Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Overview

Rwenzori "Mountains of the Moon" National Park in Western Uganda is home to Africa's third highest peak, Margherita.

Trekkers flock to the 386 square miles (1,000 km²) of the protected mountain range it to enjoy the spectacular views, see the unusual botanical wonders, enjoy the waterfalls, and hike numerous peaks in a short span. 

The World Heritage Site got its name from Henry Stanley, who mapped the region during an 1888 visit. He called it "Rwenzori," after a local word he understood to mean "rainmaker" or "cloud-king." But before Henry Stanley's visit, Claudius Ptolemy called it the "Mountains of the Moon" in AD150. 

Meanwhile, the Bakonzo people have called the foothills of these mountains home for centuries, living in co-existence with nature. They believe in Kitasamba, "The great one who does not climb," who sits at the top of the mountains, and his son, Kalisha, who looks after the mountain's wildlife. 

However, humans did their best to wipe the animals out. The first huge disturbance came in the late 70s when civil war broke out. Guerrilla fighters further threatened the region in the 1990s. The conflict, poverty, and desperation led to poaching.

But efforts were made to reclaim it. In 1991, the Uganda government declared it a national park, and Rwenzori became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994. While not all the park's animals have made a full comeback, such as the elephants, the upper peaks still protect their rare and precious vegetation, which makes this region a world treasure.