Virunga National Park offers splendid Congo Gorilla trekking safaris and climbing tours on Mountain Rwenzori in the park’s northern region. Famously known as the legendary “Mountains of the Moon,” the towering Rwenzoris reach a height of up to 5,109 m (16,761 ft.) and contains one of Africa’s largest remaining glaciers.
Those who undertake Mount Rwenzori climbing tours from Virunga will experience stunning array of landscapes, intertwined with bamboo forests, alpine meadows, mountain lakes, and snowcapped peaks. The flora and fauna of the Rwenzoris is equally diverse, inclusive of Forest elephants, Okapi, chimpanzees, and numerous bird species which have made the Rwenzoris their home.
The best season to hike Rwenzori Mountains is from January, through to Mid-March and June to late August when the mountain is experiencing calm weather.
While on Mount Rwenzori climbing adventure in Congo, the travelers prefer flying to the town of Beni and then take a local taxi to Virunga’s Mutsora ranger station. Flights from Goma can be arranged through local tour operators. Visitors can as well travel by road to the Rwenzoris passing through Uganda and accessing Congo at the Mpondwe, border in Kasese district.
The cost of a hiking permit to the Rwenzoris is $200 as for 2017/2018 rates for Foreign Non Residents. For an additional $116, visitors can have overnight stays in the huts along the track. At this time, the park is not able to supply gear or food for guests, so please come prepared or call the management to procure some food stuffs for you in advance.
Hiking gears for trekkers only wanting to reach the summit hut will include good and comfortable hiking boots, rain gear, and warm base layers. Those wanting to climb to Margherita Peak or any of the other summits will need to bring their own climbing wear; crampons, and ice axes, Bivouc gear is also a good idea. A Virunga ranger accompanies all trekkers and climbers and porters are available for hire. Porters negotiate their prices on the spot, but the cost is typically less than a dollar per kilogram and each porter carries up to a maximum of 15 kg/porter.
Summiting Margarita peak is normally undertaken on 10 days Rwenzori Climbing Adventure in Uganda starting and ending in Kampala / Entebbe.
