About
The Rwenzori is a mountain range in western Uganda, on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Long known as the Mountains of the Moon, it rises to glacial peaks, and its slopes hold plant life found nowhere else in the same form. For many visitors, the range is the main reason to come to this part of East Africa.
What a visit involves
The Rwenzori is a destination for trekking rather than for a casual day out. Its routes are challenging, climbing through changing landscapes as the altitude rises. Walkers should expect steep ground, wet conditions in places, and a demanding pace, and they should plan their days with that in mind.
The landscape and its plants
- Glacial peaks rise above the forest, a striking contrast to the lower slopes.
- Unique flora grows across the altitude zones, and the plant life is one of the range's defining features.
- Changing scenery means that each stage of a route shows a different world, from green lower slopes to the high ground near the ice.
Planning your trip
Because the routes are challenging, the Rwenzori suits visitors who are comfortable with long days on foot and who prepare well beforehand. Those who are less inclined to trek can still come to the area to take in its views and its setting on the Ugandan border. The range is worth considering for anyone whose trip to Uganda includes a serious walk among mountains that carry the name the Mountains of the Moon.