This is is an archived web site I designed in 1997 for Hot Ice Ltd, a Uganda safari operator. Subsequent years brought trouble for the Ugandan travel industry, and this site was discontinued. Things have improved since then. You can look them up for updated information.
| Location | Western Uganda |
The Rwenzoris, also known as the Mountains of the Moon, are the
mysterious, mist-shrouded, source of the Nile. With peaks as high as 5,109 meters, the
Rwenzoris are Africa's most significant range of snow-capped peaks. Only
Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya, both isolated volcanoes, are higher in Africa. A
trek through the Rwenzoris is one of the world's premier mountain wilderness
experiences.
In addition to the glaciated mountains, lying on the Uganda-Congo border just north of the equator, a major attraction is the incredible diversity of unique plant life that exists in the various climate zones encompassed by the mountains. The humid environment gives rise to an abundant growth of mosses and lichens. Trees such as lobelias and groundsels grow to gigantic proportions in the higher elevations.
A trip into the Rwenzoris is an exhilerating and rewarding experience butone which must be well planned. The key to an enjoyable visit is " be prepared!" The central circuit hike takes six or seven days , reaches altitude over 14,000 ft (4,267m) and should not be undertaken lightly. Conditions are a challenge to even an experienced hiker, particulary one from North America or Europe un prepared for the park's unengineered, poorly maintained, steep and slippery trails, frequent rain and remoteness from rescue facilities. Rainfall and cold temperatures, not to mention bogs, mud, steep terrain and high altitude make it a very strenous trip. Since during much of the year mud, rain, mist, and wind occur daily, adequate clothing (and a mental attitude!) for these conditions are a must.
The periods of July - August and December-February are relatively dry and best seasons for a circuit trek. You should consider very seriously not making the attempt in other months since the difficulty is much greater and so is the likelihood of damage you and your porters will cause to the trail. At any season raingear, a good sleeping bag, warm hat and gloves, heavy socks, gumboots and gaiters, and a walking stick for balance (and to probe the mud) are strongly recommended. A basic first aid kit is a necessity. At elevations as low as 10,000 ft (3,048 m) some people develop headaches or more serious problems due to altitude. Certainly you should not start if you are already ill or have an infection which may worsen.
Porters will be carrying your heavy equipment and food, leaving you a smallpack with the raingear, warm clothes (on higher sections), camera, water bottle, snacks and lunch. You should have already purchased your own food (in Kasese or Kampala) and brought simple utensils for cooking. Gas stoves are in two huts and charcoal is supplied for other occassions, but your own small paraffin stove is cleaner, faster and requires less use of local resources. Building fires and using local wood is prohibited in the park.
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