Hiking Mountain Elgon National Park : Mountain Elgon national park is located in eastern Uganda in mbale district and it is a popular hiking spot especially family hikers. And it raises to the altitude of 4321m above the sea level. It is the largest volcanic base 50-80 km, with the largest caldera covering about 40km. when it is about a Uganda safari tour in mountain Elgon national park, the key activity is always hiking, it is a perfect combination of montane, mixed bamboo, heather zone, and moorland vegetation cover. even other activities are their but hiking is the main activity, hiking is not an ordinary adventure it needs preparation because you can not just wake up and start hiking, you should be fit and not sick in order to hike well. Hiking is for all people though people under the age of 10 are not allowed, Mount Elgon is a home of various wildlife and these include antelopes, primates like monkeys and others.
The trails on mountain Elgon
The piswa trail. This is the longest but most gentle trail that takes 7days covering 49km. and it starts from kapkwata on the northern side of the mountain traversing the soft wood plantation, the trail gives you an opportunity to sight wildlife and have a spectacular view of Karamoja plains, and the hills of Kenya as you go past hot springs.
The sipi trail. This trail takes 4 to 6 days it also starts from kapkwai forest exploration centre. the trail starts calmly as you hike through tutum cave but becomes tougher on your third day from kajeri camp.one on Uganda mountaineering safari to mountain Elgon should not mis out on this hike.
The Sasa trail. This is the shortest which takes 3 days and one can complete 1600 the first day and the whole trek takes 1250m.
Who are the people living around mountain Elgon national park
The people living around Mount Elgon are the Bagisu and sabiny and the saboat in Kenya. These communities have rich cultural heritage and have lived in that area for good years doing different activities, they have unique customs, languages, and traditions that contribute to diverse cultural landscape of the area. And they are well known for their traditional activity which is circumcision.
What to bring when going for hiking at mountain Elgon national park
Rain jacket. Since our Ugandan weather is un predictable please carry your rain jacket in case of rain you are not affected.
Hiking boots. Hiking does not need normal shoes like open shoes because you will not manage it needs something comfortable because you meet sharp rocks, piercing grass that needs you to have hiking shoes.
A backpack where you can put your things like water, sun screen and other things.
Hiking poles that will help to support you while hiking
Warm clothes, gloves, jacket because the weather in the mountain is not warm the higher you go the cooler it becomes.
Costs for hiking Mountain Elgon National Park
Foreign Residents 40 USD
Foreign non-residents 50 USD
East African countries 50000 UGX
Other activities to do while hiking in Mount Elgon National Park
Bird watching. Mountain Elgon is a home of over 300 bird species and it is gifted with beautiful like moorland francolin, Jackson’s francolin to mention but a few.
Bamasaba cultural. The Bagisu people or Bamasaba inhabit the western and southern halves of mountain Elgon the imbalu traditional festival among the Bagishu people and learn their way of life like circumcising, their food and other many things.
Nature walks nature walks on mountain Elgon gives you a chance to discover the hidden treasure of mountain Elgon national park, they will give you an opportunity to see wild life, birds and explore the park in a best way without hurrying a lot of visitors enjoy it because they adventure a lot.
Best time top go for hiking at Mountain Elgon
Hiking at mountain Elgon can be done any time of the year though the best time is during the dry season it is because the rain is less so the hiking is easy because it is not too cold and slippery.
Some of the things to do after hiking mountain Elgon
Take a few walking steps after the hike so that you can cool down which help you to bring the sugars down and reduce muscle stiffness.
Drink more fluids to replace what you lost and these fluids include water, juice that will make you relax.
Have a proper meal eat right meal that will make gain energy and repair tissues and eat with in 30minutes after the hike.
Rest first wait go for other activities after hiking, resting allows the repair and recovery process to happen at natural pace.
Where to sleep in mountain Elgon when going for hiking
Mountain Elgon has all kind of accommodation the luxury, budget and mid-range and these include, sipi river lodge, mountain Elgon hotel and spa, kapkwai cottages, to mention but a few.
Mountain Elgon is a hiker’s paradise that every visitor on Uganda hiking tour should not miss out.
