Mount Elgon National Park, Hiking Tours in Uganda

Mount Elgon National Park is a protected area located in eastern Uganda on the border with Kenya. It is named after Mount Elgon, which is an extinct volcano and the fourth-highest mountain in Africa. The park covers an area of about 1,279 square kilometers (494 square miles) and is known for its stunning natural features, including waterfalls, caves, hot springs, and a variety of flora and fauna. Of the total area covered, Uganda covers a part of 1,110 square kilometers while Kenya covers a part of 169 square kilometers.

Mount Elgon national park is a home to various species including 144 bird species, mammals, invertebrates and others. The most common attraction is Wagagai peak which is at a height of 4,321 meters. This peak is the second highest peak in Uganda after Margherita and the eighth highest in the African continent. The park is mostly visited by the adventurous travelers who are much interesting in hiking and mountaineering. Other activities at the park include sport fishing, bird watching, nature walks, and others.

Where does Mgahinga Gorilla fit into your Uganda Safari?

What to see while in the park

Mount Elgon

As mentioned, Mount Elgon is an extinct volcano and stands at an elevation of approximately 4,321 meters (14,177 feet) above sea level. It is the main attraction in the park and a popular destination for hikers and trekkers. With different peaks, Wagagai as the highest at 4,321 meters, Mount Elgon offers various trails with different levels of difficulty. Other peaks include; Sudek along the Uganda Kenya border at 4,302 meters, Koitobos in Kenya at 4,222 meters, Mubiyi at 4,211 meters and Masaba at 4,161 meters.

Sipi Falls

These are a series of three waterfalls formed by the Sipi River as it flows from the upper slopes of Mount Elgon. Sipi Falls is a popular spot for tourists going to Mount Elgon and it is known for providing breathtaking views.

Caves

Mount Elgon is riddled with caves, some of which are quite large and have interesting geological formations. Kitum Cave meaning the ‘place of ceremonies, in Maasai is the most visited cave, known for its salt-mining elephants. Other caves in the mountains include Ngwarisha, Chepnyalil and Makingeny caves.

Hot Springs

Mount Elgon national park has several hot springs, with the most popular being the “Mudange Cliffs” and the “Chebonet Springs.” These are believed to have therapeutic properties, and visitors can take a dip in the warm waters.

Wildlife

While Mount Elgon National Park is not as well-known for wildlife as some other parks in Uganda, it still offers opportunities for birdwatching and sighting small mammals. You may come across various species of monkeys, antelope, and a diverse range of birdlife.

Flora

The park is known for its diverse vegetation, ranging from montane forest to bamboo, heath, and moorland. It’s home to a variety of plant species, some of which are endemic to the area.

Activities in Mount Elgon national park

Mountain climbing

This is the activity that attracts a thousand of travelers each year from different continents to engage in the adventurous climbs to the top of the mountain. Sight different attractions like vegetation, valleys, hills, lakes and rivers while walking through the hiking trails of the mountain like the Sasa trail which exposes the hikers to different cultures and tribes like the Bamasaba people. Another trail is the Sipi trail which starts at Kapkwai forest exploration and the other is the Piswa trail which is the longest and harder of all the hiking trails.

Nature walking

Enjoy a guided nature walk through the trails of the national park. The walks in Mount Elgon national park cover about 7 kilometers through the bamboo trails to Kapkwai cave and then through the tropical forests. During the hikes, get great opportunities to spot different species in the forests including the bird species like Elgon olive and Elgon teak. You can as well visit different attractions and features with in the park including the Chebonet falls, Kapkwai caves, Khauka cave, Jackson’s summit and others.

Bird watching

Mount Elgon National park hosts over 144 bird species thus offering a splendid view of birds to the bird lovers. Bird experience is done around the Kapkwai forest exploration center, around the secondary forest and also in the thick shrubs along the routes to Chetui falls. Among the birds to be spotted include white chinned perinea, chin spot batis, Chubb’s cist cola, black kite, African goshawk, hart lob’s turaco, sunbird, black collared apalis, African blue flycatcher, moustached tinker bird and others. Remember to move with a pair of binoculars and also a note book where to write and note the exciting experiences and also the beautiful and colorful bird species.

