Mountain Elgon National Park

Mountain Elgon National Park known as The world’s largest mountain caldera

Mountain Elgon National Park is situated in eastern Uganda, at the border of Uganda and Kenya. The park spans to districts of Mbale, Budduda, Sironko and Kapchorwa. The park is named after mountain Elgon which is an extinct shield volcano. The Uganda part of the park was gazetted in 1992 and the Kenya part was gazetted in 1968. The park was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Mountain Elgon national covers a total area of about 1,279 square kilometers, the Ugandan part covers the biggest area of about 1,110km² and the Kenyan part covers about 169km².

The slopes of Mountain Elgon are a home to about 75 mammal species which include elephants, buffaloes, a variety of small antelopes and duiker, leopards, hyenas, forest monkeys, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys among others. The park is also home to over 300 bird species with 12 endemic birds that can’t be seen in any part of Uganda. Some of these species include Jackson’s spurfowl, the eastern bronze-naped pigeon, Hartlaub’s turaco, Tacazze sunbird, lammergeier and many more.

Attractions in mountain Elgon national park

The park has a variety of attractions and these include mountain Elgon which is the major attraction, cliffs, calderas, gorges, mountain peaks, hot springs in the former volcano’s crater which bubble up to 48⁰C, water falls like sipi waterfall, caves like Kitum cave which has natural salt walls that the elephants and buffaloes come to lick.

Activities carried out in Mountain Elgon national park.

Wildlife viewing

The park is a habitant to about 75 mammal species which elephants, buffaloes, blue monkeys, small antelope, bush pigs, spotted hyenas, leopards and many more.

Hiking/ mountain climbing

Hiking mountain Elgon to wagagai peak, which is the highest peak of mount Elgon is one of the major activities carried out in mount Elgon national park. The hiking trails in the park include;

The Sasa trail, this is the easily accessed and the shortest route to the peak though its steep. It takes about 4 days to climb to the peak using this trail. The Sipi trail, this is the longest trail to access the peaks and it takes about 4 to 6 days. This trail is through the northwestern mountainside through Tutum cave to the caldera and then to Wagagai peak. The piswa trail, this trail is notable for its rich wildlife and beautiful views of the Karamoja plains in Uganda. This trail takes about 7 days and it passes the hot springs to the caldera and then to Wagagai peak.

Bird watching

The park is a home to over 300 bird species with 12 endemic birds that can’t be seen in any part of Uganda for example Mackinnon’s fiscal, African Goshawk, African blue flycatcher, cinnamon bee eater, bronze-napped pigeons, black collared apalis among others.

Cave exploration

Mount Elgon has a number of caves which include Kapkwai cave, Khauka cave, Tutum cave, Kitum cave, which is the most visited and it is on the Kenyan side. The cave has natural salt walls which attracts animals like elephants, bushbucks, buffaloes and hyenas to come to consume the salt.

Guided nature walks

The guided nature walks in mountain Elgon national park can take up to a full day from Budadiri to the Mudange cliffs, which are known as the walls of death, at the boundary of the park.

Cultural encounters

Mountain Elgon is a home to two tribes which are the Bagisu and Sabiny. This activity gives an opportunity to visitors to experience the cultural and traditional ways of the Bagisu and Sabiny people for example learning how they cook their local food, their traditional dances and songs among others.

How to get to Mountain Elgon national park

By road, the park lies 235km east of Kampala via Jinja to Mbale town which takes about 4 hours.

By air, a flight from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Soroti airstrip or Kisumu airfield.

The park has four gates namely Kiptogot, Chorlim, Kimoton and Kassawai.

Best time to visit the park

The park is accessible throughout the year though the best time to visit is during the dry season between June to August and December to March.

Accommodations in the park

The luxury accommodations include Mise Cave lodge, Rock Garden sipi, Mt Elgon Hotel, Sipi Sunset lodge among others.

Mid range lodges include Kamorok falls View lodge and Mount Elgon Guest House.

Budget lodges include Sipi Travellers lodge, Sunrise homestay, Sipi, Zaale Homestay,