Mount Elgon National Park
At 4,000 square kilometers, Mt. Elgon in Mount Elgon National Park has the largest volcanic base in the world. Located on the Uganda- Kenya border, it is also the oldest and largest solitary, volcanic mountain in East Africa. It is a vast form, 80km in diameter, rises more than 3,000m above the surrounding plains. The mountain’s cool heights offer respite from the hot plains below, with the higher altitudes providing refuge to flora and fauna
Mount Elgon National Park is home to over 300 species of birds, including the endangered lammergeyer. The higher slopes are protected by national parks in Uganda and Kenya, creating an extensive transboundary conservation area that has been declared a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve
A climb on Mt. Elgon’s deserted moorlands unveils a magnificent and uncluttered wilderness without summit- oriented approach common to many mountains. The ultimate goal of the hiking safari is to reach the top of Mt. Elgon with the final ascent to the 4,321M Wagagai peak, but the descent into vast 40 square kilometer caldera
Sipi Falls
These are series of three waterfalls in Eastern Uganda in the district of Kapchorwa, northeast of Sironko and Mbale. The waterfalls lie on the edge of the mountain Elgon National Park near the Kenya border.
The Sipi falls area is the starting point for many hikes up mountain Elgon. The most popular route starts in Budadiri and follows the Sasa trail to the summit and then descends down the Sipi trail back into the Sipi falls. Hikes around the falls offer stunning views of Karamoja plains, Lake Kyoga, and the slopes of mountain Elgon.
With the cooler climate than most of the other areas, Sipi falls is a nice place to unwind, relax and literally chill out away from the daily hustle of town and town life. Being on the foothills of Mt. Elgon, Sipi falls, offers a number of alternatives to the mainstream river activities in and around Jinja.
Rob’s rolling rock, a local outfit trained by Italian climbers offers abseiling along the sides of the main 100 m Sipi waterfalls as well as climbing on 14 bolted sport routes with a range of difficulty. Other activities include hiking around the area
The Sipi River is named after the “sep” a plant indigenous to the banks of the river. Resembling a type of wild banana, sep is a medical plant, the translucent green frond with a bolt of the crimson rib is used for treating measles and fever.
The Sipi falls area is particularly famous for locally grown bagisuarabica coffee. Bagisuarabica only grows at an altitude between 1,600 and 1,900 meters. Coffee tours are organized through guides with knowledge of coffee.
Mount Elgon National Park