Overview
Embark on an unforgettable expedition to Mount Elgon, Uganda’s oldest and most revered mountain, with its towering Wagagai Peak rising to 4,321m. This 9-day adventure blends scenic hiking, cultural immersion with the Sabiny community, and exploration of Mount Elgon’s spectacular caldera, waterfalls, caves, and high-altitude landscapes. Each step of the trek reveals new wonders — from tropical forests to moorlands dotted with giant lobelias. Nights are spent in a mix of comfortable lodges and mountain camps, carefully selected for their location, atmosphere, and sustainability
PRICES PER PERSON
| Number of pax | Cost per person |
| 2-3pax | $2,669 |
| 4-5pax | $1,907 |
| 6-7pax | $1,653 |
| 8-9pax | $1,587 |
| 10-11pax | $1,499 |
| 12-13pax | $1,441 |
| 14-15pax | $1,399 |
Rates valid till 31st/December/2025
Duration
- 9 Days / 8 Nights
Tour Highlights
- Cruise the Source of the Nile in Jinja and explore Samuka Island.
- Trek through Mount Elgon’s diverse ecosystems, from coffee farmlands to Afro-alpine moorland.
- Summit Wagagai Peak (4,321m), the highest point on Mount Elgon.
- Explore Mude Cave, steeped in natural and cultural history.
- Engage in a Sabiny community experience: coffee picking, basket weaving, brewing, music, and dance.
- Support for bamboo restoration and ecological conservation within the park.
- Stay in locally run lodges that benefit communities and conservation efforts.
Day To Day Descriptions
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your Alpha Adventure Safaris representative will warmly welcome you and transfer you to Kaazi Beach Resort. Nestled on the shores of Lake Victoria, the resort offers beautiful lake views, tropical gardens, and a calm environment to rest after your journey. You’ll enjoy a leisurely evening and time to prepare for the adventure ahead.
- Accommodation: Kaazi Beach Resort (chosen for its tranquil lakeside setting and welcoming environment that allows you to relax before the trek)
- Meals: None
After breakfast, meet your guide for a trip briefing before driving eastwards along the Kampala–Jinja Highway. The journey passes rolling tea estates and sugarcane plantations. In Jinja, board a boat cruise on the Nile River to its legendary Source, watching waterbirds at Samuka Island and enjoying the calm waters. Lunch will be served at a riverside restaurant before continuing through Mbale town to the foothills of Mount Elgon.
- Accommodation: Sipi Valley Resort (selected for its stunning views of Sipi Falls and its close ties to community tourism, offering both comfort and cultural authenticity)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After a hearty breakfast, spend the day with the Sabiny community. Begin with a walk through local farms to learn about subsistence farming and coffee growing. Join villagers in coffee picking and roasting, try basket weaving, pottery, and taste Malewa (traditional bamboo shoots). Participate in traditional music and dance, and enjoy a home-cooked lunch with the community — a genuine cultural connection that enriches your trek.
- Accommodation: Sipi Valley Resort (chosen for its role in supporting community projects and offering an excellent base for cultural engagement)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The trek begins at Elgon Trekkers Base Camp (1,720m). From here, ascend steadily through farmlands of coffee, maize, and onions, pausing at Kigoma Primary School to interact with children and learn about rural education. Enter the park boundary beneath the towering 61m Nabunyifu Falls, where switchback trails offer breathtaking views over villages and valleys.
Continue through montane forest filled with giant Podocarpus trees, crossing the Dirigana River before stopping for lunch at a rustic shelter. The final stretch climbs the Mukoola Ridge, opening up spectacular views across hills and valleys towards Masaba Summit. Arrive at Hunwick’s Camp (2,882m), a hut with bunk beds and mattresses, where dinner awaits.
- Accommodation: Hunwick’s Camp (basic mountain hut strategically located on the trail — chosen for its breathtaking panoramas and its authentic wilderness atmosphere)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today’s climb takes you from Hunwick’s Camp through lush montane forest before reaching the bamboo zone around 3,200m. Though once heavily harvested, bamboo shoots are regenerating thanks to conservation programs you’ll learn about on the trail.
