About Mount Elgon National park
Elgon National park is found mountain Elgon on the border of Kenya and Uganda and covers and an area of about 1279 km2. Elgon is an extinct Volcano and is the 4th highest mountain in East Africa reaching 4321 meters. The park has magnificent waterfalls, caves, gorges and hot springs. It has got the largest volcanic base in the world. Located on the Uganda-Kenya border it is also the oldest and largest solitary, volcanic mountain in East Africa. Its vast form, 80km in diameter, rises more than 3,000m above the surrounding plains. The mountain’s cool heights offer respite from the hot plains below, with the higher altitudes providing a refuge for flora and fauna.
Mount Elgon National Park, Uganda
Mount Elgon National Park is home to over 300 species of birds, including the endangered Lammergeyer. Small antelopes, forest monkeys, elephants and buffaloes also live on the mountainside. A climb on Mt. Elgon’s deserted moorlands unveils a magnificent and uncluttered wilderness without the summit-oriented approach common to many mountains: the ultimate goal on reaching the top of Mt. Elgon is not the final ascent to the 4321m Wagagai Peak, but the descent into the vast 40km² caldera.
How to access Mountain Elgon National Park
From Kampala’s capital Kampala, Mount Elgon lies 235 km on a tarmac road which runs through Jinja to Mbale. From Mbale to Kapchorwa you will follow a Murram road. To access mountain Elgon, there are three routes leading you to the peak of the mountain (Sipi, Sasa, and Piswa trail). You need not to have specialized climbing skills and specialized equipment to hike mountain Elgon. Climbing the mountain to its highest peak Wagagai which is 4321 meters is quite interesting and unforgettable experience.
Attractions /Activities at Elgon National park
Bird watching
The thick scrub along the Chebonet River supports a number of birds including the African Goshawk, White-chinned Prinia, African Blue Fly-catchers, chin-spot Batis, MacKinnon’s Fiscal Doherty and the Baglafecht weaver.
Flora and fauna
While on the mountain, you will ascend Mt.Elgon fascinating slopes and pass through a dense montane forest mixed with bamboo belts. You will enter the interesting moorland zones with a variety of species. There is a lot of wildlife including Colobus Monkey, Blue Monkey, and hundreds of attractive bird species, including Golden-Winged, Hartlaub’s Black, Turacos, Tacazze sunbirds, Ross’s and White Casqued and Crowned Hornbills, the endangered Lammergeier and the Jackson’s Francolin which is found nowhere else in Uganda.
Trekking trail heads and routes
There are two routes which lead to the mountains peaks. These include Salsa trail (Buddukiro) and is the most easily accessible from Mbale. It passes through the park’s largest area of bamboo forest. The full trekking circuits to the peaks takes 4-5 days to complete.
Camping
Five basic campsites are located at strategic points along the trekking circuits. There is no camping which is allowed within the caldera and all necessary camping equipment must be carried with you.
Where to stay
Accommodation can be got at Kapwata (Pisawa trailed) where there Kapkwata Guesthouse, Suam Guest. There is also Sipi River Lodge Crow’s Nest Camp and Sipi falls Resort, Moses’ Campsite, Twilight campsite and Lacam Lodge at Sipi falls area. In Budadiri area, there is Rose’s Last Chance community. Along then Sasa Trail, there is Sasa River Camp. Mbale Town, there is Mbale Resort Hotel, Mountain Elgon Hotel Kayegi hotel, Green Gardens, wash and wills Country home and New mountain Elgon view hotel. In Kapchorwa area, there is Masha hotel, Noah’s Ark hotel and Savanah Guesthouse.