Rwenzori Mountains DR Congo
Rwenzori Mountains DR Congo- Previously known as Ruwenzori ranges, Rwenzori is a mountain range located on the border of Uganda and DR Congo. In DR Congo, Mountain Rwenzori is located in the northeastern side of the country. Mountain Rwenzori is 5,109 meters above sea level with the highest peak Margherita snow-capped. Rwenzori mountain in DR Congo is one of the best places to go hiking in Africa with stunning views of the surroundings. The mountain hosts over 70 mammals, 217 bird species and it’s one of the sources of the Nile River.
Activities done on Rwenzori mountains DR Congo
Hiking: Hiking is the most done activity on the Rwenzori mountains in DR Congo. Hiking mountain Rwenzori from DR Congo takes 7-8 days to reach the summit of the volcano. Hiking starts with a briefing at the offices where wardens do teach about different rules and regulations of the activity before it starts. Hiking is led by armed ranger guides who take you through different trekking trails and at certain points you will rest for foods, drinks, and resting and you will have overnights at different stopovers.
Hiking to the summit of Rwenzori gives you an opportunity to meet different animals such as chimpanzees, leopards, bushbucks, blue monkeys, olive baboons, giant forest hogs, black and white colobus monkeys, birds, and different vegetation covers. During the hike, you will have stunning views of the surrounding areas, and at the summit of Mountain Rwenzori (Margherita peak), you will see the snow-capped peak, Virunga volcanoes, lakes, and rivers.
Birding: Bird watching is another activity that can be done on the Rwenzori mountains in DR Congo. Birding activity is guided and the armed range guides do lead the birders to different birding spots while looking for the birds. Birds that can be seen on Rwenzori mountains include stripe breasted tit, regal sunbird, scarlet tufted malachite sunbird, green white-eye, Rwenzori streaky seed-eater, Rwenzori nightjar, verreaux’s eagle, lanner falcon, Rwenzori handsome francolin, mountain illadopsis, toro olive greenbul, Rwenzori olive thrush, red-faced woodland warbler, cinnamon shrub warbler, slender-billed chestnut wing, and crimson wing.
Other bird species on mount Rwenzori include johnston’s Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori puff back, rufous sparrow hawk, flycatcher batis, olive pigeon, olive breasted mountain greenbul, Abyssinian ground thrush, mountain chat, slender billed chestnut-winged starling, Kivu grosbeak seed-eater, mountain sooty boubou, and bamboo warbler among others.
Cultural encounters: Travelers on a safari to Rwenzori national park can have cultural encounters in their free time. the cultural encounters are done around the communities on the slopes of the mountain and some of the places to visit include Mutwanga village. Here you will meet local people called the Nande who will take you around their community showing you different homesteads, you will meet local people doing day to day activities such as digging, cattle rearing, learn how they do cooking, taste their local foods, visit traditional healers who use local herbs as medicine to heal people, visit art and craft shops and in the end, you will get entertained by traditional dancers.
How to get to the Rwenzori Mountains in DR Congo?
To get to this mountain, you need to fly into Kigali international airport where you will drive to Goma border using a car rental, public means or a trusted tour operator. At the border, you will present a Congo visit visa, hiking permit, passport, and yellow fever vaccination certificate to be allowed to the country. You will drive to Goma city where you will continue to Mutsora station or your booked accommodation.
What is the best time to visit Rwenzori Mountains in DR Congo?
Rwenzori mountains in DR Congo can be visited at any time of the year just that some months are better than the rest. The drier months are the best for a visit to Rwenzori Mountains in DR Congo because they are characterized by little pr no rainfall which makes the trekking trails led muddy, the vegetation is short giving unclear views of the park animals and the roads leading to the mountain are slippery.
Travelers can still visit Rwenzori mountains national park in the rainy season of March to May and October to November because during this season, the accommodation facilities and permits are cheap or at a discount. During the rainy season, there is plenty of rainfall which makes the trials muddy, and slippery, the vegetation in the park is tall with unclear views of the animals and the roads leading to the park are impassable.
What to pack for a safari to Rwenzori Mountain in DR Congo?
Some of the things you need not to forget to add into your pack as you plan your Rwenzori safari in DR Congo include non-cotton shirts, long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved clothes, waterproof hiking boots, rain jacket, insect repellents, a pair of gaiters, garden gloves, backpack, first aid kit, camera and extra batteries, energy-giving snacks, drinking water bottle, face mask, and sanitizer.
Accommodation on a safari to Rwenzori mountains in DR Congo
There are many accommodations for you to spend a night or more on a safari to Rwenzori mountains in DR Congo and these range from budget to mid-range to luxury options such as Centre d’Accueil Touristique Mutsora, Guest House hosted by nuns, and there are different cabins on the mountain where you can spend a night if you are to hike for days to the summit. Such cabins on Rwenzori Mountains DR Congo are; Kalonge hut, Mahangu hut, and Moraine hut
