There are several things to do in Mount Elgon National Park, in Eastern Uganda.
The most popular things to do are;
- Hiking / Mountain Climbing
- Abseiling
- Nature Walks
- Cultural Tours include Imbalu Circumcision
Mountain elgon compliment the visits to sipi falls and usually travelers are interested in the following activities;
Hiking/ Mountain climbing
While hiking mount elgon, the ultimate goal is to reach wagagai peak at 4321 meters above sea level.
Numerous hikes are organised and usually start from sipi falls following piswa trails, sasa trail and sipi trail and hike through valleys caves and ridges. From the Mbale side of the mountain it is possible to access the Wanale Ridge where day-long hikes can be organised to pass through a variety of heath and moorland landscapes with caves along the way. Besides Rwenzori mountain in the western Uganda, mountaineers can also visit mountain elgon national park. The full circuit trek usually takes 4-5 days depending on the physical fitness. There is accommodation at the top of the mountain, all you need is pack plenty of drinking water and food, good hiking shoes, light warm clothes and rain jackets as it gets cooler the higher you go. porters are available for hire to carry your luggage. Hikes u
Birding
Mountain elgon is a birders haven, with 300 bird species and 40 endemic species hold your binocular and you will be able to spot a quite number of bird species which include Hartlaub’s Turaco, Lemon Dove, African Hill Babbler, Alpine Chat, Dusky-Turtle Dove, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Thick-billed Honey guide, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Grey Cuckoo-Shrike, common Chiffchaff, the Uganda and Brown Woodland Warblers, Nightingale, Spotted Morning-Thrush, African Reed Warbler to mention but a few.
Nature walk following various trail heads for those who are into in nature walks. Explore the flora and fauna of mt Elgon, Jungle walking shoes, rain jackets and torch are recommended if you are to explore the tutum cave in the extensive montane forest. Alternatively, community walk to the local people of the sabiny and Bagisu who live on the slopes of mountain elgon. Learn about the cultural and tradition of each tribe like the Imbalu, circumcising the teen boys of age, this usually happen every even year in the months of august and December. Also, traditional delicacy like ‘’amalewa’’ the bamboo shoots.
There is also a tour of Mt Elgon’s famous Arabica coffee processing plants, which supports local farmers. Nature lovers can indulge in one of the three trails – the full-day Namugabwe Cave Trail, passing through Bamasaba community land and banana plantations to reach a historical cave filled with bones; the Dirigana Loop Trail to the Dirigsana Falls and Gabushana Cave past local markets and the “Walls of Death.”
Spot fishing
Spot Fishing on the Sipi River is done on a catch and release basis which is the same as catching releasing Nile Perch in Murchison Falls Park. Trout fishing is done at the top of the three water falls pouring into pludge pool. Most travelers interested in sports fishing use the angling method to catch multiple fish but can also opt to use alternative methods with multiple hooks like longlining or commercial trolling.
Game drive and viewing
Game drive is not yet a common activity but Mount Elgon national park has a variety of wild life species on the other side of the park. some of the mammal species you will encounter are elephants, buffaloes, Oribi, Defassa’s waterbuck, duiker, squirrels, spotted hyenas, primates such as the white colobus monkey and the blue monkey.