Higher up, enter the giant heather zone, with twisted Erica trees cloaked in moss, before emerging into the Afro-alpine moorland. Here, rolling grasslands are dotted with wildflowers, giant lobelias, and groundsels. Arrive at Masaba Camp (3,745m) in time for lunch. Optional afternoon hike: a 1.2 km climb to the dramatic Masaba Table Rock, a huge flat-topped stone with sheer cliffs and sweeping views.
At night, look down on the twinkling lights of Mbale far below.
- Accommodation: Masaba Camp (mountain huts and tents in the high moorlands — chosen for their unique setting above the bamboo and heather zones with dramatic views)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This is the most rewarding day of the trek. From Masaba Camp, ascend 6.4 km with an altitude gain of 576m to the summit of Wagagai Peak (4,321m) — Mount Elgon’s highest point. The expansive Elgon caldera, one of the world’s largest, stretches out below you with crater lakes, rugged ridges, and rolling plains beyond.
After soaking in the views, descend 8 km into the caldera, reaching Kaiyah Camp (3,695m). Porters set up your tented camp for the night in this wild and beautiful spot.
- Accommodation: Kaiyah Camp (wilderness camping inside the caldera — chosen for its adventurous spirit and its proximity after the summit, offering a true back-to-nature experience)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Leave the caldera and trek gently via Mogongo, following relatively flat terrain with occasional steep ascents near Uganda Pass. Enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding mountains before descending to Mude Cave Camp (3,472m). The camp lies near caves once used for shelter and traditional rituals, adding a layer of cultural depth to the wilderness.
- Accommodation: Mude Cave Camp (rustic mountain huts — chosen for their historical significance and location along the descent route)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Follow the Sasa Trail down through montane forest, past giant tree ferns and towering ridges. Stop to admire Dirigana Falls from above before reaching Elgon Trekkers Base Camp at Bugiboni. From here, transfer to Sipi for a much-deserved evening of relaxation and hot showers.
- Accommodation: Sipi Valley Resort (selected for its comfort after the trek, cozy rooms, and its spectacular views of Sipi Falls)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, bid farewell to Mount Elgon. Drive back through Mbale and Jinja, stopping for lunch en route and to browse roadside markets for souvenirs. Arrive in Entebbe in time for your onward flight.
- Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Includes/Excludes
Included
- Park entrance fees
- Accommodation (twin/double shared)
- Professional driver/guide
- Transport in 4x4 safari vehicle
- Round-trip airport transfers
- All meals as per itinerary
- Drinking water daily
- All taxes and VAT
Excluded
- International flights
- Extra nights before/after the trip
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, visas, insurance)
- Government-imposed tax/park fee increases
Destination Geography
- Location: Eastern Uganda, bordering Kenya.
- Mountain Range: Extinct volcano in the Eastern Rift Valley.
- Elevation: From 1,100m to 4,321m at Wagagai Peak.
- Climate: Subtropical highland, with temperatures between 10–20°C.
- Vegetation Zones: Montane forest, bamboo, heath, and Afro-alpine moorland.
Comfort & Difficulty
- Activity Level: Moderate to challenging — multi-day trekking with altitude gain.
- Accommodation: Mix of mid-range lodges and mountain huts/tents.
- Transport: 4×4 safari vehicle with experienced driver-guide.
Community Interactions
- Full-day cultural immersion with the Sabiny community (coffee, crafts, cuisine, music).
- Contribution to bamboo restoration projects within Mount Elgon National Park.
- Support of local economies through stays in community-linked lodges.
Practical Information
- Best time to visit: June–August or December–February.
- Language: English widely spoken.
- Packing essentials: Hiking boots, sleeping bag, warm clothes, rain gear, sunscreen, insect repellent.
- Travel tip: Train with light hikes before your trip to prepare for the altitude and terrain.

