What Makes a Hike to Mt. Rwenzori a Unique African Adventure
If you love mountaineering and you are planning to challenge yourself in any of the world’s highest mountains like Everest Mountain, you will need to prove your physical wellness prior the actual hike and to be on a safer side the Rwenzori Mountain ranges features among the very few remarkable destinations that shouldn’t miss out in your bucket list. Interestingly, Ravichandran Tharumalingam the famous 50 year old mountain hiker of recent included Mount Rwenzori’s Margherita peak as part of his long list of towering peaks something that was exceptional in his life. The popular Malaysian climber features among the very few mountain climbers in the world to hike through the highest mountain peaks in the world including Mount Everest, Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro. Ravichandran Tharumalingam also featured as the first solo mountain climber to hike to Mount Everest and he featured in the Malaysia Book of records to conquer a height of 8843.43 meters on May 2006. He climbed to the summits of Rwenzori Mountain ranges from 19th to 27th January 2018.
The Rwenzori Mountain ranges is situated in Central Africa, at the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its length extends up to 120 kilometers and the width covers 65 kilometers and features 6 most spectacular peaks that are divided by deep gorges. The magical peaks within this incredible mountain that you shouldn’t miss to catch a glimpse include Mount Emin towering at 4798 meters, Mount Gessi extending up to 4715 meters, Mount Luigi Di Savio with a height of about 4627 meters, Mount Speke which stretches up to 4890 meters, Mount Baker that stands at 4843 meters and Mount Stanley that stands at 5109 meters and it features numerous peaks and subsidiary summits including Margherita peak making it the highest point in the Rwenzori Mountain.
While on your adventure challenge to the top of Mount Rwenzori, you will have a chance to spot out its glaciers that make it one of the few block mountains in the world with glaciers on its summits. It is from this tremendous mountain where you will have similar adventures just like those at Himalayas and if you are adventure enthusiast, this shouldn’t miss out in your travel plan. Also best known as the Mountains of the Moon, the Rwenzori Mountain ranges is undeniably Africa’s third tallest mountain range and it features not only magical glaciers but also the rarest vegetation cover which is characterized by grassland, mountain forest, bamboo, tree heathers and afro alpine moorland. Its higher elevation comes with unique plant species like lobelia and groundsels. This remarkable mountain range also makes up the Rwenzori Mountain National Park which refuges the most spectacular wildlife species around its baseline. The notable wildlife to spot out in this area includes over 70 mammals including the forest elephants, 220 avian species with 19 of them featuring as Albertine Rift endemic birds. The notable birds to spot out include barbets, Rwenzori Batis, Flycatchers, slender billed starling, barred long tailed cuckoo, white starred robin, Rwenzori Turaco, Lagden’s bush shrike, crimson wings, handsome francolin, golden winged sunbird, greenbuls, cinnamon chested bee eater, strange weavers, Apalises, archers robin chat, blue headed sunbird, illadopsis, montane sooty boubou, long eared owl. There are also numerous species of primates like Angola colobus, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and others; rare reptiles especially the three horned chameleon and not to forget the most stunning antelope family especially the bush bucks. If you are looking for a class a part mountaineering site, then do not miss to spend at least 9 to 12 days on adventure challenge to the summits of the Rwenzori Mountain ranges. For non skilled hikers, you will hike through the surrounding peaks which equally reward endeavors with lifetime experiences. The other best alternative things for you to do include nature walks that you through the nearby homesteads where you will be amazed by the traditions and cultural performances of the local residents as well as have a taste of their food.
In conclusion, whereas Uganda tourism sector is steadily improving, less is known about the Mountains of the Moon making one of the virgin destinations that you should pay a visit to explore what it holds for the world travelers. Unlike other mountains, the Rwenzori Mountain ranges are unique on their own way!
