The only equatorial cable car in Africa — lifting you from rainforest to permanent glaciers at 5,109 metres through six distinct ecosystems above the legendary Rwenzori range.
Signature Experience
At 4,200 metres above sea level — above the clouds, above the trees, above the world — our heated panoramic Pod floats at the edge of Africa's last equatorial glaciers. Wrapped in floor-to-ceiling tempered glass, it is the only place on Earth where you can sip champagne while watching equatorial snow fall on ancient ice.
Inspired by Switzerland's revolving Piz Gloria and New Zealand's Aoraki sky terraces, the Margherita Pod sets a new standard for high-altitude luxury in Africa.
Champagne Snow Service
Private sommelier with Ugandan tea, artisanal coffee, and chilled champagne against a backdrop of drifting equatorial snow.
Heated Glass Enclosure
Triple-glazed panoramic walls hold 18°C inside while temperatures outside dip below freezing. Full 360° views of Margherita, Alexandra, and Elena Peaks.
Sunrise & Sunset Sessions
Private dawn and dusk bookings available. Watch the sun rise over the DRC while the Rwenzori glaciers blush pink and gold.
Two Countries, One View
Uganda to the east, DRC rainforest to the west — the only place to stand on the equator and watch snow fall simultaneously.
Professional Photography
Our resident mountain photographer documents your time at Africa's highest equatorial viewpoint during private sessions.
Accessed via our Margherita Summit Line. Private 90-minute sessions include champagne, glacier commentary, and priority gondola boarding. Limited to 12 guests per session — advance booking essential.
Cable Car Routes
All routes depart from Ibanda Base Station (1,646m), Kasese, western Uganda. Swiss Doppelmayr gondolas, 100-passenger capacity, panoramic windows all sides. Departures every 20 minutes, 07:00–17:00 daily year-round. UWA park fees included in all prices.
Ibanda Base → Nyabitaba Hut
Rise through equatorial rainforest dripping with lichen, cross moss-draped bridges, and emerge into the afro-montane zone with your first views of the peaks. Ideal for families, first-timers, and wildlife enthusiasts.
What You'll See
Ibanda Base → Elena Glacier Station
Africa's most spectacular cable car ride. Traverse all six ecological zones of the Rwenzoris in one continuous ascent — from equatorial rainforest to permanent glacier fields — with optional Snow Pod access at 4,200m.
What You'll See
Fully Chartered Gondola Experience
Hire an entire gondola for your group. Choose your route, departure time, and on-board experience. Perfect for honeymoons, corporate retreats, milestone celebrations, and private photography expeditions.
Exclusive Inclusions
On the Ground
The cable car takes you above the canopy — but the forest floor is where the Rwenzoris truly reveal themselves. Our certified mountain guides lead immersive walks through ecosystems found nowhere else on Earth. Combine a cable car ascent with a guided descent for the ultimate Rwenzori experience.
Ibanda Forest Loop · Half Day · Easy–Moderate
A captivating 6km circular walk through intact Afromontane rainforest beginning right at the Base Station. Ancient Podocarpus trees draped in Spanish moss tower 40 metres overhead. The forest floor is carpeted in ferns, orchids, and impatiens found nowhere else in Africa. Your naturalist guide decodes every sound, track, and leaf.
Wildlife & Highlights
Nyabitaba Ridge Trail · Full Day · Moderate
Ascend into vast bamboo groves so dense they block out the sky, then emerge into a surreal landscape of tree heather (Erica arborea) draped in beard lichen, with peaks piercing the cloud above. Crosses two river bridges and three ridge viewpoints, finishing at the cable mid-station for your return gondola ride.
Wildlife & Highlights
Bigo Bog & Moorland Walk · Full Day · Moderate–Strenuous
The most otherworldly walk in Africa. Accessed by gondola, this trail winds through Bigo Bog surrounded by forests of giant Lobelia wollastonii standing 3–5 metres tall, and giant groundsels resembling prehistoric trees. The landscape that inspired H. Rider Haggard's "King Solomon's Mines."
