Which mountain range in Uganda is often called the 'Mountains of the Moon'?

The Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda are often called the “Mountains of the Moon.” This poetic name connects the range with ancient accounts of snow-capped mountains believed to feed the Nile River.

The name is associated especially with the writings of the Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemy, who described a legendary range called the Mountains of the Moon near the Nile’s source. Modern explorers later proposed several locations, but the Rwenzori became the best-known identification.

The range lies along the Uganda–Democratic Republic of the Congo border and includes Mount Stanley, whose Margherita Peak reaches about 5,109 metres. Despite being near the equator, the highest peaks historically supported glaciers and permanent snow, helping inspire the lunar imagery.

A common mix-up is confusing the Rwenzori Mountains with the Virunga Mountains, another range in the Albertine Rift. The Rwenzori are also unusual because they are among the world’s highest non-volcanic mountain ranges.