Formerly known as Mt Masaba, Mount Elgon National Park, straddling the Ugandan-Kenyan border, is home to the world’s largest caldera that sits on its highest point, Wagagai peak. This extinct volcano offers one of Uganda’s best hiking destinations for those seeking a peaceful, value-for-money mountain adventure.

Hiking and Trekking
Mount Elgon can only be explored on foot. The park offers day hikes lasting a few hours and multi-day treks to summit Wagagai Peak, Elgon’s highest point. The three main trailheads are the Sasa trail, the Sipi trail, and the Bududa trailhead, all accessible by road. Park entrance and guiding fees are affordably priced, and details are available at the different tourist information centres.
Waterfalls and Caves
Sipi Falls, one of Uganda’s most beautiful waterfall regions, is a series of three cascading waterfalls and a major highlight of the region. The park also features stunning viewpoints, caves, and diverse wildlife, including forest monkeys. It is home to over 300 bird species, attracting birdwatchers, nature lovers, and hikers.

Coffee Tours
The Mount Elgon region is known for its Arabica coffee, and visitors can engage in a hands-on ‘bean-to-cup’ experience where they participate in a step-by-step process of preparing coffee. These local coffee tours add a cultural and agricultural dimension to the visit to the park.
How to Get There
Mount Elgon is located in eastern Uganda, near the city of Mbale, approximately  235km, and it takes a 4-6 hour drive from Kampala. The road journey passes through Jinja, which is East Africa’s adventure capital. Charter flights are also available from Entebbe to Soroti Airfield. These take about 1 hour and 15 minutes, followed by a transfer of 1 hour to Mbale or Kapchorwa.

When to Go
The dry seasons (June-September and December-February) offer the best hiking conditions. The mountain’s varied elevations mean that the weather can change quickly, so hikers should always be prepared for any weather changes.