“The best view comes after the hardest climb”
Looking for an alluring Mountain Hiking adventure in Uganda?
Come to Mount Elgon
Mount Elgon is one of the less popular mountains in Uganda, but offers many interesting tourist attractions, besides from climbing to Wagagai Peak.
Once it was the highest Mountain in Africa, but due to corrosion the peak collapsed making it smaller. Mount Elgon is an active volcano in eastern Uganda with the largest mountain caldera in the world. Its highest peak Wagagai rises to 4,321m above sea level. With the largest volcanic base in East Africa, it stretches over a distance of 80km and rises over 3000m above the surrounding plains.
Mount Elgon in Uganda has many unique tourist attractions, such as Mount Elgon National Park, Sipi Falls, and Wanale Ridge.
Trails for Mount Elgon Trekking
At Mount Elgon Trekkers, we organize hikes on three trails. The trail you choose depends on your fitness level and the time you have to spare.
Mount Elgon Trekking
This involves traversing through the scenic Mount Elgon National Park to reach Wagagai Peak. The hike takes you through forest land, hills, valleys, caves, several peaks, and unique vegetation. The park is full of life with a variety of rare plant and animal species. It is home to over 300 bird species.
Mount Elgon trekking is the perfect way to appreciate the beauty and diversity of the Elgon region. It’s a moderately challenging hike that even children of over 10 years and older people can partake in.
The forest has several forms of vegetation, making the trek really fascinating. Mount Elgon trekking includes hiking in the montane forest, bamboo forest, heather zone, and moorland vegetation.
Mount Elgon trekking is the perfect way to leave the noisy world behind and embark on a hike into the wilderness. The national park is tranquil, making it the best place to unwind and destress for a while.
Experience the fresh air and earthy scents as you explore the captivating Montane region. Then, feel a sense of wild freedom in the moorland section with panoramic views.
Moreover, the Uganda Wildlife Authority provides rangers for security, which means you have nothing to worry about during the hike. At Mount Elgon Trekkers, we ensure you get the best guides, chefs, porters, and rangers to make your stay in the national park memorable.
3-Day Mt. Elgon Hike To Wagagai Peak 4321 meters Above Sea Level
BUSHIYI TRAIL
Brief itinerary
Day 1:Bushiyi trailhead 1,700m asl, Hike to Dubi Camp 3,600m asl.
Day 2: Dubi Camp 3,600m asl, hike to Wagagai peak 4,321m asl and then back to Dubi Camp 3,600m asl.
Day 3: Descend down to Bushiyi ranger post office
Detailed Itinerary For Bushiyi Trail (Return Same Route)
The Bushiyi Trail is the shortest and most direct route to the summit of Wagagai Peak (4,321m) on Mt. Elgon. This 3-day itinerary is designed for trekkers with limited time but good fitness, offering a challenging yet rewarding climb. You will experience dramatic landscapes, diverse vegetation zones, and the incredible satisfaction of standing on the roof of Mt. Elgon in just three days.
Pre-Night Accommodation (Recommended & Included in Our Packages)
To make your trek smoother, we recommend arriving the day before the hike. A pre-night stay at our designated partner hotel or guesthouse near the Bushiyi Trailhead is included in our packages on half board. This allows you to rest, prepare, and avoid early-morning travel stress, ensuring you start the hike fresh and energized on Day 1.
Day 1: Bushiyi Trailhead (1,700m) – Shilonko Camp (2,800m) – Dubi Camp (3,600m)
- Distance: ~10–12 km
- Duration: 6–8 hours (depending on pace)
- Elevation Gain: +1,900m
Your adventure begins at the Bushiyi Trailhead in the foothills of Mt. Elgon. After a briefing from your ranger guides and porters, you start trekking through lush farmlands and enter the thick montane forest, where you may spot colobus monkeys, turacos, and diverse birdlife.
Around midday, you arrive at Shilonko Camp (2,800m), where you stop for a packed lunch break. This is an ideal spot to refresh and enjoy the surrounding views of the forested slopes.
In the afternoon, you continue ascending into the bamboo and heath zones, with vegetation gradually thinning as altitude increases. By evening, you reach Dubi Camp (3,600m), which serves as the base camp for the summit attempt. Dinner and overnight at Dubi Camp under the clear mountain sky.
Day 2: Dubi Camp (3,600m) – Wagagai Peak (4,321m) – Return to Dubi Camp
- Distance: ~12–14 km (round trip)
- Duration: 7–9 hours
- Elevation Gain: +721m / –721m
Summit day! After an early breakfast, you begin your trek toward the peak. The trail takes you through the Afro-alpine zone, with giant lobelias, groundsels, and unique vegetation found only at high altitudes.
