8 Days Mount Elgon Climbing Tour

3000$

per person

On this tour, climb Mt Elgon, and en route visit Jinja and Source of the River Nile, detour to Mabira Forest Eco Tourism site, visit Itanda Falls the other end of the Nile. Except for a few variations, Climbing equipment and food is the same as that for climbing the Rwenzori Mountains.

Mount Elgon came into existence as a result of a volcanic eruption. For hundreds of years, the mountain has never erupted since its formation. With its highest peak, Wagagai, at 4,321m high, Mount Elgon’s major features are: plethora of waterfalls, hot springs and the extraordinary caldera, which is about 8 kilometres in diameter. Although Uganda is at the Equator, Mount Elgon sometimes experiences temperatures below freezing point. The blazing equatorial sun and freezing temperatures produces giant vegetation. Climbing is best done in the dry months of June to August, and December to February, but other months are also manageable.

8 Days

12+ Age

Bungee Jump

Family Trips

Gorillas

Uganda

Wildlife Safaris

Departure

Tour startTour starts from and Ends in Entebbe
Departure Time

Please arrive by 9:15 AM for a prompt departure at 9:30 AM.
Return Time

Approximately 8:30 PM.
Dress Code

Casual. Comfortable athletic clothing, hiking shoes, hat, light jacket.
Include

From Our Gallery

On this tour, Search for wild game black manned lion for which Mara is famous, cheetah, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, leopard, the grants gazelle are quite common, even the rare rhino might come out of the thicket for you, hyenas are plentiful.

Day 1: Arrival

Arrive Entebbe airport. Meet, greet and transfer to your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala for overnight (BB)

Day 2: To Mt Elgon

Briefing from your guide. Afterwards drive eastwards to Sipi Falls on the slope of Mount Elgon. Start for Jinja, via Mukono and through Mabira Forest, the largest in Central Uganda (Mabira is a local word meaning giant forest). Proceed to Jinja past the Owen Falls Dam, Uganda’s main Hydro Electricity dam. Visit the Source of the Mighty River Nile. Proceed to Mbale Park Headquarters and finalize trekking arrangements for the next day. Use opportunity to get informed about Mt. Elgon National Park, look at the map for all trails, buy souvenirs or postcards. Continue to Sipi Falls Rest Camp. Relax in the full comfort huts, with rustical dinning room, bar, the garden with a view of Sipi Falls and country side around. Short excursion to the bottom of the Sipi Falls, time allowing. Try to catch sun set from the garden. [Approximate driving time: 6 hours]

Day 3: To Piswa Patrol Camp (2850m)

After an early breakfast drive on murram roads to Kapkwata (2190m). At this ranger station meet the rangers and porters and start to hike the Piswa Trail. Take a gentle climb through a cultivated area until you reach the Park with its Podocarpus forest, dotted with a large host of monkeys and birds. (FB)

Day 4: To Hunters Cave (3870m)

After breakfast start the long, steep climb to this Cave located below the rim of the caldera, set up the tents and enjoy beautiful landscape covered with giant groundsels. After dinner enjoy stars and particularly Milky Way is nicely visible. Get ready for a cold, freezing night sometimes with temperatures below freezing point. (FB)

Day 5: To Mude Cave Camp (3500m)

Short climb to the rim of the caldera and enjoy its magnificent view. On a clear day, all the highest peaks on the Uganda/Kenya border may be seen. Long trek through a boggy area within the crater, which is covered with many streams and rivers. Continue your trek to the hot springs, whose end point on the other side is the Kenyan border. Make sure you relax your feet in the warm water at 48o C – before you join Sasa Trail through the middle of the giant caldera. Enjoy the volcanic landscape and thousands of giant groundsels, occasionally spotting dykers and/or hyrax. Reach the southwest rim of the exhilarating caldera and descend to Mude Cave Camp for overnight (FB).

