Mount Rwenzori Peaks: Rwenzori Mountains national Parks
Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers the ancient Rwenzori mountains “ The Mountains of the Moon,” where the continent’s 3rd highest snow-peak fills the East African clouds. Rwenzori Mountains National Park comprises of beautiful peaks, glaciers, Valleys, Rivers, Lakes, and various vegetation and animal species, which makes it one of the most spectacular alpine destinations in Africa. It has many natural homes of endangered species and a rich and unusual flora having including giant heather.
The Rwenzori is among the top highest mountain range in Africa, with Its loftiest peaks, Margherita (5,109m) and Alexandra (5,083m) on Mount Stanley, which is the 3rd runner, after Kenya Mount Kenya, while Kilimanjaro take the top position. Both peaks are extinct volcanoes which stand in isolation above the surrounding plains, while the Rwenzori Mountains are different among East Africa’s major peaks because they are not volcanic by origin.
Besides Mount Stanley, Renzori Mountains national Park has other four peaks: Mount Speke (4,890m), Mount Emin (4,791m), Mount Gessi (4,715m), Mount Baker and Mount Luigi da Savoia (4,627m).
The Rwenzori ranges rise directly from the Rift Valley floor, and their formation, just like Kilimanjaro and Kenya, was linked to the geological upheaval that created the Rift.
The Rwenzori mountains in Rwenzori Mountains National Park adds to the top 10 ranking tourist sites in Uganda because they contain 3 out 5 highest peaks in Africa, which are beautiful, with uncrowded trails, as the high-altitude forest consists of the natural life
Facts about Rwenzori Mountain Peaks
Ruwenzori, also called “Rwenjura” or “Rwenzori” are a series of mountains placed at between the borders of Uganda and Congo in the East African Equatorial region. Its highest peak stands tall at 5,109metres (16,762 ft), with its higher areas mostly sheltered with snow and glacier, which melt and form small rivers whose water gathers to form 1 main source of the River Nile.
It is because of this reason that the Europeans associated the Ruwenzori with the legendary Mountains of the Moon, as stated by the Greek scholar Ptolemy as the source of the Nile. Besides, Congo’s Virunga National Park and Rwenzori Mountains National Park in southwestern Uganda are connected within the same range.
The ancient Mountains of the moon are reflections of the mist-covered mountains of this rugged massif that stands almost 4,000 m above the Albertine Rift Valley, making them visible from futher distances.
These mountains offer a ideal and lush landscape of alpine vegetation characterized by charismatic giant lobelias, groundsels, and heathers which have been called “Africa’s botanical big game.” The spectacular combination of snow-capped peaks, glaciers, V-shaped valleys, fast-flowing rivers with impressive waterfalls, clear blue lakes, and ideal flora adds to the area’s exceptional natural beauty.
Wildlife Of the Rwenzori Mountains National Park
The Rwenzori Mountain slopes are covered with numerous species of wildlife including 6 amphibian species, 9 reptile species, and 18 mammal species. While other rarely seen animals within the park include elephants, leopards, bush bucks, giant forest hogs etcetera. It is also a natural home for numerous primates among others; blue monkeys, olive baboons, colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys chimpanzees.
Birds
Rwenzori mountains National Park has more than 217 bird species such as the Queens Turaco, Shelley’s crimson, collard birds, red faced woodland warbler, dwarf honeyguide, barred long tailed cuckoo, purple breasted sunbirds, montane masked, collared apalis, strange weaver, kivu ground thrush and many more.
Climbing The Rwenzori Mountain Peaks
Hiking the Rwenzori ranges, is the major hiking activity in the Rwenzori mountains National park, which offers impressive views of the mountains along the trails, the breath taking vegetation zones and the glaciers. Day hikes are organized for both beginners and experienced mountaineers, as well as for those don’t want to summit. Hiking Mountain Rwenzori is strenuous, which requires enough physical strength to traverse through either of the trails of the Kilembe and the central circuit trail.
Most popular hikes to the Rwenzori mountain peaks in the Rwenzori mountains national park incude 3 days Mahoma loop trail, 5 days Margherita peak along the central circuit trek, 7 days Rwenzori Kilembe Trail with Margherita peak, 7 days Kilembe trail trek , 8 days Rwenzori treks and 12 days Rwenzori & Gorilla trek combined.
Rwenzori
Culture
Rwenzori mountains national Park is surrounded by mostly the Bakonjo villages and communities, especially at its mountain slopes, who offer an ideal feel of the true African culture to cultural enthusiasts. These communities also organize nature walks around the park, as well as cultural performances to showcase their traditional ways of living and history.