The ascent is steady, passing along open moorlands with breathtaking panoramic views of Mt. Elgon’s caldera—the largest volcanic caldera in the world. As you approach Wagagai Peak (4,321m), the air becomes thinner, and the climb more demanding, but the reward is spectacular.
Standing on the highest point of Mt. Elgon, you enjoy stunning views across Uganda and into Kenya, with endless skies and rugged mountain scenery all around. Take time for photos and to soak in the achievement before beginning your descent.
You return to Dubi Camp, arriving in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the base camp.
Day 2: Dubi Camp (3,600m) – Wagagai Peak (4,321m) – Return to Dubi Camp
- Distance: ~12–14 km (round trip)
- Duration: 7–9 hours
- Elevation Gain: +721m / –721m
Summit day! After an early breakfast, you begin your trek toward the peak. The trail takes you through the Afro-alpine zone, with giant lobelias, groundsels, and unique vegetation found only at high altitudes.
The ascent is steady, passing along open moorlands with breathtaking panoramic views of Mt. Elgon’s caldera—the largest volcanic caldera in the world. As you approach Wagagai Peak (4,321m), the air becomes thinner, and the climb more demanding, but the reward is spectacular.
Standing on the highest point of Mt. Elgon, you enjoy stunning views across Uganda and into Kenya, with endless skies and rugged mountain scenery all around. Take time for photos and to soak in the achievement before beginning your descent.
You return to Dubi Camp, arriving in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the base camp.
Day 3: Dubi Camp (3,600m) – Shilonko Camp (2,800m) – Bushiyi Trailhead (1,700m)
- Distance: ~10–12 km
- Duration: 5–7 hours
- Elevation Loss: –1,900m
After breakfast, you begin your descent down the Bushiyi Trail. The route takes you back through the heath and bamboo zones before re-entering the montane forest. Along the way, enjoy the change in scenery and wildlife spotting opportunities.
You stop again at Shilonko Camp for a short break and lunch before continuing down the trail to the Bushiyi Trailhead, where the trek officially ends.
Congratulations—you’ve successfully completed the 3-day Mt. Elgon Bushiyi Trail trek to Wagagai Peak!
Key Highlights of This Itinerary
- Pre-night accommodation included near Bushiyi Trailhead to ease your journey.
- Shortest route to Wagagai Peak – perfect for hikers with limited time.
- Diverse landscapes: farmlands, forest, bamboo zone, moorlands, and alpine vegetation.
- Opportunity to see wildlife and unique high-altitude plants.
- Overnight at scenic Dubi Camp, the perfect base for summit day.
- A true adventure combining challenge and reward in just three days.
Optional Extension: Sipi Falls Experience (Day 4)
After completing your hike, you can extend your adventure with a Sipi Falls tour before heading back.
- Explore the three iconic waterfalls of Sipi, each offering unique viewpoints.
- Enjoy a guided coffee tour in the surrounding plantations, learning the journey from farm to cup.
- For thrill seekers, try abseiling experience or rock climbing along the main Sipi water fall.
- End your adventure with a sunset experience, offering some of the most spectacular views over the Karamoja plains.
This extension is a perfect way to relax, immerse in local culture, and complement the mountain adventure with natural beauty and community experiences.
5 or 6 days Mount Elgon hike
Piswa – Sasa trail
Piswa trail is a very scenic trail that starts in the montane rainforest before taking you to the moorland. Expect to see several species of monkeys like the red tail monkeys, a wide variety of birds, and mountain antelopes. You’ll also encounter interesting plants like the everlasting flowers. What’s more, this trail is fairly gentle and gradual. It starts off easy but slowly gets more challenging.
The Piswa trail starts from the Kapkwata Uganda Wildlife Authority office. You’ll leave your place of residence for the office as early as possible. At the office, you’ll register and receive a short briefing. Also, get to know the guide, ranger, chef, and porters you’ll be trekking Mount Elgon with. From the office, you’ll walk 11km to Piswa patrol camp, which is at 2850m asl.
The second day starts from Piswa patrol camp to Hunter’s cave camp (3870m asl) where you’ll spend the night. The distance between the two camps is 16 kilometers, which is quite long but some parts are gentle, gradually leading to hilly areas.
The next day involves trekking to Mawongogo cave camp.
The fourth day is Summit Day. Wake up at Mawongogo, enjoy a cup of coffee or tea before heading to the peak where you’ll stay for a while, and enjoy the wonderful view. Thereafter, you head to Dubi Camp for the night.
The descent is on the fifth day. After 5 or 6 days in the mountain, you’ll have a lot of memories and stories to tell about the wonderful adventure.
