Rwenzori Mountains
National Park
The legendary "Mountains of the Moon" — Africa's third-highest peak, equatorial glaciers, giant lobelias, and an otherworldly landscape unlike anywhere on Earth.
Africa's Mountains of the Moon
The Rwenzori Mountains — the fabled "Mountains of the Moon" referenced by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in 150 AD as the mythical source of the Nile — are Africa's third-highest mountain range, located on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The range comprises six major peaks permanently capped with glaciers, snowfields, and ice — an extraordinary spectacle straddling the equator.
Gazetted as a national park in 1991 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, the park covers 996 square kilometers of some of the world's most botanically extraordinary mountain landscapes. The Rwenzoris are perpetually cloud-shrouded and receive the highest rainfall in Africa — up to 3,000mm annually — creating a lush mosaic of lowland rainforest, bamboo thickets, giant heather moorland, and bizarre afroalpine vegetation zones.
The Margherita Peak at 5,109m (on Mount Stanley) is Africa's third highest point — the most accessible high-altitude summit on the continent. The Rwenzori's equatorial glaciers are rapidly retreating due to climate change — making a summit attempt more urgent with each passing decade.
Rwenzori's Six Massifs
Mt. Stanley
Highest peak. Two summits: Margherita (highest) and Alexandra. Glacier crossing required.
Mt. Speke
Second highest. Dramatic rock faces and snowfields. Named after explorer John Hanning Speke.
Mt. Baker
Striking rocky massif. Named after explorer Samuel Baker. Excellent views.
Mt. Emin
Remote western peak near the DRC border. Outstanding afroalpine landscape.
Mt. Gessi
Twin peaks. Access via the central circuit route. Named after Romolo Gessi.
Mt. Luigi di Savoia
Southernmost peak. Named after Prince Luigi who first explored the range in 1906.
The Central Circuit & Summit Routes
The Rwenzori's Extraordinary Biodiversity
The Rwenzoris are as famous for their extraordinary vegetation as for their peaks. Each altitude zone produces progressively more unusual plant life — culminating in the surreal afroalpine zone where giant lobelias and giant groundsels create a prehistoric landscape unlike any other on Earth.
Montane Forest
1,600–2,500m: Ancient rainforest with giant podocarpus trees, epiphytes, mosses, and ferns
Bamboo Zone
2,500–3,000m: Dense bamboo thickets. Chimpanzees and colobus monkeys
Giant Heather Zone
3,000–4,000m: Tree heathers up to 20m tall draped in mosses and lichens
Giant Lobelia
3,500–4,500m: Prehistoric giant lobelias (Lobelia wollastonii) up to 9m tall
Giant Groundsel
4,000–4,500m: Senecio adnivalis forming bizarre afroalpine forests
Ice & Glaciers
4,800m+: Permanent ice, glaciers, and snowfields on the summit peaks
Wildlife includes Rwenzori colobus, chimpanzees, forest elephants, l'Hoest's monkey, Rwenzori leopard, African civet, three-horned chameleon, and 217 bird species including 19 Albertine Rift endemics and the endemic Rwenzori turaco.
Climb the Mountains of the Moon
One of Africa's most extraordinary and least-known adventure destinations. Let us plan your Rwenzori expedition.
Plan Rwenzori Trek All Uganda ToursRwenzori Mountains
National Park
The legendary "Mountains of the Moon" — Africa's third-highest peak, equatorial glaciers, giant lobelias, and an otherworldly landscape unlike anywhere on Earth.
Africa's Mountains of the Moon
The Rwenzori Mountains — the fabled "Mountains of the Moon" referenced by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in 150 AD as the mythical source of the Nile — are Africa's third-highest mountain range, located on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The range comprises six major peaks permanently capped with glaciers, snowfields, and ice — an extraordinary spectacle straddling the equator.
Gazetted as a national park in 1991 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, the park covers 996 square kilometers of some of the world's most botanically extraordinary mountain landscapes. The Rwenzoris are perpetually cloud-shrouded and receive the highest rainfall in Africa — up to 3,000mm annually — creating a lush mosaic of lowland rainforest, bamboo thickets, giant heather moorland, and bizarre afroalpine vegetation zones.
The Margherita Peak at 5,109m (on Mount Stanley) is Africa's third highest point — the most accessible high-altitude summit on the continent. The Rwenzori's equatorial glaciers are rapidly retreating due to climate change — making a summit attempt more urgent with each passing decade.
Rwenzori's Six Massifs
Mt. Stanley
Highest peak. Two summits: Margherita (highest) and Alexandra. Glacier crossing required.
Mt. Speke
Second highest. Dramatic rock faces and snowfields. Named after explorer John Hanning Speke.
Mt. Baker
Striking rocky massif. Named after explorer Samuel Baker. Excellent views.
Mt. Emin
Remote western peak near the DRC border. Outstanding afroalpine landscape.
Mt. Gessi
Twin peaks. Access via the central circuit route. Named after Romolo Gessi.
Mt. Luigi di Savoia
Southernmost peak. Named after Prince Luigi who first explored the range in 1906.
The Central Circuit & Summit Routes
The Rwenzori's Extraordinary Biodiversity
The Rwenzoris are as famous for their extraordinary vegetation as for their peaks. Each altitude zone produces progressively more unusual plant life — culminating in the surreal afroalpine zone where giant lobelias and giant groundsels create a prehistoric landscape unlike any other on Earth.
Montane Forest
1,600–2,500m: Ancient rainforest with giant podocarpus trees, epiphytes, mosses, and ferns
Bamboo Zone
2,500–3,000m: Dense bamboo thickets. Chimpanzees and colobus monkeys
Giant Heather Zone
3,000–4,000m: Tree heathers up to 20m tall draped in mosses and lichens
Giant Lobelia
3,500–4,500m: Prehistoric giant lobelias (Lobelia wollastonii) up to 9m tall
Giant Groundsel
4,000–4,500m: Senecio adnivalis forming bizarre afroalpine forests
Ice & Glaciers
4,800m+: Permanent ice, glaciers, and snowfields on the summit peaks
Wildlife includes Rwenzori colobus, chimpanzees, forest elephants, l'Hoest's monkey, Rwenzori leopard, African civet, three-horned chameleon, and 217 bird species including 19 Albertine Rift endemics and the endemic Rwenzori turaco.
Climb the Mountains of the Moon
One of Africa's most extraordinary and least-known adventure destinations. Let us plan your Rwenzori expedition.
Plan Rwenzori Trek All Uganda Tours