Besides the beauty of the lush green forest jungles and scenery, reptile enthusiasts have found a treasure in the Rwenzori Mountains. This is after realizing that these mountains are home to some of the most unique chameleon species.

The local culture

Interestingly, the local culture of the Bakonzo people is interwoven with the chameleon. This qualifies the Rwenzori Mountains as a special habitat for these gentle reptiles. Traditionally, if a Mukonzo woman kills a chameleon, it is believed that she will have complications giving birth leading to stillbirth. The same will happen to his wife if he is a man. It has to be disclosed during the challenging birth process. Then the child is called chameleon “Kanyalhungu” in the local language. For this reason, chameleons are treated as a no-touch animal. Majority of the local people, especially women are not even willing to touch these reptiles.

The guides will tell you more interesting stories about the chameleons and how they relate to the local people of Rwenzori. You will get chances to watch them over time to monitor the way they feed or move. This gives the opportunity to monitor their changing the colors to adapt to their environment. It is such a memorable moment when you get a reality of being in nature with these elusive creatures.

Spending a night at Ruboni community camp, all guests have a chance to go looking for chameleons during the local walks in the community. The community has created a 100-acre forest reserve in the border of Rwenzori mountains national park and this is a chameleon paradise. The skilled local guides have talented eyes that seem to be linked to chameleons. During the walk, the guide will point out to the various types of chameleons on the side bushes, flowering plants or high trees. They know the best weather and time to look for chameleons.

The village and forest walks

The community forest walks are better in the mornings and evenings. Each walk takes between 3-4 hours on a return trip. This makes it possible for the guests to branch off for a day walk to look for chameleons in these forests neighboring Rwenzori Mountains National Park, during a longer trip.  On a lucky day, you can see up to seven types of chameleons on one journey. The Rwenzori alone is home to about seven species of chameleons. Some of these chameleons are endemics, meaning they can only be found in these mountains. The seven species include;

• Johnston’s three-horned chameleon,
• Strange horned chameleon,
• boulenger’s pygmy chameleon.
• Carpenter’s chameleon,
• Elliot’s Groove-throated Chameleon,
• Tolley’s forest Chameleon
• Montane side-striped chameleon and

Besides chameleons, the community forest is home to birds, butterflies, other reptiles such as snakes and lizards. On a lucky day, you may find when some primates including chimps that may have crossed from the national park to this community forest. Besides wildlife, the vines, tall trees, thick green jungles and waterfalls in the forest are a good blend with the melody from the forest birds and insects. Visiting here is such an opportunity. You may choose to sit in the middle of the jungle to meditate in the heart of nature.