Tour Guide, Kampala, Uganda
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Mount Elgon is in Uganda Central Africa. Mount Elgon is an extinct shield volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya, north of Kisumu and west of Kitale. The mountain's highest point, named "Wagagai", is located entirely within the country of Uganda. The mountain soils are red laterite and it has the largest base area of any free standing volcano in the world. The mountain is the catchment area for the several rivers such as the Suam River which becomes the Turkwel downstream and which drains into Lake Turkana, the Nzoia River and the Lwakhakha which flow to Lake Victoria. The town of Kitale is in the foothills of the mountain. The area around the mountain is protected by two Mount Elgon National Parks one on each side of the international border. It is also an important area for species conservation due to the richness of endemic plant and animal species which can be found on the mountain.
If you want a satisfying hike that doesn’t require expert skills or equipment, look no further than Mount Elgon. It's the 7th highest mountain in Africa at 4,321m and the summit is readily accessible for climbers with limited experience. It's the largest extinct volcano in the world that first/last erupted more than 24 million years ago, with a surface area of 50 km by 80 km. Mount Elgon is the fourth highest mountain in East Africa, with the second-highest peak in Uganda (Wagagi Peak – 4321 metres). It contains crater covering over 40 kms at the top of the mountain, surrounded by a series of rugged peaks.
The Park can be reached quickly by car or bus. You then drive to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) base outside Mbale town the day before you intend to climb. Payment has to be made before you climb. Entry into the national park is $90 per person/day for foreign visitors. There are two main trailheads (starting points) which lead to the mountain's peaks. The simplest, and fastest, way up the mountain is the Sasa trail leaving from Mbale, Budadiri, and is the most direct route to the peaks. On the way is Rose's Last Chance which is worth the visit in itself. It is a cheap stay, but the cost is not included in your park fee. The trail goes through the Park's largest area of bamboo forest. The first morning's climb is steep and quick, so you can go up to over 1600m on the first day. But it involves the "wall of death" so named for the frayed local ropes that, in previous years, was the only way to climb it. Fortunately, the UWA installed sturdy staircases up the cliff face several years ago, so porters can almost run up the mountain and you'll feel the name is no longer deserved.
For a more moderate climb of about 650 – 700m first day, you may choose to ascend via Pisa trail (Kapkwata trail head). Along this route you can explore a vast Podo carpus forest, an excellent place for wildlife viewing. The full trekking loop to the peaks may take 4-5 days to complete. It’s recommended that visitors should consider talking with the Information Clerk at the visitor centres of either Budadiri or Kapkwata, depending on trail choice.