The fabled Mountains of the Moon rise on the borderlands of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to form the great Rwenzori Mountains National Park. Home to no less than three of Africa’s five highest peaks, this collection of ridged summits and deep valleys showcases ice caps and roaring cataracts, mountain lakes and one fantastically diverse array of habitats. From the glaciers that smother Margherita Peak and Mounts Speke and Baker, the gradient slopes down to house afro alpine, bamboo and montane forests that are roamed by forest elephants, colobus and chimpanzee amongst other mammals; its skies alive with colourful equatorial birds and butterflies and the endangered likes of the horse-shoe bat. Hikers and mountain climbers flock here right throughout the year, eager to join one of the many Rwenzori Mountains National Park tour guides who offer trekking excursions deep into the interiors of the mystical Moon peaks. Various packages are available, ranging from two-week ascents to the tips of Mount Stanley, to casual seven-day park circuits that factor in cultural encounters at the neighbouring Bakonzo villages along the way.