Named after Mountain Elgon, an extinct solitary shield volcano with the largest volcanic base in the world, Mount Elgon National Park is uniquely bisected by the Uganda-Kenya border with the biggest part in Uganda. The Ugandan part covers 1,110 square kilometers while the Kenyan part covers 169 square kilometers. It is a home of over 300 bird species including the endangered Lammergeyer, Jackson’s francolin, the eastern bronze-napped pigeon, Tucazze sunbird and Hartlaub’s turaco, a wide number of invertebrates like the Maathai’s long leg, an endangered dragonfly that was named after Wangari Mathaai, a noble prize winner and also comprises of half of Uganda’s butterfly species and a variety of mammals for example elephants, buffalos, small antelopes, forest monkeys, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys along the mountain slopes and many others. it is rich with a number of attractions for example the Mount Elgon caves with their paintings near the trailhead at Budadiri, hot springs in the former volcano’s crater which bubble at high temperatures, cliffs, waterfalls, gorges, calderas, beautiful mountain peaks and many others.
Activities In Mountain Elgon Park
Mountain Hiking & Nature walk
Tourists enjoy an African sunrise across the Karamoja plains, the views of the beautiful Sipi falls, the walls of death, and many others during these nature walks and hikes. The mountain Bamboo trail through the tropical and bamboo forest to Kapkwai cave that usually takes four hours also enables the travelers to see different primates, birds plus the rare trees for example the Elgon teak and the Elgon Olive. Short hikes covering Mudagi cliffs, Sasa river camp and Drigana lower falls can also be done which hikes are perfect for bird-watching and overnight camping and in Wanale, a 3-4 hours’ hike also gives the tourists a chance to visit the Khauka cave and also the Wagagai peak of mountain Elgon.
Birding.
The existence of a variety of bird species makes Mount Elgon National Park an excellent birding site for tourists especially bird-lovers where the enjoys sight of around 300 bird species including 40 restricted species, 56 of the 87 Afro-topical species. The major birding site is the Forest Exploration Centre at Kapkwai which has a trail that leads travelers to the thick shrub along the loop trails that stretches to cover Cheptui falls. some of the birds in the park include the African Blue Fly-catcher, Tacazze sunbird, Olive and Bronze-naped pigeons, Black kite, Cinnamon Bee-eater, White-chinned Prina, African Goshawk, Chinspot Batis, Baglafecht Weaver, Black-collared Apalis, Jackson’s Francolin and many others.
Cultural encounters.
Here, “The Sipi Widows Group” will take the interested travelers on a guided walk through the coffee plantations as they illustrate how coffee is planted, picked, grinded and finally washed making it ready for sale. Visitors will also get a chance to interact with the Bagisu people who are farmers well known for producing the best washed Arabica coffee in Uganda and Kenya and also the Sabiny people whose life style they will learn about and also participate in a number of activities like traditional weaving, involve in the cooking and tasting of their traditional dishes and also visit the trading center where they are encouraged to buy different commodities and invest in the maintenance of coffee trees and in raising awareness about the dangers of the traditionally practiced female circumcision.
Mountain biking.
Bikes can be hired from Sipi River Lodge and the biking trail runs from Sipi trading Centre to the Chema hill in Kapchorwa town with views of the water falls and the Karamoja plains which rides take around one and a half hours.
Rock climbing.
This activity takes place outside the park in Sipi where the tourists can have a tremendous view of the main falls (Sipi falls) and the Karamoja plains. Rock climbing equipment can be hired from the Sipi Falls Tourist Guide Association and various levels of rock scaling techniques are required. The toughest is the 35-meter climb while the easiest is the 15-meter climb.
Sport fishing.
Here, the participants are advised to come along with their own fishing equipment and also obtain a permit from Sipi River Lodge. This is below the Sipi falls and various sizes of fish can be caught with the largest weighing around 3 kilograms.
To inquire or book a safari to Mountain Elgon, simply send us an email to info@ugandasafaribookings.com or call us now +256-700135510 to speak with the reservations team.
