Gazetted as a national park in 1991 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, Rwenzori Mountains National Park protects the legendary "Mountains of the Moon" along Uganda’s western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Spanning 996 km², the non-volcanic mountain range reaches heights up to 5,109 meters at Mount Stanley’s Margherita Peak. The park encompasses distinct vegetation zones, ranging from dense montane rainforests and bamboo belts to tree heathers and Afro-alpine moorlands adorned with giant lobelias. Historically revered in ancient geography and isolated by rugged terrain, the park is a sanctuary for over 70 mammal species—including endemic primates—and nearly 217 bird species, making it a globally significant hotspot for ecological biodiversity.