Rwenzori Mountain climbing is among the underrated gems undiscovered by travelers. Mount Rwenzori has some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet. The mountain Rwenzori ranges are covered by a variety of vegetation types and climates, which leaves travelers spellbound as they scale the heights. Click here to see mountain gorilla trekking safaris.

The Rwenzori foothills have farmland full of crops like coffee, which is Uganda’s important cash crop. The most beautiful land terrain, plant life of sub-montane vegetation, Afro-montane zone, luxurious tropical evergreen forest, and majestic snowcapped peaks can be found on Mount Rwenzori. Click here to view our recommended mountain gorilla trekking tour

 Rwenzori Mountains National Park is home to 217 bird species, and 17 of those species can only be spotted in the Rwenzori area, which justifies its UNESCO name. Rwenzori bird species include the Handsome Francolin, Turaco, Long-eared Owl, Rwenzori Turaco, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, and Archers’ Robin-chat. Strange Weaver, Rwenzori Batis, White-starred Robin, Montane Sooty Boubou, and Lagden's Bush-Shrike Slender-billed Starling, Blue-headed Sunbird, Barbets, Apalises, Crimson-winged Sunbird, Golden-winged Sunbird, Greenbuls, IIladopsis, and Flycatchers.

 Hiking around mountain Rwenzori shouldn’t be missed by anyone planning their gorilla safaris to Uganda with Devine African Safaris. Travelers can enjoy day hikes through the thick tropical African natural forests at the foothills of Mount Rwenzori.

 Cultural Experience: You have plenty of opportunities to witness mountain Rwenzori foothills carry out their cultural activities and lifestyles, such as cultural dances and drumming sessions. Cultural experiences also take you to the Ruboni village.

Mountain Climbing

Mountain climbing is the key attraction and activity in Rwenzori Mountains National Park. There are two trekking trails that take hikers to the summit of the mountain.

The Central Circuit Trail

The central circuit trail begins from the trailhead in Mihunga, offering a circular, seven-day challenging hiking tour of the high Rwenzori. From Mihunga, the starting point, the route slopes past Nyabitaba along the Bujuku valley and then leads to the peaks. Along the beautiful slopes, hikers can spot the snowy peaks of the Rwenzori mountains.

Kilembe Trail

The Kilembe trail ascends to the southern slopes of the Rwenzori mountains from the trailhead at Kilembe, near Kasese town. This route takes tourists past glacial lakes along the River Nyamwamba, and then it connects the Central Circuit at Lake Kitandara.

Nature Walks

Nature walks in Rwenzori Mountains National Park are done along Lake Muhooma and via Buraro chimpanzee forest, then there is a walk to the Karangura ridge via the communities of Kichwamba as well as trekking to Bundibugyo area via the Bwamba Pass.

Guided forest walks can also be done via the communities of Ruhoni and Turaco, along the trekking trail along the River Mobuku. Continue with the hikes to above 2,300 m that allow tourists to view Baker and Portal peaks, and on a bright day, tourists can possibly see the eye-catching snowcapped Margherita peak. This guided forest walk offers amazing animal species such as chameleons, vervet monkeys, squirrels, and many bird species.

Birding

The Rwenzori National Park offers unlimited bird species that have chosen this inhospitable kind of environment as their home. Rwenzori Mountains National Park includes bee-eaters, barbets, robins, long-eared owls, sunbirds, and the Rwenzori Turaco. Higher hikers can easily see bearded vultures, swifts, and black eagles.

Cultural Encounters

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park cultural trail takes tourists to the Mihunga community tourism group and Turaco for a village cultural tour where travelers can experience the traditional healer’s demonstration, a local school, a crafts shop, and finally be entertained by the lively traditional dance performance.

There are two main roads from Kampala to Rwenzori Mountains National Park. The shorter route that leads tourists to the Park Trailhead at Ruboni from the north through Fort Portal is 375 km. The second route from the south passes via Mbarara and Queen Elizabeth National Park, 450 km from Kampala or Entebbe.

By air, there are daily domestic flights to Kasese that can be planned from Kajjansi Airfield and Entebbe International Airport by Aerolink Uganda.