Mount Elgon National Park

Mount Elgon national park is a scenic national park in Uganda situated on the Kenyan – Uganda border, the park is named after Mount Elgon, an extinct shield volcano and stretches around it. Mount Elgon is an extinct volcano that first erupted about 20 million years ago and has the largest intact caldera in the world measuring 40 square kilometers, Mount Elgon has the largest surface area of any extinct volcano in the world and its 4,321 meters peak is the 8^th highest peak in Africa.

Mount Elgon was once the highest mountain in Africa, however it was reduced due to erosion to its current height of 4321 meters making it the 4^th highest mountain in East Africa. Mount Elgon is also the largest solitary volcanic mountain in East Africa with Wagagai at 4321 meters being the highest peak, other peaks include Sudek at 4,303 m, Koitobis at at 4222m and Mubiyi at 4210m.

 

Hiking Mount Elgon is the main activity to do in Mount Elgon national park.

Mount Elgon National Park covering an area of 1,145 square kilometers was declared a UNESCO Man & Biosphere Reserve.

Flora and Fauna in Mount Elgon national park

Flora

Mount Elgon national park is an enormous watershed and its slopes support a rich diversity of altitudinal vegetation areas ranging from the lush montana, the mixed bamboo – belt forest to the high open moorland dotted with a really uncommon worldly plants unusual to Africa. There are also thick shrubs and luminous wild eternal flowers.

Wildlife in Mount Elgon national park

Wildlife in Mount Elgon national park inhabits on the lower slopes of the mountain, however they are rarely seen in the forest setting, and these animals include Defassa waterbuck, Elephants, Oribi, Bushbucks, Buffaloes and Spotted Hyena, also black-and-white monkeys, Colobus monkeys among others.

Birds of Mt Elgon national park

Mount Elgon national park is a home to about 296 bird species including 4 Ugandan species which are limited to only Mountain Elgon and 56 of the 87 Afrotropical highland biome species particulary Tinkerbird, Moustached Green, Moorland Francolin and Alpine Chat. Birds limited to Mount Elgon include Jackson’s Francolin, Tacazze Sunbird Black-collared Apali, and the Black-shouldered Kite.

 Other birds found in Mount Elgon national park include African Blue Fly-catcher, the African Goshawk, Chubb’s Cisticola, Tacazze, White-chinned Prinia, Chinspot Batis, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, Dohertys and Luhders Bush-shrikes, Cinnamon Bee Eater, Moustached Tinkerbird, Hartloub`s Turaco, Baglafecht Weaver among other bird species.

The native people

The slopes of Mount. Elgon national park is inhabited by 2 tribes of natives that is the Bagishu and the Sabiny, these people are substance farmers and have very intriguing cultural practices such as the yearly circumcision ceremonies done to initiate boys into manhood for the Bagishu.

Safaris and Activities to Mt Elgon National Park

Mountain Hiking

Hiking Mount Elgon is one of the amazing and adventurous activity to do in Mt. Elgon national park, hiking this volcano is a less strenuous climb when compared to other mountains in East Africa but still offer scenic views.

Hiking Mount Elgon is done using several routes and trail heads ranging from 1 day walks to several days, these trails include

• The Sasa trail – the shortest trailbut steepest route to the peaks taking only 4 days, this trail leads you through the bamboo forest and Jackson’s pool.
• The Sipi Trail – taking 4-6 days of hiking, the trail starts at the forest exploration center at Kapkwai – tutum cave.
• The Piswa trail – taking 7 days of hiking- round trip starting at a village off Kapkwata – Podocarps forest.

 Note: one can combine different trails, ascending by Sipi trails and descending along Sasa trail, this allows you to experience more features of the mountain.

 While hiking Mount Elgon, you will need porters (local people). Hikers should consider symptons and treatment of hypothermia and other forms of altitude sickness. Above 2500m, altitude sickness can affect anyone regardless of age, fitness or previous mountain hiking experience, the most effective treatment is descent to lower altitude.

Abseiling

Abseiling is a thrilling activity done on one of the cliffs of the Sipi falls, this activity involves dropping down 100m overlooking the ridge next to a pool of water from one of the Sipi falls and one reaching down you can take a dip in the pool before ascending back up the cliff to the top of the hill.

Rock Climbing

Rock climbing is another engaging activity in Mount Elgon national park, this activity takes place at Sipi with 14 climbs that require rock – sailing techniques, the toughest climb is 35 meters. The easiest climb is 15 meters.

Bird watching in Mt Elgon national park

Bird watching in Mount Elgon national park offers birds a chance to spot some of the most colorful and beautiful birds including species that are only restricted to the Elgon range, the most common trail used for bird watching is the one in Kapkwai forest exploration center which continues along Chebonet river. On this trail you will be able to see several birds such as the white-chinned Prinia, Luhders and Doherty’s Bush-shrikes, Chubb’s Cisticola, African Goshawk, African Blue Flycatcher and Baglafetcht weaver.

Sport fishing

Sport fishing is done at the highest of Sipi falls, this activity provides a good challenging to anyone interested in the rainbow trout. Visitors interested in fishing are advised to bring their own equipments and obtain a fishing permit from Sipi River Lodge.

Nature and Hiking walks

Nature and hiking walks in Mount Elgon national park is done on numerous trails found inside and outside the park passing through the Mount Elgon vegetation.

On this activity, you are escorted by guides from the local community and the walks take about 2 hours to whole days and you will enjoy scenic views of the Karamojong region and the Sebei region.

There are also hike through Budadiri to Mudange cliff known as the walls of death, these cliffs are located in a tropical forest at the boundary of the park. On this trail you will get sights of black and white colobus monkeys and Baboons.

Water Falls

Rivers on Mount Elgon plunge over massive cliffs on the northern and western side  forming some of the most beautiful falls  including the Sipi falls found outside the park, hiking to these three falls is a grand fulfilling experience (the lowest of the fall flows over 100m cliff followed by Simba at 69m and then Ngasire at 87m). other waterfalls found in the park include Wanale, Chebonet, Bulago and Sisyi.

Mountain Biking

Mount Elgon region and Kapchorwa provide great mountain biking routes that will keep your adrenaline high, routes used for mountain biking start from Sipi trading center to Chema hill in Kapchorwa. During the experience you enjoy beautiful views of the Karamoja plains and several waterfalls.

How to get to Mt Elgon National Park

Mt. Elgon national park is reached on Kampala – Mbale – Kapchorwa route,there are also chartered flights from Entebe International airport to Soroti, the drive backwards to the park.

Where to stay in Mt Elgon national park

There is limited accommodation facilities in the park and the available facilities include

• Sipi River Lodge
• Casa Sipi River Lodge
• Camps