The Mount Elgon National Park of Uganda was gazetted as a national park in 1994. It is one of the six national parks that were formally forest reserves that Government of Uganda in the early 1990s upgraded and gazetted as National Park because of the threat of degradation and loss of biodiversity. Mt Elgon National Park is a forested montane ecosystem gazetted in 1993 as a national park.
The higher slopes are protected by national parks in Uganda and Kenya, creating an extensive trans-boundary conservation area which has been declared a UNESCO Man & Biosphere Reserve.
The ecosystem covers an area of about 772,300 ha, made up of 221,401 ha of protected areas and 550,899 ha of farmlands and settlements. It is an extensive complex with an overall scale of 2223km2 of which 1145km2 are on the Uganda side between 0052’ and 01025N, and between 34o14’ and 34044E. It occupies 80kms in length (North to South) and 50kms wide. It falls within the districts of Mbale, Sironko, Kapchorwa, Kween, Bukwo, Bududa and Bulambuli in Uganda and districts of Trans Nzoia and Mt Elgon in Kenya.
Rural communities surround the forested component of the mountain, with subsistence agriculture being the main economic activity and livelihood security being the dominant concern.
SIZE:
1,145 sq km
LOCATION:
Near Mbale on the east border with Kenya.
(Uganda map)
GETTING THERE:
Mbale lies 3-4 hours from Kampala along a good tar road.
The trailhead at Budadiri, 20km from Mbale, is accessible by public transport.
WHAT TO DO:
Day walks from Budadiri or within the Mount Elgon Forest Exploration Centre; hikes of four days or longer traverse the peaks.
Well worth visiting is the lovely Sipi Falls.
WHEN TO VISIT:
The lower slopes are fine throughout the year. The drier months (June to August, December to March) are best for hiking.
WHERE TO STAY:
Up-market lodge at Sipi Falls. Midrange hotels in Mbale. Budget lodging at Sipi Falls, Mbale and Budadiri. Within the park, camping only.
Mount Elgon Ecosystem