MOUNT ELGON NATIONAL PARK UGANDA, MOUNTAIN ELGON NATIONAL PARK

Things To Do in Elgon Park 

There are numerous things to do in Elgon NP, and they include the following.

1. Hiking and Trekking in Mountain Elgon NP

A hike on Mount Elgon offers a magnificent and uncluttered wilderness experience, free from the summit-oriented approach common to higher regional mountains.

Mount Elgon has three main hiking trails, which vary in length and difficulty, and they include the Sasa Trail, Piswa Trail, and Sipi Trail.

These hiking trails are accessible throughout the year and require no specialist climbing equipment. However, some, like hiking boots, are a must to enable one to climb the higher slopes.

Of the three, the Sipi Trail is the longest, covering 56 km, and the final ascent takes about 4-6 days, followed by the Piswa Track, which covers a distance of 49 km, and the Sasa Trail, the shortest but most challenging route to the peak, taking about four days.

The Sasa Trail begins at an altitude of 1,250 m and requires a tough ascent of 1,650 m on the first day.

Tourists can engage in cross-border hiking, allowing them to ascend on the Ugandan side and descend on the Kenyan side.

At elevations above 3,500 meters, Elgon’s deserted moorlands unveils a prehistoric landscape of endemic giant lobelias and groundsels, standing like sentinels across the high-altitude plains.

While at the summit of Mount Elgon, hikers are treated to panoramic views of a massive 40 km² caldera, Endebess Bluff, Koitoboss Peak, and other peaks, sweeping moorland scenery, unique flora like giant groundsels, endemic lobelia elgonensis, and others.

2. Guided Forest and Nature Walks.

Guided forest and nature walks provide a comprehensive exploration of diverse ecosystems, including mixed bamboo forests and montane tropical forests.

Through these guided excursions, visitors gain a deeper understanding of the natural world.

3. Birding in Elgon National Park

There are numerous bird species, making Elgon NP a popular destination for birding tours in Uganda.

Some of the 300 bird species you may spot when bird watching include the African goshawk, the African blue flycatcher, the cinnamon-chested bee-eater, the Tacazze sunbird, Weyn’s weaver, the moorland francolin, and the black-collared apalis, among others.

4. Mountain Biking

Mountain biking is among the fun things to do for visitors to Elgon National Park. The Uganda Wildlife Authority opened mountain biking trails in 2012, and these run from Sipi Trading Center to Chema Hill in Kapchorwa for a distance of 1,775 meters.

The bikes used can be rented at Sipi River Lodge, and the whole experience takes 1 ½ hours.

5. Game Drives

These wilderness drives are primarily conducted on the lower slopes and in the Kapkwai Forest Exploration Centre area, as well as along the trails surrounding the scenic Sipi Falls.

These drives focus on spotting different animals like buffalo, bushbucks, and elephants, among others, in the forest corridor.

6. Cultural Encounters

The Mount Elgon area is home to three tribes: the Sabiny, the Bagisu, and the marginalized Ndorobo tribe, which makes it a good place for cultural encounters.

The Sabiny tribe speaks Sebei, while the Bagisu speak a dialect of the Lumasaba language called Lugisu.

Among the cultural practices, the Bagisu and Sabiny conduct circumcision ceremonies every two years to initiate young men into adulthood.

The Bagisu believe that Mt. Elgon is the embodiment of their founding father, Masaba, and refer to the mountain as Masaba, which serves as a deeply spiritual, cultural, and ancestral site for them.

Both the Sabiny and Bagisu tribes practice subsistence farming in the Mount Elgon region, and they grow different food crops.

Local communities around the mountain have agreements with the Elgon NP to continue harvesting resources such as bamboo poles and shoots.

On a cultural tour, visitors have an opportunity to witness the circumcision, the traditional music, and the dance.

7. Cave Exploration in Mount Elgon National Park

Given the numerous caves, Elgon National Park remains one of the best places for cave exploration when on a Uganda holiday.

Some of the caves to explore include Kapkwai Cave, Khauka Cave, Siyo Cave, Mude Cave, Yatui Cave, Chepnyalil Cave, Mise Cave, and Kitum Caves.

8. Hiking to the Sipi Falls

Visitors to Mt Elgon NP have an opportunity to hike to Sipi Falls, one of the major highlights in the region. The Sipi Falls make Elgon NP one of the best national parks for adventure safaris in Africa.

They typically visit all three falls, each with its own character. The Main falls stand at 100 m, the middle fall (Simba) at 75 m, and the upper fall (Ngasire) at 85 m.

9. Camping

Camping in Elgon National Park is one of the captivating activities that offers rugged, high-altitude experiences.

There are campsites along hiking trails, and they include Koitoboss and Makutano, which feature simple, non-luxury, and self-camping options.

10. Game Viewing

Game viewing in the untamed wilderness of Elgon NP offers an off-the-beaten-path experience that focuses on forest-dwelling wildlife and primates like the blue monkey rather than savannah species.

Commonly spotted animals include elephants, buffalo, leopards, hyenas, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and De Brazza’s monkeys, among others.

Cost Incurred When Visiting Elgon National Park 

There are fees associated with entry to Elgon NP, differentiated by foreign non-residents, foreign residents, and East African citizens.

