The Ruwenzoris, or the Mountains of the Moon, so named by the Hellenic astronomer Ptolemy, have a legendary beauty. They were explored and mapped out by Henry Morton Stanley, Emin Pasha and Prince Luigi Amedeo di Savoia.  At the centre of the range are six peaks capped with ice and snow and three glaciers.  The mountains - about 75 miles long - were forced up during the creation of the Great Rift Valley. The highest peak of Mount Stanley is Margherita, which rises to 16,762 feet, the third highest in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya.

The heavy rain makes the mountain flora luxuriant, growing to absurd proportions, with giant lobelia and groundsel shooting up to 33 feet. The wild flowers - blackberry, cuckoo flower and everlasting flower - are enchanting.  Rwenzori touraco, handsome francolin and olive pigeon can be seen.  Above the forest zone, watch for the alpine swift and the scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird. A hike through the lower reaches of the central Rwenzori needs about six days; ascent of the peaks is a technical climb and takes a further two days and requires climbers to be physically fit and equipped with ropes, crampons and appropriate mountaineering equipment (see Travel Notes for details).

The best time to climb the mountain is from June through to August and from December to February.  Climbing is organized by Rwenzori Mountaineering Services and includes 1 guide and 2 porters per person, meals, accommodation and entrance fees.  A minimum number of 4 climbers on the peaks is advised - 2 climbers and 2 guides.