Wildlife & Highlights
Elena Glacier Edge · Half Day · Strenuous
Step off the gondola at 4,280 metres and walk to the edge of the Elena Glacier — one of Africa's last equatorial ice fields. Your guide provides crampons and ice axes for a short, unforgettable traverse on permanent ice. On clear days, the summit of Margherita Peak (5,109m) towers directly above.
Highlights
Essential Information
By Air
By Road from Kampala
Uganda Entry Requirements
Accommodation
Good to Know
Essential Items
For Hire at Base Station
Glacier Walk Extras (Routes 02 & 03)
Food & Water on the Mountain
Understanding Altitude
Symptoms & Response
Recommended Preparation
Medical Facilities
Monthly Conditions (Base Station Level)
Summit temperatures are 25–30°C cooler than base station level.
When to Visit
Combined Safari Planning
Fauna & Flora
The Rwenzori Mountains host one of the highest concentrations of endemic species in Africa. Extraordinary wildlife sightings from the gondola and on forest walks are frequent and unforgettable.
Ruwenzorornis johnstoni
The jewel of the Rwenzori forest — this endemic turaco flashes crimson wings through the canopy. Uganda's most spectacular bird, regularly seen from the gondola.
Montane Forest · 1,600m–2,600m
Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii
Eastern chimpanzees inhabit the bamboo and lower forest zones. Best encountered on the Bamboo Cathedral walk — you hear them before you see them.
Bamboo Forest · 2,000m–2,800m
Panthera pardus pardus
Rarely seen but frequently tracked. Our guides know the territorial patterns of several resident individuals. Spoor is common above 3,000m on moorland walks.
All Zones · 1,600m–4,200m
Lobelia wollastonii
Towering 3–5 metres, these alien-looking plants are found only in the Rwenzoris above 3,800m. They take decades to bloom, then die — creating eerie forests of spent spires.
Afro-Alpine Moorland · 3,500m–4,300m
Senecio adnivalis
Senecio trees up to 6 metres tall with cabbage-like rosettes stand sentinel across the moorlands — appearing on virtually every Rwenzori photographer's highlights reel.
Afro-Alpine Moorland · 3,800m–4,500m
Cercopithecus lhoesti
Endemic to the Albertine Rift — striking with its white bib. Groups of 10–30 are regularly seen from the gondola passing through the montane forest canopy.
Montane Forest · 1,600m–2,600m
Beyond the Cable Car
Depart at dawn and watch the Rwenzori peaks emerge from the clouds as the sun rises over Lake George. The most magical 34 minutes in East Africa. Hot Ugandan coffee included.
$89 per person
Dine at 4,200 metres in our panoramic restaurant. Farm-to-table Ugandan cuisine with views of Margherita and Alexandra glaciers. Dinner service from 18:30 for Lodge guests.
$55 per person, dinner
Sleep at 4,200 metres in our heated lodge. Wake to glaciers at dawn and watch the clouds form below your window. Includes dinner, breakfast, and a private early morning gondola ride.
$280 per room / night
Full-day private cable car and guided access optimised for wildlife and landscape photography. Best light, locations, and moments from orchids to glacier formations.
$195 per person, full day
World-Class Benchmarks
🇺🇬 Uganda · Our System
The only cable car in Africa to traverse the equatorial snow line. Six ecosystems. Permanent glacier access. Luxury Snow Pod. Africa's most extraordinary aerial journey.
5,109mPeak Altitude · Africa's 3rd Highest🇼🇦 South Africa
Cape Town's rotating cabin system — our model for 360° panoramic gondola design, visitor management, and Swiss Doppelmayr engineering standards.
1,085mPeak Altitude🇬🇪 Georgia
The world's longest non-stop reversible cable car at 5.7km — inspired our valley-to-summit uninterrupted run across deep Rwenzori gorges.
5.7kmWorld's Longest Non-Stop🇫🇷 France / Italy
The Alps' double-deck cable car carrying 200 passengers per cabin shaped our high-capacity gondola design and alpine hospitality standards at altitude.
380Passengers Per HourReservations
Gondolas depart every 20 minutes. Advance booking recommended. Confirmation within 24 hours.
Children under 12 travel at 50% discount · Under-5s free · Travel insurance with medical evacuation strongly recommended
Contact & Reservations
Booking Policies
Quick Price Guide