East Africa Hiking-Uganda,Tanzania,Kenya,Rwanda
Hiking is a rewarding activity throughout East Africa. In Uganda, the Mgahinga Gorilla and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks contain some of the most beautiful mountain ranges in all of Africa. Particularly exciting are the Virunga volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This Volcano offers three extinct Volcanoes (Mt. Sabinyo 3669 M, Mt. Gahinga 3474 M and Mt. Muhavura 4127 M) for physically fit hikers, special mountaineering gears are not required.
At Mt. Sabinyo, hiking up the mountain takes one up a ridge along the eastern side to peak 1. If one is to continue, the hike to peak 2 involves walking a ridge with breath-taking drops into gorges of Rwanda and Uganda. Finally, the hike up to peak 3 is steep with several ladders and mush scrambling. You are guaranteed to get your hands dirty en-route to peak 3. Once on top, you will be in Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda at the same time. The journey takes about eight hours round trip to cover the 14-km stretch.
Mt Kenya, Africa’s second highest peak is regarded as the realm of Ngai, a traditional god of the local Kikuyu people. In the past, all Kikuyu homes were built facing this sacred peak. They call it Kirinyaga, or place of light. The mountain is an awe-inspiring sight. Its ragged series of peaks are crowned with snow, and its slopes are thick with forest. The mountain is best seen at dawn, when the days early light silhouettes its impressive summit high over the surrounding plains. While the 5199 meter summit is a difficult technical climb, the lesser peak of Point Lenana (4985m) can be easily reached by any fit trekker. This trek takes between 3 and 5 days, through a fascinating world of forests, wildlife, unique montane vegetation including podocarpus and grounsel, and finally one of the worlds rarest sights, equatorial snow.
Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park is home to one of the world’s most accessible high summits, a beacon for visitors from around the world. Kilimanjaro is generally accepted as the highest ‘walkable mountain’ in the world and so is a considerable achievement for walkers though it requires no technical climbing skills. It is a long and hard trek which reaches an altitude of 5,896m. Most climbers reach the crater rim with little more than a walking stick, proper clothing and determination. And those who reach Uhuru Point, the actual summit of the tallest mountain in Africa, or Gillman’s Point on the lip of the crater, will have earned their climbing certificates… and their memories.
