Visit Mount Elgon National Park in eastern Uganda for endless views of breathtaking waterfalls, lush coffee plantations, and jaw-dropping views while standing on a peak of 4,321 meters above sea level. Perhaps think of the giant heathers and the sounds of unique bird species, such as the Jackson’s francolin. Besides these, there a still quite a number of reasons to visit Mount Elgon National Park in Uganda.
Unbeaten hiking opportunities
It’s no-brainer that Mount Elgon National Park is one of the top hiking destinations in Africa and is available for visitors all year round, with every season offering an exceptionally incredible hike. The commonest hikes in this park include the hike to the Khauka Cave, Hikes to the magnificent Chebonet waterfalls, the mountain Bamboo Trail leading to the Kapkwai Caves and the hikes to Tutum Caves among others. Park up your hiking gear and come to Uganda for amazing mountain climbing experience.
Tour of the spectacular Sipi falls
Another reason you should visit Mount Elgon National Park is because it offers visitors with the chance to explore the mind-boggling Sipi Falls. As a result, it’s not surprising that majority of the tourists to this park hike some of the trails to view the Sipi Falls in addition to other waterfalls within the park.
Terrific scenery and magnificent views
The forces of mother nature around Mount Elgon have combined offers of a beautiful variety of landscapes to view. The idyllic rolling hills, spectacular cliffs, magnificent waterfalls, stunning valleys, calderas, stunning gorges, streams, hot springs, dramatic Caves, wild heath and moors. These are some of the dramatic sceneries in Mount Elgon National Park that will take your breath away.
With the lush vegetation surrounded by rolling hills, it’s impossible not to be swept away by the phenomenal romance of the park.
Astonishing Cultures – Why visit Mount Elgon
Mount Elgon National Park is known for the charming cultures of the communities around. These include the Bagisu people, famously known for captivating traditions including the public ‘Imbalu’ circumcision ceremony, where boys are initiated into adulthood.
Unforgettable Birding Experience
There is no place that captures the beauty of forest and mountain birding experience as much as the gem in Mount Elgon National Park. A walk around Kapkwai Exploration Center is where beautiful bird species such as the African blue flycatcher, African Goshawk and the white-chinned Prinia are found.
Outstanding Rock climbs
Mount Elgon National Park offers diversity of opportunities for adventurous rock climbs for beginners and experts, and is undoubtedly world-renowned among climbers. There are presently 14 wonderful rock climbing routes with the easiest being 15 meters and is ideal for beginners while the toughest is 35 meters and is perfect for the expert rock climbers.
About Mount Elgon National Park and why visit Mount Elgon
Named after Mount Elgon, this national park is found in the eastern side of Uganda, which borders the neighboring Kenya. It was gazetted in 1992 and currently spans for 1,121 square kilometers. Just like the Kilimanjaro mountain of Tanzania, Mount Elgon used to be one of Africa’s most towering mountains but with years of erosion, it has reduced to its current height of 4,321 meters above sea level. As a result, this has made it the fourth highest after Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and Rwenzori mountains.
The park, which protects the Ugandan side of the mountain, boasts of over 300 bird species including the endangered Lammergeyer. There are also a variety of mammals such as elephants, duikers, buffaloes, and red-tailed, black and white colobus as well as blue monkeys among others.
Classic accommodation facilities
Mount Elgon National Park is not only a haven for rock climbers, birders, hikers and photographers but for persons hoping to unwind while relishing the beauty of mother nature. Expect to create everlasting memories when you stay at one the many well furnished lodges and camping sites around Mount Elgon. These include Sipi River Lodge, Lacam Lodge, Mbale Resort Hotel and Mount Elgon Hotel among others.
How to get there to Mount Elgon
Mount Elgon National Park is about 235 kilometers east of Kampala, the capital of Uganda, and can be reached through air and road transport. For air, flights can be chartered from Kajjansi Airstrip or Entebbe International Airport to Soroti Airstrip, from which you can connect to the park by road. By road, the park can be reached through the main tarmac road from Kampala-Jinja-Mbale and then to the park.