5 Days Mount Elgon Trek (Sasa trail)

This 5 Days Mount Elgon Hiking tour is the best option to give you the physical challenge of mountain trekking as well as reward you with the beauty and fresh air that comes with Mount Elgon’s surroundings.

5 days Mount Elgon Hike highlights

Mountain Elgon climbing trails to Wagagai Peak
Transport using a customized 4WD safari Vehicle
4 nights Camping within Mountain Elgon national park
Delicious meals
Service of English Speaking guide/driver
Airport transfers

Climbing Mount Elgon

To climb Mount Elgon doesn’t require expertise or special mountaineering equipment. Climbers with little mountain climbing experience and first-timers can successfully climb Mount Elgon, the 7th highest mountain in Africa, standing at 4,321 meters above sea level.

Getting to Mount Elgon Base Camp

Mt. Elgon National Park can easily be accessed by car or bus by driving to the Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA) base located in the outskirts of Mbale town If you intend to use public transport, the Elgon Flyer bus plies from Colville Street in Kampala to Mount Elgon’s base camp. There is ample and secure parking in the base camp of Mount Elgon.

Mount Elgon park fees and cost

Mount Elgon park entry fees cost around $90 per person per day for foreign visitors and tourists and about 60,000 Ugandan Shillings (local currency) for East Africans which should be paid at the gate before climbing the mountain. Camping fees at Mount Elgon cost around 15,000 Ugandan Shillings per night per person and costs the same amount of 15,000 Ugandan Shillings per day per porter. Porters will assist you to carry your mountain equipment. cooking equipment and will be responsible for preparing your meals. All you need to bring along is your hiking boots, sleeping bag, a backpack that contains your day to day essentials and mountain clothing that will keep you warm.

Required equipment for climbing Mount Elgon

Rucksack
Sleeping bag for low temperature & sleeping mat
One plate
Cutlery
Mug
knife
Trekking shoes
Poncho or raincoat
Heavy warm jacket
Hand gloves-Scarf and hat
One jumper
A torch and some tablets
Comfortable & well-fitting hiking boots
Warm clothes for night time as it often gets cold
A proper Camera
A head torch for climbing
Insect repellant/spray

Day1

Travel from Entebbe / Kampala to Mbale

After early morning breakfast, you will leave Kampala and head to Mbale to start you Mount Elgon trekking expedition via the Sasa trail. On your way to Mbale, you will explore other major attractions that may be of interest to you like Bujagali falls and the source of the great River Nile.

Afterwards, you will head over to Mbale town where you will proceed to the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices for park fees verification, registration and paperwork.

Dinner and overnight in Budadiri, Mbale.

Day 2

Budadiri to Sasa Camp (2.900m) (8 km or 7-8 hours hike)

This marks the first day of your trek after early morning breakfast where you will head over to Kapkwai Exploration centre which acts as the meeting point between you and your mountain climbing crew that includes guides and porters. It is at this point that you will counter check and verify all the required mountain equipment like camping gears, tents, sleeping mattresses and sleeping bags. You trek to Sasa River camp will begin which marks your resting campsite for dinner and overnight.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3

Sasa camp to Mude Camp (3.500m) (5km or 4-5 hours hike)

After breakfast at Sasa River Camp, you will continue with your day hike traversing the rain forest zone of Mount Elgon towards Mude Cave Camp, your resting camp for the day for dinner and overnight as you prepare yourself to make a summit climb to Wagagai Peak.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4

Mude Camp to Wagagai Peak (4321 m) and return to Mude 

After a hearty breakfast at Mude Camp, you will make an ascent to the summit of Mount Elgon at Wagagai Peak located at an elevation of 4321 meters above sea level. While at the peak of the mountain you will get an opportunity to take some pictures before taking a descent to Mude Camp and 3,500 m via Jackson Summit (4200 meter). You will have your dinner then spend you last night on Mount Elgon at Mude Cave Camp

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5

Mude camp to Budadiri and to Kampala

This marks you last day of the 5 days Mount Elgon trek where you will descend via the Sasa Trail towards Budadiri ranger station and then proceed to Mbale town. We will drive to Kampala as you return to your hotel marking the end of this great 5 days Mount Elgon trek via the Sasa trail.