Mount Elgon National Park: 2024 Best Guide & Activities + Safaris
Mount Elgon National Park Uganda (Safaris & Activities) Guide – The World’s Largest Caldera. Our complete guide on Mount Elgon National Park Uganda is all you need to know about this beautiful park. Here you’ll find the most up-to-date information on the park’s attractions, activities, best times to visit, location, and lodging options.
Mount Elgon National Park | Uganda
We also go on to show you how to effectively organize your safari and provide sample packages with a free estimate to assist you in planning your Mount Elgon National Park Uganda Mountain Climbing Trip. It’s a more favorable hiking destination compared to the higher Rwenzori Mountains. Mount Elgon is also hosting about 300 bird species and is surrounded by the tribes of the Bagisu and Sabiny that you can visit for a cultural tour.
Mount Elgon National Park, Uganda’s oldest physical feature, is located in Eastern Uganda near the Kenyan border and has a total area of 1,121 square kilometers at its highest point. It has the world’s largest volcanic base, which is 80 kilometers in circumference. It is a better hiking location than the upper Rwenzori Mountains. Mount Elgon is also home to over 300 bird species and is surrounded by the Bagisu and Sabiny tribes, both of which can be visited for a cultural experience. Mount Elgon National Park is 140 kilometers (87 miles) northeast of Lake Victoria. Mt. Elgon National Park is 1,279 square kilometers (494 square miles) in size and is divided between Kenya and Uganda. The Ugandan portion of the park encompasses 1,110 km2 (430 sq mi), while the Kenyan portion encompasses 169 km2 (65 sq. mi). The Kenyan portion of the park was gazetted in 1968, while the Ugandan portion was gazetted in 1992.
Mt. Elgon National Park, established in 1968, is an isolated magnificence of untamed wilderness. Aside from the mountain summit, the park is home to a variety of species and stunning landscapes, including cliffs, caverns, waterfalls, gorges, and hot springs.
Mount Elgon National Park Uganda Map
Activities and Attractions in Mount Elgon National Park
Climbing Mount Elgon, Uganda
Tourist activities on the mountain cater to various levels of ambition. Visitors can make extended hikes to the summits, take day/half-day walks through the forest on the lower edge of the park, or simply relax in resorts overlooking delightful waterfalls just outside the park at Sipi.
Mountain Climbing;
An ascent of Mount Elgon represents an exciting alternative to longer and more strenuous climbs on East Africa’s higher mountains. Elgon offers comparable attractions, including Afromontane botany, with a milder climate and lower elevation. No special equipment or technical experience is required.
A number of routes ascend, to the summit of Mount Elgon. The Sasa trail ascends to the 4321m Wagaga peak from the small town off Budadiri (1250m a.s.l) in the Sironko Valley. The shortest and most direct option, it is possible to reach the summit and descend to Budadiri in 3 or (more comfortably) 4 days. The Sipi Trail follows a longer but gentler route, starting 800 higher than Budadiri at UWA’s Forest Exploration Centre at Kapkwai (2050m). A highlight of any ascent of Mount Elgon is the traverse through the distinctive vegetation zones found only on East Africa’s highest mountains. The lowest of these zones, between the park boundary and the 2500m contour is montane forest. This gives way to bamboo (2,500-3,000m) followed by groves of giant heather (3000-3500m). Above 3500m, the mountainside opens into moorland dotted with outlandish forms of giant lobelias and groundsels.
Forest Walks;
Trails of varying lengths explore the forest around the forest Exploration Centre passing caves, waterfalls, and viewpoints and providing the opportunity to observe birds – including African Goshawk, Chubb’s cisticola, White-chinned Prinia, and African blue flycatcher – and primates.
Outside The Park
Sipi Falls
The 7km section of the Sipi Valley immediately outside the national park is improbably scenic as the river plunges over three sets of basalt cliffs during its descent to the plains beneath. These have given rise to a cluster of tourist lodges and a variety of activities.
Mountain Biking;
Mountain bike excursions range from casual exploration of many lovely trails in the vicinity to the challenging Elgon Enduro hosted by Sipi River Lodge.
Rock Climbing;
Many of the basalt cliffs around Sipi have been bolted and can safely be climbed. Contact Sipi River Lodge or the Mountain Club of Uganda for details.
Fly Fishing;
Fishermen can cast a line for rainbow trout on the Sipi River between the park boundary and the highest of the three waterfalls st Sipi. Again contact Kabira Safaris for details.
Coffee tour;
Uganda’s finest coffee is produced from Arabica beans grown on Mount Elgon. Take a guided tour of a coffee garden to see how the beans are grown and ground.
