Highest peak of Mount Rwenzori : The highest peak of Mount Rwenzori is a snow capped peak at an altitude of 5109 meters and it is known as the Margherita peak.
Mount Rwenzori is also known as the “mountains of the moon” and is the highest mountain in Uganda located in the western part of the country. Hiking to the highest peak of the mountain is part of the activities done at the destination.
Tourists engage in day hikes around the mountain and also take part in hikes for about 9 to 12 days or more to get to the summit of the Mount Rwenzori using different routes. These hikes start around Kasese with a briefing at the park headquarters of the Rwenzori mountains national park.
Different attractions can be seen along the hike to the peak of Mount Rwenzori including wildlife and bird species as well as different vegetation zones where the hikes are done with the company of the ranger guides.
Wildlife species which can be seen during hikes to the peak of Mount Rwenzori include primates such as black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys as well as over 215 bird species. Over 70 species of mammals are found on the mountain and can be encountered during tours at the destination.
Margherita peak is found on Mount Stanley and the hikes pass through lush forests among other vegetation zones to get to the glaciers and the snow capped peak of Mount Rwenzori which in Africa is the 3rd highest peak.
The vegetation zones which tourists pass through during hikes on Mount Rwenzori include moorland, bamboo as well as montane forest and glaciers as the hikes get closer to the mountain peak.
The hike to the highest peak of Mount Rwenzori can be strenuous but can be done by experienced and non experienced hikers during their tours in Uganda. This peak on Mount Rwenzori is found along the border with Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Other peaks found on Mount Rwenzori include Mount Speke at an altitude of 4890 meters, Mount Emin at 4791 meters, Mount Gessi at an altitude of 4715 meters and Mount Luigi da Savoia at 4627 meters.
When planning for hikes to the Margherita peak, tourists can engage in private hikes or join group hikes to get to the summit of Mount Rwenzori.
Some of the items to pack for the hike to the highest peak of Mount Rwenzori include good hiking shoes, long shirts and trousers, waterproof jackets, gaiters, ponchos, warm gloves, insect repellant, first aid kit, sleeping bags, day packs, cameras, personal items among others.
Park entrance fees for Rwenzori mountains national park
During hikes on Mount Rwenzori, tourists are charged park entrance fees which are part of the hiking cost during tours at the destination.
Foreign nonresidents are charged park entrance fee of 35 USD per person during hikes on Mount Rwenzori. Foreign residents pay a fee of 25 USD for entrance fee to the national park and East Africans are charged park entrance fee of 15,000 Uganda shillings to visit the park.
Many other costs are associated with the hiking tours on Mount Rwenzori including guide fees, camping fees, porter fees, chef or cook fees among others. The total cost of the hike depends on the operator planning the hike on the mountain.
Hiking trails on Mount Rwenzori
Hiking trails which are used to hike to the highest peak of Mount Rwenzori include the Central circuit trail, Kilembe trail and the Bukurungu trail.
- Central circuit trail
The Central circuit trail on Mount Rwenzori is one of the popular routes used to get to the summit of the mountain.
The hike along the central circuit trail takes about 7 to 8 days to hike to the summit of Mount Rwenzori and back.
From Kasese town, tourists ccan proceed to Nyakalengija to have a briefing for the hike to the Margherita peak and back. The 1st day of the hike starts from Nyakalengija to Nyabitaba hut. From Nyabitaba hut, the hike continues to John Matte hut.
After the hike to John Matte hut, the hikers proceed to Bujuku hut then to Elena hut to Margherita peak and then to Kitandara hut to Guy Yeoman hut to Nyabitaba hut and to Nyakalengija.
- Kilembe trail
Hiking along the Kilembe trail during tours on Mount Rwenzori take about 7 days to get to the summit and back.
The Kilembe trail is on the southern route on Mount Rwenzori and this hike starts from Kilembe hut to Kalalama camp to Mutinda camp to Bugata camp to Hunwick’s camp to Margherita peak to Hunswick camp and back to the ranger post.
- Bukurungu trail
The Bukurungu trail starts from Rwigho camp to Kambeho camp to Mughuli camp to Lake Bukurungu camp back to the park headquarters.
Hiking along this trail takes about 6 to 7 days and it is one of the less used trails for hikes on Mount Rwenzori..
Apart from hiking, other activities to do around Mount Rwenzori include guided nature walks and also cultural tours which involve interactions with tribes such as the Bakonzo who live on the foothills of the mountains.
Throughout the year, hiking to the peak of Mount Rwenzori can be done during tours in Uganda and the best time for the hikes is during the dry season during the months of June, July, August, September and October and also in December, January and February when it is easy to hike through the trails to get to the summit.
During the rainy season, hikers can also visit Mount Rwenzori and avoid crowds as they hike to the summit of Mount Rwenzori along the different hiking trails.
How to get to Mount Rwenzori
There are different routes used to get to Rwenzori mountains national park and they include the Kampala-Mbarara-Kasese route and also the Kampala-FortPortal-Kasese route.
Tourists can also access Mount Rwenzori by flying to Kasese airstrip from Entebbe international airport and continuing to the park headquarters.
