Mountain Elgon has the largest volcanic base in the world. This extinct volcano is one of Uganda’s oldest physical features that first erupted around 24 million years ago. Mountain Elgon National Park is uniquely split to the East, adjacent to Kenyan- Ugandan border. Mount Elgon is an important water catchment for the Nzoia River, which flows to Lake Victoria and for the Suam River which flows into Lake Turkana. Mountain Elgon was one of Africa’s highest mountains exceeding Kilimanjaro. Millennia of erosion have reduced its height to 4,321m thus being the 4th highest peak in East Africa and 8th on the Continent of Africa. Elgon also contains collapsed Crater-Calder covering over 40kms at the top and it’s the largest known crater, surrounded by a series of rugged peaks. The climate is moist to moderate dry, annual rainfall is over 1270 millimeters. The dry seasons run from June to August and from December to March although it can rain at any time.
The mountain not only has one of the largest surface areas of any ancient extinct volcano in the world but is also peppered with cliffs, caves, gorges and water falls with the most notable being the romantic Sipi falls.
The caldera covers some 40 square km at the top of the mountain. The mountain is named after the Elgeyo tribe, who once lived in huge caves on the south side of the mountain. It was known as “Ol Doinyo Ilgoon” (Breast Mountain) by the Maasai of Kenya and as “Masaba” by the Ugandans.
Mountain Elgon is a great watershed, with its slopes supporting a rich variety of vegetation zones that range from Montane forest, Mixed Bamboo forest to the fascinating high open Moorland vegetation, studded with the other worldly most rare endemic plant species like the giant Lobella and groundsel plants peculiar to Africa. More so half of Uganda’s butterfly species have been reported in Mt. Elgon. The dense shrubs and brilliant wild everlasting flowers are yet the other tour attractions to include to your itinerary of Mountain Elgon Safari tour.
Mount Elgon National Park at a Glance
Location: Mbale
Animals: Chimpanzees, Birds, elephants, monkeys, buffaloes
Activities: Guide walks, Birding, Mountain Climbing
Main Attraction: Sipi Falls, caves, calderas
Telephone: +256 (0) 454 433 170
Email: uwaface@imul.com
Things to See in Mount Elgon National Park
Mount Elgon National Park is found on the slopes of Mount Elgon, a 4,321m high extinct volcano which geologists believe had its last eruption close to 10million years ago. The lovely mountain is shared by both Kenya and Uganda as it lies on the border. However it should be noted that its highest peak Wagagai lies within Uganda and is best ascended from the Ugandan side.
At the top there is a very large crater with hot springs and on the slopes of Mount Elgon at an altitude of about 1,750m is the lovely Sipi falls which are commonly described as perhaps the most romantic in Africa.
There are also a number of caves such as Numagabwe, Tutum Cave but the most interesting and the readily accessible one is located within the spur on which Bulago Camp stands. It is a rare 9m wide and 3m tall at the entrance, as you continue inside the main chamber is approximately 18m by 45m with a height of 4.5m. These caves contain ancient cave paintings close to the trailhead at Budadiri.
Attractions in this national park include; buffaloes, small antelope, bushbucks, olive baboons, giant forest hogs, waterbucks, black and white Columbus and blue De Brazza’s monkeys common near waterways. There are also more than 240 species of birds including red-fronted parrots, casqued hornbills, among others.
The most famous of animals are the elephants well known for digging salt out of the lower eastern slopes’ caves. They are very keen excavators that some people believe that they are totally responsible for the caves.
The mountain also has a unique arrangement of vegetation, with a rain forest at the base and then changing as one ascends to bamboo jungle and finally alpine moorland characterized by giant groundsel and lobelia plants.
Together with the fauna and flora, the park has a variety of scenery; this includes cliffs, caves, waterfalls, gorges, mesas, calderas, hot springs, and the mountain peaks. The most popular areas are the four explorable, vast caves where frequent elephants and buffaloes come to lick the natural salt found on the cave walls on the slopes. Kitum cave, with overhanging crystalline walls, enters 200 m into the side of Mt. Elgon.
The park is also home to a variety of small antelope and duiker, as well forest monkeys, including the black-and-white colobus and blue monkey. red- tailed monkey have been reported after being thought to be locally extinct. It is noted that both leopard and hyena existed there in the late 1990s. Mount Elgon is home to over 3000 bird species. Of particular interest are Jackson’s francolin, the eastern bronze-naped pigeon, Hartlaub’s turaco, the Tacazze sunbird and the endangered lammergeier, due to their restricted range. Other attractions include ancient cave paintings near the trailhead at Budadiri, and spring sin the former volcano’s crater which bubble at temperatures of up to 48 °C.
Popular cultures living around Mountain Elgon are the Bagisu and the Sabiny. 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. They are known for cultivation purposely for home consumption. They practice the annual circumcision ceremonies to initiate young women and men into adulthood locally known as the ‘Imbalu’ ceremony.
Things to Do in Mount Elgon National Park
Mountain Elgon has 9 basic campsites to offer, located at strategic points along the trekking routes. Camping should only be done at designated campsites and tourists are advised to carry along with them all the required camping equipments. Tourists engaged in this activity should carry along with them jungle walking shoes, rain gear and well lighting torch with extra cells for the cave tour. Reservation can be made from the visitor information center at park headquarters in Mbale before hiking. The hike areas allow you to explore mountain Elgon’s diverse Mountane forest.
Trekking is another activity where by trekkers have up to three main trailheads leading to Elgon Mountain peaks. One may start from Budadiri that is Sasa trailhead, Sipi trailhead, Forest exploration center- Kapkwai or you may use the Kapkwata commonly refered to as the piswa trailhead. Sasa trail passes through the park’s largest area of bamboo forest, it is the most direct route to the peaks through steep with rugged climbs of over 1600m in the start and it’s accessible from Mbale. Cave explorations
The following are some of the accommodation facilities that can be used by visitors interested in safaris to Mountain Elgon Noah’s Ark Hotel, Savanna Guest house, Sipi falls lodge, The crow’s Nest camp, Mbale resort Hotel, Mount Elgon Hotel.
Getting there
Mbale lies 224km, a 3-4 hours drive along a good tar road from Kampala. The trailhead at Budadiri, 20km from Mbale, is accessible by public transport.
Where to eat and sleep
There are a number of hotels, lodges such as; Sipi Falls Rest camp, The Crow’s nest, Mt Elgon Hotel, Landmark Inn,
Suam Guest House, Kapkwata Guesthouse (self-catering), Forest Exploration Center Bandas, student hostel and campsite, Masha Hotel, Noah’s Ark Hotel, Savanna Guesthouse, Sipi River Lodge, Sipi Falls Resort, Twilight Campsite, Lacam Lodge
For bookings contact the tour operators listed on this website.