When is the best time to visit - When to climb Rwenzori Mountains

Planning for rwenzori trekking tour ? Among the top most hikers question asked about rwenzori trekking tours is when is the best time to visit the rwenzori mountains either in Uganda or Democratic republic of congo for a hiking tour up to the top of the snow capped mountain, the advise is that You can go anytime, but do it sooner rather than later for a memorable hiking tour like the 7 Days ultimate rwenzori tour or the 9 days rwenzori adventure tour or 12 Days Uganda Gorilla safari & rwenzori Hiking tour with Rwenzori Mountaineering Service .

Rwenzori Mountains can be climbed all year round. Generally, the main tourist seasons are from July to October, then from December to February. These months coincide with the dry season in Uganda. Many people visit in December for gorilla trekking & Chimpanzee Tracking as Rwenzori Mountain trekking tour add on recommended by Rwenzori Mountaineering Service.

Due to rwenzori mountain's proximity to the equator that is located in kasese town ( Rwenzori Mountains National Park) and crossing queen elizabeth national park, this region does not experience the extremes of winter and summer weather, but rather dry and wet seasons. Therefore, the best time to climb rwenzori mountains tends to be the warmest and driest months . The primary issue is safety, as the risks associated with climbing increase significantly when the weather is foul. The effects of rain, mud, snow, ice and cold can be very strenuous on the body. Correspondingly, your chances of a successful summit also increases significantly with nice weather. Of course, the mountain gets more foot traffic during these periods as well.

There are two wet periods - the long rainy season and the short rainy season. The long rainy season begins in March and ends in May. The short rainy season is during the month of November. Note that weather is unpredictable so these time periods will vary from year to year. Sometimes the rains come early, come late, are mild, or are torrential.

When Should I Climb Rwenzori Mountains?

For most people, it is July, August and September. The next tier of good months consists of October, January and February. These six months, plus December, are considered to be Rwenzori's high season. The shoulder season months are December, March and June. Lastly, the rains come in April, May and November. These three months are considered to be Rwenzori's low season, and many operators offer discounts during this time.

Climbing during the High Season. The greatest advantage of climbing at this time is that you can stay dry the entire time. Sure, you can always get rained on throughout the year, especially in the rain forest andmoorlands, but typically the precipitation is low and infrequent. By staying dry, you stay comfortable and the overall trek will be more enjoyable. Removing the stress of being wet and cold also increases you chance of proper acclimatization. In the dry season, the views are better, with clear and sunny skies. The disadvantage is that the trails have many climbers, which can take away from the feeling of being on a big, remote mountain. However, some visitors look foward to socializing with other groups at camp. Not surprisingly, most people choose to climb during the dry season because the likelihood of nice weather trumps any misgivings they may have about encountering others on the mountain.

Climbing during the Low Season. The prospect of having the mountain to yourself is what draws people to climb during the low season. The mountain is very empty and it is possible to be the only party at a campsite. This quiet and solitude is what many people seek when going outdoors. Secondly, although it does rain quite a lot during the low season, most of the time the rains arrive in the afternoon. With Rwenzori's trekking schedule, most of the hiking can be done in the mornings, which means that the time spent on trail while it rains can be minimized.