Our second World Heritage Site on our Uganda road trip september 2025.

We started our day hike from the Mihunga main gate (Nyakalengija), heading into the Rwenzoris. As others have noted, it takes several days of trekking to reach the alpine zone with its unique flora – similar to what we were lucky enough to experience on Mount Kenya around 3,500 meters, earlier this year.

Our hike covered about 10-11 kilometers return with 500–600 meters of elevation gain. The first four kilometers were fairly gentle, following a good trail through lush rainforest and fern forest, with two river crossings and a few ladders, before reaching the first shelter.

From there, the trail became much steeper. We had hoped to climb high enough for a clear view of the peaks, but to get there you’d likely need to continue all the way to the first camp at Nyabitaba – about 1,000 meters of ascent and 10 kilometers one way. That makes for a very long and strenuous day, more than we were ready to take on.

Even without the big panoramia, the hike was rewarding. The rainforest was vibrant and full of life, with butterflies, wildflowers, wild bananas, and dense ferns creating the atmosphere of true wilderness. We also spotted both red-tailed monkeys, colobus monkeys and even an chimpanzee along the way. An armed park ranger accompanied us – and while I believe that’s mandatory, the path was easy to follow and well marked.

The drive to Mihunga gate added to the experience: a dirt road, but perfectly manageable, winding through beautiful farmland on steep hillsides and small villages where coffee and other crops are cultivated.

All in all, it was a beautiful day out and well worth the effort.

We based ourselves at Queen Elizabeth National Park. For the Rwenzoris, we left early in the morning and reached the gate around 8:00 after a 1.5-hour drive. It’s an excellent base – not only for excursions into the Rwenzoris, but also for game drives in the park and a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel between Lake George and Lake Edward. And of course, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge – another unforgettable highlight of our trip