Mount Elgon National Park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve located along the border between Uganda and Kenya. The park covers an area of 494 square miles. A larger part (430 square miles) of the park is on the Ugandan side of the border. The Ugandan section was elevated from a forest reserve into a national park in 1992. The park gets its name from Mount Elgon which is a prominent physical mountaineering feature in the park.
Mount Elgon is an extinct volcano that erupted over twenty-four million years ago. It is the highest volcanic mountain in East Africa and the 8th highest mountain in Africa. Mount Elgon has the largest caldera in the world which is about 60 kilometers long and 40 kilometers wide.
The Caldera is a result of magma getting drained from the bottom leading to the collapse of the cone. Scientists believe that at one point in time, Mount Elgon was the highest mountain in Africa before millions of years of erosion reduced its height substantially.
The main tribes living on the Ugandan side of the park are the Sabiny and Bagisu. These tribes rely on subsistence farming. The Bagisu has specialized in the growing of Arabica coffee which does well in the fertile soils on the lower slopes of the mountains. The higher slopes of the mountains are protected and managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority in close cooperation with its Kenyan counterparts.
The fertile slopes of Mount Elgon encourage the group of vegetation that varies depending on altitude. They include montane forests in the lower areas, bamboo forests on higher grounds, and alpine moorlands towards the summit. Over 400 species of plants and 143 birds have been recorded. Half of Uganda’s species of butterflies are found in Mount Elgon National Park with the endangered Maathai’s Lonleg dragonfly discovered in 2000. The lower slopes of the mountains support a variety of mammals like black-and-white colobus, blue monkeys, buffalos, elephants, red-tailed monkeys, spotted hyenas, Oribis, waterbuck, Bushbucks, and smaller antelopes.
Attractions in Mount Elgon National Park
Mountain Elgon National Park, like Rwenzori National Park, is better known for mountain climbing and nature treks. Aside from reaching the summit, climbing Mount Elgon allows you to explore a vast caldera, caves, cliffs, gorges, hot springs, and waterfalls. Elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, and primates are among the major creatures found in Mount Elgon National Park.
Tourists come to the park for a variety of reasons, including game viewing, nature hikes, bird watching, cave exploration, and camping. various tourist Activities can be arranged both inside and outside the park, to areas such as Sipi Falls and Kapchorwa’s wildlife reserves. The following tourism activities are explored in greater detail:
Climbing Mount Elgon: The Park offers benefits over the Rwenzori Mountains and Mount Kilimanjaro. It is cheap, less demanding, and has temperatures that are comfortable even at the summit. The most unusual aspect of ascending Mount Elgon is descending from the peak to see the world’s largest caldera.
Mount Elgon can be climbed in 4 to 6 days, depending on the route taken. The Sasa Trail, Pisa Trail, and Sipi Trail are the three main starting points. The Sasa Route is a shorter trail with significant ascents. It begins near Mbale town and takes only four days to reach the summit despite being the most direct path which passes through the park’s bamboo forest.
The Pisa trail is the second. It begins in woodland at Kapkwata and travels across vast forests. This is the longest (7 days), however, there are few steep sections. The trail allows visitors to see the park’s animals and wildlife. The Sipi Route, the third trail, starts at the Kapkwai Forest Exploration Center, and it takes about 4-6 days to hike to the peak.
Hikers can use the Sipi Trail to climb and the Sasa Trail to descend to get the best and most comprehensive views of the mountain features. Though those who finish their hike in Kenya need documentation to cross the border, more daring hikers might start from the Ugandan side and finish on the Kenyan side. The migration office in Mbale can assist with obtaining the necessary paperwork for crossing the border into Kenya.
Exploring the Mount Elgon Caves: Visitors who find it challenging to climb the mountain might choose to go on different excursions on the slopes and explore the many caves that are located there. Elephants and antelopes, among other park animals, come to these caverns to suck the salt off the walls. The ancient caverns with prehistoric paintings, such as those in Budadiri. Due to their design and the large number of bats that live there, the Khauka and Kapkwai caves in Wanale are popular with tourists. These bats in the park produce manure in the form of droppings which fertilize the soil.
