Mount Elgon National Park

 Mount Elgon National Park, is home to the largest volcanic base in the world, and was once Africa’s highest mountain, exceeding Kilimanjaro’s current height, this extinct volcano is one of Uganda’s oldest physical features and first erupted around 24 million years ago. Millennia of erosion has reduced its height to 4,321 m, relegating it to the 4th highest peak in east Africa and 8th on the continent.

Established in 1992, it is located on the Uganda-Kenya border, in an area of 1,121 km² at an altitude of 4,321 m. Its vast form is 80 km in diameter, rising over 3,000m above the surrounding plains. The climb on Mount Elgon’s deserted moorlands unveils a magnificent and uncluttered wilderness without the summit-oriented approach seen on many mountains.  

The ultimate goal is to descent into the vast 40km² caldera not the final ascent to the Wagagai Peak at 14,178 feet (4,321 m). The Mount’s cool heights offer a break from the hot plains below with the higher altitudes providing a refuge for flora and fauna. Home to over 300 bird species, including the endangered Lammergeyer. 

The fauna here are hardly known, with the most common species visible on hikes is blue monkey, black and white colobus, the lower slopes are inhabited by elephants, buffaloes and a number of small antelopes. The higher slopes are protected by national parks in Uganda and Kenya, creating an extensive trans-boundary conservation area which was declared a UNESCO Man & Biosphere Reserve

The Mount has 2 resident tribes, the Bagisu also known as BaMasaba who consider Mount Elgon as an embodiment of their founding Father Masaba and refer to the mountain by this name. The Sabiny tribe is the other, whilst the marginalized Ndorobos were forced to dwell deep within the forest of Benet.

Highlights on the location:  

• Elgon has the largest volcanic base in the world.
• Mount Elgon is an important water catchment for the Nzoia river, which flows into Lake Victoria, and for the Turkwel river, which flows into Lake Turkana

Accommodation Options: 

• Mount Elgon Hotel & Spa
• Mbale Resort Hotel (Mbale Town nears slopes of Mount Elgon)
• Sipi Valley Resort

Activities:  

• Hiking in Mount Elgon National Park
• Guided Nature Walk in Mount Elgon
• Bird Watching in Mount Elgon Park
• Rock Climbing at Mount Elgon
• Cultural Tour of BaMasaba
• Mountain Biking in Sipi Falls
• Mountain Climbing Mount Elgon
• Cultural encounter with the “Sipi Widows” Group