Rwenzori Mountains National Park – Uganda

The Rwenzori Mountains—legendary as the “Mountains of the Moon”—rise along Uganda’s western border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their snow-capped equatorial peaks include Africa’s third-highest summit, while the lower slopes are cloaked in bamboo, moorland and lush montane forest. Giant lobelias, towering tree-heathers and vibrant mosses create a surreal, almost fairytale landscape. Protected within Rwenzori Mountains National Park, the range shelters remarkable biodiversity, including 70 mammal species and 217 bird species, among them 19 Albertine Rift endemics, as well as some of the world’s rarest plant life.

Renowned as a world-class hiking and mountaineering destination, the Rwenzoris offer challenging multi-day treks to Margherita Peak alongside shorter, non-technical routes for less experienced hikers. The park covers 996 square kilometres, much of it above 2,500 metres, and lies within the Albertine Rift, one of Africa’s most important biodiversity hotspots. With high rainfall, dramatic altitude changes and equatorial temperatures that can drop below freezing at higher elevations, the best trekking conditions are generally during the drier months from June to September. For a gentler experience, nearby Bakonzo communities provide guided nature walks, cultural encounters and welcoming local hospitality.