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The fabled “Mountains of The Moon " lie in
Western Uganda on the Congolese border, with
snow-covered, equatorial peaks rising to height
of 5110 m and lower slopes blanketed in moorland
and rich montane forest. Most of the park is
accessible to hikers with magnificent scenery
and 19 Albertine Rift endemics, amongst them;
Rwenzori Turaco and Shelley's
Crimsonwing would be ample reward for the
intrepid, backpacking birder.
ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN
Districts: South Western Uganda, on the edge of
the western rift valley, shared by Rukungiri,
Kabale and Kisoro Districts.
Size: 996 Km-Sq.
Elevation: 1700 metres to 5109 metres atop
Margherita peak on Mount Stanley.
Habitat: Montane forest with bamboo (Arundinaria)
on lower slopes, heath and Afro-alpine
moorland on higher slopes.
Status: National Park since 1991.
Timing: January - February and July - August is
the driest months but rain is possible year
round.
Time required: 3 days for the shorter foothill
hike and 6-7 days for the usual mountain
loop.
Birds Recorded: 195 species.
BIRD WATCHING
There are many bird species to lookout for among
which include:- Albertine Rift endemics like;
Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Montane (Rwenzori)
Nightjar, Dwarf Honeyguide, Archer's Robin-Chat,
Red-throated Alethe, Kivu Ground Thrush,
Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Montane Masked and
Collared Apalisi, Stripe-breast Tit, Rwenzori
Batis, (Grauer's Cuckoo-shrike ), Blue-headed,
Regal and Purple-breasted Sunbirds, Strange
Weaver, Dusky and Shelley's Crimsonwings.
Others to lookout for are; Lammergeyer, Red-thighed
Sparrow hawk, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, African
Long-eared Owl, Western Green Tinkerbird, Olive
Woodpecker, Grey-chested Illadopsis, Grey-winged
Robin, Evergreen Forest and Bamboo Warblers,
Lagden's Bush-Shrike, Montane Sooty Boubou,
Golden-winged and Scarlet-tufted Malachite
Sunbirds, White-collared Olive-back, Red-faced
Crimsonwing, Oriole-Finch.
ACCESS
Rwenzori Mountains National Park is accessible
from Kasese. All hikes need to be arranged
through the Rwenzori Mountain Service (RMS), an
organization that works in conjunction with the
Ugandan Wildlife Authority to control hiking in
the area and to maintain trails and huts. |
