Arguably one of the best mountain climbing destinations in Uganda, Mount Elgon National Park is every adventure seeker’s playground.
Size and Location of Mount Elgon National Park
Located in the East Uganda, Mount Elgon National Park sprawls for about 1121 square kilometers and protects the extinct volcano that is popular for being one of the country’s oldest physical features. Known for being one of the Continent’s highest Mountains, Elgon once stood at 5895 meters above but given the millennia of repeated erosion, it now stands at about 4321 hence making it the 4th highest mountain summit in the East African region as well as 8th in the African Continent.
Mount Elgon boasts of a 4000-square kilometer Volcanic base, hence making it the largest in the entire World. The National Park that protects this beautiful Mountain sits on the Uganda-Kenya Border with its slopes sheltering a wide range of fauna and flora.
History of Mount Elgon National Park
Named after Mount Elgon, the National Park was first gazetted as a Forest Reserve in 1929 by the Uganda Protectorate Administration. It was then managed by the Forestry Department but in 1992 it became a National Park with management shifting to Uganda Wildlife Authority to protect the rich diversity of the area that was at the time facing extinction, resulting from habitat encroachment, poaching and illegal sale of bush meat.
Highlights
Mount Elgon National Park is a stronghold for about 90 mammals species that include the black and white colobus monkeys, bush pigs, Olive baboons, duikers, forest elephants, DeBrazza’s monkeys, Civets, Blue monkeys, Giant forest hogs, tree squirrels, Bushbucks, Vervet monkeys, leopards, red-tailed monkeys, Oribis, Defassa waterbucks, serval cats, Aardvarks, duikers, spotted hyenas, blue monkeys, forest buffaloes and several species of rodents that can’t be found elsewhere in Uganda.
Guided nature walks
Mount Elgon is crisscrossed by different hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty, each rewarding visitors with breathtaking views. These Trails make it possible to spot different forest animals, beautifully colorful bird species and even mountain vegetation. Try the full day walk from Budadiri to the spectacular Mudange Cliffs (also referred as the walls of death) at the edge of the Park. Better still, try the walk to Sipi falls and surrounding areas.
Mountain Climbing
Climbing the spectacular Mount Elgon is another tempting and irresistible thing to do in this Park with most visitors trying out the Sasa Trail through community land and this takes up to four days to complete. This trail involves passing through Jackson’s pool (natural pool) before making way to Wagagai peak. Other travellers try the Sipi trail lasting 4-6 days through Tutum Cave, entering the Caldera until the highest peak. There is also the 7-day Piswa Trail starting from Kapkwata village on the northern part of the Mountain to the Podacarpus forest while enjoying views of Karamoja plains and the far flung Kapeguria hills in Kenya.
Mountain Biking
There are a number of biking trails that crisscross the borders of Mount Elgon, and start from Sipi Trading Center to Chema Hill in the Town of Kapchorwa. With this adventure, visitors ride for one and a half hours while relishing views of the breathtaking waterfalls as well as the sweeping Karamoja Plains. The Activity is usually organized by Sipi River Lodge, where the bikes can also be hired.
Bird watching
Mount Elgon National Park offers unforgettable bird watching opportunities in different areas that include Kapkwai Forest Exploration Center where Cinnamon bee-eaters, African Goshawk, Hartlaub’s Turaco, African blue flycatcher, Bronze napped pigeons, Tacazze sunbirds, Chubb’s Cisticola, Chinspot Batis, African Goshawk, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, Baglafecht weavers and Black Kites can be spotted.
Village/Community Tours
Village/Community Tours around Mount Elgon National Park are mainly focused on coffee tours to learn about coffee growing, picking, drying, roasting to the point of drinking. The Mount Elgon region is where the country’s finest Arabica coffee is grown and for your tours, visit the Sipi Widows’ Group, Budadiri Community Walks Ecotourism Experience and many other projects. Besides coffee tours, these village tours also introduce visitors to the culture of Sabiny and Bagisu people that also involves Imbalu (public male circumcision).
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing is another activity that can be enjoyed by visitors to Mount Elgon National Park and is conducted around Sipi falls area. Visitors are provided with different routes of varying levels of difficulty. The easiest roc climbing route is 15 meters while the most difficult is about 35 meters
How do i get there ?
By Road
Set in the East of Uganda, Mount Elgon National Park is about 235 kilometers of Kampala and is reachable by a tarmac road through Jinja, Iganga, Soroti and Mbale followed by dirt road to the Park’s different trailheads.
By Flight
Charter a flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Soroti Airport (about 94 kilometers to Mbale Town), then continue to the Park or place of lodging by a 2-hour drive.