Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National Park runs along Uganda’s border with DR Congo in the west. It became a national park in 1991 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Its highest point, Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley, reaches 5,109 metres, the third highest peak in Africa.

Why go

People have called these the Mountains of the Moon for two thousand years. There are glaciers almost on the equator, mossy cloud forest, bamboo, and higher up, giant lobelias and groundsels taller than a person. It looks like nowhere else, and few travellers ever see it.

What you can do

• Day hikes and one or two-day walks from the foothills to waterfalls and viewpoints.
• Shorter trails listed by UWA, such as the trail to Sebwe Falls and the Kinyampanika chimp trail.
• Birding for Albertine Rift species such as the Rwenzori turaco.
• A full climb to Margherita Peak, usually 7 to 9 days on the Central Circuit or 6 to 8 days on the Kilembe trail. Full climbs are run by the licensed mountain concession operators, and we can plan the rest of your trip around one.

The people side

The Bakonzo people live on the slopes, and their culture is closely tied to the mountain. Near the Nyakalengija trailhead, Ruboni Community Camp is community-owned and run by Bakonzo hosts, with village walks, forest walks, local food, and music and dance in the evening. Guides and porters from the same villages know these slopes as home.

Best time to visit

The driest months are late December to February and June to August. Rain is possible on any day of the year, so expect mud and bring good rain gear.

Getting there

Allow 6 to 7 hours by road from Kampala to Kasese via Fort Portal, and about 1 hour more from Entebbe. Kasese has an airstrip for flights.

Good to know

Summit climbs are Level 5, Strenuous: cold, high, wet and boggy, with glacier sections that need equipment and time to adjust to the altitude. Day hikes in the foothills are moderate. Wildlife is not the main reason to come: blue monkeys, colobus and forest birds are seen, but larger animals are rare. The Rwenzori pairs well with Queen Elizabeth or Kibale on the same trip. UWA’s current prices are valid to 31 December 2026; new UWA prices start on 1 January 2027.