Rwenzori Mountains certainly have one of Africa’s most fantastic natural environments, so Rwenzori climate is mainly identified as one of the most unique, similar to alpine climate though found in an equatorial location. This also means that it receives higher levels of rainfall than anywhere else in the world.
As a result, this exciting combination of both heavy rainfall and great exposure to the sun has created the most basic landscape, wrapped in the giant tree heathers. The lobelias, the groundsel, the colorful lichen as well as the deep moss are also common. It’s also an account of the luxuriant vegetation that the Rwenzori climate has been described as the home of Africa’s botanical big game.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park is also home to some of the few tropical glaciers remaining in the world, and they are found on Mounts Stanley, Speke and Baker. It’s also only when you climb to the top of the Rwenzori, to its snow capped peaks that the rain forest below its detachment, from the equatorial Africa will really become so apparent. Though these glaciers are rapidly retreating and have decreased from a total area of over 2.5sqmi, to less than half a square mile, within the last century, you can still climb it.
Rwenzori Climate Zones
All over the world, there is a band of air rising near the equator which leads to heavy rains, and this is known as the Inter Topical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). This is also called the doldrums. In June, this moves and migrates northwards, giving India and the Himalaya its monsoon season. In December, it’s in the southern hemisphere thus giving heavy rains to northern Australia and nearby places. More so, during the spring and the fall, the zone of heavy rainfall goes over the equators. So, since the Rwenzori climate are so equatorial, fall and spring seasons are bad time of visiting.
Between January and February, there is the dry North East monsoon and between June and July, there is the drier South East monsoon. So, these are considered to be the best months to visit. Even though there is rain and snow during this time, they are not so heavy or long lasting , therefore the days are fine for backpacking and moving around the peaks.
Temperatures on Mountain Rwenzori
Generally, temperatures around 3,000 to 4,000 metres mark are around 10oC to 15oC during the day and 2oC to 6oC at night. Temperatures at the camps may vary between 4oC and 5oC during the day or 1oC between 12oC, which drop to -5oC to -3oC at night. On the peak it can drop to -2oC during the day but at times it can be 8oC or 10oC. It also gets very windy on the peaks, which brings in a chill factor in bad weather.
Understanding Rwenzori climate can help climbers know the best time to hike Rwenzori Mountains. In addition, you can also learn bout the best time to hike Mountain Elgon which is further on the eastern border of Uganda and Kenya.