Mountaineering Safaris

We organize mountaineering adventure trips to Uganda’s highest mountains; Mount Rwenzori, Mount Elgon and Muhabura Ranges.

Available Mountaineering Tours in Uganda

• 3 Days Mount Elgon Hiking Safari
• 5 Days Mount Elgon Trekking Adventure
• 7 Days Mount Rwenzori Trekking

RWENZORI MOUNTAINS

Rwenzori National Park is located in the western part of Uganda on the borders of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park covers an area of 998 sq km. It was named after the famous Rwenzori Mountains also referred to as the legendary “Mountains of the Moon” described by Ptolemy in AD150. Reaching an elevation of 5,109m, Rwenzori Mountain is one of Africa’s tallest mountain range, exceeded in altitude only by the free-standing Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro. The Rwenzori range has 6 major peaks, Mt Stanley (5,109m), Mt Speke (4,890m) Mt Baker (4,843m), Mt Emin (4,798m), Mt Gessi (4,715m) and Mt Luigi di Savoia (4,627m). The highest peak in the Mt Stanley complex is called Margherita peak (5,109) and it is this peak which makes the Rwenzori Mountains the 3rd highest range in Africa.

Unlike the two highest mountains in Africa (Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya), the Rwenzori Mountains are not volcanic but predominantly old quartzite and gneiss. Despite of its existence almost at the Equator, the mountain has distinctive glacial peaks visible miles away as one travels in the Western part of Uganda. Its slopes which are above 1,600m are the preserve of hikers, who rate the Rwenzoris to be the most challenging of all African mountains. There are five different Vegetation Zones found in the Rwenzori Mountains. These are grassland (1000-2000m), montane forest (2000-3000m), bamboo/ mimulopsis zone (2500-3500m), Heather/ Rapanea zone (3000-4000m) and the afro-alpine moorland zone (4000-4500m).

MOUNT ELGON NATIONAL PARK

Mt. Elgon National Park is located near Mbale in the Eastern part of Uganda. The park covers 1,145 sq km. It is named after Mt Elgon (4,321m), an extinct Volcanic Mountain that lies on Uganda’s border with Kenya. In the prehistoric times this mountain stood taller than Kilimanjaro Mountain, the highest mountain in East Africa. Though the Mountain is shared by Uganda and Kenya its highest peak Wagagai peak (4321m) lies in Uganda. The mountain has got three other major peaks which are Kiongo (4303m), Mubiyi (4210m) and Jackson’s summit (4165m).

Mount Elgon is known locally as Mt. Masaba. Masaba is the name of the founding ancestor of the Bagisu who is said to have emerged from a cave on the slopes several centuries ago. Masaba’s spirit is believed to be personified by Jackson’s Summit, but more probably the taller Kiongo peak. Mt. Elgon is also an important watershed for various rivers including the Sipi River which forms the spectacular Sipi falls. The slopes support a rich variety of altitudinal vegetation zones ranging from montane forest to high open moorland studded with the other-worldly giant lobelia and groundsel plants.

Though the spectacular scenery is the main attraction, there is also a variety of faunal species found in the park. These include forest monkeys, small antelopes, elephants and buffaloes. The park is also blessed with over 300 bird species with many species being not recorded elsewhere in Uganda. These birds range from forest birds, as well as several endemic species adapted to East Africa’s montane moorlands. Twelve of the species listed for Elgon occur in no other Ugandan national park and these include Jackson’s francolin, Moorland Francolin (elsewhere commonly in Ethiopia’s Bale Mountains), Moustached green tinker bird, Red-throated wryneck, black-collared apalis, Hunter’s Cisticola, Alpine chat, Marsh Widowbird and Weyn’s weaver.