There was a time when Mt Elgon was Africa’s highest mountain, rising far beyond
Kilimanjaro’s 5,895 meters but due to continuous erosive impact from the vagaries of
nature, its highest peak, Wagagai has through millennia reduced to a respectable
4,321 meters making it the 4
th highest peak in East Africa and 8th on the continent.
Located 235 kilometers out of Kampala, in Kapchorwa, Eastern Uganda and gifted
with stunning rock formations, waterfalls, bamboo forests, hot springs and Jackson’s
pool, Mt Elgon National Park shares a border with Kenya, spreading either side of
the two brotherly nations and is home to the largest and oldest solitary volcanic
mountain in East Africa.
The towering Mt Elgon stretches over 80 kilometers in diameter and rises over 3,000
meters beyond the surrounding plains, offering perfect hiking and mountain climbing
opportunities for the adventurer seeking new thrills and relishing a daunting yet
rewarding hike up Wagagai (4,321m), Mubiyi (4,211m) and Masaba (4,161) peaks on
the Ugandan side of the Elgon.
Mt Elgon National Park is famed for its special flora especially on the mountain
slopes including the extremely rare Romulea congoensis, Carduus afromontanus,
Ardisiandra wettsteinii to name a few. The wildlife scenery is home to elephants,
buffaloes, forest monkeys, antelopes, blue and colobus monkeys which all contribute
to a rich biodiversity that has led to the park being declared a UNESCO Man &
Biosphere Reserve.
Such is the splendor of Mt Elgon National Park that it offers the option of
transboundary hiking, starting an exhilarating ascent at any of Sipi, Sasa or Piswa
trails in Uganda only to enjoy refreshing descent in Kenya. A memorable hiking safari
in Mt Elgon National Park offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to traverse the
world’s largest intact mountain caldera while enjoying breathtaking views like the
Suam gorge, glimpsing stunning wildlife, birds and hot springs.
Mt Elgon National Park’s birding culture holds deep significance for the birding
expert, offering opportunities to spot over 300 different bird species including the
endangered Lammergeier, commonly known as the bearded vulture, African
Goshawk, Chubb’s Cisticola, Chinspot Batis, Moorland Francolin, Mustached Green
Tinkerbird and Alpine Chat among so many others.
A cultural expedition will bring one face to face with the Sabiny, Bagisu and Ndorobo
tribes, the third being the marginalized tribe and forced to live deep inside the Benet
Forest. Interacting with these rich cultures introduces one to the intense Imbalu or
circumcision ritual, an initiation rite for young men into adulthood.
Largely unexplored and ultimately uncongested, Mt Elgon National Park is the
perfect destination for the quiet and reflective traveler seeking to renew, recharge
and reconnect with nature in a unique location whose iconic history lends credence
to its legendary status.
Visit Mt Elgon National Park today!