Mountain Climbing in Uganda
Mountain Climbing is among the other thrilling adventures done in Uganda beside, the game drives, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee adventures and the rest. Uganda’s geography features, freelancing landscapes of hills, mountains, slopes, valleys that most influence hiking experiences. Uganda retained in the interior of both the Western and Eastern Great Rift Valley.
Uganda suggests best hiking adventures on the African continent. There various wonders of elevation which makes phenomena of moments of gaining heights through several hiking trails. Amazing about Uganda, that all regions positioned for hiking experience to the continent most challenging.
Uganda boosts for hosting Africa’s 3rd highest mountain peak clothed with snowcapped peak, Mountain Rwenzori, then 4th heights at Mt. Elgon. The magnificent Virunga Massif of Mgahinga and several mountains and hills that spread across the country. All these position Uganda at a status of featuring in the continental best hiking places.
Mountain hiking adventures in Uganda accelerate you higher to 5,109m4. The climbing adventure features among the thrills done while on an adventure safari to Uganda. When opting to front hiking adventures on your travel menu to Uganda, below is the selection of top hiking areas.
Climbing Mountain Rwenzori
Mountain Rwenzori is Africa’s finest hiking spot. Though it’s the continent’s 3rd highest but the formation makes a unique one. The snowcapped mountain also called the mountain of the moon. Should be your next hiking destination when looking for a bit challenging hike. Not like solo isolated Kilimanjaro which is Africa’s highest mountain. Mountain Rwenzori formed of various ranges spread across the crossing of the Western arm Albertine Rift Valley.
The highest mountain range of Rwenzori is the Margarita peak (5109m) which is snow caped. Hiking to Margarita peak is the longest hiking trail which can take a maximum of 8 days (7nights). The Rwenzori stretches to the borders of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Africa’s mystical mountain clothed with glaciers on the peak and Rwenzori is a UNESCO world heritage sites.
The mountain formed due to uplifted block crystalline rocks formed about 3 million years ago. The Rwenzori is a chain of ranges including Mt Stanly (Margharita 5,109) Mt. Speke (4,890), Mt. Baker (4,843m), and Mt. Emin (4,798m), Mt. Gessi (4715m) and Mt. Luigi Savoia (4,627m).
For hiking enthusiasts there are various hiking trails. The trail range from one day to the maximum of 7 days trail which leads to the snowcapped peak. Various hiking trails leads into the valleys, caves, into the montane vegetation, savannahs, afro-montane and bamboo to the snowcapped. The Africa’s most challenging hike is the 7 days and the most preferable in Africa.
Climbing Mountain Elgon
With highest point the Wagagai (4321m) makes Mountain Elgon is Uganda’s 2nd highest mountain. It’s East Africa’s 4th and 8th African highest peak. Mountain Elgon known for having the world’s largest mountain caldera of 50km by 80km. Thought for once being Africa’s tallest Mountain until one-third of its top blew off a few million years ago. The mountain features of waterfalls, caves, and enthralling backdrops.
The Elgon landscape retains variety of vegetation zones, of Afro-Alphine, moorland, heath zone, low canopy and bamboos, tropical montane forest and the at the foothill slopes farmlands. The Elgon hiking trails feature caves, water pools, waterfalls and mighty scenery. With several hiking trails, there are two that lead to Wagagai peak and the take 4 to 5 days. Piswa hiking trails known for being the most gentle and Sasi (Budadiri) is more challenging.
The Elgon hiking can as well be accompanied by Sipi falls climbs at the foothills of the mountain. There are other various shorter hikes that range from 1 day.
Climbing the Mgahinga Volcanoes (Virunga Massif)
The Virunga massif is a popular hiking trail in southwestern Uganda. The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park besides gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking also is accompanied by volcano hiking which is a great experience. The Virunga Massif made of seven major mountain of which 3 of the volcanos positioned in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
These dormant volcanoes include; Mount Sabinyo, Mount Muhavura (Muhabura) and Mount Gahinga straddled at the border of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. These are incredible hiking trails placed into the scenic tropical. The volcanic hikes are magnificent one day hikes accompanied with some unique views not from any other hiking trail.
Climbing Mount Sabinyo (3669m) is the famous trail take by most of the hikers at Mgahinga. Trekking to Mt. Sabinyo peak an 8 hours walk covering 14km to and from, and reaching at the peak is a point shared by 3 countries of Rwanda, Uganda and Congo. Hiking Mount Muhavura highest among the three volcanos at 4217m. The Muhavura trail coveres 12km about 7hours to the summit, hiking through off the beaten path thru ladders, swampy and bamboo covers. Then, Mount. Gahinga more eased compared to rest of the trails within, a relaxed hiking trail 3474m, hiking to the summit it’s about 8km lasting for about 6hours.
Mount Morungole
Mountain Murungole is part of the Kidepo valley National park north eastern Uganda. It is straddled into remotest region in Uganda neighboring the border of Uganda and South Sudan. Mountain Morungole is the 2nd highest peak in northern region of the country raised at an elevation of 2750m. The Mt. Morungole hiking trail leads to the famous of dwellers the Ik People, who live on top of the mountain. Climbing mountain Morungole is among the thrilling adventures done on a safari to Kidepo Park. This hiking trail is not for the heart faint certainly in the category of off-the-beaten-paths places in Uganda covering about 8hrs in the accompaniment to the Ik people cultural encounter.
Mount Moroto:
Mountain Moroto is located in located in Moroto district northeastern Uganda in Karamoja sub-region. This is the finest hiking trail in the northern region of Uganda, the mountain is raised at an elevation of 3083m. Mt Moroto can easily be accessed through Mount Elgon – Sipi Falls- Pian Upe Game Reserve within the Karamoja conservation corridor along the way to a Safari to Kidepo Valley National Park. Climbing Mt. Elgon through the off the beaten path can be combined with cultural encounter in one day.