Tourist Attractions In Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Tourist Attraction in Rwenzori: Like any other Uganda National Park, Rwenzori Mountains, on the other hand has tourist attractions: Birds like the famous Rwenzori Turaco; wildife; primates including blue monkeys, black & White colobus monkeys & the rare chimpanzees; 6 vegetation zones; Lake such as Irene, Kitandara; and the Snow Peaks of Baker, Stanley & Speak.
Wildlife in Rwenzori
Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a home to large number of approximately 70 mammal species, out of which 6 are endemic to the Albertine rift, 4 to the park while 3 are rare species. There also other rare mammals such as elephants, chimpanzees, the Rwenzori otter as well as Leopards. Although the mammals in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park are hard to find, chances are high that the hikers might encounter the black & White Colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, tiny antelopes including brushbacks and unusual reptiles like the three horned chameleon.
Vegetation- Tourist Attractions of Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Rwenzori Mountains National Park has an extensive and diverse vegetation zone beautifully classified into 6, from the savannah zone(680m-1800m) through the Afromontane Forest zone(1800m-2600m), Bamboo Forest Zone(2600-2900m), heather/Rapenea Zone(2900-4000m), Afro-alpine moorland zones (4000-4500m) and rocky/glacier zone (4500-5109).
The afro-alpine zones is characterized by the emblematic big forms of groundsel and lobelia which is one of the world’s unique botanical communities, which is only found in the mountains beyond 3800m in East Africa.
Birds- Tourist Attractions Of Rwenzori Mountains National Park
About 217 bird species inhabit the Rwenzori mountains National Park, from which 17 are endemic to the Rwenzori mountains National Park which makes it an important birding area. The forest Zone at 1800m comprises includes anumber of birds like the Rwenzori Turaco, Handsome Francolin, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Blue headed Sunbird, Long eared Owl, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Rwenzori Batis, Archers’ Robin chat, White-starred Robin with even the rare Montane sooty Boubou, Greenbuls, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, slender-billed starling, Strange Weaver, not forgetting the Golden winged Sunbird, , barbets, Apalises, Illadopsis, Flycatchers & crimson wings.
The Rwenzori Snow Peaks
Rwenzori mountains National Park has 6 ranges, which are located are located a few miles north of the Equator, with the highest peak on Mount Stanley (Margherita at 5109m), then followed by speke(4890m) & Baker (4890m), each containing snow & glaciers. These peaks can be reached through both routes of the central circuit & the Kilembe trail.
The Rwenzori Lakes
The Rwenzori Mountains National Park contains about 20 lakes. Lake Mahoma (at 2651m) along the central circuit can easily be reached, while the Bujuku Lake lies at the Apex of the deep glacier curved Bujuku valley, in the shadow of Mount Stanley, speke and Baker. In the Nyamwamba valley, the ascent through the Kilembe trail where the glacial moraine deposited in the man-made dam, which has for a long time formed a string of 8 enjoyable lakes. Several River streams start from the mountain, forming lifelines for a number of plant & animal species in the fllod plains and supporting the local communities.
