a question for anyone who's gone walking through both the Rwenzori mountains and the Virungas (Mgahinga park) in Uganda. because guides are mandatory and they cost gazillions of dollars in the Rwenzori, i was looking at the Virungas as an alternative. can anyone tell me whether the landscape in these areas is similar enough, or would i be a real idiot to go all the way to Uganda just to scrooge out on the mountains of the moon?
1
banalia
The Ruwenzori is a mountain chain where you can spent days hiking. There are snowcapped mountains too. I did a trek there years ago at the Congolese side.
The Virungas are basically isolated volcanoes. You can either admire them from the foot of the volcanoes, or climb them, but that is going up and down in one day (Bisoke in Rwanda, 3700 meters) or two days (Karisimbi in Rwanda, 4500 meters, 100 USD, spent one night in a tent at about 3900 meters). I havent been to Mgahinga park in Uganda though. You will find more or less the same high altitude flora in Ruwenzori and Virunga, like giant lobelias.
Both Ruwenzori and Virunga are very beautiful.
see www.rwandatourism.com or www.geomotion.com for the Rwandese Virungas
2
bill and ben
there are some travel advisories about the virunga, and you need a series of armed guards with you as a condition of entry, and it could close at very short notice.
the ruwenzori are the most majestic mountains we have ascended. if you're trying to skimp a few dollars, then, well......
3
jester
hey, would you say the same about the Ruwenzori if you didn't summit? i ask because i'm going to have to stick with the 7 day loop (not much glacier experience, never led a pitch, etc. etc.)
i practice fiscal prudence, but if it's clear that the Ruwenzori are truly special then of course i'll cut the 40 days off my itinerary to get up into the mountains.
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