Mount Stanley

Mount Stanley is the highest massif within the Rwenzori Mountains on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Its highest point, Margherita Peak, reaches 5,109 metres and is one of Africa’s highest summits.

The mountain features glaciated peaks, steep ridges and permanent ice fields at high altitude, and it is a major objective for mountaineers attempting technical alpine climbs in equatorial Africa. Weather is frequently wet and conditions on the glaciers have changed substantially in recent decades.

European exploration and scientific survey of the Rwenzori intensified in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the 1906 Duke of the Abruzzi expedition made important first ascents and mappings. The range has been protected as part of national parks and is recognised for its unique alpine ecology.

The massif lies along the Congo-Uganda border in the Rwenzori range and is included within the boundaries of protected areas that are listed for their natural and ecological significance.

• Summit elevation and rank: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley reaches 5,109 metres, making it the third-highest summit in Africa after Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya.
• Historic ascent: First large-scale ascent of the Rwenzori summits was led by the Duke of the Abruzzi in 1906, who mapped and climbed key peaks including Margherita.

What to See #

• Margherita Peak: Margherita Peak is the highest point on Mount Stanley and in the Rwenzori range, reaching an elevation of 5,109 metres and forming the glaciated summit area.
• Rwenzori massif: The broader Rwenzori massif contains multiple high peaks and glaciers and is characterised by steep alpine ridges and deep valleys; climbs typically involve technical glacier travel and high-altitude trekking.