Best time to hike mountain Elgon in Uganda

Hiking mountain Elgon is best during the dry season, normally in June, July, August, September, December, and January. The trails on Mountain Elgon are normally dry this season and passable during the dry season, with limited undergrowth along the different routes.

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Most of the areas closer to the lower part of mountain Elgon have been cultivated, so in order to avoid weather hindrances, you can use the dry season to hike mountain Elgon. Mountain Elgon is located in the Eastern Part of Uganda on the border of Uganda and Kenya.

Mountain Elgon is home to a massive list of fauna and flora, including forest elephants, Defassa’s waterbucks, Oribi, bushbucks, leopards, spotted hyenas, and others. More than 296 bird species are mountain Elgon residents, including bronze-naped pigeons, mustached green tinkerbirds, collared Apalises, and others.

From the bottom of mountain Elgon, you go through a series of roughly concentric vegetation zones with many farmlands at the lower bottom. The montane zone covers up to about 2500 meters above sea level. This is followed by bamboo and low canopy at 2400 meters to 3000 meters. Montane heather covers about 3000 to 3500 meters, and giant heather is about 6 meters tall.

As you ascend Elgon mountain to Wagagai peak, which is 4321 meters above sea level, the beauty of Elgon is in exploring the stunning surroundings and uncluttered mountainous wilderness. The presence of the 40-square-kilometer caldera and the Suam Gorge is incredible.

What Is The Best Time To Climb Mountain Elgon Month By Month? 

Climbing mountain Elgon in June, July and August

These are the regular dry seasons when climbing mountain Elgon can best be done. There are normally no or limited showers to prevent you from carrying on with the hike. The routes used to hike mountain Elgon have limited undergrowth to obstruct the way during the dry season.

Since the skies are clearer, taking photos during the dry season while on a Mountain Elgon hike is fantastic. Using the various trails on mountain Elgon, you bypass interesting fauna and flora, waterfalls, lakes, caves gorges and hot springs.

This is peak season, too, so expect some company while climbing mountain Elgon. 

Climbing Mountain Elgon in March, April, and May

This is the rainy season, so climbing Elgon Mountain is not advisable during this season. The trails may be covered by water running up the mountain, and the rains may fall almost daily. Since the soils on Mountain Elgon have been tilled, they are soft, and the chance of a landslide occurring during the rainy season is possible.

Few people book hiking mountain Elgon in the rainy season, but for now, at Encounter Africa Safaris, we do not recommend climbing mountain Elgon in the rainy season.

Climbing Mountain Elgon in October and November

This is the rainy season, too, so it is risky to climb mountain Elgon during this wet season. The trails are not easy to trace since they are covered by mud, and campsites are not easy to trace. The weather conditions are very cold, and the ground is slippery and boggy because the soils are soft.

Taking pictures while hiking on mountain Elgon is quite unconformable during the rainy season since you need to know where to stop and take the correct positions to have the photo.

Since the tails are soggy, movement is challenging since the hiking boots may soak into the soft soil.

Climbing Mountain Elgon in December, January, and February 

This is a dry season for climbing Elgon mountain and a suitable time when less rain or no rain is expected to fall. The skies are bright, and better views for capturing photos on Elgon Mountain are possible.

This is a peak tourism season, so expect other people to hike to mountain Elgon.

What Routes To Take On A Hike To Mountain Elgon 

Sasa trail

From Budadiri town, which is closer to Mbale town, you ascend mountain Elgon. This is the most direct route to Wagagai Peak. This trail takes about four days, with the first day hiking to about 1600 meters and crossing the park’s most significant area of bamboo forest. You get to the Jackson’s pool while hiking to Wagagai Peak.

Sipi route

This route starts from Kapkwai, just a few kilometers from the famous Sipi Falls. By taking this route, the hike to Mountain Elgon may take about seven days. While climbing Elgon mountain, the Tatum caves are part of the attractions you come across.

 The exploration center is also the starting point for the day hike, which penetrates the dense montane forest to visit Chebonet Falls, Kapkwai caves, and a spectacular viewpoint overlooking plains 1200 below.

Piswa Route

The Piswa route, which may take about seven days on a hike on Mountain Elgon, starts from Kapkwata, 30 kilometers beyond Kapchorwa. This is the longest route while climbing mountain Elgon. This route starts from a higher altitude and then a more gradual path to the caldera. 

This route has higher chances of spotting wild animals and the Podocarpus forest on the way.

Saum route

The Saum route commences from the village of Saum and goes beyond the Kenyan border. The route follows the Saum River, passing through the steep and spectacular Saum gorge to the hot springs on the eastern side of the caldera.

You can explore the different routes of mountain Elgon by ascending using one route and descending using another.

The Wanale Ridge

From or before hiking Elgon Mountain, you can visit the Wanale Ridge, which extends about 25 kilometers. This massive huge lave turned into dramatic cliffs that overlook Mbale Town. Look for petrified wood in the Khaura Cave, where you can enjoy the best views of the eastern part of Uganda.

