Mt. Elgon National Park

Park Briefs

Mt. Elgon National Park is famous for being the edifice of the highest peak of Mt. Elgon. It’s an extinct shield volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya which forms part of park. The park was gazetted in 1992, and covers an approximate area of 1110 sqkm. MENP is a UNESCO declared Man & Biosphere Reserve and is one of Uganda’s oldest physical features which first erupted around 24 million years ago. Mt. Elgon is shared with Kenya and at 4,000km², it has the largest volcanic base in the world, it is also the oldest and largest solitary, volcanic mountain in East Africa. Its vast form, 80km in diameter, rises more than 3,000m above the surrounding plains.

The mountain’s cool heights offer respite from the hot plains below, with the higher altitudes providing a refuge for flora and fauna. Mt Elgon was once Africa’s highest mountain, far exceeding Kilimanjaro’s current 5,895m, but Millennia of erosion have reduced its height to 4,321m (Wagagi Peak) relegating making it to the 4th highest peak in East Africa and 8th on the continent. The Park has a less documented long Tutumu cave expected to be reaching Kenya.
This park is gifted with Mammals, and plants, over 300 bird species including the endangered Lammergeyer. While hiking the most common species include but not limited to; blue monkeys and black and white columbus, Duiker and bush bucks. Also a small number of Elephants are residents of forests. Mt Elgon is home to three tribes Bagisu, Sabiny and the marginalized Ndorobes who forcibly dwell deep within the forest of Benet. The Bagisu tribe still practice traditional male circumcision every even year, a ritual that introduces young male to manhood. The Bagisu (BaMasaba), consider Mount Elgon to be the embodiment of their founding father Masaba and refer to the mountain by this name. Through this park, you're able to reach the “champions’ Village” (Where most world athletic champions originate from. such Joshua cheptegei, Kiprop, Kiplimo among others.

Memorable Activities:
The most memorable activities in this park include but not limited to: Hiking the Wagagai peak at 4321m ASL for 2-6 days depending on your energy, Cave tourism, cross boarder tourism walk to the Hot Springs, Forest exploration, nature walks, birding, community walk to Sipi falls and coffee tourism experience, and the Imbalu festival during Leap year. Reach culinary tour for Malewa (local cuisine)

It offers a 7 days hike to the peak though for a good climber can do it in 3 days using the central trail. Common activities include but not limited to., Day hikes, birding, research based tourism, education trips. Community walk to neighboring Bagisu villages for homestead visits, coffee tourism, home cultural performances, home- so forth.

Accessibility: To do all these activities, we help you to reach the park using either road or air.

Accommodation: There are a number of lodges from budget to high-End within a radius of 50 km.

Easiest way to explore this park (3/2 days). It’s possible for visitors sleeping in Entebbe/Kampala (Uganda) to drive direct to the park and do activities on the first day in the evening, then others on the following day(s) thereafter, come back to Kampala or proceed to other parks within 3 or 2 days.