Mount Elgon National Park and Sipi Falls
Mount Elgon National Park and Sipi Falls: Mount Elgon National Park is a national park found in two East African Countries Uganda and Kenya. In Uganda the park is located in Eastern part of Uganda in Bukalasi, Manjiya, Bududa district 140 kilometers of Lake Victoria, and in Kenya it is located in north Kisumu and west of kitale. The Park covers an area of 1279 square kilometers (494 sq mi) and is bisected by border of Uganda and Kenya. The Uganda part covers about 1110 km (430 sq mil) while the Kenyan part covers 169 km (65 sq mil). The Ugandan part was gazetted in 1992 while the Kenya part was gazetted in 1968. Mont Elgon at 4321 meters high is an extinct volcano with Wagagai as its highest peak, and it first erupted over 24millions years back. Mount Elgon is a among the best Uganda safari destinations having the biggest surface areas of all extinct Volcanoes on the planet although it is the 4th highest mountain in east Africa. Sipi falls is a waterfall found in at the foothills of Mountain Elgon just at the edge of mount Elgon national park. The falls are one of the most awe-inspiring sights in Eastern Uganda. It is one of the vibrant tourism destinations.
What are some of the attractions and activities in Mt Elgon National Park?
Trekking sipi falls in Mt Elgon National Park: Trekkers have up three main trailheads leading to the Eldon peaks. One way starts from budadiri i.e., sasa trailhead, sipi trailhead forest exploration center kapkwai or may use the kapwaata commonly referred to as piswa trailhead. Sasa trail passes through the park largest bamboo forest and it is the fastest route to the peak. The spectacular Tutum cave hidden within extensive forest is what sipi trail has to offer, an excellent place for wild game viewing. All the two routes of sipi and piswa have a comping site with water source plus tent pods and latrines. In place is a cross boarder tourism between Mount Elgon national park Uganda and mount Elgon Park Kenya. The two entries hand over visitors to team at hot springs. The trekking usually takes 5 days to complete. All trekking events activities requires ranger tour guide to show you the way and as to interpret the environment aspects such as the flora and fauna and ensuring your safety.
The camping sites in the park: Mount Elgon National Park has an area of basically nine campsites to offer located at strategic point along the trekking routes, these sites include mude cave, hunters cave piswa patrol and kapkwata rest house. Camping is only done at designated campsites and tourist are be in groups and also carry the camping equipment.
Hiking: Hiking is along vigorous walk on trails or footpaths in the country side. Hiking is the main tourist attraction for hikers on this oft-neglected and relatively undemanding mountain is its spectacular scenery, the mount Elgon also offers to sight the unique sipi waterfalls, ancient enormous stone age cave paintings close to the Budadiri trail head, unique forest monkeys and small antelopes, along with huge elephants and buffaloes., the unique scenic mountain peaks the hot springs that bubble up at 480c and gorges are to mention the thrilling also offers 300 birds birding safari tourists have many bird species not recorded else were in Uganda to see.
Day light hikes: The whirlwind forest exploration center trails loop sites that make one to enjoy the coolness of the falls, the kapkwai cave, the talking and flamboyant scenery view like wanale trails loop site and vertical cliffs of ridge and several water that make very scenic drive well as one can also such for periled wood in the khauka caves as you enjoy splendid panoramic view above the plains of east Africa.
The hiking area allows you to probe mount Elgon’s diverse unique montane forest, rare plant and wild life which give an opportunity to experience mount Elgon and also to understand the natural habits of wild life n the park. In jungle walking one is composed t carry with him or her is walking shoes and raingears. Reservation can be made through the visitors in formation center at the hike area at the park’s headquarters in mbale. The two different day hike areas that tourist engaged in this activity should carry along with them jungle walking shoes and rain gear and well lighting torch for the cave tour.
When to visit: The low mountain slop is in better conditions all over the year but although the best season is the dry season which is between months of June to august and a well as December up march.
Accommodations and meal: Hotel of international standards in Mbale are sun rise inn, home country hotel, up market lodges. In side the park you will find wooden camping Banda’s, which are by natural means air-conditioned, possessing cold plus warm water showers installed with gorgeous lighting system.
Meals here are provided on order, according to the chef’s delight. In side the park there is a canteen with variety of drinking like beer, soda other delicious meals.
