4 Days Elgon Hike
Itinerary at Glance:
Day 1. At 1720m basecamp, Hike to Sasa River Camp 2,860m.
Day 2. Hike to Mude Cave Camp 3,472m.
Day 3. Summit Wagagai peak 4321m, Sleep at Mude Cave camp 3,472m.
Day 4. 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. At 1720m basecamp, Hike to Sasa River Camp 2,860m.
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. Once completed it will be a fantastic place to chill out and enjoy nature at its best.
Day 2. Hike to Mude Cave Camp 3472m.
From Sasa River Camp you may continue to climb 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. From Mude you can take and afternoon walk to Dirigana Falls as it tumbles down the mountainside. A walk of three kilometers each way.
Overnight stay at: Mude Cave Camp 3,472m (Tent camping with a small foam mattress)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3. Summit Wagagai peak 4321m, sleep at Mude Cave Camp
Have an early start trekking up to the highest peak, Wagagai Peak 4321m 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 centre 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 second night.
At the camp, you may sleep in a tent or stay in the large A framed hut.
Overnight stay at: Mude Cave Camp 3,472m (Tent camping with a small foam mattress)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
It is in our plans to construct a camp Masaba Camp at 3,891m just below Jackson’s Pool so as the enjoy the upper heath zone and be close to Masaba Summit so as you may climb either to enjoy the sunset or sunrise from the top at 4,152m
We will also be constructing a new trail extending down the ridge from Masaba Summit with excellent views across the valley and way down past Mbale City. After about four kilometres we will drop down longside the Dirigana River to another camp in the dense rivine montane forest. From there the trail will pass down through the forest and join the main trail to branch back to Base Camp for a well diserved rest before travelling home
Day 4. Descend 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: Lunch and Dinner.
| Trek price:
Four-day trek to Wagagai Peak is $380 for one or two people and $350 for three or more plus UWA entrance fees of $35 per 24hr period for foreign tourists and $25 per 24hr period for foreign nationals living in Uganda.
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| Includes:
. Guides . Porters . Meals in the mountain . Accommodation in a tent with a small mattress. |
Excludes:
. Accommodation before and after the trek . Transport to and from the starting point . Insurance . Tips . Personal expenses |
WHAT TO PACK
In the day pack, take along water, camera, binoculars, rain pants and jacket at a minimum. Add any other items you might need during the day because you may not see the porters until the end of your trek for that day.
Attached in addition is the packing list to guide you on what to pack for the mountain.