MOUNTAIN RWENZORI NATIONAL PARK
Location
Mountain Rwenzori National Park is located in southwestern Uganda on the eastern side of the Albertine Rift valley along the border of Democratic Republic of Congo an being the part of the Virunga. The park is found in Karole district, Bundibugyo, and Kasese as well Rwenzori mountains almost 100km2 / 386square miles and also known as mountain of the moon. the park was gazetted in 1991 and now called the Rwenzori Mountain National Park under Uganda Wildlife Authority with its headquarters in Nyakalenjija village along Mubuku valley. This covers an area of 996 square miles with lakes mountain, waterfalls, glaciers, and also has the third highest peak the park also has over70 mammal species, 217 species of birds 19 Albertine Rift valley endemics including rare plants world wide
ACTIVITIES AT MOUNTAIN RWENZORI NATIONAL PARK
Mountain climbing
Mountain climbing is the main activity offered ant Rwenzori National Park. Mountain Rwenzori is one of the highest mountains in Africa and nine-day hike will get skilled climbers to the summit of Margherita which is the highest peak of mountain Rwenzori. Though this auld be for skilled climbers, there other peaks bit shorter than the highest for visitors to get a hike too. There are two more hiking trails in park including central circuit trail that begins from Kilembe in Kaseese district north of the park. The trails take hikers through the glacial lakes, Nyamwamba valley and then joins the central circuit at lake Kandara. Hikers using this trail, will be able to explore the three highest peaks, vegetation and wildlife species
Natural walks
The visitors are offered guided forest walks to different places at the communities of Ruboni and Turaco. Visitors also get the opportunity of visit along River Mubuku and have a chance to view peaks like Baker and Portal once at the height of 2300metres above the sea level. From here, if the sky is clear, visitors can view the snow caped peak of Magherita that offers a fascinating though, some of the famous hiking destinations are found on the Kilembe trail, the Nyakalenjija Trail head offers a two-day hike to lake Mahoma in the bamboo forest. There also the Kazinga Trail that offers hikers a day traverse of the of the north Rwenzori ridge between the Fort Portal plateau and Bundibugyo town in the Semliki Valley on the western side of the mountain. Hikers here must look for the three horned chameleon and the Rwenzori Colobus, monkeys so interesting.
The cultural experience at mountain Rwenzori National Park
The park will offer an opportunity to have in person encounters with friendly local people telling you stories of their culture, tell their way of cooking the local food and they are just living near the park. Cultural tours can be taken as well in Ruboni village that is a home for over 2000 Bakonzo, the farming villages at the foothills of the Rwenzori also fantastic. Visitors coming to these villages are welcomed with folk songs joyfully and cultural dances that you won find anywhere else in the world giving a unique culture.
Birding at the, Rwenzori National park
Birding here is mostly done in the montane forest at Mountain Rwenzori National Park. The birds here include bee- eaters, robins, golden winged sunbird, the western green tinker bird, Rwenzori turaco Rwenzori Batis and many more here. The birds that need to be looked at are Long-eared owl, bearded vultures, black eagles and swifts