Margherita Peak
Snow near the equator.
Rafał Kozubek — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rafał Kozubek — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rafał Kozubek — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rafał Kozubek — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rafał Kozubek — CC BY-SA 4.0
Rwenzori Mountains National Park holds Uganda's highest range, including Africa's third-highest peak, along with waterfalls, lakes and glaciers. It covers almost 1,000 square kilometres on the east side of the Albertine Rift. It is a place for experienced hillwalkers and for anyone after scenery unlike anywhere else in Africa. The park was established in 1991, and UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site in 1994 for its natural beauty. The mountains are known for a strange band of plants, where familiar species grow to huge sizes in the height and damp. Snow lies close to the equator, which has long surprised visitors, though the ice is retreating over time. You climb from thick forest into bamboo, then to bogs where giant lobelias stand like columns. Dark lakes such as Kitandara and Bujuku follow, set between rock walls, and above them are the snow-covered peaks of Margherita and Alexandra. Above the cloud, rocks and stars are sharp and clear at night. It is about 25 km from Kasese in a straight line. Long routes take about a week with a guide and porters, so book through a licensed operator. Those who do not want to go high can take a short walk from the park gate. The ground is muddy most of the year, so bring tall rubber boots and warm clothes.
Snow near the equator.
Dark water among rock.
Columns in the bog.
West of Kasese, western Uganda
Long routes are hard, but short trails on the lower slopes suit anyone wanting a single day.
The drier months, about June to August and December to February, though rain is always possible.