Description:
Lying in the southwestern region (Kabarole, Bundibugyo and Kasese districts) of the ‘Pearl of Africa’ – Uganda, the Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers a total area of 386 square miles. The Park borders DR Congo’s Virunga National Park, home to endangered mountain gorillas.
At 5,109 meters, Mount Stanley’s peak, Margherita, is the third highest peak in Africa. Margherita peak of the Rwenzori Mountains National Parks is also the highest mountain peak in Uganda.
You haven’t done many big hikes/treks before, right? You will really feel as if you’re in an elite group prior to your hiking excursion to the summit of Rwenzori Mountains. Hiking to the top of these mountains, Margherita, can take 8 days; spending seven nights in the Park.
It is a technical climb to the summit and so you need to be physically fit whenever you think of climbing to the top of peak Margherita.
The Park is heavily visited annually but factually few manage to climb up to the summits of the Rwenzori Mountains; it isn’t an easy task, it needs a superb mentality, determination and physicality. This place is off the beaten path; gorgeous surreal scenery and Screeching Rock Hraxes at night.
What else could you ask for? Go in the dry season (June to August and December to February) – the most ideal time for the hiking expeditions on the Rwenzori Mountains.
It’s always a wonderful experience to offer our clients a memorable hiking experience of the snow peaked Mountain Rwenzori with birding experiences for the Rwenzori Turaco, the horned chameleon, monkeys, among others.
There are some animals you may spot while on a hiking trail, such as; forest elephants, chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s Monkeys, and many others.
Climbing atop Margherita Peak:
Are you having a dream and a goal of climbing up to the top of peak Margherita? Simply book with Uganda’s leading tour operator – Nature Adventure Uganda, which will guide you on your climb before even going for the activity. This top-notch tour company comprises of an incredibly friendly, helpful, and professional staff which will always handle you delicately and treat you lovingly.
Your hiking excursion will be spearheaded by wonderful guides whose hard work and dedication make your hiking to the top of Margherita peak possible. Guides are fundamental reason behind your success in climbing all the way to the summit. Their incredible patience, encouragement, and determination will even make an old person to reach the top, imagine if you’re a youth – it will be just fantastic!!!
Their dedication as guides is simply amazing, at times literally guiding you step by step through the often challenging terrain of the Rwenzori Mountains. Towards the peak, the guides’ technical abilities as mountain climbers leave you with no doubt what so ever that you can safely navigate and climb the evermore challenging Margherita glacier.
Guides always keep you secure at every point in the climb so that all you need to do is focusing on your feet, your breathing and at times the incredible view! During the hiking excursion you will also meet your fellow hikers and make new friends as you give courage to each other.
Meanwhile, you are also advised to hire a porter to help you in carrying your luggage – to free you. Porters are local citizens who are jobless, so hiring one means you have employed him/her – hence helping the society; Porters are very cheap to hire, in fact you will even want to add him/her more money after seeing the hard work they did during the hiking. Their hospitality is really heartwarming and they are always hardworking people.
If you are interested in trekking through the Rwenzori Mountains, let the amazing staff at Nature Adventure Uganda plan for you this incredibly breathtaking adventure! As already said above, your treks will be led by experienced guides and friendly porters (porters are not compulsory to hire but for your own benefit are crucial).
However, overall the trip is fascinating and memorable though tougher at times, especially during the rainy season (November and March to May) when the trails are slippery and unnavigable. The top class guides are however always on hand to help you during the tough conditions.
What to Pack:
When planning for a trip to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park there are various equipment you shouldn’t forget to include on a packing list. Guides and Porters are all found at the starting point, and hiking sticks as well.
Among the things to pack include; sleeping bag, large duffle bag, back pack, trekking pants, ski jacket, body belt, many pairs of socks, poncho, hiking boots, ankle gaiters, wide-brimmed hat, gloves, sun glasses, insect repellent, malaria tablets, your regular medication and extra medication, blister plasters, enough water, energy giving snacks, headlamp, ice axe, scarf, and crampons, among others.