Mountain biking

One of the rare done activities in during the Uganda safari tours but can be experienced in the mountains of Elgon. Mountain biking experience is carried out in the beautiful and improved trails that run from the Sipi trading center to Cheema hill in the town of Kapchorwa. During the biking, view different amazing features like waterfalls, rivers, valleys and the Karamoja plains for a period of 2 hours.

Cultural encounters and visits

Mount Elgon National park is surrounded by the local people who are known as the Sabiny. Get a chance to interact with these people and learn more about their lifestyles and cultures. Things to learn from these people include weaving; handcraft makings, cooking and others. Have a lifetime experience by enjoying the entertainment of these people like dancing, singing, folks and also stories.

How to reach Mount Elgon national park

Reach the park from Kampala via Mbale – Kapchorwa road which is about 231 kilometers or take a charter flight from Entebbe international airport to Soroti airstrip.

Best time to hike Mount Elgon

Mount Elgon national park is known for its moderate dry climate, receiving an average rainfall of 3,000 mm annually. It can be visited any time throughout the year but the best time is during the dry seasons between the months of June to August and December to March.

Safari activities in Mgahinga National Park

Though gorilla trekking is the main activity in volcanoes national park, there are other activities which one can participate in while on a safari to Rwanda. Among these activities include gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, and mountain hiking, touring the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Burera and also visiting the grave of Dian Fossey.

Mountain Gorilla Trekking

One of the main attractions of the park is the opportunity to track and observe mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The park is home to one habituated gorilla group – Nyakagezi which means they are accustomed to the presence of humans and can be visited by tourists under strict guidelines to minimize disturbance. Gorilla trekking takes about 2 to 4 hours or depends on the location of the mountain gorillas. When they are allocated, trekkers are allowed to spend about an hour with them as they learn more about their ways of life like feeding, playing, mating and others.

In addition to gorilla tracking, visitors to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park have the opportunity to track golden monkeys. These monkeys are an endangered species and are unique to the Albertine Rift region of Africa.  The experience takes about 4 hours for every session that takes part.  Get a great opportunity of viewing and taking pictures of these primates and also those of the mountain gorillas since golden monkey trekking can be done during gorilla trekking experience. Hike through the forests of the park to the habituated families of the golden monkeys which are about 6 in number. Remember to move with some binoculars, hiking boots, gloves and other protective requirements for your safety during the trekking.

Golden Monkey Tracking

Visiting the Tomb of Dian Fossey

The park is also a haven for bird enthusiasts, with over 180 bird species recorded, including several Albertine Rift endemics. Among the birds to be seen include the dusky turtle dove, black headed waxbill, kivu ground thrush, greater double collard sunbird, olive pigeon, black headed waxbill, striped breasted tit, malachite and scarlet tufted sunbirds, Rwenzori batis, cape robin chat and others.

With three volcanic peaks – Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhavura, Mgahinga gorilla national park offers best hiking experiences. The names of these volcanoes have got meanings that are Sabyinyo means Old man’s teeth; Gahinga means Pile of stones and then Muhavura which means a guide. Of the three mountains, Muhavura is the highest and thus a traveler gets a higher advantage of sighting the peaks of other mountains when he or she climbs it. Walk through the different vegetation zone of the park including the mushy vegetation, bamboo forests and others while hiking to the top of these mountains or volcanoes.

Hiking

Visiting the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Burera

Before Mgahinga gorilla national park was gazetted as a national park, the Batwa people were the inhabitants and lived in the forests as hunters but later displaced though some of them remained around the park. The Batwa people are also encountered on the profits made after tourists visiting the national park. Also, these people entertain the travelers in many ways that is; through dances, songs, stories, poem, folks and others.

Where to stay?

There are several accommodation systems where one can stay at an affordable price and comfortably during a Uganda safari in Mgahinga. Among these accommodations include; Ikoro lodge, Mount Gahinga Rest Camp, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Lake Mulehe Safari lodge, Travelers’ rest hotel, Mutanda Lake Resort and many others.

When to go?

Mgahinga can be visited anytime throughout the year but the best time is the dry season that starts in June to August and in January and February.

How to access Volcanoes National park?

Volcanoes national park is easily accessed from Kigali and takes only two hour drive from Kigali to Musanze district in the Northern region of Rwanda. One can decide to use public means of transport from Kigali to Musanze and then use a private car to the headquarters of the park.

Also, one can hire services from the tour operator who will pick him or her up from the airport to the park headquarters in Kinigi.