Mountains in Uganda | Kandoo Adventures

Mountains of Uganda

Mountains and Uganda may not often be associated with each other but on closer inspection, you’ll be intrigued to hear that Uganda is home to the third highest mountain in Africa and has not one, but two mountain ranges in the west, and at the opposite end of the country, has one of the oldest and largest volcano craters in the world!

The Great Rift Valley is the depression between two tectonic plates which stretches from Turkey and the Red Sea in the north to Mozambique in the south. The African plate is thought to be splitting into two distinct new plates and the resulting V-shaped rift has created long sprawling valleys with high steep sides that forms a natural border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the west and Kenya and Uganda to the east.

Often referred to as the Albertine Rift as it overlooks Lake Albert, it is alongside this rift in the east of Uganda that the Rwenzori Mountains rise from, nestled between the southern tip of Lake Albert and Lake Edward. Christened ‘The mountains of the moon’, the Rwenzoris or Ruwenzoris as they are sometimes spelt, are a mountain range that sits on the border between Uganda and DRC and classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their outstanding natural beauty. Described as one of Africa’s most beautiful alpine areas, the Rwenzori mountains in Uganda are home to the third highest peak in Africa, Mount Stanley, and six of the tallest mountains in Africa.

On the far east of Uganda, almost as far from the Ruwenzoris as you can get, sits the mammoth volcano of Mount Elgon. This peak straddles the border between Uganda and Kenya and has a crater over 5 miles in diameter.

You might be beginning to see why trekking in Uganda is an excellent idea, so let’s take a closer look at the highest mountains in Uganda and why they should be on your hiking hitlist.

Mountains of the Moon

The Rwenzori Mountains are unique in that they were formed by an uprising of crystalline rock, making them the highest mountains of this kind in the world. The range is around 120km long and has six distinct massifs surrounded by deep forested gorges. It was discovered by early European explorers that locals called these mountains, ‘mountains of the moon’, as their peaks were perpetually snow-covered. It was also discovered that these soaring blue mountains, seen from miles away, are one of the sources of the River Nile.

The highest mountains in the Rwenzori Mountain range are Mount Stanley, Mount Speke and Mount Baker, all named for early explorers to the area. Each mountain has multiple spiked peaks which is why the summits often have different names to the mountains themselves. These three peaks sit within the upper Bujuku Valley and together form a triangle surrounding the valley from the outside.

Mount Stanley – 5,109m

Mount Stanley is the third highest mountain in Africa and the highest peak in the Rwenzori mountains. The highest point on the mountain is called Margherita Peak and in order to reach the summit you will need to ascend this rocky pinnacle. Some knowledge and experience of technical mountaineering is preferred to trek to the summit of Mount Stanley, and you will need park permits to enter the Rwenzori National Park and equipment for trekking in winter conditions may be required. There are parts of the trek where rope work, belay and some steep scrambles are needed in places, which is why being accompanied by a guide is required. Kandoo operate an exciting 16 day Mount Stanley trek and whilst previous climbing experience is preferred, training can be given on route for those willing to learn!

Mt Stanley was named for Sir Henry Morton Stanley who was a Welsh-American journalist and explorer who famously went to find the ‘lost’ missionary, explorer David Livingstone, who had himself gone to find the source of the Nile. Sir Henry was the first European to discover the Rwenzoris which is why the highest peak bears his name.

The sharp ridgeline of Mount Stanley is often covered in snow but intrepid trekkers who conquer the summit are rewarded with views of the stunning the Rift Valley, across both Uganda and DRC below, as well as over the tops of the nearby massifs and glaciers.

There are several climbing routes that take you to the summit of Mount Stanley, the most notable of which is the Kilembe Trail which takes around 7-8 days and takes you through varied terrain up into high altitudes of the Rwenzori. You don’t have to climb Mount Stanley though to appreciate the beauty of these mysterious mountains. It is possible to take 1 – 3 day treks through the foothills of the Ruwenzori Mountains instead, which still offer stunning views of the high altitude peaks above.

