Rwenzori National Park – Africa’s 3 highest mountain in a fairytale landscape (UNESCO World Heritage)
Challenging hikes among the “Moon Mountains” reward you with incredible landscapes and unforgettable nature experiences. Beginning in lush rainforests, the trails lead you through misty moors, past waterfalls and lakes, to glacier-covered peaks (5.109 m). Recognized as the most vegetation-dense area on Earth—complete with mossy forests and giant lobelias—Rwenzori is home to 70 mammal species (including chimpanzees, elephants, and antelopes) and over 200 bird species. Mountain ascents are best attempted from December to February and proper glacier equipment is required.
Mt. Elgon National Park + Sipi Falls – Diverse and Undiscovered Landscapes
Relatively unknown yet stunningly beautiful, Mt. Elgon’s (4.321 m) diverse landscapes—from mountain rainforests and swamps to moors, grasslands, caves, gorges, and high plateaus—make it one of East Africa’s most attractive mountain regions. Enjoy a day hike or summit ascent, and consider visiting the four picturesque Sipi Waterfalls just outside the park.
Mt. Sabyinyo (Mgahinga National Park) – A Paradise at the Three-Country Border
Mt. Sabyinyo (3.669 m), an extinct volcano and the oldest part of the Virunga mountain range (locally known as the “Old Man’s Teeth”), features a roughly 14 km hike through mountain forests. Encounter golden monkeys, various bird species, forest elephants, and, with some luck, mountain gorillas. At the summit, enjoy a panoramic view of the meeting point between Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC.
Mabamba Swamp – Shoebill Trekking
Search for the rare and endangered Shoebill stork—a monogamous bird standing 1.40 meters tall—in the swamps of Lake Victoria. With only about 8,000 left worldwide (80% of which live in South Sudan), navigating the swamp channels by wooden boat offers a unique bird-watching experience among papyrus reeds and other waterbirds.