The indigenous people and their domesticated animals found shelter in these tunnels. A trip to the Nyero Rock Painting Caves west of Mbale is also recommended on your Uganda adventure tours. The earliest humans to walk the earth were once housed in these caves. They made their mark by creating incredible artworks that reflect the lifestyle they led many years ago.
Bird watching: Finding species that are unique to Mount Elgon National Park entails bird watching. The dense bushes of the park, the Cheptui waterfall, and the Forest Exploration Center in Kapwai are just a few locations where birds can be seen. The African Blue Fly-catchers, African Goshawk, Black and White Casqued, Chin-spot Batis, Crowned Hornbills, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Doherty’s and Luhder’s Bush-Shrikes, Golden-Winged and Tacazze sunbirds, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, Ross’s and Hartlaub’s Turacos, and White-chinned Prin. Only Uganda’s Mount Elgon National Park is home to the critically endangered Jackson’s Francolin and lammergeyer.
Visiting waterfalls: Rivers that emerge from the mountain’s summit run over cliffs to create stunning cascades. The area’s most beautiful waterfalls are the Sipi Falls. These stunning falls are just outside the park’s perimeter. In addition to Sipi Falls, there are numerous waterfalls that can be seen and marveled at. Hiking to the top of the falls takes through local village residences, farmlands, and different vegetation that add up to park attractions.
Forest and Nature Walk: In Mount Elgon National Park, the rich soils and constant rainfall encourage the growth of a dense canopy of trees and other vegetation, making journeys through the park incredibly rewarding. Visitors will see numerous birds, other animals, and a dense alpine forest while ascending the peak. Approaching the moorlands on the mountain’s slopes offers visitors stunning scenery and uncharted wilderness. Near Sipi Falls, the Forest Exploration Centre arranges day excursions that give visitors more chances to wonder at the park’s plants, peaks, valleys, caverns, and animals.
Camping: Mountain Elgon National Park and the surrounding are suitable for camping. The park authorities have set up camping bases along the mountain climbing trails for those hiking to the top of the mountain. Camping is not allowed near the caldera itself. Tourists need to move with sleeping bags, tents, rain jackets, warm clothes, and a camp stove that is fuel efficient. Tents and sleeping bags can be hired from the park office located in Mbale town.
Sport fishing: Mountain/rainbow trout are found in Sipi Falls and Mount Elgon, respectively. Fishermen are fascinated by these fish because of their stunning coloring and fascinating behavior when captured. The fish are captured and returned to the water in the Sipi section. The activity must begin in the morning for the greatest likelihood of success. Fishermen can hire guides to take them to the best fishing locations, and they have to obtain their fishing equipment and licenses.
Abseiling: Abseiling involves going down a cliff with a firm rope-like device fastened around the harness. The Sipi Falls is the only area where abseiling is organized in Uganda. The activity is well organized with good imported equipment, well-trained instructors, and guides who ensure the safety of participants.
Mountain Biking: The entire Mountain Elgon Region including Mbale and Kapchorwa has good biking routes. Biking is one of the best but uncommon experiences on a Uganda tour but once taken, it’s memorable. The best route to take is the one starting from the Sipi trading center to a hill in Cheema Kapchorwa. Kapchorwa District produces most of Uganda’s best long-distance runners. There is a running route that has been designated for training the runners near the Sipi area that can also be used by travelers for biking or jogging.
Rock Climbing: One of the well-liked activities that can be planned outside Mount Elgon National Park is rock climbing. Since the hardest climb in the Sipi area is roughly 35 meters, the Sipi Falls region is well-suited for rock climbing. The closest Tororo village, which boasts a stunning rock right next to the town center, is also accessible by car for hikers. Tororo Rock requires roughly three hours to climb. As a reward for climbing to the top, one is rewarded with stunning views of the town, surrounding towns, and Mount Elgon.
Bugisu Arabica Coffee Tour: The mountain Elgon region receives good rains and has very fertile soils that support the growth of the Bugisu Arabica coffee. Visitors can request an organized mission to learn about how coffee is planted, picked, and processed. A local guide usually leads visitors to the home of one of the prominent local farmers in the area. This activity can be done near the Sipi Falls or by going directly to the processing factory that buys and processes farmers’ products near Budadiri.