WHAT TO BRING TO MOUNT ELGON FOR THE HIKE
When planning a trip to Mount Elgon, it’s essential to pack accordingly for the weather conditions. Here are some essentials to pack for Mount Elgon during the wet and dry seasons:
1. Comfortable hiking boots: Bring sturdy and comfortable hiking boots, especially for difficult or steep ascends in uneven terrain.
2. Water bottle: Staying hydrated is essential no matter what weather conditions you visit Mount Elgon.
3. Warm layers: Temperatures on Mount Elgon can drop significantly, especially during the wet season, so bring warm layers like a sweater, jacket, hoodie, and gloves. Quick-drying clothes are suitable for the wet season.
4. Sunscreen: Harsh sun radiation can still happen even during the wet season when it is not raining, so be sure to protect your skin from UV damage.
5. Insect repellent: It’s crucial to carry insect repellent to protect you against mosquito-borne diseases.
6. Hat and sunglasses: Protect your face and eyes from the sun during the hikes.
7. Waterproof gear: Bring waterproof gear like a rain poncho or rain jacket to protect yourself and your belongings from the rain.
8. First Aid Kit: Carry along a first aid kit containing all the essentials including painkillers, plasters, antiseptic cream, bandages, etc.
9. Digital flashlight: a digital torch or flashlight will help you when navigating around the campsite either going to the campfire, Kitchen area, and then the Tent
Remember to pack light and be efficient in packing what’s essential before embarking on your trip to Mount Elgon.
Which trail should I choose for Mount Elgon trekking?
The trail you choose will depend on the time you have for exploration and the level of fitness. The Bushiyi trail is the shortest trail but also the most challenging trail. It involves walking longer distances in the shortest time possible, which makes it quite tiring.
For these reasons, this trail is perfect for those with little time on their hands.
However, if you have more time to spare and want to enjoy Mount Elgon trekking without urgency, the Piswa and Sipi-Bushiyi trails are perfect for you. You’ll have more time in the national park and can really get a good feel of nature.
When to go for Mount Elgon trekking
You can do Mount Elgon trekking at any time of the year. Although the trails may be harder to use during the wet seasons, they’re still passable. Besides, a harder trek will give you a more adventurous feeling. It’s all up to you.
If you wish to know more about the wet and dry seasons in Uganda and to plan your adventure accordingly, contact us for guidance.
Travel Arrangements
Most people who take the trek to Mount Elgon’s highest peak also wish to visit Sipi. Please note that it’s best to go for Mount Elgon trekking before the Sipi hike. If you intend to use the Sipi trail, you can travel to Sipi first. If you opt for the other trails and are traveling from Kampala, stop in Mbale.
For the best experience, contact us before traveling so we can guide you better. We can also help book transport and accommodation services to make your journey run smoothly. We also have a vehicle that we can use to pick you up from any location in Uganda.
Contact us today to plan your journey to Mount Elgon – the Mountain in Uganda with 1000 waterfalls.
Package Prices for Mount Elgon Trekking
3 days Mount Elgon Trekking Package
Hiking fee – 3 days
Camping fee – 2 nights
Tent- 2 nights
Sleeping bag and mat – 2 nights
Cook – 3 days
2 Porters – 3 days
Food and water – 3 days
Boda Boda facilitation – 2-way
1 night in Sipi before the hike
The price for non-residents is $500,- p. P.
The price for East Africans is UGX 1.000.000 p. P.
4 days Mount Elgon Trekking Package
Hiking fee – 4 days
Camping fee – 3 nights
Tent – 3 nights
Sleeping bag and mat – 3 nights
Cook – 4 days
2 Porters – 4 days
Food and water – 4 days
Boda Boda facilitation – 2-way
1 night in Sipi before the hike
The price for non-residents is $600,- p. P.
The price for East Africans is UGX 1.350.000 p. P.
5 days Mount Elgon Trekking Package
Hiking fee – 5 days
Camping fee – 4 nights
Tent – 4 nights
Sleeping bag and mat – 4 nights
Cook – 5 days
2 Porters – 5 days
Food and water – 6 days
Boda Boda facilitation – 2-way
1 night in Sipi before the hike
The price for non-residents is $750,- p. P.
The price for East Africans is UGX 1.500.000 p. P.
6 days Mount Elgon Trekking Package
Hiking fee – 6 days
Camping fee – 5 nights
Tent – 5 nights
Sleeping bag and mat – 5 nights
Cook – 6 days
2 Porters – 6 days
Food and water – 6 days
Boda Boda facilitation – 2-way
1 night in Sipi before the hike
The price for non-residents is $850,- p. P.
The price for East Africans is UGX 1.650.000 p. P.
