Wildlife

Mountain Rwenzori National Park hosts a population of around 70 Mammal species, with even the six species which are endemic to Albertine Rift and even the four species whish are endemic to the park and three are rare species. Other mammals include the elephant as well as chimpanzee and Rwenzori otter and leopard. Despite of the fact that wildlife is difficult to see in the dense forest, visitors can also look out for primates such as colobus (Angola and black-and-white varieties are both present) and blue monkeys; small antelope such as bushbucks; and unusual reptiles such as the three-horned chameleon.

Chimpanzee and White Colobus monkey

Vegetation

Mountains National Park is well recognized for its diverse and beautiful flora rather than its fauna. For hikers who climb following the Rwenzori route to the peaks always pass through various altitudinal vegetation zones for instance from the from the tropical rain forest to the tree heathers, montane forest, Afro-alpine and bamboo. The afro-alpine characterized with emblematic big forms of Senecio (groundsel) and lobelia, which is one of the world’s unique botanical communities, only found in the mountains above 3800m in East African.

Mountain Rwenzori Vegetation

Birds

The Park is habitant to 217 species of birds and these involve various endemic Albertine Rift species. From the total number of 217 bird species, 17 species are endemic to the mountain Rwenzori Park making Rwenzori an important birding area (IBA). The forest zone at 1800m contains a diversity of birds including the Rwenzori Turaco, Handsome Francolin, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Blue-headed Sunbird, Long-eared Owl as well as Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Rwenzori Batis, Archers’ Robin-chat, White-starred Robin with even the rare Montane Sooty Boubou, Greenbuls, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Slender-billed Starling, Strange Weaver, as well as the Golden-winged Sunbird, and several varieties of Barbets, Apalises, IIladopsis, Flycatchers and Crimson wings.

Birds that are found at Mountain Rwenzori National Park

Equatorial Snow Peaks

The high Rwenzori comprises six different Mountains. Despite of the fact that they are located just miles north of the equator, the highest of these – Mounts Stanley (5,109m), Speke (4,890m) and Baker (4,843m) – all bear permanent snow and glaciers. The equatorial snow peaks can be reached by hiker through the Central Circuit and Kilembe Trails.

Mount Rwenzori Mountain snow Peaks

Land of the Triffids

The misty as well as the boggy and the glacier-carved valleys of the high Rwenzori form a strange botanical world inhabited by triffid-sized forms of rare lobelia varieties as well as the heather and groundsel, crisp “everlasting flowers,” with garishly coloured mosses and gnarled trees draped with curtains of lichen. The outcomes are an otherworldly setting which, over decades has been compared to the forests of the Seven Dwarves as well as the Jabberwock and the unavoidable Middle Earth Tolkien’s. These rare strange plants species rank among the world’s sound botanical riches which can be only got on the highest mountains of East Africa.

The rare lobelia varieties

Lakes

There are over 20 lakes in Rwenzori Mountains National Park and probably the most accessible of all is Lake Mahoma (2,651m) in the bird-rich forest of the Central Circuit. The beautiful Lake Bujuku which lies at the apex of the deep, glacier carved Bujuku valley in the shadow of Mounts Stanley as well as Mount Baker plus Speke. In the Valley of Nyamwamba they ascended through the tail in Kilembe, glacial moraine deposited in the valley created dam which has formed a string of eight enjoyable lakes. Various streams of rivers start from the mountain, forming lifelines for the various flora and fauna in the flood plains and supporting local communities.

Lake Bujuku

Ruboni Ruboni

Located at the southeastern foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, is the trailhead mainly used by hikers to the seven-day Central Circuit to the high peaks. It is also the beginning point for hill walks nature and bird treks and walks through the traditional homesteads of the local Bakonzo community. Accommodation providing a range of budgets offers gorgeous mountain views up the Mubuku valley.

Bulemba Bulemba houses

The historical remains of first King of Rwenzururu kingdom, the historical leaders identified by the names of Isaiah Mukirania Kibanzanga, who is so much believed to have played significant role of saving the Bakonzo tribe from the Batooro oppression. Annually on 2nd September, all the Bakonzo convene and attend the pilgrimage to this sacred site to make sacrifices in remembrance of the great king.