What to do in Mount Elgon National Park

Nature walks & Hiking

At Sipi Falls, guides from the local community can organize walks of a few hours up to a full day around local viewpoints. In Kapchorwa, a 20-minute Sunrise Trek at 6am from Noah’s Ark Hotel leads to the nearby Tewei Hill to watch dawn spreading across the vast Karamoja plains at the base of the mountain. A full-day nature hike leads from Budadiri to the Mudange cliffs, known as the Walls of Death, at the boundary of the National Park. These cliffs are located in the tropical forest, and blue monkeys, black-and-white colobus and baboons are likely to cross your tracks.

Mountain climbing

A mountain biking trail runs from Sipi trading centre to Chema Hill in Kapchorwa town. It should take 1.5 hours and provides views of various waterfalls and the Karamoja plains. 

Cultural encounters

Find out where your coffee comes from! The Sipi Widows’ Group will take you on a guided walk through the coffee plantation demonstrating how to plant, pick, grind, store and wash the coffee. You will also learn about life of the Sabiny as you meet local residents, and participate in traditional weaving. Learn about African cuisine through the preparation, cooking and tasting of local dishes.

Rock climbing

Rock climbing takes place outside the park at Sipi and there are 14 climbs requiring various levels of rock scaling techniques, and all equipment can be hired from the Sipi Falls Tourist Guides Association. The toughest is a 35m climb while the easiest is 15m.

Bird watching

Excellent birding opportunities exist around Kapkwai Forest Exploration Centre, in particular in the secondary forest and thick shrub along the loop trails extended to cover Cheptui Falls. It supports the African Goshawk; Chubb’s Cisticola, White-chinned Prinia, African Blue Fly-catcher, Chinspot Batis, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, Dohertys and Luhders Bush-shrikes, Baglafecht Weaver, Cinnamon Bee Eater, Moustached Tinkerbird, Hartloub`s Turaco, Tacazze Sunbird, Olive- and Bronze-naped pigeons, Black Kite and Black-collared Apalis.

Best time to visit Mount Elgon National Park

The best time to climb Mount Elgon is during the dry seasons between June-August and December-March. However, it should be noted that climbing Mt. Elgon can be done all year round.

Accommodation

The park has got a lot of lodges, camps & hotels for accommodation ranging from luxury, budget and mid-range and these are available both inside and outside the park. You can book your accommodation through our company and early bookings are advised.

Luxury

• Sipi River Lodge
• Mbale Resort Hotel

Mid-range

• Masha Hotel
• Lacam Lodge
• Noah’s Ark Hotels

Budget

• Kapkwai Forest Cottages
• Suam Guest House
• Kapkwata Guest House

Below are some of our short and long safari packages to different Ugandan parks and other attractive places.

1 Days Uganda gorilla trekking in Bwindi

2 Days Jinja city adventure

2 Days Lake Mburo safari

3 Days Murchison falls safari

3 Days Uganda gorilla trekking safari

3 Days Queen Elizabeth National Park

3 Days Sese Island tour

3 Days Semuliki National Park safari

3 Days Kibale Chimpanzee tracking safari

3 Days Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour

3 Days Lake Bunyonyi safari

4 Days chimpanzee and wildlife safari

4 Days Kidepo valley park safari

4 Days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari

5 Days Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari

6 Days Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari

6 Days Queen Elizabeth-Bwindi and Lake Mburo park safari

7 Days Uganda primates and wildlife safari

7 Days Pearl of Africa

7 Days Uganda holiday adventure

8 Days Uganda gorilla chimpanzee and wildlife safari

9 Days Uganda chimpanzee gorillas and adventure safari

10 Days Uganda safari

10 Days Rwenzori hiking adventure

11 Days gorillas, chimpanzee and wildlife safari

12 Days Uganda primates and wildlife safari

15 Days Uganda adventure and wildlife safari

16 Days Uganda primates and wildlife safari

17 Days Uganda gorillas and wildlife safari

18 Days Uganda gorilla, chimpanzee and adventure safari

19 Days Uganda safari

21 Days Uganda safari