Itinerary at Glance:

 

Day 1. Hike to Mude Cave Camp 3472m

 

Day 2.  Summit Wagagai peak 4321m, Sleep at Sasa River camp 2,860m.

 

Day 3. Descend down to the basecamp.

 

Overview:

 

The best option is to have a pre-night stay in Mbale town.  It is 52km from Mbale town to Budadiri Uganda Wildlife Authority office, taking approximately 50minutes from Mbale town.  To get an early start be at UWA offices at 8:00am.

 

Clear the park entrance fees as: – $35 per 24hr period for Foreign non-residents and $25 per 24hr period for Foreign residents.

 

 

 

 

 

The trek starts just above Bugiboni Village, which is now possible to reach by vehicle. We can also organize transport for you from Budadiri UWA office to the basecamp at 80,000/- each way using our 4×4 mini bus. Please book at the time of booking your trek.

 

 

ITINERARY

 

 

Day 1. Hike to Mude Cave Camp 3472m.

 

Meet the guides at the basecamp for briefing and explanation of what to expect during your hike.

 

You start from the Base Camp at 1,720m you climb up to the park entrance at 2,240m through the community with coffee, vegetable and maize plantations past many homesteads where the children will greet and welcome you to Mt Elgon.  The first 600 metres is a bit steep after which it levels out except the last section which is steepish and gets slippery during wet weather.

 

From the park entrance you climb up a steep section where we have constructed simple steps to make it easier.  After about 500 metres you get to the rock face of the escarpment where UWA constructed three sets of long steel staircases.  As you climb the view over the community is spectacular with many homesteads and small farms.

 

Once you reach the top of the steel stairs the trail flattens out to be a gradual climb with a few steep sections but a steady climb through the beautiful montane forests with many birds and the occasional primate. It is a definite must for birders as the forest is evergreen and open making it easy to spot many species. After 3 or 4 hours, you reach Sasa River Camp 2,860m where we are constructing new huts and facilities amongst the trees. However, as you are doing a three-day trek we stop for a quick lunch and cup of tea or coffee and head off to Mude Camp at 3,472m passing though the higher levels of the montane forest with some different bird species to reach the bamboo zone where the lower sections have been over harvested by the local communities for bamboo shoots and building materials, however the upper section is now recovering and with a few years will be back to its former glory.  We at Elgon Trekking Services are committed to conservation and will be undertaking extensive replanting programs to aid the re-establishment of the bamboo forests.

 

 

 

 

 

At around 3,250m the forest starts opening up to gradually become the Heath Zone where you walk across rolling grassy hills with the occasional Giant Groudsell and Giant Heather’s and many species of wildflowers which are more profilic in July August September but found all year round. Mude Camp 3,472m is set in a small forest of Giant Heather trees with views across the valley. Here you may see the mountain hares which live in the Heath Zone hopping around the camp and the occasional serval (Leptailurus serval) which lives mainly on the mountain hares and small rodents. At Mude Camp you may sleep in a tent outside or put it inside a big A framed hut.

 

Overnight stay at:  Mude Cave Camp (Tent camping with a small foam mattress) Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner

 

Day 2.  Summit Wagagai Peak 4321m and sleep at Sasa River Camp.

 

Have a an early start and trek to the summit of Wagagai Peak 4321m.

Trekking past Jackson’s Pool (Sera’s Pool) and Masaba summit which has a lot of history and culture concerning the Bamasaba people and Gisu trible.  From Wagagai Peak you look across the largest mountain caldera in the world (40sq km) and which was the center of the Mt Elgon volcano. Judging on the area of the base of Mt Elgon it is estimated that millions of years ago Mt Elgon was the tallest mountain on earth.

After enjoying the views and taking a few pics for memories you head back to Mude Camp for a quick break before descending to Sasa River Camp for your second night. At the camp, you may sleep in a tent or stay in the large A framed hut.

 

Overnight stay at:  Sasa River Camp (Tent camping with a small foam mattress)

 

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

Day 3. Hike down to the basecamp 1720m

 

Descend down to the basecamp following the same route as the one used to climb up.

Trekkers start arriving at the basecamp from 11:30am on wards.

Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch.