TOUR UG12: CLIMBING MOUNT ELGON (8 Days)

This safari starts and finishes in Kampala.

Mount Elgon came into existence as a result of a volcanic eruption. For hundreds of years, the mountain has never erupted since its formation. With its highest peak, ‘Wagagai’, at 4,321m high, Mount Elgon’s major features are: plethora of waterfalls, hot springs and the extraordinary caldera, which is about 8 kilometres in diameter.

Although Uganda is at the Equator, Mount Elgon sometimes experiences temperatures below freezing point. The blazing equatorial sun and freezing temperatures produces giant vegetation. Climbing is best done from June to August, and December to February, but other months are manageable.

Merit Vacations will provide mountain tents where available. [Approximate walking time: 6-8 hours daily]

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Entebbe airport. Meet, greet and transfer to Imperial Resort Beach Hotel for overnight (BB).

Day 2: Briefing from your guide. Afterwards drive eastwards to Sipi Falls on the slope of Mount Elgon. Drive through Mabira Forest (Mabira is a local word meaning giant forest) and past vast sugar cane and tea plantations. Drive to Mbale Park Headquarters and finalize trekking arrangements for the next day. Use opportunity to get informed about Mt. Elgon National Park, look at the map for all trails, buy souvenirs or postcards.

Continue to Sipi Falls Rest Camp. Relax in the full comfort huts, with rustical dinning room, bar, the garden with a view of Sipi Falls and country side around. Short excursion to the bottom of the Sipi Falls, time allowing. Try to catch sun set from the garden. [Approximate driving time: 4 hours] O/N: Sipi Falls Rest Camp (1770m), FB.

Day 3: To Piswa Patrol Camp (2850m). After an early breakfast drive on murram roads to Kapkwata (2190m). At this ranger station meet the rangers and porters and start to hike the Piswa Trail. Take a gentle climb through a cultivated area until you reach the Park with its Podocarpus forest, dotted with a large host of monkeys and birds. (FB)

Day 4: To Hunters Cave (3870m). After breakfast start the long, steep climb to this Cave located below the rim of the caldera, set up the tents and enjoy beautiful landscape covered with giant groundsels. After dinner enjoy stars and particularly Milky Way is nicely visible. Get ready for a cold, freezing night sometimes with temperatures below freezing point. (FB)

Day 5: To Mude Cave Camp (3500m). Short climb to the rim of the caldera and enjoy its magnificent view. On a clear day, all the highest peaks on the Uganda/Kenya border may be seen. Long trek through a boggy area within the crater, which is covered with many streams and rivers. Continue your trek to the hot springs, whose end point on the other side is the Kenyan border. Make sure you relax your feet in the warm water – 48 o C - before you join Sasa Trail through the middle of the giant caldera. Enjoy the volcanic landscape and thousands of giant groundsels, occasionally spotting dykers and/or hyrax. Reach the southwest rim of the exhilarating caldera and descend to Mude Cave Camp for overnight (FB).

Day 6: To Sasa River Camp (2900m). Start after an early breakfast back up to the mountain. Be careful to take only a small back-pack! After a short climb trek directly to Wagagai Peak (4321m), the second highest in Uganda after Rwenzoris’ Margherita at 5,109m . There is no steep climb and after about three hours the summit can be reached. Enjoy the beautiful view from the top, particularly of crater and the Kenyan side. For those who do not wish to climb Jackson Summit, a more restful day walking from Wagagai Peak back to Mude Camp and on to Sasa River Camp.

For those who can, depending on altitude sickness, climb Jackson Summit (4165m). This last section is rather steep and ropes and crampons may be required for climbing over loose, huge rocks. Return on a straight trail to Mude Cave Camp, collect equipment left there and descend to Sasa River Camp, directly overlooking the Sasa River in the middle of the luxuriant afro-montane forest. The trail down can be muddy and slippery so you need to be well-balanced! (FB)

Day 7: Take a long, steep and very slippery way downhill, passing the "Wall of Death". At a distance, view the beautiful terraced hills surrounding the mountain. Walk through villages and shambas, with children waving you on! Proceed to Budadiri Ranger Station (1250m). Drive to Mbale Resort Hotel or Sipi Falls Rest Camp for lunch and overnight (FB).

Day 8: Return to Kampala. Transfer to the airport in time for your flight. [Approximate driving time: 5 hours]. Tour ends.

More Uganda Tours

TOUR UG1 GORILLAS & WILDLIFE - BWINDI & LAKE MBURO (5 Days)	TOUR UG2 GORILLAS IN BWINDI & MGAHINGA (7 Days)
TOUR UG3 GORILLAS AND GAME BWINDI, QUEEN ELIZABETH & LAKE MBURO PARK (7 Days)	TOUR UG4 BIRDS & GAME IN QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK (4 Days)
TOUR UG5 CHIMPS & BIRDS IN KIBALE FOREST (4 Days)	TOUR UG6 CHIMPS ON NGAMBA ISLAND (3 Days)
TOUR UG7 WILDLIFE, CHIMPS & BIRDS IN KIBALE & QE (6 Days)	TOUR UG8 WILDLIFE, CHIMPS & BIRDS IN MURCHISON FALLS (4 Days)
TOUR UG9 BIRDING IN UGANDA (15 Days)	TOUR UG10 JEWELS OF UGANDA (14 Days)
TOUR UG11 CLIMBING THE RWENZORI MOUNTAINS (11 Days)	TOUR UG12 CLIMBING MOUNT ELGON (8 Days)
TOUR UG13 ECO TOURISM IN THE PEARL (16 DAYS)	TOUR UG14 CULTURAL TOURISM IN UGANDA (14 Days)
TOUR UG15 BUTTER FLIES IN UGANDA (17 Days)	TOUR UG16 BIRDING UGANDA (8 Days)
TOUR UG17 BIRD WATCHING IN UGANDA (15 Days)	TOUR UG18 BEST FOREST BIRDING (20 Days)

For all categories of accommodation, ALL drinks (except bottled water) are excluded in the safari cost and clients are to pay for them direct to the hotels/Camps / Lodges. Clients could choose to fly out the following day in cases where there are no flights for their departure on the last day of the itinerary. A supplement for the extra night will be required.

Flights

Merit Safaris will advise the most appropriate airlines to use to fly to Uganda. We could book your flights; alternatively you can contact your tour operator or travel agent.

Safaris start and end either in either Entebbe or Kampala in Uganda; or Kigali in Rwanda.

For those who wish, a visit for an extra three days by air, to the Karamojong nomadic farmers/cattle rustlers in the North, can be arranged. Please contact us for details.

Unless otherwise stated, prices quoted include a safari car for the itinerary stated, accommodation on a shared basis and meals (in Kampala/Kigali bed and breakfast only and on safari full board), 1 boat/launch trip, park fees, chimpanzee permits and one gorilla permit.

Prices do not include airfares to Uganda/Rwanda, entry visas and airport taxes, all personal expenditure such as tips, telephone calls, laundry and drinks. For single rooms, the supplement (SRS) has to be paid. Fees for mountain climbing, fishing and other specialist activities will attract an extra charge where not stated.

Prices are quoted in US Dollars. At the time of booking, clients should confirm with us the prevailing exchange rates for Pounds and Euros, if they wish to pay in those currencies. At the time of booking, the client(s) will need to pay for all gorilla permits needed in full otherwise a deposit equivalent to 20% of the cost of a safari paid, whichever is higher.

Key to Itineraries: