MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON; SNOW AT THE EQUATOR!

Rwenzori Mountain ranges also known as “mountains of the moon” are known to cover an area of about 996km², the lowest point at the foot hill of the mountains stands at about 1,600meters while the highest peak Margherita rises to 5,109 meters above sea level. Mountain Rwenzori is located astride the Equator 0^o in the tropical Africa, the beauty of the mountains is escalated by the six peaks covered with snow and their way of undulating over a distance of about 120km. Rwenzori is block mountain and the third highest in Africa. Hiking is through the central circuit which can take you six day of ascent peak by peak covering one peak in a day. It is challenging and needs fit people physically; however a Rwenzori short circuit is available for the unfit people and families with children. At park headquarters at Nyakalengija hikers receive briefing from the hiking guides; get hiking equipment and porters before starting the hiking at 1,646meters above sea level through banana plantation belonging to Bakonjo homesteads at the foothills.

In about 30 - 40 minutes of hiking cross the park boundary, along the trail River Mubuku gives stunning scenery before crossing the landslide area, as river Mahoma River awaits ahead. Meet steep slopes, open bluffs and Podocarpus forest before arriving at Nyabitaba at 2,652 meters above sea level where you can rest overnight in a hut having had a 6hours plus hike. Other points to meet on ascent include; John Matte 3410m, Bujuku 3960m, Elena Hut 4541m at the base of the Stanley Glacier, then to the peak of the ranges Margherita 5109m. On descent through Scott-Elliot pass, view the magical Mt Speke and Mt Stanley and continue the descent through Bujangolo rock shelter and to the base camp for the momentous mission which was established in 1906 by the Duke of Abruzzi. The trail leads you to Guy Yeoman 3260m before ending the descent back to park headquarters at Nyakalengija 1600 meters above sea level.

Mt. Elgon is the second hiking place for mountaineers in Uganda. located at the boarder of eastern Uganda and western Kenya, it has the largest surface area of all extinct volcanoes in the world covering a surface area of about 50km by 80km. Mount Elgon first erupted more than 24 million years ago and it is the fourth highest mountain in Eastern Africa, with the second-highest peak in Uganda (Wagagai Peak - 4321 m) after Margherita 5109m. Mt. Elgon contains the largest caldera in the country covering over 40 km at the top of the mountain, surrounded by a series of rugged peaks. A climb on Mt. Elgon’s deserted moorlands unveils a magnificent and uncluttered wilderness without the summit-oriented approach common to many mountains, the ultimate goal on reaching the top of Mt. Elgon is not the final ascent to the 4321m Wagagai Peak, but the descent into the vast 40km² Caldera.