Better known as the "Mountains of the Moon" — due to the striking resemblance of its glaciers to the lunar surface — the Rwenzori Mountains National Park stretches along the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is home to Africa’s third-highest peak: Margherita Peak, which rises to 5,109 m (16,762 ft).

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Typically, five days are enough for most mountaineers to reach the summits of Mount Kenya or Kilimanjaro. Drawing from that experience, many arrive expecting to "tame" the Rwenzori with ease... While the massif may be lower in altitude, it presents a formidable challenge! This ascent is like a "sweet struggle": an adventure that requires between 6 and 9 days of intense effort. The terrain alternates between steep slopes and dizzying valleys. Furthermore, the climate is much wetter than other East African ranges, with annual rainfall reaching up to 3,000 mm.

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Those who reach the summit will tell you: the reward is immense. You will journey through sanctuaries filled with multicolored birds, crystal-clear crater lakes, as well as forest elephants, forest buffaloes, and primates such as chimpanzees and baboons. The highlight of the adventure remains the discovery of eternal snows: witnessing ice on a continent under a scorching sun is nothing short of a miracle.

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The park is also a world-class destination for birdwatchers, with 241 recorded species, 19 of which are endemic to the Albertine Rift. You can admire the Rwenzori Turaco, a bird with brilliant red, green, and blue plumage, or the Olive Pigeon. In the bamboo forest zone, you might catch the unique call of Archer’s Robin-chat, while the alpine zone is home to various sunbirds and the majestic White-necked Raven.