Because Rwenzori region is endowed with magnificent natural wild, nature walks and hikes are some of the most rewarding safari activities on any holiday. A nature walk is a self-participatory activity that brings you closer to nature. It involves the real jungle experience unlike any other activity of viewing wildlife. You take the same trails that the wildlife walks through so that you can get close to it within its habitat.
However, other developed nature walk trails within the forests and other private community projects are similarly exciting depending on one’s interests. Such will always be part of your itinerary. Therefore, your options of exploring and experiencing Rwenzori are not limited when you are with Kitara Foundation.
A direct connection between Fort Portal and Bundibugyo towns;
When I learnt that people had a most direct route connecting Fort Portal Town to Bundibugyo town crossing through Rwenzori Mountain before a road was built in 1938, I decided to take the 1500m high trek over the steep north Rwenzori ridge known as Bwamba Pass. I found this was a fascinating trail through isolated mountain villages that ends in bamboo and thick forest at the top of the mountain, with spectacular views of Fort Portal city and the superb rift valley views on the other side.
Generally, I considered this a challenging route, taking an average of 8 hours to complete if you chose to stop at the national park and return to Fort Portal. Later I discovered that trekkers opt to continue to Bundibugyo across the mountain and return to Fort Portal by bus from Bundibugyo town, a trek of about 10 hours. This is a popular trail for birding and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Tough hike with spectacular views.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park is known for its spectacular cloud-covered mountain landscapes and extraordinary plant life. The park’s terrain ranges from mountain forests to bamboo stands. The Rwenzoris’ Margherita Peak is the third highest peak in Africa, glistening with equatorial glaciers.
At the end of my one-day hike, I have come up with this unique opportunity to explore the northern circuits of Rwenzori Mountains and learn about the histories, cultures, and daily lives of the Bakonzo people who have called the Rwenzori mountains home for hundreds of years.
On my hike, I found many homesteads in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains at an altitude between 1800 and 2100 meters where was able to see a government hospital Nyakitokori Health center where the trail starts, Nyakitorkori primary school where the steep landscape starts from and several Seventh Day Adventist Churches across the mountain.
I found out that a number of families grow crops including coffee, bananas, vegetables and other seasonal crops.
On crossing to the Bundibugyo town, the nature walks pass through the thick jungle of Rwenzori Mountains forest vegetation as you are entertained by the playful Rwenzori Colobus, Blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys and the amazing giant earthworms. Then move into the peaceful swaying music of the dense bamboo forest with a chance of spotting the colorful Rwenzori Turaco.
Here, you can enjoy the climb onto the mossy wind-blown ridges of the Ericacecular zone on your way with its spectacular views of the Rift Valley, the Semuliki River, Congo and Northern Uganda. Or descend on the Northern Spur ridge with the spectacular scenery of the meandering Semliki River and the Nile River below you on the Semliki plains, at an altitude of just 600m, the lowest point in Uganda.
Climbing Karangura Peak through Nyakitokori Community is an excellent one-day hike whether you to stop at the top and return to Fort Portal or continue to cross the mountain to Bundibugyo.
Climb to the top of the mountain ridge (2300m), passing farms and stunning views of the Rift Valley, Fort Portal greater Kabarole area.
Karangura is the highest peak of the Northern Rwenzori Mountains. At its summit, look west to Bundibugyo and the Congo, south to Kasese, east to Fort Portal, and north to the Rift Valley.
If you chose to cross to Beginning expect a good challenge on the steep terrain of Bugamya village above Nyakitokori Primary school, ascend to 2500m in the Rwenzori Mountains, before descending to 800m and the Rift Valley floor and on to Bundibugyo Town. You will hike through cloud forests, enjoy unique bird species and scenic views of the Rift Valley, Semliki River and the DR Congo. This will generally take you 9 hours
The Village boys motor rally:
Incidentally as tired as I was, on my way retrieving from Karangura I came across the refreshing entertainment of the village boys motor rally. The road here had been recently graded with hand hoes by the residents themselves. The circuit of about 400 meters on a gentle slope and few bends was good for the rally, despite the fact that the motorists had a task to curry their motors on their shoulders or push them back to the starting point on top.
