Uganda is a one-stop center for adventure experience and gorilla destination of the world. Mountain Rwenzori is every nature lover’s paradise as it is a fully stocked hub for all adventure experiences.

A combined Rwenzori hike and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will take the visitors up the Rwenzori Mountain where they will enjoy captivating moments of the snowcapped peaks.

The beautiful slopes of the mountain will also bless travelers with natural waterfalls, numerous birds, primates, reptiles, and other animal species not to mention the flora species that crowd the entire slopes.

From hiking Rwenzori Mountain, visitors will proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where they will be lost in amazement. Wild mountain gorillas are the highlights of Bwindi Impenetrable Park.

The visitors are entertained by the mountain gorillas as they spend one special hour viewing them play, feed, and rest after being guided to their territory by an experienced guide ranger.

Mountain Rwenzori Hiking.

Mountain Rwenzori was formed as a result of faulting and standing at an average altitude of about 5,109 meters above sea level, it is the highest point in Uganda. It covers a land mass area of about 996 square kilometers. The mountain is located in Mountain Rwenzori National Park in the western region of Uganda covering districts of Kasese, Kabarole, and Bundibugyo.

The mountain is located on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and is named the “Mountains of the Moon” because its highest peaks are found above the clouds with glaciers.

Hiking to the highest mountain peak Margherita of Rwenzori is a very challenging task and calls for a more physical fittest and prepared mind. This is because it stands at 5,109 meters above sea level making it the highest point in the country and third highest in Africa.

Rwenzori Mountain consists of six peaks but only three peaks are snowcapped and not seasonal but permanent glaciers.

These peaks are Margherita, Speke, and Baker standing at 5,109 meters, 4,890 meters, and 4,843 meters respectively. Hiking starts with briefing and selection of the hiking gear at the base of the mountain. Hiking to the highest peak Margherita takes a maximum of 7-12 days with breaks and rest on the many resting points called huts on the slopes of the mountain.

Experienced hikers can go as far as the highest peaks of Margherita, Speke, and Baker and enjoy a moment on the glaciers. Hikers along the journey will spot several flora and fauna species like primates, birds, animals, reptiles, and plants as well as physical features such as waterfalls.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda is so blessed with hosting more than half of the world’s population of rare and endangered mountain gorillas. These are located in the Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks.

Bwindi hosts the biggest number of these endangered primates that live in the different sectors of the park. These sectors are Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija.

Gorilla trekking is the main activity in the park and it involves moving through the dense Impenetrable forests of Bwindi for a chance to spot these endangered mountain gorillas.

Trekking of these primates begins with a briefing from the guides at the park offices about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. The expected code of conduct is also a key factor that the guides point out during the briefing.

After this briefing, a professional guide will then lead the visitors through the forests to the habitats of these primates. The visitors upon locating them will spend an hour with the endangered mountain gorillas observing them roam and go by with their daily chores.

With the many mountain gorillas in the park, visitors will surely have a moment of their lives when spending time with these primate giants on a combined Rwenzori hike and gorilla trekking in Bwindi.

What to do on a combined Rwenzori hike and gorilla trekking in Bwindi?

Other than the hiking of Mountain Rwenzori and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, there are numerous activities to do both in Mountain Rwenzori National Park and Bwindi.

Some of these activities include the following;-

Gorilla Habituation Experience.
Gorilla habituation involves introducing wild mountain gorillas to the presence of humans for the first time. In Bwindi, gorilla habituation is only done in one sector of Ruhija and visitors get to gently spend four hours in the presence of wild mountain gorillas.

Gorilla habituation is also a major activity in Bwindi National Park.

Cultural tours.
Cultural tours will take you to tribes and clans of the people that stay close to the parks of Mountain Rwenzori and Bwindi. The most visited tribe is the Batwa people who reside on the outskirts of Bwindi. Considered the forest keepers, Batwa people once stayed in the park before it was established.

Spending time with these people will introduce you to their values, and norms and learn their survival skills that helped them to stay in the wild.

Birding.

Birding is a common activity in both Bwindi National Park and Rwenzori National Parks. Bwindi alone has over 350 bird species and Mountain Rwenzori National Park has about 217 birds including 19 Albertine endemics. These birds can be spotted while on a hiking or nature walk adventure in the parks.