Exploring the Vegetation Zones of Rwenzori Mountains

The Rwenzori mountains also famously known as the mountains of the moon are a majestic range located on the border between Uganda and Democratic republic of Congo. The mountains don’t just boast with towering peaks like Margherita peak that takes on a significant position with its eminent height of 5109m being the third highest in Africa, they are also a prime destination known for a wide diversity of unique flora and fauna some of which is endemic to the Rwenzori mountains. With varying vegetation zones the Rwenzori mountain show case a beautiful environment that changes with the varying altitudes making the mountains a premier destination for all kinds of travelers including researchers, photographers, hikers and nature lovers. Join us as we explore in detail the unique vegetation zones that are the highest determinants of the climate change within the Rwenzori mountains , describing the flora and fauna at each level .

Rwenzori Mountains Vegetation Zones

Tropical Montane zone (1800m to 2500m)

The lower part of the Rwenzori mountains is made up of the tropical montane zone, that starts from about 1800m up to 2500m above sea level. The area is characterized with a dense forest that attracts significant amount of rainfall all through the year. With high moisture levels the this atmosphere creates a rich and diverse environment with most plant and animal species located with this part of the mountains .

Feature in the tropical montane forest zone

This zone is known for towering canopy thick trees whose shadows even hinder the sunshine from reaching the forest floor. The atmosphere is covered mostly with clouds and misty making it very magical and mysteriously beautiful . The areas is dominated with a wide variety of tree species including the mahogany tree, fig tree, and various types of ferns. the tropical montane forest zone is also known for the epiphytes such as orchids and mosses that survive on tree trunks due to high moisture levels associated with this altitude. The forest also has a wide variety if shrubs , herbs and tall grasses giving the montane zone a very unique and appeasing look attracting hikers from far and near to discover its beauty.

The tropical montane forest zone also harbors a wide range of most of the animals located within the Rwenzori mountain some of which are endemic to the mountains . Primates that include the colobus monkeys , blue monkeys, hoest monkeys, among the many find the mountains have found the mountains very convenient to camp for decades , the mountains also has the three horned chameleon endemic to this place, the Rwenzori turaco bird can also be seen in this part of the mountains. The forest also harbors small mammals, a number of reptiles and very many insects.

Bamboo zone (2500m to 3000m)

The climate in the Rwenzori mountains varies with the change in altitude so does the vegetation cover which is among the significant causes of the climate change. Ascending above the tropical montane forest zone is the bamboo zone that starts from 2500m to 300m above sea level. The zone is know for its bamboo trees that mixed with other forms of shrubs.

Features found within the bamboo zone

The bamboo zone is associated with a wide variety of the pant species ranging from the bamboo trees which are towering to a height of up to 20m. Mimplosis plants are also very common hear displaying their beauty in purple coloured flowers , the Oldman’s beard is another specy which you will not miss in the bamboo zone area. A few animals survive here some of whom just migrate to feed on the bamboo stems like the L’hoests monkeys , birds like Rwenzori double colored sunbird can be spotted here as well as the mountain buzzard.

Afro Alpine zone / moorland zone (3800m to 4500m )

Above the altitude of 3800m but before 4500m is the Alpine zone. Its one of the unique zone in the Rwenzori mountains with very open landscapes and very huge swamps. The Alpine zone is known for its significantly low temperatures that can be at times freezing and also attracts snow rains. The atmosphere is generally cold here even with the presence of sunshine and the nights can be freezing regardless of the season.

Heather Rapanea zone (3000m to 3800m )

This environment is a total unique one with temperatures starting to lower as the air continues to be thinner. The heather zone is that part of the mountain with an altitude of 3000m to 3800m ,with unique and scattered trees, the heather zone doesn’t support the survival of animals however the zone is famous for its giant heather trees. The heather trees dominants this area and are usually covered with mosses and and lichens.

Features in the heather zone

The dominant plant specie in the heather zone is the giant heather aloo Erica arboreal , along with the rapanea species that are supported with the high altitudes associated with this zone. these trees are usually decorated with the moss and lichens temperature in the heather zone are always quite low though not freezing. There are also short shrubs and bushes associated with this zone. Barely or no animals may be spotted in this zone due to the high altitudes though at times the Rwenzori leopard can be spotted at this point which is not so easy to see. Birds like malachite sunbird, scarlet tufted malachite sunbird can be spotted searching for nectar.

Features in the Alpine zone

There are fewer trees in this zone, the area is dominated by the giant lobelias , giant groundsels and the tall tussocks grasses as well as isolated plants. few vegetation that can adapt to the cold temperatures survive in this zone. Mosses and lichen to survive in the alpine one some of which cover the ground and some rocks . Everlasting flowers can also be spotted in this zone , its basically associated with few plant species which are not scattered but grow together. A few animals survive in this zone, the Rwenzori dicker is among the animals that can be spotted in this zone. Birds like the Rwenzori double coloured sunbird are spotted feeding in the nectar in the giant lobelia flowers, various species of butterflies and insects can be seen in this part of the mountain Rwenzori’s.

Rock and glacier zone (above 4500m)

The glacier zone is characterized with rocks, icy and glacier. Barren landscapes make up of this vegetation zone and barely no plant or animal species have adapted to this altitude. The atmosphere here is typically made up of very harsh whether conditions, thin air and low oxygen levels. Basically huge expanse areas of bare rocks or green mossed rocks are spotted in the rock and glacier zone.

Features in the rock and glacier zone

The rock and glacier zone have desolate , rugged landscapes dominated with bare rock ice and snow. Due to extremely low temperatures, no plants survive here except for the mosses and lichens that cover the rocks. This zone is braced with a totally beautiful terrain of majorly snowfields covering the ground. No animals survive in this zone and birds such as the the alpine swift and the beareded vulture can be spotted flying above the peaks searching for food. The temperature in this zone are significantly low often dropping below the freezing point, air is very thin and there can be difficult in breathing for hikers, therefore they are advised to properly acclimatize before reaching this zone.

Conclusion

With varying vegetation zones, the Rwenzori mountains offer hikers with a totally unique environment with serious climatic changes of the atmosphere all on mountain. Each zone is distinct offering varying ecosystem from the dense humid forest in the footstools of the mountains to the barren rocks located in the rock and glacier zones. All these uneven rugged terrains and landscapes of the up to the highest peaks within the mountains showcase the incredible adaptability of the life that survives in the extreme whether condition within the Rwenzori mountains. From a wide range of flora and fauna of about 994 plant species on record, 217 bird species and 21 animal species among the many, Rwenzori is a one stop area where hikers are presented with so much to see within its varying climatic and vegetation cover.