Mountain Elgon National Park
Mountain Elgon National Park also known as Masaba is located in mbale district, sironko and Kapchorwa bordering Kenya and Uganda covering the total area of about 1279 square kilometres. Mountain Elgon National Park is one of the exciting parks in Uganda because of ranges, it was gazetted in 1992.The park is a spectacular offering quite number of Uganda safari activities to travellers. Mountain national park is a home of over 300bird species recorded in the park. Also, on a Uganda hiking safari to mountain Elgon national park one will be able to encounter animals such as small antelopes, bushbucks, white colobus monkeys, elephants to mention but a few.
Attractions in mountain Elgon national park
On a Uganda wildlife safari to mountain Elgon national park, there are a lot of attractions to sight on your way and in the park.
Birds
Mountain Elgon national park is a home of over 300bird species recorded in the park making it to stand out as one of the birding sights while on Uganda birding safari include, black bellied bustard, jacsonsfrancolin, tacazzesunbird, Hartlaub’s turaco and many more.
Sipi falls.
These are one of the major attractions and most well-known waterfall in the park located on Kapchorwa road and the sipi area is a popular spot for rock climbing.
Jackson’s pool peak.
This is the attraction which was named by Fredrick Jackson and who is believed to have been the first European to climb mountain Elgon, the peak traditional has traditional attachments to locals since they use it as a spot to communicate with their ancestors who left them long time ago
Mountain Elgon caves
These caves are attractions also because they are formed by lava and erosion of volcanic deposits. And they are three caves which kapkwai, khauka cave, and Kitum cave known for bushbucks and other animals and it acted as shelters for live stalk of local people you used to live in the mountains.
What to do when you’re in-mountain Elgon national park
Bird watching
The forest exploration centre at kapkwai is an excellent birding sight where tourists have an opportunity to have a look at so many birds and of different kinds because of the thick shrub along the loop routes like the white- chinned prina, turaco. black collared apalis,tacaze sunbird and others.
Cultural encounter
This visit takes you to different communities in bagisu and different things are seen like the best coffee in Uganda which Arabic coffee and then the sabiny local exposes the visitors to the local like of people like cooking, tasting local dishes which excites tourists because dono some of those foods.
Mountain biking.
Mountain biking trail runs from sipi trading centre to chema hill in kapchorwa town.and it provides views of various waterfalls and the Karamoja plains. Biking in sipi falls is still in its infancy there is unlimited potential since it has the perfect terrain for all types of biking. So, if you’re into biking get self here for unforgettable experience.
Nature walks in mountain Elgon national park
A full -day nature leads from budadiri to the Mudange Cliff, known as the walls of death and will be able to see different primates like baboons, monkeys many more.
Rock climbing
It takes place outside the park at sipi there are 14 climbs requiring various levels of rock scaling techniques and climbing equipment’s can be gotten from sipi falls and is also apictureview for photography lovers.
Best time to visit Mount Elgon National Park
Mountain Elgon can be visited all year round but the best time is the dry season in the months of June, august and December because in those months the rains are few so the road is passable.
How to get to Mount Elgon National Park
By Road
Mountain Elgon national park is reached by road which is 4 to 6 hours to reach from Kampala to mbale then the guides will pick you and take you to the park.
By Air
From Entebbe to Soroti airfield which helps tourists who don’t like travelling for long and it takes like 1hour to 2 hours.
Accommodation in mountain Elgon national park
Mount Elgon hotel and spa;
This is a luxurious accommodation located near mountain Elgon along Masaba Road it has in dining room, coffee bar and it has more than 30 self-contained rooms.
Mosha hotel
It is found in Kapchorwa town it has self-contained rooms, restaurant preparing local cuisines and it can act as abasement for tourists to trek the mountain Elgon.
Sipi river lodge
It is located on the fringes of Sipi town and it is near forest exploration centre and few metres away from the park entrance sipi river loge has Bandas also like piswa, Sasa, andsuam bunkhouse.
Mbale resort hotel
This hotel offers luxury services to tourists on mountain Elgon on an adventure tour the resort has facilities like gym, spa, swimming pool which makes it a welcoming environment for visitors even those tourists who are not staying their have a chance to relax at resort after hiking.
Noah’s Ark Hotel
It is located at the slopes of Mount Elgon towards the peak in eastern Uganda, Noah’s Ark hotel provides unique services like cuisines both local and continental and with organic foods, coffee roasting and these services are offered without additional cost.
