Mount Elgon National Park covers an area of 1,279 square kilometers and is bisected by the border of Uganda and Kenya. It is located in the eastern region of Uganda in Mbale district, northeast of Lake Victoria. This Uganda national park was established and gazetted in 1992 and 1968 in Uganda and Kenya respectively.
Identified as the world’s largest caldera, Mount Elgon National Park is one of Uganda’s most gifted parks with diverse beauty not found elsewhere in the world. The park’s scenery is filled with caves, cliffs, calderas, mesas, peaks, waterfalls, and hot springs, which add beauty to this towering mountain.
Mount Elgon’s edges are composed of diverse caves, formed due to erosive processes and moving lava of the soft volcano deposits. The Kapkwai Cave and Khauka Cave on the Wanale Ridge are the most accessible caves in the park. For an overnight expedition, Tutum Cave would be the place to be. Additionally, Siyo Cave and Mude Cave are a must-see during your visit to the park. These historical features were once home to the livestock of the local people who lived on the slopes of Mount Elgon long ago.
The caves also provided manure for the locals, in the form of bat drippings, and served as resting spots for climbers and porters hiking around Mount Elgon National Park. Jackson’s Pool is another unique attraction found in Mount Elgon National Park. Occupied by shallow waters and standing at 4,050 meters in the lowland of Jackson’s Peak, Jackson’s Natural Pool was named by the first European to climb Mount Elgon in 1889.
Locals once used Jackson’s Peak as a spot to communicate with their ancestors, as this peak had traditional significance for the people who lived in the area until recently. Beyond the park, on the northern and western slopes of Mount Elgon, rise a series of basalt cliffs from which mountain rivers spout as waterfalls. A three-series waterfall, Sipi Falls, is outside the park on the Kapchorwa Road. The lowest falls pour over a 100-meter cliff, Simba, the second falls pour 69 meters, and Ngasire, the third waterfall, gushes over 87 meters.
Tewei Hill is another unique beauty that the park boasts of, known as a place where the king of the Sabiny, Chemonges Kingo, meets his subjects. From the top of Tewei Hill, you can have a breathtaking view of the three Sipi Falls, Wagagai Peak, and the Karamoja Plains all at the same time. Sisiyi, Chebonet, Wanale, and Bulago are also among the many waterfalls scattered on the mountain slopes.
Besides the beautiful scenery offered by Mount Elgon National Park, the park is home to over 299 bird species, many of which cannot be seen elsewhere in the world. Mount Elgon has both forest and endemic bird species such as the Weyn’s Weaver, Jackson’s Francolin, Marsh Widowbird, Moorlands Francolin, Alpine Chat, and Hunter’s Cisticola, which are also major attractions in the park.
Mount Elgon National Park has a diversity of mammals such as tiny antelopes, leopards, hyenas, forest monkeys, buffaloes, and elephants, attracting travelers from around the world along with its beautiful vegetation. Mount Elgon National Park presents a wide variety of activities for tourists, including birding, nature walks, cultural encounters, and hiking among others.
Safaris to Mount Elgon
20 days vacation in Uganda, 18 days Uganda safari holiday
Community Visits
While in the park, you will have the chance to visit the Budadiri community and the Sipi Widows Women’s Group. There, you will learn about the livelihoods of these people and the different handicrafts they make to earn a living. The Budadiri Community Walk includes the Namugabwe Cave Trail through banana plantations and the Bamasaba Community leading to the Dirigana Cave, a historical cave filled with bones. This trail also goes towards the Dirigana Falls, past the ‘Walls of Death,’ and the local market.
You will also visit the Sabiny, well known for their cultural dance of ‘Akadodi,’ hunting skills, and the cultural practice of female genital mutilation, along with the Bagisu and Saboat people among other cultures around the national park.
Nature Walks
Having a nature walk in Mount Elgon National Park is another way to explore the gems of the park, leading to new discoveries of great bird species, spectacular landscapes, waterfalls, and the rugged slopes of Mount Elgon.
Birding
Birding excursions are another activity that can be engaged in while in Mount Elgon National Park. Birds such as Tacazze Sunbird, Bearded Vulture, Black-shouldered Kite, among others, can be sighted.
Hiking & Rock Climbing
Hiking and rock climbing are thrilling experiences in the park. In Mount Elgon National Park, use the Piswa Trail for spectacular views of the Karamoja Plains in Uganda, the Kapeguria Hills, Nandi in Kenya, and wildlife. The Sipi Trail takes you through the mountainside of the park and Tutum Cave leading to Wagagai Peak. The Sasa Trail, the longest, offers a chance to explore Bamasaba culture. Transboundary hikes can be organized across the borders of Uganda and Kenya.
Accommodation
Having accommodation while on your safari ensures safety and comfort. Mount Elgon National Park offers a wide range of accommodation options near or within the park, ranging from luxury, mid-range, to budget. Some luxury options include Sipi Falls Lodge, Mount Elgon View Hotel, and more. Mid-range accommodations include Lacam Lodge, Rafiki Lodge, and Noah’s Ark Lodge, while budget options include UWA Bandas, Rose’s Last Chance, Crown’s Nest Campsite, and more.
Getting There
Mount Elgon National Park can be reached by road, a 4-hour drive from Kampala via Mbale following the eastern route. The experience in the park is a lifetime adventure that can only be found while on your wildlife safari to Uganda, and Mount Elgon National Park should be a place not to miss visiting.