With their newly made wooden bikes, the village boys had attracted many residents and travellers for entertainment. To the residents it was free watching but if they realized you were a visitor they would ask for 500 or 1000 shillings, that it would help them buy some rubbers for their bikes to buy medicine in case one fell off the road.
Hikes to the boundary of Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Here you will explore the Rwenzori Mountains without paying National Park fees on this one-day trip.
Starting in the morning, hike from Karago to the boundary of the National Park and return. Spend quality time exploring the mountains, through gardens and farms and walk among homesteads. Descend back to Karago in the evening and return to Fort Portal. You will experience the daily lives of the Bakonzo people, participate in any work such as harvesting coffee, and enjoy local meals and the local way of life. Hiking is moderate, so bring good shoes and be prepared for wet weather.
Rwenzori Coffee Tour and Community Walk
Set off from Fort Portal early morning for a day visit to Karrangura Nyakitokoli village and nearby farms. Hike in the foothills for views of the Rift Valley as you learn about the Bakonzo culture and livelihoods.
Visit coffee farmers, learn how coffee is grown and processed and how it impacts the lives of subsistence farmers before finding its way into cappuccinos around the world. Finish the tour by learning how to roast coffee beans and brew the perfect cup of coffee. Complete your day with a fresh cup of coffee grown in the farms you have just visited!
It’s simple. We make good coffee because we love to spread the joy and drink the good stuff, too. Based in the hills, guided by knowledge and bottomless curiously. We bring you good coffee from the historically magical places of all time. It’s non other than Rwenzori.
Coffee growing gives high yields in this community that receives high rainfall and cool temperatures that allows slow maturity of coffee, developing its intrinsic characteristics. The coffee is selectively handpicked and carefully processed.
Birds of Rwenzori
Mountain Rwenzori National Park is a birder’s paradise for travellers on a Uganda bird watching safari. There are about 241 bird species only 19 out these are known. Some of these birds are endemic to Rwenzori. Rwenzori Mountains therefore offers an opportunity for bird watching especially for the few species which inhabit the Rwenzori Mountain National Park. Up to 1800m of the Rwenzori mountain, it contains most of the species including the Rwenzori Turaco, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Long-eared Owl, Handsome Francolin, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Archers’ Robin-chat, White-starred Robin, Rwenzori Batis, Montane Sooty Boubou, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Slender-billed Starling, Blue-headed Sunbird, Golden-winged Sunbird, Strange Weaver and several varieties of Barbets, Greenbuls, Apalises, IIladopsis, Flycatchers and Crimson wings.
Vegetation in Rwenzori Mountains
The mountain is well recognized for its diverse and beautiful flora, hikers who climb following these routes get the opportunity to view the beautiful vegetation ranging from tropical rainforest to the tree heathers, montane forest, afro-alpine and bamboo.
Cultural encounters
Abanya Rwenzori – “the people of the Rwenzori Mountains” – have been living in the mountains for centuries. Karangura is home to over 5,000 Bakonzo people living at the foothills of the mountains of Rwenzori. On the community visits, they show to visitors their daily activities which range from raring their traditional animals and crops to preparing nice delicious Ugandan meals with the freshest ingredients, meet basket weavers and storytellers, and enjoy a vibrant dance performance.
Healthcare in Nyakitokoli Parish Nyakitokoli Parish is wide with about 7 villages across the hills up to the top boundary with Rwenzori Mountains National Park. The whole parish is served by one clinic Nyakitokoli health center III which is located at the base of the mountain.
Due to the terrain of the place it is hard to have a clinic in the mountainous communities, but it is also hard to have transport to the health facility. Here patients must walk down the hills and climb back home, but those who are critically are helped by family members and neighbors to carry them using a local carrier.
Kitara Foundation for Regional Tourism 