Mountain hiking in Uganda is very good and authentic due to the fact that they still have kept most of the mountains as they are naturally. A Few countries in Africa can combine trekking through jungle thickets in search of mountain gorillas, with mountaineering to snow-capped peaks and wildlife walks across savannah stretch for miles – but Uganda can.
In Uganda we have got like a few mountains that are serous but a series of hills and valleys just like Rwanda we have got a lot of hills and mountains.
Where to go for mountain hiking in Uganda
1. Rwenzori Mountain hiking
The mountains of the moon, commonly known as Rwenzori Mountain in the south western parts of Uganda. It is bordering the DRC republic and the most challenging and spectacular trekking destination in east Africa.
Rwenzori Mountains are an alpine wonderland within Central Africa at Almost 1,000 km (386 sq mi) in size. The mountain however is a combination of wildlife, forest, flora and fauna as well as great water falls :Making it a place of exploration and mountain hiking.
Trails range from a day- starters trek to a 12 day, multi-peak, expedition. Margareta is the highest peak of mountain rwenzori where every one wishes to reach. However much rwenzori is great it is not for the faint hearted or weaklings the terrain is stiff, rocky, forested and slippery at the same time.
With quite number of brilliant peaks and water falls you will not be disappointed while trekking mountain rwenzori, it has got over 100 bird species and a few wildlife to admire. Did you know that you can have a combined trekking safari from Bwindi impenetrable national park to Rwenzori Mountains?
Rwenzori trekking safaris in Uganda
2. Mountain Elgon hiking
Mountain hiking at MT Elgon, 1,279 square kilometers (494 sq mi) shred by Kenya and Uganda where Uganda has the largest part at 1,110 km2 (430 sq mi).
In eastern Uganda its highest peak Wagagai situated on the Ugandan side. It was one time, thousands of years ago, Africa’s highest mountain but was gradually eroded at the peak reducing it to the current height of 4321m – 8th in Africa, 4th in East Africa.
The mountain also possesses the largest caldera in the world measuring 50km by 80km, and a national park at the same time. Wildlife encounter during the trek, caves, water pools, falls, and wonderful scenery.
Depending on the energy levels elgon mountain hiking to its peaks will be around 3-4 days.
3. The Sipi Falls
The Sipi Falls is a set of three waterfalls at 85m, 75m and 100m along the foothills of Mountain Elgon. The most beautiful waterfalls in Uganda, which have given the eastern Uganda the greatest beauty of all times.
Sipi falls trekking takes about 3 hours to complete and easily accessible from the central of Uganda as well as other parts of the country.
This can be combined with the great wildlife in Murchison falls national park. This parks a great city of abundant wild life a home literally every wildlife that you know on earth. Of course not the bears.
Hiking to the top of the falls is a great adventure of its own in the national park that can be combined with wildlife encounter in Murchison falls.
Murchison falls safaris in Uganda
4. Virunga Mountain hiking (Volcanoes)
The volcanoes are a series of volcanic mountains stretching from Uganda through Rwanda to Congo. Uganda shares 3 of the main 8 in southwestern Uganda and some are still shared with Rwanda.
The volcanoes offer excellent day hikes filled with some of the best views in Africa. with excellent wildlife, the rare golden monkeys, endangered mountain gorillas, endemic bird species and endemic trees.
In Uganda you will be able to hike on the 3 mountains that include.
Mountain Mgahinga gorilla national park
At 3474 meters this is one of the smallest on the 3 volcanoes of Uganda, it has a short hiking distance and easy to hike and will reward you on top with a creator lake. This is home to the engendered mountain gorillas and tracking them comes with a coat of $700 per person.
However if your very lucky, you may find them for free.
Mountain Muhabura
At 4127 meters Muhabura mountain hiking is the beginning of the vurunga chain of mountains. Bordering Uganda and Rwanda it is kind of long to hike though not for days for just hours. About 5 hours going up on somehow not easy hike and the same way coming down
It has a small crater lake at the summit which can easily circumnavigate to get access to views across the Virunga ranges.
Sabinyo
3645 meters above the sea level in the middle of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo mountain sabinyo is the most challenging on the 3 volcanoes in Uganda. It has got a rugged terrain with many craters, but most fun and has the best views of the Virungas stretching across all the three countries. It has three peaks which look like three spaced teeth, hence the local name Sabinyo which translates “Old Man’s Teeth”.
