MOUNTAIN ELGON NATIONAL PARK TOUR (4 DAYS)
Mount Elgon is the eighth highest mountain in Africa, yet the fourth highest in East Africa. It is an extinct Volcano, which is believed to have first erupted 20 million years. Vegetation is basically forest divided into tall Afro-Montane forest, low-canopy montane forest and bamboo. The mountain contains the largest intact Caldera, a collapsed crater covering at the top of the mountain, surrounded by a series of rugged peaks. Hikers here will not encounter very large mammals apart from the blue monkey and black and white colubus monkey. A small number of elephants are resident on the mountain, antelope, bushbuck, civet, wildcat, leopards, bush duicker, hynea, jackal, rock hyrax and buffalo.
For the bird lovers a checklist of 305 species awaits you! These include the endangered lamer geiers, rare Jackson’s francolin, gunea fowls, sun birds, turacos, moustached green tinker bird, red-throated wryneck, black-collard apalis, hunters cisiticola among others.
Alongside Mount Elgon is Sipi falls found on Sipi River which rises on the upper slopes of Mount Elgon before cascading down the foothills over 7 km to form a series of four pretty water falls which culminate into a 99m drop at an altitude of 1775m.It is an ideal place to relax.
Distance:
Estimated travel time:
Day One: Meet and greet at respective accommodation and then drive eastwards for Mountain Elgon National Park. We drive through Mabira forest moist semi –deciduous forest with more than 200 tree species and past vast sugar cane and tea plantations visiting Ssezibwa falls enroute. We arrive in time for A-larcarte lunch. The afternoon is spent relaxing while admiring Sipi falls.
Dinner and Overnight at Accommodation of your Choice.
Day Two: Two different hike areas for the day. Either take the popular forest exploration center trail loop site which will allow you enjoy the cool mist at Chebronet falls, Kapchorwa cave, visiting the talking tree and spectacular view point
OR
The Wanale trails loop, which has vertical cliffs of ridge and cascading waterfalls that make a very scenic drive. You may look for petrified wood in the Khauka caves as you enjoy the splendid view over the plains of Eastern Uganda.
Dinner and Overnight at Accommodation of your Choice.
Day Three: After breakfast, take a gentle walk to the bottom of Sipi falls and possibly walk up to the neighboring Mnarya caves. After lunch drive to Jinja and visit the source of the Nile and then retire to hotel of your choice for the evening.
Dinner and Overnight at Accommodation of your Choice.
Day 4:After breakfast proceed for whole day white water rafting returning to Kampala in the evening.
End of Safari
Bring a camera and binoculars along for the hikes jungle walking shoes and rain gear are recommended in addition too extra cells for your torch should you plan to explore the caves.
Price includes return ground transport from Kampala, accommodation as chosen on full board basis, park entrance fees, hiking fees/nature walk fees and an English-speaking driver guide but excludes all beverages, items of a personal nature, souvenirs and tips.
