Mount Rwenzori National Park is open all year to welcome visitors who want to explore the plants, animals, streams, and landscapes inside the park. Entrance fees are charged at a fair rate, and the money is used to pay staff and maintain the park.
The park is home to more than seventy mammal species. Six are found only in the Albertine Rift, four live only in the park, and three are very rare. Other animals that can be seen include elephants, leopards, chimpanzees, and different types of monkeys, making it one of Uganda’s top tourist destinations.
Birdwatchers will also enjoy this park. It is popular during the dry season when the trails are easier, but many birds breed in the wet season, giving visitors a chance to see large numbers, even though the ground may be muddy.
Some birds found here include the handsome francolin, Rwenzori turaco, blue-headed sunbird, long-eared owl, white-starred robin, montane sooty boubou, Lagden’s bush shrike, golden-winged sunbird, barbets, slender-billed starling, strange weaver, flycatchers, crimson wings, barred long-tailed cuckoo, Apalises, Illadopsis, and many others.
Tourists can also see the snow-capped peak called Margarita. Over time, the mountain became known as the “Mountain of the Moon” because its snow remains throughout the year.
Reaching the peak of Mount Rwenzori requires hiking with the help of an experienced guide. The trek takes about eight days depending on the route chosen. It is a tough climb and needs determination, but hikers may also stop at a lower point if they feel tired. Even without stepping on the highest peak at 5,109 meters, the views are rewarding.
The park also has about twenty beautiful lakes, such as Lake Mahoma and Lake Bujuku. Lake Bujuku lies at the head of the glacier that shaped the Bujuku Valley, adding to the scenery.