Park Entrance Fee -H3

Costs for Safari Activities at Elgon National Park 

Best Time to Visit Mount Elgon NP 

Mount Elgon NP is accessible year-round, but the best time to visit is during the dry seasons of June to August and November to March.

During the dry season, the hiking trails are dry, making it easy to hike to different points of the mountain and the entire conservation area.

The rainy season is always avoided because it is characterized by heavy rain, mud, and cold conditions, which make climbing challenging.

How to Get to Mount Elgon National Park 

Mount Elgon National Park is accessible by road and air.

By Air

By air, visitors can take a flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Soroti Airfield, which is about 100 km from the park. From Soroti, the road trip takes 1 hour to Mbale or Kapchorwa.

From Kenya, visitors can fly to Eldoret Airport, which is 70 km away from the Elgon NP.

By Road

By road, the journey from Kampala to Mount Elgon NP is about 235 km. This journey can be travelled either by private or public means.

The most common route passes through Mbale City, from where you can drive to Budadiri or Kapkwai. Budadiri is the base for the Sasa Trail, the shortest and most direct route to Wagagai Peak.

From Kenya, Elgon NP can be reached from Nairobi by driving to Kitale Town and following a well-signposted dirt road to the park. Visitors from Kenya enter the Elgon NP through Chorlim Gate, which is the main gate.

Where to Stay Near Mount Elgon NP? 

There are several accommodations near Mount Elgon, and these include Elgon Lodge, Sipi River Lodge, Mount Elgon Hotel and Spa, and Kapkwai Cottages, among others.

• Sipi River Lodge offers luxury accommodation with spectacular views of Mount Elgon NP.
• Kapkwai Cottages provides budget accommodation at the entrance of Mount Elgon NP.
• Mount Elgon Hotel and Spa is a restored colonial-style luxury hotel situated on Masaba Road, offering a spectacular view of the gardens and the volcano.

Public campsites within the Elgon NP also provide standard amenities and do not require prior booking.

What to Pack When Visiting Mount Elgon NP? 

Visitors are advised to carry personal effects when visiting Mount Elgon. Some of them include the following:

Clothing And Gear

• Long-sleeved shirts
• Waterproof trousers
• Sweaters and a heavy fleece
• Hiking boots
• High-quality rain jackets
• Wide-brimmed hat
• Scarf
• Garden gloves

Hiking Equipment

• Waterproof daypack
• Walking stick
• Headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries
• Tent and mats for camping
• High-quality sleeping bag

Other Supplies and Personal Items

• Enough water and high-energy snacks
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Camera and binoculars
• Toiletries like soap and wet wipes
• First aid kit with medicine like acetazolamide for altitude sickness

Documents And Cash

• Documents like a passport, a yellow fever vaccination card, and a visa.
• Cash accepted is the Ugandan shilling.

Best Tour Operators to Book with For a Trip in Elgon NP

1. Prime Safaris And Tours Ltd
2. Wild Gorilla Safaris
3. Safari Uganda Safaris
4. Gorilla Safaris And Tours
5. A Uganda Safari
6. Africa Safaris Tours
7. Uganda Birding Safaris
8. Gorilla Trekking Uganda

Mount Elgon National Park FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What Is Mountain Elgon National Park Known For? 

Mountain Elgon NP is known for harboring the world’s largest intact mountain caldera (40 km²) and the largest volcanic base (4,000 km²).

2. What Animals Are in Mount Elgon National Park? / What Animals Are in the Elgon National Park? 

There is a variety of forest-dwelling animals living in the untamed wilderness of Mount Elgon NP. These include forest elephants, spotted hyenas, buffaloes, leopards, and various monkeys, such as black-and-white colobus monkeys and red-tailed monkeys, among others.

3. What Are the Charges at Mount Elgon National Park? 

The daily entrance fee for Mount Elgon NP is USD 35 for foreign nonresidents, USD 25 for foreign residents, and UGX 15000 for East African citizens.

4. Where Is Mount Elgon Located?

Mount Elgon, a volcanic mountain, is located directly on the Uganda-Kenya border in Uganda’s eastern region. It lies approximately 140 kilometers northeast of Lake Victoria, and its highest point, Wagagai, lies entirely in Uganda.

It is surrounded by towns like Mbale, Budadiri, and Kapchorwa in Uganda and Kitale in Kenya.

5. How Much Does It Cost to Climb Mount Elgon?

Climbing Mount Elgon NP costs $50 per day for foreign non-residents, $40 per day for foreign residents, and 50,000 UGX for East African citizens.

6. Which Country Owns Mt. Elgon? 

Mount Elgon is shared by Uganda and Kenya. Though it is shared, the largest portion of approximately 1110 km² lies within Uganda, and the smaller portion of roughly 169 km² lies in Kenya.

Unleash your adventurous spirit by reaching out to us today to secure your slot for an unforgettable mountaineering safari at Mountain Elgon National Park.

Experience thrilling mountain climbs to Endebess Bluff and other peaks, biking trails, horse riding, bird watching, exploring caves like Kitum cave, self-guided walking trails, and a lot more in the magnificent and untrammelled wilderness.