Mount Elgon National Park is located in the eastern part of Uganda, it is one of the few places in the country to do the Mountain hiking the conservation area stretches an area of 1145 square kilometers, it is named after the extinct volcano mountain Elgon situated at 4321m high above sea level its highest peak being Wagagai. The national park straddles along the order of Uganda and Kenya to the East, mountain has got the largest foot base along which are human settlements the indigenous people are the Bagisu and Kalenjin of Eastern Uganda. Mountain Elgon National Park is UNESCO world heritage site gazette in 1992 on the Ugandan side.
The extinct volcano is the country’s oldest physical feature, it was once Africa’s highest mountain however following its eruption over 24 million years ago and constant weathering its height was reduced to the 4th highest mountain in Africa, the historical aspect that the natives pose on the mountain is amazing it is believed by the Bagisu that the mountain was founded by their leader Masaba and locally it is referred to as mountain Masaba. The highest points of the peak are protected by the national conservation area. The famous three series of the beautiful Sipi Falls, flowing right from the forest to form magnificent attractive water falls, besides Sipi there are other falls in case one would be interested in a different hike like the chebonet waterfalls.
The vegetative cover on Mount Elgon National Park is a habitat to elephants, spotted hyenas, buffaloes, waterbucks, oribi, duikers, primates like the black and white colobus monkeys and the blue monkeys could be spotted here, it boasts with a big number of over 300 species of birds making it a prime destination for birding safaris, birds like the African reed warbler, little rush warbler, yellow bellied hylicota, African hill barbler, thick billed honey guide. The present animal species are not so common to see.
Popular activity of the national park includes hiking the mountain, a climb through the deserted moorlands unveils the magnificent beauty of the national park, and the goal of visit is to reach the summit the highest mountain peak known as Wagagi, there are three main trails of hike to the summit, the Budadiri trail beginning from Sasa, the Kapkwai exploration center, and the piswa trail, the primary reason to visit the national park is the hiking, it has the largest caldera in the world. Guided nature walks through the national park are exciting, the bamboo trail through the caves, is interesting, along the trail you will meet a number of primate species. Cave visits around the national park are amazing they used to homes to the natives in the old golden days, to live and stay away from the cold. Birding in the national park is rewarding, the park boasts over 300 species of birds, and there are many forest birds in the national parkexample species include the Jacksons colored francolins, black collared apalis, sunbirds to mention a few.
The park can be accessed by road passing through the beautiful rolling small hills, tea plantations, the journey takes approximately 6 hours’ drive from Kampala, there is available accommodation ranging from the best budget to Luxury example facilities include the Sipi River Lodge, Lacam Lodge, Crow’s Nest.