How Difficult Is Climbing Mountain Elgon

Climbing Mountain Elgon is tiring, so you need to bear some level of fitness before embarking on this challenge. Sometimes, the trails are slippery and soggy, especially during the severe rainy season, but you need to wear waterproof boots to walk through the boggy ground.

You need to hire porters to assist you with your bags so you are not let down by the heavy weight on your back. This is also one way to give back to the local community around Mountain Elgon as they use the funds paid to support their day-to-day lives. The community in Mbale needs more information about the importance of Elgin Mountain and its vegetation. 

When porters are hired, they go back to the community to spread the gospel of the relevance of protecting the mountain and its surroundings. 

Having some fitness level before heading for a hike on Mountain Elgon helps one avoid getting muscle pulls and continue with the trek up Mountain Elgon.

What Are The Healthy Tips Of Hiking Mountain Elgon

Go for a complete body checkup before mountain climbing on Mountain Elgon. You need to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of hypothermia and other altitude sickness. If you have a cold or cough, chances of getting intense altitude sickness are possible, especially when you hike about 2500 meters.

Altitude sickness doesn’t discriminate where you have previous hiking experience, age, or fitness level. If you get altitude sickness, withdrawing to a lower altitude is the best treatment.

Other mountain Elgon hiking tips

• Collect and pack all the indecomposable material that you find along the way. The environment along Mountain Elgon needs to be kept clean so that it is not altered.
• Respect others in the camp while you climb mountain Elgon and accept to share with others as you stop for breaks.
• Ensure you pack the right hiking gear so you are not disorganized by not having these items. When you hike up the mountain, it is hard to get supplies until you complete the hike.
• When packing, remember warm sleeping bags, clothes, and other supplies that will support you while hiking Mountain Elgon.
• Only start the hike on mountain Elgon with an escorting ranger guide because you may face wild animals that may hurt you along the way.

How to get to Mountain Elgon

Mountain Elgon is found in Eastern Uganda, and from Kampala, the distance covered is about 235 kilometers. A tarmac road runs from Jinja to Mbale at the western base of Mountain Elgon before climbing to Kapchorwa on the mountain’s Northwestern flank.

The Murram road leads off Mbale – Kapchorwa road to reach the various trailheads.

You can charter to Mbale, but advance booking is required so that all necessary arrangements can be made.

Is Climbing Mountain Elgon Safe?

Climbing Mountain Elgon is safe, but you need to know the best time to do this. The hike up Mountain Elgon is quite challenging, but you need to know the right season so that you do not plan to do mountain climbing in the wet season when the trails are messed up. 

No one is allowed to start the hike up mountain Elgon without a ranger guide as chances of encountering wild animals along the way are high. The paths may be hard to trace because they usually fall over, obstructing the way up.

Carrying the right hiking gear protects you from walking through the jungle and facing the harsh conditions that may come your way. Pack the right safari gear like safari clothes, a safari hat, insect repellant, a first aid box, rainproof gear, and more.

Have some level of fitness so that you can walk up the mountain and complete the task of hiking Mountain Elgon without giving up. The walk is quite challenging, but you must keep going to get to the top of Wagagai to enjoy the beauty along Mountain Elgon.

Ensure you do not keep dumping garbage along the way, as this alters the nature of the environment along the slopes of Mountain Elgon. You need to carry all the trash with you so that you do not dispose of it. Keep the environment clean so that it favors others following later. 

What to Pack For Climbing Mountain Elgon?

• As you pack for mountain climbing on mountain Elgon, you do not need so much but just enough for you during your stay up the mountain.  
•  Extra fully charged batteries to exchange with in case one runs low.
• Using a camera to take photos while at Mountain Elgon is a task that is on the bucket list of many adventure seekers worldwide.
• Hiking boots that are comfortable for you to hike for a long distance. They must be waterproof, too.
• Sunscreen to protect your skin from getting sunburns.
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from the direct sunlight and buzzing insects.
• Insect repellant to protect your skin from stinging insects you may find along the way.
• Garden gloves to protect your fingers from touching rough surfaces along the way.
• Some extra clothes to change into after the long day on the mountain.
• Energy bites to munch on when hungry because meals are taken from designated points.
• Hiking rods to give you extra support when hiking the mountain.
• Backpack to carry your belongings so they do not scatter while you hike.
• A torch to use for lighting.
• Some cash in case you need to do ground purchases like hiring hiking equipment, even porter hiring before starting your hike, purchasing food, cooking equipment, fuel, and others
• Warmers because the higher you go, the cooler it becomes.
• A pair of binoculars to get better visibility of far-ranging features.
• A pair of stockings to protect your feet from getting cold.
• Head gears to cover yourself from getting cold while hiking to get to the top of mountain Elgon.
• Sleeping bag for your nights on mountain Elgon.
• First aid kit with emergency medication in case you need it.
• Rainproof gears to protect you from getting wet and cold when it rains while up the mountain.

Our team is ready to plan and help you organize your safari. Contact us for more information.