Saturday, January 16, 2016
mountains in the north of the park. Known also as the “Mountains of the
Moon,” the Rwenzoris reach a height of 5,109 m (16,761 ft) and contain the
largest glaciers left on the African continent. Those who trek and climb in the
Rwenzoris will experience a stunning variety of landscapes, including bamboo forests,
alpine meadows, lakes, and snow capped peaks. The flora and fauna of the
Rwenzoris is equally diverse. Forest elephant, Okapi, chimpanzees, and numerous
bird species make the Rwenzoris their home. The best weather in the Rwenzoris
usually happens from January through mid-March and June to late August.
Getting there
Most people fly into 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 also travel overland to the Rwenzoris by coming
through Uganda and crossing into the DR Congo at the Mpondwe/Kasindi border.The cost of a permit for the Rwenzoris is $200 for both trekkers and climbers. For an additional $116, visitors are welcome to overnight 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. Trekkers wanting only to reach the summit hut will need good hiking boots, rain gear, and a warm base layers. Those wanting to climb Margherita Peak or any of the other summits, will need to bring their own climbing hardware, crampons, and ice axes. Bivouc gear is also a good idea. A Virunga ranger accompanies all trekkers and climbers and independent porters are available for hire. Porters negotiate their prices on the spot, but the cost is typically less than a dollar per kilogram with a maximum of 15 kg/porter.
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