Mount Elgon National park covers an area of 1,121km², located in the Eastern part of Uganda, about 5hrs drive from Kampala. This extinct volcano is one of Uganda’s oldest physical features, first erupting around 24 million years ago.
Mt Elgon was once Africa’s highest mountain, far exceeding Kilimanjaro’s current 5,895m. Millennia of erosion have reduced its height to 4,321m, relegating it to the 4th highest peak in East Africa and 8th on the continent.
Mt Elgon is home to two tribes, the Bagisu and the Sabiny, with the marginalized Ndorobos forced to dwell deep within the forest of Benet. The Bagisu, also known as the BaMasaba, consider Mount Elgon to be the embodiment of their founding father Masaba and refer to the mountain by this name.
At 4,000km² Mt. Elgon has 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 is home to over 300 species of birds, including the endangered Lammergeyer. Small antelopes, forest monkeys, elephants and buffalos also live on the mountainside. The higher slopes are protected by national parks in Uganda and Kenya, creating an extensive trans-boundary conservation area which has been declared a UNESCO Man & Biosphere Reserve.
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.
To fully explore Mt. Elgon hiking, you need 5 days starting from Sippi and coming out from Budadiri or vice versa. Here you experience different trails on this mountain.
White water rafting in jinja and Mabira Forest Walk
You combing 2 adventures at ago, white water rafting in Jinja and mt. Elgon trekking. Jinja is along the route to Mbale (mt. Elgon National park). You can also enjoy a memorable walk in Mabira forest for different bird species, primates and plant species.
More mountain hiking adventures available at Rwenzori Mountains in Western part of Uganda as well as Mount Mgahinga, and in Rwanda, mountain hiking can be done in Volcanoes National Park, Karisimbi and Bishoke mountains.
