Mt. Rwenzori’s numerous adrenaline-charged peaks, rich and rare ecological diversity, combined with once-in-a-lifetime breathtaking views continue to attract renowned mountaineers. Loved by mountaineers for its unique combination of exhilarating climbs, picturesque views and vast ecological diversity, Mt. Rwenzori, remains, many a climber’s must-tick-off bucket-list item. Even amidst the strictest public health measures aimed at protecting both international visitors and citizens, Uganda remains open and safe for foreign travellers seeking to enjoy the Pearl of Africa.
As the world begins to come to terms with the Covid-19 pandemic, ramp up vaccinations and warm up to tourism, the charming allure and unique diversity of Uganda continues to attract travellers in search of bucket-list and once-in-a-lifetime destinations with wide-open spaces and natural wonders.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, tourism numbers, although yet to reach the pre-pandemic levels, are steadily recovering. Overall tourist bookings tripled between August 2020 when Uganda formally reopened its tourism industry under strict standard operating safety protocols, to 83,464 bookings by the end of March 2021. As such, bookings registered by airlines and accommodation facilities doubled by end of March 2021 while bookings recorded by tour operators increased eleven-fold between August 2020 and March 2021. Foreign tourist bookings increased faster in the same period.
Hotel occupancy rates in Uganda also increased by 10 percentage points by end of March 2021 to an average of 31% down from 20.1% at the end of the year 2020 while weekly flights within or to and out of Uganda increased fourfold by end of March 2021 rising from a weekly average of 3 flights in 2020 to a weekly average of 11 flights in 2021. This means that 73% of the flights that fly Ugandan routes had resumed. As a result, at least 30% of tourism jobs were recovered by end of March 2021.
Although the country entered a second, this time partial 42-day lockdown starting on June 19th, 2021, there are indications that foreign tourist arrivals are holding steady. Monthly statistics from Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) show that international arrivals between May and June reduced by just 16.6% to 29,209 passengers from 35,012 passengers in May 2021. Quarterly, there was an 18.4% increase in international arrivals, from 83,957 travellers in Q1 2021 to 99,384 at the end of Q2 2021.
Passionate mountaineers continue to submit to Mt. Rwenzori’s irresistible breathtaking beauty and tough charm
Julian Wright, a professional mountaineer, lead guide/ field expert for over 15 years and owner of African Ascents Limited, a Kenya-based outdoor adventure company is one of those tourists who has taken advantage of this less busy period, to fulfil his 6-year old dream of conquering Mt.Rwenzori.
Courtesy Photo – Uganda Tourism Board: Climbers take on a glacier with ropes and crampons as they embark on the last stretch to the Margherita Peak (5,109 metres). Several climbers have praised Mt. Rwenzori for its unique and exceptions large glaciers compared to its East African peers.
Julian is no ordinary mountaineer. He has not only summited both Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya, the two tallest mountains in Africa, as well as several other mountains all over the world, including Kenya, South Africa, the United States, Canada, the Alps, Himalayas, Southeast Asia and most recently the Rwenzoris.
“This is my first time to the Rwenzoris. My main motivation to come here actually started about six years ago. I have been wanting to come here for a very long time, but finally, I’ve been able to come out and see what this beautiful mountain has to offer,” he said in an interview, soonest after returning from a record-setting climb of Mt. Rwenzori.
Record-setting because he climbed 8 peaks in 7 days, which, according to John Hunwick, 73, the founder of Rwenzori Trekking Services (RTS), the company that arranged and facilitated the hike, this feat has never been done before. The best, according to Hunwick, was 4 peaks in 8 days. And unlike most climbers who have to be assisted by porters, Julian carried his backpack with his luggage and climbing gear.
“I have a lot of clients and visitors we’ve had on our mountains in Kenya and Tanzania, who are really interested to come and see this part of the world, so it was really nice to come and see for myself and see what works for them,” added Julian, adding: “You really have an incredible resource here and it’s nice to be able to experience it.”
