Birding in Mount Rwenzori National Park

Birding in Mount Rwenzori National Park

Everything you must know about birding tours and safaris in Mount Rwenzori National Park. In the Rwenzori Mountain National Park, there are over 217 bird species and 18 of them are endemic species. This makes the park a birding haven for travelers on a birding safari. Additionally, Mountain Rwenzori National Park is located in western Uganda in the Kasese district at the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. More so, the park hosts the snow-capped mountain (Mount Rwenzori) whose peak is famously known as Margherita. Mount Rwenzori National Park was established in 1991 and became a UNESCO site in 1994 and a Ramsar site in 2008. It also lies on the Albertine rift valley.

The highest peak on this mountain is Margherita Peak which is snow-capped. Travelers on their safaris tend to hike this mountain up to this peak. Mountain Rwenzori National Park covers over 996 square kilometers of land. The highest point in this park stands at an elevation of 5109 meters above sea level. Mountain Rwenzori stretches over 120 kilometers and 65 kilometers wide and the mounts include Mount Stanely, Speke, Baker, Emin, Gessi, and Luigi di Savoia which are one of the six peaks. Travelers visit this mountain for several activities and they are recommended.

What are the bird species that travelers can see during birding safaris in Mountain Rwenzori National Park?

In the Rwenzori Mountain National Park, there are several bird species that travelers can see in during the birding safari. The park is home to over 217 bird species where 18 of which are endemic, 24 of them are found in the Bwindi impenetrable national park, and 60 of them are tropical species. These bird species in this park include; Rwenzori Turaco, little grebe, great crested grebe, red-eyed dove, African green pigeon, ross’s turaco, eastern plantain eater, white-rumped swift, little egret, black-headed heron, black-winged kite, hadada ibis, commons and piper, and many others.

What to carry for birding in mountain Rwenzori National Park?

There are several things that travelers are supposed to carry on their birding safaris to the Rwenzori National Park and some of these include;

• Binoculars
• Water bottle
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen lotion
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Birding album
• Map of the area.

What other activities do travelers engage in while in mountain Rwenzori National Park?

While in this park, there are other several activities that travelers on their Uganda safaris can engage in and these include;

Hiking Mountain Rwenzori

Travelers after birding safari can engage in hiking of the Rwenzori mountains. This is the tallest mountain in Uganda and travelers hike to the highest peak margaritas. Travelers tend to use different trails for hiking which include the central circuit trail and the Kilembe Trail. Travelers on these trails tend to engage in different hikes like a day hike, a 3-day hike, and also the 8-day hike. Hiking this mountain engages travelers with the porters and the game rangers who guide travelers to the different routes leading to the highest peak of the mountain.

Cultural encounters

After your birding safari, travelers can also engage in the cultural encounters of the different communities living around the park. This encounter with the community offers a great opportunity for to travelers engage in the local community. Some of these communities include the Ruboni community which has a variety of Rwenzuru who are the inhabitants of the area. These locals engage travelers in coffee roasting, alcohol brewing, and many others.

Camping

This is also another activity that travelers on their birding safaris can engage in during the safari. The park authority offers the space for camping for travelers. Travelers can also hire camping equipment from the Uganda Wildlife Authority and have more to spend in the park as they engage in other activities

How to get to Mountain Rwenzori National Park?

The park is accessed by both road and air. By road, travelers use the Kampala -Kasese highway via Fort Portal which will take you about 7 hours of the day to the park. By air transport, travelers can book a scheduled flight from Kajjansi Airstrip or the Entebbe International Airport to Kasese Airstrip. On arrival at the Kasese airstrip, travelers will be transferred to the park for about 45 minutes.

What is the best time for birding in mountain Rwenzori National Park?

Rwenzori National Park is open for travelers throughout the year. The best time is during the dry season of the year June to September and December to February. During this time, the park is dry and clear. The trails of the park for the birding are clear, dry not muddy, and slippery for the birding. Alternatively, during the wet season, travelers can do the birding in the park. travelers are recommended to plan accordingly. This time, travelers have more time to search for the birds since there is less traffic in the park. In the area also travelers have more time to engage in the migratory birds.