Many travellers find Mount Elgon National Park a fun and exciting alternative to the more challenging treks in East Africa. This massive extinct shield volcano straddles the border between Uganda and Kenya.
Thousands of years ago, it was the tallest mountain in Africa, surpassing Mount Kilimanjaro’s current height of 5,895m. But erosion gradually reduced its peak to its current height of 4,321m, making it the eighth tallest in Africa and the fourth in East Africa. Elgon is believed to have first erupted around 24 million years ago, with its last eruption occurring 10 million years ago, making it the oldest volcanic mountain in East Africa.
Mount Elgon is also the largest extinct volcano in the world. It’s base spans an impressive 4,000 km2, and it ascends through a series of gentle slopes interspersed with cliffs to reach 4,321 meters at Wagagai Peak on the Ugandan side. The lower slopes of Elgon are covered in tropical montane forest, featuring extensive bamboo stands. Above this lies a vast Afro-Alpine moorland, which covers the mountain’s caldera. This collapsed crater spans about 40 km² at the mountain’s summit and is the largest mountain caldera in the world.
A transboundary Biosphere Reserve
Mount Elgon National Park was first gazetted as a forest reserve in 1938. In 1993, its status was upgraded to a National Park. In 2023, Mount Elgon was designated a Transboundary Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
The designation of the Mount Elgon Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, which includes Uganda and Kenya National Parks, highlights the area’s critical role in providing a range of ecosystem functions and supporting forests, wildlife, and livelihoods. According to UNESCO, the site features an exceptional diversity of ecosystems and four distinct ecological zones: mixed montane forest, bamboo, and low canopy forest, sub-alpine montane heath, and alpine moorland, which vary with altitude.
Trips To Mount Elgon National Park
Reasons To Visit Mount Elgon National Park
1. Adventure
Mount Elgon National Park in Uganda is a fascinating playground for a variety of activities, from the foothills its slopes, and up to its peak!
Mount Elgon’s Wagagai Peak in Uganda, presents an exciting multi-day hiking adventure. The summit stands at 4321 meters. The shortest and most direct route is the Sasa route. This route is a four-day roundtrip, with the first day being the hardest. Prepare yourself for rain and chilly nights! The best time to summit Mount Elgon is during the driest months – from December to February and June to August.
The Sipi Falls, a series of waterfalls, add form a stunning element to the landscape. The tallest waterfall drops 95 meters, offering a thrilling experience abseiling experience for adventure tourists.
The foothills of Mount Elgon and the high-altitude slopes of Kapchorwa draw runners from around the world, including local professional athletes in training and visitors seeking for a physical challenge in fabulous scenery.
2. Culture
More than one million Kenyans and Ugandans reside in this transboundary biosphere reserve. Indigenous peoples include the Bagisu, Teso, Sabiny, Luhya, and Sabaot tribes, among other communities. The region’s ethnic diversity makes it especially attractive to travelers seeking authentic cultural experiences.
3. Coffee
The slopes of Mount Elgon are internationally renowned for their high-quality Arabica coffee. Imagine enjoying coffee right where it’s grown!
4. Local food
Bamboo shoots, known as malewa in the Bagisu language, are among the important resources harvested from the Mount Elgon Transboundary Biosphere Reserve.
Local communities depend on access to the reserve for gathering salt for their cattle, firewood, medicinal plants, and grass for thatching houses. To ensure community support for preserving these valuable ecosystems, many community conservation programs have been implemented.
5. Bird Life
Over 300 bird species reside in the diverse habitats of Mount Elgon National Park. It is one of the few places in Uganda where birdwatchers can spot the Lammergeyer, an endangered vulture species that measures over a meter in size!
6. Gateway to Karamoja and northeastern Uganda
A visit to Mount Elgon National Park can be combined with broader explorations of eastern and northeastern Uganda. Tulambue travel consultants specialize in creating unique itineraries that blend adventure with engaging and responsible tourism experiences.