Mount Elgon National Park is located in eastern Uganda near the border with Kenya. The park covers an area of about 1,279 square kilometers, making it one of the largest national parks in Uganda. Kenya also has a national park on Mount Elgon, but the Ugandan side is much larger.
The park is named after Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano found inside the park. Mount Elgon receives about 1,270 millimeters of rainfall each year. The vegetation in the park includes montane forests, bamboo zones, moorland, tussock grass, giant lobelia, and groundsel plants. More than 400 plant species grow in the park, making it an important area for plant life.
In 2005, a rare dragonfly was discovered in the park and named Maathai’s long leg in honor of Wangari Maathai. Mount Elgon National Park is also home to about half of Uganda’s butterfly species.
Mount Elgon National Park is known for natural features such as mountain peaks, caves, gorges, cliffs, waterfalls, hot springs, and rock formations. Scientists believe Mount Elgon erupted more than 24 million years ago. It may have once been the tallest mountain in Africa before erosion reduced its height over time. Today, Mount Elgon is the fourth highest mountain in East Africa and the eighth highest in Africa.
People and Culture Around Mount Elgon
Two main ethnic groups live around Mount Elgon. These are the Bagisu and the Sabiny. A smaller group called the Ndorobo lives inside the forest. The Bagisu, also known as the Bamasaba, believe that their ancestor Masaba came from the mountain. Because of this belief, they refer to Mount Elgon as Masaba.
Mount Elgon has the largest volcanic base in the world. Because of its natural and cultural value, UNESCO declared the park a Man and Biosphere Reserve.
History of Mount Elgon National Park
Before colonial rule, local communities controlled land use around Mount Elgon. They avoided overusing the highland areas. In 1929, part of the mountain was declared a forest reserve by the Uganda Protectorate. Boundary surveys were completed in 1937, although local people continued to use some land.
In 1940, the area became the Mount Elgon Crown Forest and later a Central Forest Reserve in 1951. In 1983, the government gave 6,000 hectares to the Benet Ndorobo group for settlement. Some members later occupied more land beyond what was allowed. In 2002, the 6,000 hectares were removed from forest reserve status. Mount Elgon became a national park in 1994. The Kenyan side was declared a national park in 1968.
Entry Fees
Entry fees for Mount Elgon National Park are 35 US dollars for foreign non residents, 25 US dollars for foreign residents, and 15,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens. Children who are foreign non residents or residents pay 5 US dollars. East African children pay 2,500 Uganda shillings.
Animals in Mount Elgon National Park
Mount Elgon National Park supports many animal species. These include elephants, buffaloes, duikers, hyenas, leopards, bushbucks, tree hyraxes, serval cats, civets, giant forest hogs, defassa waterbucks, oribis, and tree squirrels.
Several primates live in the park. These include black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, De Brazza’s monkeys, and vervet monkeys.
Bird Watching
Over 300 bird species have been recorded in Mount Elgon National Park. These include 40 restricted range species and 56 species from the Afro tropical highlands. Birds found here include eastern bronze naped pigeon, Hartlaub’s turaco, lammergeier, Jackson’s spurfowl, Tacazze sunbird, moorland francolin, alpine chat, green tinkerbird, black collared apalis, and black shouldered kite.
Mountain Climbing on Mount Elgon
There are three main hiking trails used to climb Mount Elgon.
The Piswa Trail is the longest but also the easiest. It takes about 7 days and starts from Kapkwata village north of the mountain. This trail offers views of the Karamoja plains in Uganda and Kapenguria plains in Kenya. Wildlife and hot springs can be seen along the way.
The Sasa Trail is the shortest and steepest route. It starts in Budadiri and takes about 4 days for a round trip. It passes through farms and villages and is good for visitors who want cultural interaction.
The Sipi Trail starts at the Kapkwai Exploration Center and takes between 4 and 6 days. It becomes more demanding after the third day as you climb higher from Kajeri Camp.
Hiking and Nature Walks
Nature walks in the park last from one hour to a full day. One of the most popular walks leads to Sipi Falls, a group of three waterfalls on the slopes of Mount Elgon. During walks, visitors may see birds, plants, and local people working in nearby communities.
Cultural Tours
Cultural tours allow visitors to learn about life around Mount Elgon. The Bagisu are known for their traditional circumcision ceremonies. The Sabiny community previously practiced female circumcision, but this practice has stopped in recent years. Cultural visits include dances, music, and storytelling.
Coffee Tours
The volcanic soils around Mount Elgon are good for coffee farming. Local farmers grow high quality Arabica coffee. Visitors can join coffee tours to learn how coffee is planted, harvested, processed, and brewed. Coffee can also be bought directly from farmers.
Location and Access
Mount Elgon National Park is near Mbale, close to the Kenya border. The park is about four to five hours by road from Kampala.
Best Time to Visit
The park is open throughout the year. The best time for hiking and outdoor activities is during the dry seasons from June to August and December to February. During these months, trails are easier to use and roads are in better condition.
Accommodation Around Mount Elgon
There are many accommodation options around Mount Elgon National Park. Some are in Mbale town, others in Kapchorwa, and some inside or close to the park. These include New Mount Elgon View Hotel, Mount Elgon Hotel, Mbale Resort Hotel, Sasa River Camp, Lacam Lodge, Sipi Falls Resort, Sipi River Lodge, The Crow’s Nest Camp, Noah’s Ark Hotel, Masha Hotel, Savannah Guest House, and many others.
Mount Elgon National Park is an ideal destination for hiking, nature walks, bird watching, cultural tours, and coffee experiences in eastern Uganda.