Mount Speke – 4,890m

Named after the British explorer John Speke who mapped the source of the White Nile, Mount Speke is the second highest mountain in Uganda and the Rwenzori mountains. Mt Speke is more of a technical mountain that Mount Stanley and will require rope work and winter climbing equipment in order to reach the summit, named Vittorio Emanuele, which sits at 4,890m high. Conditions on the mountain can be tricky, especially during or after rain as there are numerous rock faces to ascend, however it is possible to join an expedition to the summit of Mount Speke.

Mount Baker – 4,844m

Mount Baker is the fifth highest mountain in Africa and the third highest mountain in Uganda. The Italian mountaineer the Duke of Abruzzi named Mt Baker after Samuel Baker, a British explorer who was the first European to sight the Rwenzori mountains after he visited Lake Albert in 1864 but the locals call the mountain Kinyanja, which is both a village and river in the vicinity.

The highest point on Mount Baker is Edward Peak at 4,844m high and the climb to this summit requires no technical mountaineering skills, although some experience of trekking in winter conditions may be beneficial. The views from the top will take in the nearby mountains of Mount Speke and Stanley, as well as the glaciers that cling to the rocky ridges of the Rwenzori.

Mount Elgon - 4,321m

Mount Elgon is an extinct volcano thought to be 24 million years old. As with the peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains, Mt Elgon has a series of rocky summits with Wagagai the highest point at 4,321m high. This incredible peak sprouts up out of the flatlands surrounding it and is around 80km wide. The rich and fertile slopes are well suited to agriculture and Arabic coffee is one of the main crops cultivated in this region, as well as bananas and maize.

Mount Elgon is a freestanding peak and doesn’t belong to a mountain range.

The caldera crater at the top of Mount Elgon is one of the largest intact calderas in the world. The flora and fauna in Mount Elgon National Park is rich in diversity making trekking to the summit a fascinating journey through varied ecological zones with over 300 species of birds providing the soundtrack.

Virungas

The second mountain range of note in Uganda are the Virunga Mountains or the Virungas. Set within Virunga National Park, the Virunga’s get their name from the English version of ibirunga, which means volcanoes. These mountains bisect the borders of Uganda, DRC and Rwanda in the southwestern corner of Uganda, south of Lake Edward and along the rift valley from the Rwenzori. The Virunga is a chain of mostly dormant volcanoes that is famously home to the endangered mountain gorillas and the place where Dian Fossey carried out much of her ground-breaking research.

The highest mountain in the Virunga mountains is Mount Karisimbi which is located across the Rwandan-DRC border and stands at 4,507m high. Trekking through the Virunga’s will either involve tracking gorillas and observing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitats or climbing the peaks of these forested mountains. For more information about gorilla trekking in Uganda, head to our blog.

Two trekkers on the summit of Mount Elgon in Uganda

Trekking in Uganda National Parks

Unlike other countries, Uganda requires visitors to national parks to have an armed guide with them. This might seem intimidating, but the guide is there to protect visitors from wildlife and to discourage poaching. All national parks in Uganda are served by the Uganda Wildlife Authority who manage visitor numbers, patrol borders, carry out important conservation and protect people within the park boundaries. These rangers have expert local knowledge and often will be able to share unique insights about your environment. You’ll also be glad of an experienced ranger if you stumble across a local critter who doesn’t appreciate being disturbed!

So whilst trekking in Uganda might not have been on your radar before, hopefully hearing about some of the incredible peaks here will whet your appetite for adventure travel in Uganda. Kandoo Adventures operate trekking trips to both Mount Stanley and Mount Elgon as well as gorilla trekking experiences in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Our trips are run by expert local guides and take in some of the most iconic national parks in Uganda. For a trekking holiday like no other, check out our hiking expeditions followed by a Uganda safari and immerse yourself in the warm and welcoming arms of the ‘pearl of Africa’.