Overview of the Park

Mount Elgon National Park, East Africa’s oldest and greatest volcanic peak, erupted 24 million years ago and most recently 10 million years ago. Its base spans 4,000 square kilometers and reaches 4,321 meters at Wagagai Peak.

A tropical montane forest covers the upper slopes of Elgon, and an Afro-Alpine moorland extends across the caldera, a collapsed crater at the summit of the mountain that is more than 40 square kilometers in size.

Interesting Facts about the Park

It is protected by national parks in both Kenya and Uganda, forming a vast transboundary conservation area that serves as a significant water catchment area for several million people in the area.

Uganda’s east attracts fewer visitors than the west, except for Kenyan travelers, but Mount Elgon offers a rewarding climb without specialized equipment.

A climb up Elgon’s lonely moorlands reveals a spectacular and unspoiled ecosystem without the summit-oriented approach typical of many summits like Kilimanjaro or Mount Kenya. This is because the fall into the enormous caldera after reaching the 4321-meter Wagagai Peak is the ultimate objective instead of the last ascent.

Trekkers will be rewarded with panoramic views of the vast plains below as well as volcanic foothills, cliffs, caverns, gorges, and waterfalls. In addition, while hikers must be moderately athletic, ascending higher mountains carries a lesser risk of altitude sickness and is substantially less expensive.

Wagagai is in Uganda, and the facilities for organizing a climb are greater there than in Kenya, thus this is a good alternative to climbing the peak from the neighboring nation.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority in Budadiri arranges guides, porters, and food for the Mount Elgon National Park climb, starting the popular Sasa Trail, accessible via car or bus.

For those who do not want to ascend to the top, exploring the foothills is an alternate pastime. This is a fantastic hiking area that is stunning and largely unexplored by tourists.

Along with the lovely Sipi Falls, there are caves to explore, endemic plants like giant lobelia, heather, and groundsel, rare birds, and blue and black-and-white colobus monkeys in the forests. Most hikes end at viewpoints from which you can gaze up at the craggy peaks of ominous Mount Elgon.

Ideal Season to Visit

Any time of year is a good time to climb Mount Elgon, but the continuous rains in April and May make it difficult and sluggish going. The best times to go are during the dry seasons (June through August and November to March), particularly in the spring months of November and December when the wildflowers are blooming.