Visiting the Abuyudaya Jews: A small group of Abuyudaya Jews has lived in the Sipi and Mount Elgon areas for over 100 years. They are Jews by choice and not by birth but have converted to the Jewish tradition. The Abuyudaya Jews work together with other religious denominations like the Pentecostal churches. The group has made an impact in the surrounding communities by building schools and a large hospital with a modern dental unit. The schools follow both the Jewish and Ugandan curricula. The Abuyudaya also buys Bugisu Arabica coffee from local farmers at a reasonable price.
Community and Cultural Encounters: The Bagisu still practices an old culture of initiating young men into adulthood through a series of ceremonies that end with circumcision. No man would be allowed to marry before enduring the complete ritual process and becoming circumcised.
In the months of August and December, the whole villages of Mbale are crowded with young men singing and dancing while going to collect blessings and presents from their families before traveling for circumcision. Many people gather to witness the ceremony done in public circumcising boys in broad daylight. And from the other hand, the Sabiny people practice female circumcision but this has been declared illegal due to political pressure from female human rights organizations. Although a few still circumcise their daughters in private.
Another interesting cultural activity is the Budadiri Cultural Walk near Mount Elgon. Mount Elgon is surrounded by many local communities and cultural encounters can be done in the Budadiri community walk which offers cultural dance, coffee tours and many community walks. There is Bugisu cultural group that organizes cultural dances, storytelling, and information about their cultural heritage. This group can teach tourists how to cook and eat tasty bamboo shoots locally known as malewa.
Accessing Mount Elgon National Park
The distance between Kampala and Mount Elgon National Park is approximately 230 kilometers. The roads are well-paved and tarmac, however, traffic congestion is a concern on the Kampala-Jinja route. It takes between 4 and 5 hours to get from Kampala to Mbale through Jinja. Road travel provides opportunities to stop and explore wonderful places such as the Nile’s source and the Mabira forest.
Visitors who despise long car trips can hire a chartered flight from Entebbe International Airport to Soroti airfield near Mount Elgon. It would take around an hour to drive by road from the airfield to Mbale town or Kapchorwa.
The dry season (June-August and December-March) is the optimum time to visit Mount Elgon National Park. It is crucial to note that trekking to the summit of the mountain, as well as all other park activities, are available even in the rainy season. It is also worth noting that the mountain receives rains virtually all the year therefore, expect rain even during Uganda’s driest seasons.
Accommodation in Mount Elgon National Park
Mount Elgon provides a number of housing options both inside and outside the park. Most hotels have a mix of deluxe, mid-range, and inexpensive rooms. Mbale town, Kapchorwa town, and the Sipi Falls area all have nice hotel amenities.
Mbale Resort Hotel: This is a luxurious hotel located a few kilometers outside of Mbale. Views of Wanale Hill and Mount Elgon can be enjoyed from any of the 94 rooms the hotel has. The hotel offers lovely gardens as well as ample parking. Mbale Resort Hotel provides a number of services to its guests, including a restaurant, a large swimming pool, a bar, a gym, and a sauna
Kapkwai Forest Cottages: These cottages are positioned at the National Park’s entrance and were originally constructed for students visiting the forest exploration center, but are now open to tourists. The facility has four basic cottages and four tents, hinting that the houses may only house a few residents on any one day. The adjoining canteen sells food and beverages in case you want to buy foodstuff.
Sipi River Lodge: The lodge is located near the stunning Sipi Falls and on the Kapchorwa Mbale road. It is a short distance from one of the park’s entrances and the Forest Exploration Center Sipi River Lodge is elegantly designed and has spacious rooms. When guests have time, they can explore the magnificent caves and gardens around the falls. The hotel also conducts hikes to the summit of the mountain.
Noah’s Ark hotel: This hotel is located in Kapchorwa, on the slopes of Mount Elgon, with views of the Karamoja and Teso plains. The hotel contains premium, mid-range, and budget rooms and can accommodate up to 100 guests each day. Camping tents are offered for those who want to go camping. The hotel also organizes events such as visits to the Sipi Falls, ascends of Mount Elgon, bike races, and other simple activities that can be done within the park.
