Mount Elgon National Park in Uganda.

Mount Elgon National Park, situated on the border of Kenya and Uganda, Africa, is an exceptional safari destination. The park, which is one of the largest attractions in Uganda, harbors a myriad of things one can do. It constitutes a wide variety of biodiversity, stunning views of the Sipi Falls, and is home to one of the best hiking trails on the continent leading to the majestic Mount Elgon. Mount Elgon is an extinct shield volcano whose last eruption date back to over 24 million years ago. The summit of Mount Elgon National Park is Wagagai, standing at 4, 321 metres, which makes it the eighth highest summit in Africa.
Mount Elgon National Park straddles the Ugandan and Kenyan border. The Ugandan side is larger than the Kenyan side which covers an area of 169 square kilometers only.

Attractions of Mount Elgon National Park.

Mount Elgon.

Mount Elgon is a mountain in Uganda that is the main attraction for tourists to Mount Elgon National Park. The Park gets its name from the volcanic mountain that stands right in the park and almost half of the park’s area is covered by this mountain. Mount Elgon is the eighth highest mountain in Africa and the fourth in East Africa. It lies 3, 000 meters above sea level. Four key points of Mount Elgon are shared between Uganda and Kenya. Therefore, the mountain is accessible from both Uganda and Kenya.

Caves.

The mountain slope of Mount Elgon has many holes made by the flow of lava, and also through erosion from exposed soft volcanic deposits of past eruptions. The caves nearest to the Forest Exploration Centre Kapkwai Cave, and the one on Wanale Ridge Khauka Cave can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. The ancestors of the mountain dwellers used the natural resources found on the mountain to shelter their furry friends from the elements.

Jackson’s Pool and Jackson’s Peak.

It is told that Jackson’s Pool is at 4, 050 meters and the pool which is occupied by shallow waters is a natural one. The pool, which is at the foot of Jackson’s Peak, is located on the lowland area of the peak that is 4, 165 meters high. Jackson’s Peak, a freestanding volcanic plug that rises from the western flank of the mountain. The 2 natural features were named after the explorer Fredrick Jackson who in 1889 was the first European to climb Mount Elgon, the peak has a traditional attachment to the locals since they use it as a spot to communicate with their ancestors who left them long time.

Vegetation.

On Mount Elgon, vegetation grows in extensive areas whose characteristic features are decided by altitude and the amount of rainfall. The forest floor is quite different is that it is rich in a variety of ferns, orchids, and flowering plants, the lower mountain slopes are covered with dense forest and regenerating forest, which are hung with vine-like lianas, epiphytes, and lichens. The tropical montane forest (1500, 2500 metres) is home to various trees such as the olive Oleahochstetteri, Prunus Africanus, Elgon teak, Podocarpus, ceder, Cordia, Neoboutania, allophyllus tombea, and Aningueriaadolfi-frieericii. The bamboo makes up the majority of the park, turning to oak and African rosewood between 2, 500 and 3, 000 metres.

Sipi Falls.

Basalt cliffs make up the northern and western sides of Mount Elgon national park. Often these cliffs extend several kilometers.
These cliffs are the places where rivers on the mountain plunge down as magnificent waterfalls. Outsiders most commonly recognize these waterfalls as the three falls at Sipi on the Kapchorwa road, right adjacent to the park, which are stunning natural attractions that draw tourists who come to hike the park.

Bird species.

If you are a bird lover, you should visit Mount Elgon national park for a birding safari. I get this opportunity in Uganda, and the park has more than 300 bird species. Some of the birds that you can see in the park are Lammergeyer, Lemon Dove, Dusky-Turtle Dove, African Hill Babbler, Alpine Chat, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Thick-billed Honey guide, Grey Cuckoo-Shrike, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, and so on.

Animal species.

Different varieties of wild animals live in the Mount Elgon National Park, including elephants, oribi, Defassa silverback, bushbuck, buffalo, spotted hyena, black and white monkeys, colobus monkeys, defassa waterbuck, red and blue-tailed monkeys, and others.

