The Ruwenzori Range or the Rwenzori Mountains are located in the central part of Africa bordering with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo with an elevation of about 16,761 feet. The Rwenzoris are one of a kind in Africa along with Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro whose peaks are always snow-capped. The park is included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO and many enthusiastic mountaineers and backpackers are always ready for an excursion in this range, rising high up in the sky and you can also take cheap flights to Entebbe to get mesmerized by the grandeur and charisma of the mountains.
The history of the Mountains dates back to almost three million years, in the geological timescale which was formed as a result of a raised block of quartzite and granite that were pushed by the tectonic shifts in the earth’s crust. The Mountain range has the width of about 65 kilometres and the length of 120 kilometres and it is divided into 6 large massifs which are separated by big caves: Mount Luigi di Savoia, Mount Gessi, Mount Emin, Mount Baker, Mount Speke and Mount Stanley. The three Mounts, Mount Speke, Mount Baker and Mount Stanley, all form a triangle that encircles the Bujuku Valley. Amongst them, the largest one is the Mount Stanely which is the biggest mountain of Uganda and Congo and also the third largest of Africa. Its top and many other surrounding peaks are that much high to support a number of glaciers. The mount is named after the great explorer and journalist Sir Henry Morton Stanley.
The mountains are very famous for the greenery that range from the tropical rainforest and grassy meadows to the snow-covered pointed summit of the mountains and also for indigenous animal breeds such as elephants and include endemic birds and primate breeds. The range also serves as the home of a variety of Giant lobelia and Giant groundsel along with the elongated moss-covered heather which has the height of about six metres and is found in abundance on the peaks.
The major area is covered by the Rwenzori Mountains National Park which is spread over the land of about 100,000 hectares and its lakes, waterfalls and many other serene spots make it the most attractive Alpine region of Africa. The park has almost 15 breeds of butterflies, 4 breeds of diurnal primate and 89 distinctive bird species. The recent research has proved that there are approximately 60 breeds of invertebrates amongst them 25 are new for science.
Also, the park offers shelter to the endangered species of I’Hoests monkey, common chimpanzee and mountain elephants. The park also serves as the homeland of Baamba and Bakonjo people who survive with agriculture and cultivation. Kasese which is in the western side, locating at the distance of about 437 kilometres from Kampala serves as the gateway of the park and has a series of lodges and hotels for the tourist’s convenience and comfort. Besides, the park offers an excellent network of tracks to provide a thrilling experience to the visitors.
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