Hiking the mighty Mount Rwenzori national park

Forget Kilimanjaro if you want a true, raw challenge. The Rwenzoris are a massive, brutal test of real mountaineering. You’ll scramble through surreal, hip-deep bogs and prehistoric giant groundsel forests before pulling out the ropes and crampons. Summiting Margherita Peak at 5,109 meters is a wild, exhausting rush.

A rare photo of snow caped parts of Margherita peak of Mountain Rwenzori in Uganda

Whether you choose the classic Central Circuit or the rugged Kilembe Trail, hiking the Rwenzoris is a world-class trekking epic. It's a steep, beautifully isolated wilderness devoid of mass tourism. Perfect for hikers who want a genuine expedition.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park was established in 1991. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 because of its outstanding natural beauty.

Almost 1,000 km2 (386 sq mi) in size, the park has Africa’s third highest mountain peak and many waterfalls, lakes, and glaciers. The park is known for its beautiful plant life.

The park comprises most of the centre and eastern half of the Rwenzori Mountains. The Rwenzori Mountain is the highest mountain range in the whole of Africa with Africa’s third highest mountain peak, 6 glacial peaks: Mount Speke, Mount Stanley, Mount Gessi, Mount Emin Pasha, Mount Luigi da Savoia as well as Mount Baker. The main peaks can be probably compared to those of Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. The park has glaciers, snowfields, waterfalls, and lakes and is one of Africa’s most beautiful mountain areas.

The national park hosts 70 mammals and 217 bird species including 19 Albertine Rift endemics, as well as some of the world’s rarest vegetation. The Rwenzoris – the fabled Mountains of the Moon – lie in western Uganda along the Uganda-Congo border. The equatorial snow peaks include the third highest point in Africa, while the lower slopes are blanketed in moorland, bamboo and rich, moist montane forest. Huge tree-heathers and colorful mosses are draped across the mountainside with giant lobelias and “everlasting flowers”, creating an enchanting, fairytale scene.

The Rwenzoris are a world-class hiking and mountaineering destination. A nine- to twelve-day trek will get skilled climbers to the summit of Margherita – the highest peak – though shorter, non-technical treks are possible to scale the surrounding peaks.

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Hiking the mighty Mount Rwenzori national park

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