Mount Luigi de Savoia, like the other Rwenzori mountains, is a long ridge with several summits. It is the lowest of the six central mountains and the first to lose its glacial ice.
Best time to visit the Rwenzori Mountains
Rwenzori Mountains can be visited throughout the year. However, the period from late June to early September and again late December to the end of February does tend to be drier, which is great for trekking and hence visitor numbers do surge around this time. However, peak season in Uganda is nowhere close to being as busy as peak trekking seasons in Nepal, Peru or Tanzania. The best time for trekkers who want to visit the Rwenzori Mountains National Park is during the dry months from late June to early September. The weather also tends to be quite consistent, with nice warm days and cold nights during the cooler months from September to November and late December to February, a window of opportunity for trekking and climbing.
Whatever time of year you plan on visiting Uganda to walk the Rwenzori Mountains you should be prepared for a combination of sun, rain, mud, fog, ice and snow. We also suggest you to read our blog on how safe is Uganda before your journey to Uganda.
Here at Rwenzori Trekking Experts we have some great Uganda trips that are popular with travellers looking to go off the beaten track and have a trip like no other. All our Uganda adventures are led by skilled, local guides who know the area like the back of their hand. Contact the friendly crew at Rwenzori Trekking Experts to learn more about our adventure adventures in Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains. Looking for more inspiration for your next trip to Uganda? Check out our blog reviewing books about Uganda for fascinating insights into this vibrant East African country