5 Days Mount Elgon Hiking Peak experience : The 5 Days Uganda safari to Mount Elgon national park takes you to the Eastern part of Uganda where you will participant in mountain climbing on East Africa’s fourth highest standing at a height of 4,320 meters where you will reach the peak of Wagagai. The peak contains the largest Caldera in Africa. Other peaks on Mount Elgon national park include; Sudek peak at 4,303 meters, Koitobos peak at 4,320 meters and Mubiyi peak at 4,210. Mount Elgon national park contains many attractions including the montane and bamboo forests, Crater lakes, several caves, waterfalls, different vegetation zones, different bird species and animals including the bushbucks, Antelopes, wild cats to mention a few. This Uganda safari starts from Kampala through Jinja and ends in Kampala or Entebbe depending on your schedule. Drive through Mabira then Jinja which is the source of River Nile; take the junction that branches off the route to Busia. The journey with reward you with great views of the landscape, Mabira forest, tea and sugar plantation in Lugazi and Jinja, the newly constructed Jinja bridge on the Nile River, Lake Victoria and the people of the land. It takes about 5 to 6 hours’ driving from Kampala to Mbale/Sironko district and back.
Highlight of the 5 Days safari
Day 1: Transfer to Mount Elgon national park
Day 2: Hike to Piswa Cave Camp
Day 3: Continue to Hunters Cave Camp
Day 4: Descend from Wagagai to Mude Cave Camp
Day 5: Descend to Budadiri and return to Kampala/Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Mount Elgon national park – Sipi falls
After early morning breakfast at your hotel in Kampala, depart Kampala at around 7 am and embark on your journey to Mbale with en-route views of the beautiful landscape and the rewarding plantation and Lake Victoria. Have your hot lunch in Mbale town before you proceed to Kapchowra where we find magnificent Sipi falls taking about 2-3 hours on the zig-zag road to the hill.
On arrival at the Sipi fall office, get a local guide who will guide you to the Sipi falls. There are 3 levels of Sipi falls, the highest fall being at 100 meters, second at 85 meters and the third falls at 75 meters. Depending on the time, you may visit all of the falls or one or two of them before night fall. Return to the starting where you will meet your driver to connect to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay at Sipi River lodge for Luxury/ Noah’s Ark lodge for mid-range/ Lacum lodge for budget
Day 2: Hike to Piswa Cave Camp through Budadiri (2,850 metres high)
Wake up to a delicious breakfast and the morning views of the landscape. Thereafter transfer to the Budadiri exploration Centre where you will start the hike. You will be briefed about the hike and also get a porter for yourself. Ensure you have your backpack containing what you will need to use during the hike including food, water and camping gears. You will drive to Kapkwata head trail which starts at 2,190 meters. This trail is a bit steep and crosses through the montane rainforest and bamboo forest until you reach the lunar landscape and thus arriving Piswa Camp late afternoon. This hike takes about 7 to 8 hours reaching the Camp and it’s from this camp you will have your dinner and dinner overnight.
Day 3: Continue to Hunters Cave Camp
Wake up to continue the hike, first have your breakfast at the campsite, and then resume the hike through the beautiful columns of the rare species like Giant Lobelia and wild everlasting flowers. On your way, you will visit the hot springs then connect on the rim of the Caldera at the hunter’s cave which is at about 3,850 meters. Overnight at Hunters Cave Camp
Day 4: Descend from Wagagai peak – Mude Cave Camp
On the 4th day of your 5 Days Mount Elgon Hiking Peak experience, after a cup of tea, you will ascend to the top of the Caldera – Wagagai peak which sits at 4,320 meters high on Mount Elgon. The forest to the summit base camp which is about 810 meters elevation taking about 4 to 5 hours to reach the peak. On reaching the peak, relax and take pictures of the Caldera before you start descending to your overnight camp that is Mude Cave Camp through Jackson summit of about 4,200 meters which also provides fascinating views of the scenery for pictures. Dinner and overnight stay Mude Cave
Day 5: Descend to Budadiri/Kampala
After a cup of tea, you will descend from the top through the Jackson’s summit – Wagagai peak which sits at 4,320 meters high on Mount Elgon. You will start descending back to Budadiri where you will meet your safari driver to connect back to Kampala with en-route lunch. Proceed to Kampala/Entebbe to be dropped off at a location you advise or be dropped at Entebbe airport for your evening flight back home. End of 5 Days Mount Elgon safari hike