Courtesy Photo: Christian Kuehne conquers glaciers on the final stretch to the Margherita Peak (5,109 metres). Mt. Rwenzori has been hailed by climbers for its richer and more stable glacier sheets that make part of the breathtaking views. The mountain is also famous for being the only permanently snow-capped mountain on the equator. Over and above the unique snow experience, the spectacular snow-capped peaks and glaciers, melt into fast-flowing rivers, which squeeze into V-shaped valleys and narrow gorges, emerging as magnificent waterfalls that feed the clear blue lakes that dot the surreal, boggy Afro-alpine moorlands downstream. These waters feed the mountain’s unique complement of alpine vegetation, most of it rare and unique to the Rwenzori’s.
Julian summited the four highest peaks on Mt. Stanley, one of the six massifs making up the Rwenzori ranges. The other five massifs are Mount Speke; Mount Baker; Mount Emin; Mount Gessi and Mount Luigi di Savoia.
The four Mt. Stanley peaks summitted by Julian in under seven hours, are Margherita, (5,109 metres), namely Alexandra Peak (5,090 metres), Albert Peak (5,087 metres), and Cheptegei (4,907 meters). He also summited Mutinda Lookout (3,975 metres); Mt. Speke’s tallest peak- Vittorio Emanuele (4890 metres) as well as Iolanda Peak, (4,175 metres) the tallest peak on Mt. Gessi and finally, Mt. Baker’s Edward Peak (4,844 metres).
Courtesy Photo: The Mutinda Peak (3975 metres), part of the little-talked about Rwatamagufa Group, whose highest summits are Rwatamagufa (4260m) and Okuleba (4328m). Summiting to the top (Mutinda Lookout) unravels 360 views of some of the magnificent colours of the Rwenzoris especially the ethereal Afromontane vegetation.
In total, Julian, who had set off to do 10 peaks in 8 days, had to abandon 2 others due to heavy rain and fog. Regardless, an awestruck Julian said in an interview, that this was sufficient to give him a feel of the mountain whose ecological diversity, he describes as “mind-blowing” and scenic landscapes as “breathtaking.”
Comparing both the climbing experience and the eco-diversity of the East African mountains, he has summited to Mt. Rwenzori, Julian says the Rwenzoris are exceptional both in quality and quantity.
“I’ve been guiding and hiking, and I’ve been in the outdoors business for a very long time, but the vastness of the Rwenzoris is just breathtaking. I mean, you go into some areas, and it really feels very remote. It feels almost untouched, in a way,” he says, adding: “There are many peaks, and just the sheer ecological diversity, is mind-blowing…. Everything here seems to be three times as big. The leaves are bigger, the plants are bigger, everything is so lush, there’s so much life, and it is truly unique.”
“The glaciers on the Rwenzoris are very unique. They are a lot bigger than any other glaciers on East African mountains,” he adds.
Julian, too was captivated by the Rwenzoris’ bird diversity.
Courtesy Photo: Christian and Dagmara Kuehne trek the Rwenzori’s amidst snow and fog. The couple who was impressed by the mountain’s unique climbing challenge said the differently tougher terrain, compared to other mountains in East Africa they have been to, gives a rewarding feeling after completing the climb. The couple summitted Margherita (5,109 metres) in 8 days.
“In the last couple of hours, we have been staring up in the trees, and the guides know their birds so well, that I literally would just ask them, what is that calling, and somebody knew what it was. We have seen the Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori Double-Collared Sunbird and several others. And we have been listening to the Red-chested cuckoos all the way down the mountain; there is very many of them. There is just so much happening, it’s very difficult to actually try and, you know, understand everything,” he told reporters in an interview after his 7 days climb.
About the climbing experience, especially for the inexperienced climbers, Julian said that Mt. Rwenzori by its nature offers a variety of options.
“The trails have been so well managed, and the huts have been so well established that even for somebody who’s not incredibly fit, there are options in between. So, you can break the day up and take your time with it, which then allows you to acclimatize well, and it’s something that I think you’re very lucky with here,” he says adding: “Because you have more ranges, this allows people more time to acclimatize. There is more distance, so people get to acclimatize better.”
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