Kasese

A small town at the foot of the Rwenzoris, the 'Mountains of the Moon', for climbing snowy peaks and boat trips on Queen Elizabeth National Park's Kazinga Channel to see hippos and elephants.

Kasese lies in western Uganda at the southeastern foot of the Rwenzori Mountains. Capital of Kasese District, it sits at about 950 m, just north of the equator. The town itself has few sights, but it's the gateway to two major national parks. To the northwest, the World Heritage-listed Rwenzori Mountains National Park, known as the 'Mountains of the Moon', rises to 5,109 m at Margherita Peak, where glaciers and giant plants create an otherworldly landscape; most climbs start from Nyakalengija, about 20 km north of town. To the south, Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda's most popular safari destination, with highlights including boat trips on the Kazinga Channel to see hippos and elephants, early-morning lion spotting on the Kasenyi Plains, chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge, the Katwe Explosion Craters loop and salt harvesting at Lake Katwe. The best time to visit is during the dry seasons from Dec–Feb and Jun–Aug. Getting there: drive or take a bus from Kampala (about 7–8 hours), or take a domestic flight to Kasese or the Mweya airstrip; you'll need a 4x4 inside the parks. Park entry, boat trips and chimp tracking are paid to the Uganda Wildlife Authority; you'll need a yellow fever vaccination certificate and should take malaria precautions. Allow 3–4 days, plus another 7–9 days if you're trekking the Rwenzori Central Circuit. The tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector in the south are usually visited from the Bwindi side.

Top sights

• Rwenzori Mountains National Park – Africa's “Mountains of the Moon.” Glacier-covered snowy peaks sit on the equator, surrounded by giant lobelias and groundsels. It is a UNES…
• Equator Monument (Kikorongo) – Circular equator markers on either side of the road to the park from Kasese. A stop where you can step across the equator and feel like you…
• Lake George – A shallow lake straddling the equator. Its papyrus swamps on the shore are a Ramsar wetland, and the lake is best known for birdwatching an…
• Rwenzori Central Circuit Trail – The classic 7 to 8-day loop from Nyakalengija, crossing bamboo forest, mossy woodland, and giant lobelia bogs, passing Lake Bujuku and reac…
• Margherita Peak (Mount Stanley) – The third-highest peak in Africa and the highest point in Uganda, at 5,109 meters. The climb requires crossing glaciers and rock walls with…
• Kilembe Trail & Kilembe Mines – A southern mountain trail starting from Kilembe, the old copper mining town west of Kasese, with lakes and moraine landscapes along the way…
• Mahoma Trail & Lake Mahoma – A short beginner's trail in the Rwenzori Mountains that passes through bamboo and mossy forest to Lake Mahoma at about 2,650 meters. Suitab…
• Ruboni Community Camp & Bakonzo Cultural Trails – A community camp next to the national park entrance, where Bakonzo mountain guides lead walks through villages, coffee fields, and foothill…

Where to eat

• Jambo! Café – A small café run cooperatively by local women; fresh fruit smoothies and homemade cakes are favorites with hikers comin…

Itineraries

• Uganda Waterfalls, Primates & Lakes Classic Loop – A classic loop connecting Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, and Lake Bunyonyi from north to south.
• Rwenzori Central Circuit & Margherita Peak Climb – Follow the Central Circuit for seven days around the alpine zone of the Mountains of the Moon, summiting the 5,109m Mar…
• Western Uganda Backpacking Route by Public Transport – Take long-distance buses and shared minibuses through Fort Portal, Kibale, and the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains…