We’ve got the right collection of accommodation facilities if you’ve been looking for where to stay in Mount Elgon National Park.
There are quite a number of accommodation facilities for visitors coming to explore Mountain Elgon. These range from mid-range to luxury right from Mbale town to Kapchorwa and inside Mount Elgon National Park. The most popular facilities include Wash and Wills Hotel, Mbale Resort Hotel, Protea Hotel Mbale, Sipi River Lodge and Casa Del Turista, among others.
In addition, there are quite a number of adventurous activities that can be done inside Mount Elgon National Park, but the most popular is hiking Mount Elgon. You can also enjoy spectacular hiking Sipi falls, mountain biking, research, exploration, community visits and camping experience in this park.
Mount Elgon National Park is home to over 300 species of birds, including the endangered Lammergeyer. There are also small antelopes, forest monkeys, elephants and buffalos living on the mountainside. The higher slopes are protected by national parks in both Uganda and Kenya, creating an extensive trans-boundary conservation area which was declared as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
With the size of 4,000km², 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 and volcanic mountain in East Africa. Its vast form, 80km in diameter, rises more than 3,000m above the surrounding plains. Therefore, mountain Elgon’s cool heights offer respite from the hot plains below, with the higher altitudes providing a refuge for flora and fauna.
Hiking Sipi Falls is among the numerous day hikes around Mount Elgon. You will depart from the Forest Exploration Centre near Sipi Falls, which is the most popular being a trio of short loops taking in valleys, ridges and caves. From Mbale side of the mountain it is possible to access the Wanale Ridge where day-long hikes can be organized to pass through a variety of heath and moorland landscapes with caves along the way.
The Forest Exploration Centre has three day trails ranging between 3 and 7km. These trails offer an excellent opportunity to experience Mount Elgon’s unique plants and wildlife in shorter time period. A fourth trail has recently been opened to reach the enormous Tutum Cave, which is 11km from the centre. This trail also passes through a range of vegetation types and offers opportunities to see wildlife such as black and white colobus monkeys and a variety of birds.
Excellent birding watching opportunities exist around Kapkwai Forest Exploration Centre, in particular in the secondary forest and thick shrub along the loop trails that extends to cover Cheptui Falls. It supports the African Goshawk; Chubb’s Cisticola, White-chinned Prinia, African Blue Fly-catcher, Chinspot Batis, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, Dohertys and Luhders Bush-shrikes, Baglafecht Weaver, Cinnamon Bee Eater, Moustached Tinkerbird, Hartloub`s Turaco, Tacazze Sunbird, Olive- and Bronze-naped pigeons, Black Kite and Black-collared Apalis.
In Uganda, most visitors seeking for mountain climbing experiences will always compliment their visit with hiking the Rwenzori Mountains. In addition, a safari game drive in the nearby Kidepo Valley National Park is also exciting for many visitors.