Activities to do in Mount Elgon national park.

Rock climbing.

Mount Elgon National Park is a perfect place for rock climbers to visit because of its unique scenery and diverse flora and fauna. Mount Elgon National Park is a home to some of the most challenging rock-climbing routes in Africa. These routes have been attempted by climbers from all over the world. While climbing the rocks, one can see a variety of animals such as buffalo, elephants, leopards, lions, oribi, and many different types of birds.

Abseiling.

Abseiling is done down on the cliffs of the Sipi falls. Here, you can drop down 100 metres over the ridge next to a pool of water from one of the Sipi falls. While abseiling down the rock you can also enjoy the different scenery around. When you get to the bottom, you can take a plunge in the pool and then rappel back up the cliff to the top of the hill.

Bird watching.

Mount Elgon National Park is an excellent destination for bird watching as it is home to some rare bird species. The Common trail at Kapkwai Forest Exploration Centre runs alongside the Chenonent river. On this trail, you can spot the White-chinned Prinia, Luhders, Doherty’s Bush Shrikes, Chubb’s Cisticola, African Goshawk, Africa blue Flycatcher, endangered lammergeyer, Crowned Hornbills, and many more.

Guided Nature and Hiking walks.

A guided Nature and hiking walk is a great way to explore the area between Budadiri and the Mudange cliffs also called the walls of earth. These cliffs where tropical forest and old cultivated patches meet. The trail winds through the thick tropical forest at the boundary of Mount Elgon national park where you will also encounter Black and white Colobus monkeys as well as Baboons and different bird species. Besides there are numerous trails both inside and outside the park taking you through the diverse Mount Elgon vegetation. At Sipi falls from the local community, you can take a walk which could range from a two-hour hike to an entire day’s walking where you get views of the Karamojong region and Sebei region.

Mountain Biking.

Mountain Elgon National Park and Kapchorwa are two places that have mountain biking trails that will give you an adrenaline rush while you bike around the area. Mountain biking trails start from Sipi trading centre and go to Chema hill in Kapchorwa, where you can enjoy scenic views of Karamoja plains and several waterfalls.

Game viewing.

Mount Elgon National Park is one of the best safari destinations to see various wild animals. On a Uganda safari trip, you can encounter a wide variety of beautiful animals. Among the animals you can view at Mount Elgon National Park are buffaloes, antelopes, lions, African bush elephants, and many more. There is a high concentration of these animals in this park thus it is very easy to spot them. The park is endowed with uniquely East African flora such as baobab trees, acacias, and aloes among others. These plants and trees serve as habitats for a variety of animals in the park.

Cultural tours.

Besides having a wide range of wild animals, Mount Elgon National Park is a home to diverse ethnic communities. The best way to know more about the park is to take a cultural tour. Some of the local communities living around Mount Elgon National Park are the Sabiny and Bagisu. So, during the cultural tour, tourists can meet and talk to locals in their homes and farms while doing other outdoor activities. Tourists can visit the coffee farms on the slopes of the park and many other places.

Best time to visit Mount Elgon National Park.

The best time to go to Mount Elgon National Park is both from June to August and from December to March. During these months there are good dry seasons which offer tourists the best game viewing and mountain climbing opportunities.

Where to stay in Mount Elgon National Park.

Mount Elgon national park has accommodation facilities well enough for travelers who wish to visit the park. They are classified into budget, mid-range, and luxury hotels categories including Mount Elgon Hotel, Mbale Resort Hotel, Sipi River Lodge, Kayegi Hotel, Mount Elgon View Hotel, Masha Hotel, Noah’s Ark Hotel, and many others.

How to get to Mount Elgon National Park.

Mountain Elgon can be accessed by both Air and Road transport from Kampala to the Park.
By Road means: From Kampala, the road to Mount Elgon via Jinja road is the way you can reach your main destination the Mount Elgon National Park, which can take about 7 hours.
By Flight means: From Entebbe Airport, it can take 1 hour and 15 minutes or 1 hour to fly to Mount Elgon National Park.