Day 6: To Sasa River Camp (2900m)

Start after an early breakfast back up to the mountain. Be careful to take only a small back-pack! After a short climb trek directly to Wagagai Peak (4321m), the second highest in Uganda after Rwenzoris’ Margherita at 5,109m. There is no steep climb and after about three hours the summit can be reached. Enjoy the beautiful view from the top, particularly of crater and the Kenyan side. For those who do not wish to climb Jackson Summit, a more restful day walking from Wagagai Peak back to Mude Camp and on to Sasa River Camp. For those who can, depending on altitude sickness, climb Jackson Summit (4165m). This last section is rather steep and ropes and crampons may be required for climbing over loose, huge rocks. Return on a straight trail to Mude Cave Camp, collect equipment left there and descend to Sasa River Camp, directly overlooking the Sasa River in the middle of the luxuriant afro-montane forest. The trail down can be muddy and slippery so you need to be well-balanced! (FB)

Day 7: To Budadiri Ranger Station (1250m)

Take a long, steep and very slippery way downhill, passing the ”Wall of Death”. At a distance, view the beautiful terraced hills surrounding the mountain. Walk through villages and shambas, with children waving you on! Proceed to Budadiri Ranger Station (1250m). Drive to Mbale Resort Hotel or Sipi River Lodge for lunch and overnight (FB).

Day 8: To Kampala and out

Return to Kampala. Visit Itanda Falls on the other end of the Nile on your way. Arrive Kampala in mid afternoon and transfer to the airport in time for your flight. [Approximate driving time: 7 hours]

Tour Location

For all categories of accommodation, ALL drinks (except bottled water in vehicle) are excluded in the safari cost and clients are to pay for them direct to the hotels/Camps / Lodges.

Tanzania's history is marked by the unification of Tanganyika (the mainland) and Zanzibar in 1964, after both gained independence. Tanganyika achieved independence from British rule in 1961 and Zanzibar gained independence in 1963, though it experienced a revolution shortly after that year. This union formed the United Republic of Tanzania.

Pre-Colonial Era:

Tanzania has a long history, with evidence of human settlement dating back millions of years.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is considered the "Cradle of Humankind" due to the discovery of early human remains and tools at Olduvai Gorge.
Various groups, including the Hadza and Sandawe hunter-gatherers, Khoisan-speaking people, Southern Cushitic speakers, and Bantu-speaking peoples, contributed to the region's early history.
The Bantu expansion played a significant role, bringing ironworking and social organization.
The region was also influenced by trading contacts between Arabia and the East African coast, leading to settlements of Asian and Arab traders.

Colonial Era:

The mainland was declared a protectorate of German East Africa in 1886.
Zanzibar was a British protectorate.
After World War I, the region became a League of Nations mandate under British administration, renamed Tanganyika.
Tanganyika achieved independence in 1961, and Zanzibar gained independence in 1963, with the subsequent revolution leading to the People's Republic of Zanzibar.

Post-Independence:

The unification of Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964 formed the United Republic of Tanzania.
Julius Nyerere, the first president of Tanzania, played a key role in the country's unification and early development.
Tanzania has faced political and economic challenges since independence, but has also achieved notable progress in areas like conservation and tourism.

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Value For Money

For all categories of accommodation, ALL drinks (except bottled water in vehicle) are excluded in the safari cost and clients are to pay for them direct to the hotels/Camps / Lodges. Clients could choose to fly out the following day in cases where there are no flights for their departure on the last day of the itinerary. A supplement for the extra night will be required. Notes to the scheduled tours:

All extras are non discounted, non commissionable as they are direct rates, such as chimpanzee fees, gorilla permit fees and such extras
Nonetheless, the 3-day extension to source of the nile: jinja, uganda with option of rafting (Tour No. 5), all rates therein, including all of the extras, are commissionable to tour operators and travel agents.
Recommendations: In the high seasons (Jan-Feb, June-Sep, Dec-Jan) tours it is recommended that you book well in advance, 6 months in advance and latest time of booking should not go lower than 45 days to arrival; while in the low seasons (March, April, May, Oct, Nov), tours may be booked up to 21 days to arrival.
We have suggested higher level (mostly 4 star) properties in the itineraries. Where you wish to stay in platinum or top of the range properties, please contact us for supplements.