DESTINATION GUIDE // UGANDA
Mount Elgon National Park
An extinct volcano with the largest caldera in the world, and a summit trek that needs no technical skill at all.
1,110 km2
PARK AREA
4,321m
WAGAGAI PEAK
40 km
CALDERA WIDTH
4-6 days
TREK LENGTH
No permits
SUMMIT ACCESS
Quick answer: Mount Elgon National Park covers 1,110 square kilometres on the Uganda and Kenya border. Wagagai Peak reaches 4,321 metres and the caldera is around 40 km across, the largest intact caldera in the world. The summit needs no technical climbing.
OVERVIEW AND LOCATION
Mount Elgon National Park At A Glance
Elgon is the quiet alternative to Kilimanjaro. It is an extinct volcano with an enormous caldera, hot springs and caves that elephants enter at night to mine salt from the walls. The trek to Wagagai is a walk rather than a climb, altitude is more forgiving than Kilimanjaro and you will likely have the mountain almost to yourself. The Sipi Falls on the lower slopes are worth a day on their own.
| Detail | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Location | Eastern Uganda, on the Kenyan border near Mbale |
| Distance from Kampala | Approximately 235 km, 4 to 5 hours by road |
| Size | 1,110 km2 on the Ugandan side |
| Highest point | Wagagai Peak, 4,321 metres |
| Trek length | 4 to 6 days, non technical |
| Known for | Largest caldera in the world, Sipi Falls, salt mining elephants |
WILDLIFE AND ACTIVITIES
What You Will See and Do
Wagagai Summit Trek
Four to six days on foot with no ropes or technical skill needed. Far quieter than Kilimanjaro and considerably cheaper.
Kitum Cave
Elephants walk deep into this cave at night to gouge salt from the rock walls with their tusks, a behaviour recorded almost nowhere else.
Sipi Falls
Three waterfalls on the lower slopes with coffee farm tours, abseiling and hiking, often done as a standalone two day trip.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
When To Go
| Months | What to expect | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| Jun to Aug | Dry, best trekking conditions | Medium |
| Dec to Mar | Second dry window, clear views | Medium |
| Apr to May | Long rains, trails slippery | Low |
| Sep to Nov | Short rains, green, quiet | Low |
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