Mount Elgon National Park

Mount Elgon National Park is yet another of Uganda’s National Parks with a unique feature being the Mountain which attracts travelers for hiking. Mount Elgon is an extinct shield Volcano which is located at the border of Kenya and Uganda, in the north of Kisumu and Kitale. Mount Elgon has the highest peak called the “Wagagai” within Uganda. Mount Elgon is 25 million years old making it the oldest extinct volcano in East Africa.

Mount Elgon, is Africa’s highest Mountain, higher than Kilimanjaro which is current 6,895m millennia of erosion which has reduced its height to 4,432m, Mount Elgon is the 4th highest peak in East Africa and 8th in the world.

Mount Elgon is home to two tribes i.e. the Sabiny and Bagisu. The Bagisu are also known as the Bamasaba.

Mount Elgon is located at the Uganda-Kenya border. The vast forms 80km in diameter which is more than 4,000m above the plains, the park provides refuge for fauna and flora.

Mount Elgon National park is home to over 400 bird species.

There are a number of activities to encounter including climbing the Mountains, to reach the top to Wagagai peak. Other park activities include Biking, Hiking, Abseiling, Adventure, Nature walks, caving, waterfalls, Culture visits, Hot springs, Ancient Rock paintings, and visiting sipi Falls among others.

Mount Elgon is the best safari destination. Visiting Mount Elgon National Park can be combined with the Jinja trip as well as a starting point of the Northern Uganda safari tours to Kidepo valley National park.

Bird watching is another activity to encounter and see a number of bird species including the African Hill Babbler, Alpine chat, Mountain Yellow warbler, Grey cuckoo shrie, Dusky Turtle Dove, Eastern bronze napped pigeon, Hartlaubsn Turaco.

You can enjoy the fishing trout and you can be surprised to catch a big Nile Perch.

Budadiri Community walk-in Mount Elgon; the community walk based in Budadiri is the best cultural center to enjoy the dances, coffee tours, nature walks, Malewa meals and many more.

You can also engage in a trail to the Namugabwe caves, through the Bamasaba community land and Banana plantations for a great historical opportunity.

Bagisu–Imbalu: Enjoy the Bagisu community cultural tour where they circumcise boys. It’s a cultural ritual whereby any Mugisu boy must be circumcised to become a man. You will enjoy the celebration as family and friends circumcise and females gather to look at the new eligible bachelors.

You can also decide to visit theNyero rock paintings which are ancient rock paintings, where the first ancient people used to dwell.

Accommodation in Mount Elgon is provided in Suam Guest House (UWA), Kapkwata (Piswa trailhead) Kapkwai, Forest Exploration Center Bandas, student hostel campsite, Masha Hotel, Noah’s Ark Hotel, Savanna Guesthouse, Sipi Falls area, Sipi River Lodge, The Crow’s Nest Camp, Sipi Falls Resort, Moses’ Campsite, Twilight Campsite ,Lacam Lodge, Community-run Camp Mbale Resort Hotel, Mt. Elgon Hotel, Kayegi Hotel ,Green Gardens, Wash and Wills Country Home and many more.