Super User 25 July 2023

Best Travel Guide To Mount Elgon Hiking/Climbing Wildlife In Uganda

Hiking Mount Elgon in Uganda is the most rewarding safari experience in Africa. Mount Elgon is the second highest in Uganda right after Mt Rwenzori sitting at 4,321 m (14,177 ft.) above sea level and 7^th highest in Africa, located in eastern Uganda on the border with Kenya. The highest peak was Wagagai, which was named after Masaba’s wife who was the King of the region at the time. It’s home to Mount Elgon National Park.

About Mount Elgon;

Mt. Elgon is a massive extinct volcano that first erupted more than 24 million years ago making it the oldest and largest solitary, volcanic mountain in the world. Elgon has the largest volcanic base in the world. Its vast form, 80km in diameter, rises more than 3,000m above the surrounding plains.

Mount Elgon's highest Peaks;

Mt Elgon has four high peaks which are shared among the two East African countries. The highest peak is Wagagai Peak which stands at 4,321 meters and is located on the Ugandan side. Other peaks in Mt Elgon include Jackson's Summit which stands at 4,165 meters, Kiongo Peak at 4,303, and Mubiyi at 4,210 meters. Mount Elgon’s highest peaks lie along a jagged rim that encloses a giant caldera, the largest in the world, 8 km across.

Mount Elgon hike doesn’t require any technical experience or special equipment. 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 such as Afromontany botany, with a milder climate and lower elevation.

The unique thing about climbing Mount Elgon is not reaching the Wagagai peak but descending from the peak to spot the largest caldera on Earth. Climbing Mount Elgon takes between 4 to 6 days depending on the trail used.

Mount Elgon's Hiking Trails;

There are 3 main routes to ascend the summit of Mount Elgon; Sasa trailhead at Budadiri, Sipi trailhead at Forest Exploration center-Kapkwai, and Piswa trailhead at Kapkwata. Visitors can only climb the mountain with the company of armed guide rangers.

It’s camping throughout the hike.

The Sasa Trail:

This is the shortest trail of the three and it normally takes 3-4 days to make a round trip.

Since it’s the shortest route to the peak and the most direct access option to reach the Wagagai summit. It’s also the most used by hikers. However, it has the roughest and most rugged ascend on day one.

It ascends from the small town of Budadiri at an elevation of 1,250 meters in the Sironko Valley. The beginning of the trail also goes through communities where visitors can learn about the local’s livelihood and see hectares of Uganda’s famous Arabica coffee.

Visitors are also able to go through the largest bamboo forest within the park, climb the “Wali Death ladders” and also through Jackson’s pool.

The Sipi Trail:

At 56km, the Sipi trail is considered the longest and the hardest of the three – taking 4-7 days to make a round trip. This hike starts at UWA’s Forest Exploration Center at Kapkwai at an elevation of 2,050 m, starting 800 meters higher than the Sasa trail.

On this trail, visitors get the opportunity to see the Tutum cave which is shrouded in the forest. If you opt for this trail, It’s recommendable to descend via the Sasa trail since is quite easier, and shorter and you can enjoy a different kind of vegetation.

The Piswa Trail:

This is considered to be the easiest of all trails but also a bit longer considering that it is 49 km long. The trail starts from Kapkwata through the Podocarpus forest and offers a chance to see some wildlife species and birds. It also allows viewing of some Kenyan hills such as Kapeguria and Nandi. At the top visitors can see the Hot springs.

A highlight of any ascent of Mount Elgon is the traverse through the distinctive vegetation zones found only in East Africa’s Mountains. The lowest of these zones, between the park boundary and the 2,500-meter contour, is a montane forest. This gives way to bamboo (2,500 m-3,000 m) followed by groves of giant heather (3,000 m-3,500 m). Above 3,500 meters, the Mountainside opens into a moorland dotted with outlandish forms of giant lobelias and groundsels.

Though Hiking Mountains is done almost all year round, the best time to climb Mt Elgon is during the drier months of June to August and from December to February since some parts of Eastern Uganda experience heavy rains and mudslides, which can be dangerous.

Sasa trailhead is recommendable on ascending and Sipi trailhead on descending to be able to experience different landscapes and features within the park. This is because the Sasa trail is the shortest and can easily be accessed from Mbale where most hikers come from. Also descending via the Sipi trail means that you’ll have easy access to the Sipi Falls, which is one of the must-visit places in Uganda

Book with Ultimate Wildlife Safaris to enjoy a hike of Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda.

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