7 Days Sipi falls, Mt Elgon hiking safari
Trip highlights
- Hike to the world’s largest caldera
- Bush experience with beautiful view points
- Camping expedition
- Cave exploration and visit Chebnet waterfalls
- Nature walks in Kapkwai rain forest
- Hike SIPI Falls, Jinja town tour and photography
Tour Summary
Visit Mt Elgon for the conservation experience and 5 days hike to the highest peak- Wagagai. Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the slopes of Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda. Visit the numerous caves and the little chebnet waterfalls. Encounter a few wildlife species, monkeys and birds, hike SIPI Falls and visit Jinja town for a brief tour. Enjoy photography at every point visited and create lasting memories.
Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe/ Kampala to Mbale town (travel time 5 hours)
Start the journey in the morning and cross the mighty River Nile in Jinja, stop over here for a brief tour of the town, visit the source of the Nile if open for tours then proceed to Mbale town for lunch upon arrival. Check into your hotel and rest. You can do a tour of this vibrant business town or check out the night life before bed time.Accommodation: Mt Elgon Hotel, meal plan: full board
Day 2: Transfer to Kapchorwa, hike SIPI Waterfalls and Coffee tour
Wake up early, check out of hotel and transfer to Kapchorwa after breakfast, you will meet a guide here to brief and take you through the day’s activities which include hiking the waterfalls and a coffee tour. Trek through homesteads to reach the waterfalls where you can have spectacular photography and on return stop by a community to practically engage in coffee brewing, pound the coffee beans and make your own beverage which you will taste instantly.Return to lodge for overnight stay and rest ahead of the expedition. Lunch and dinner at your hotel of stay. SIPI Falls Lodge
Day 3: Transfer to Kapkwai Forest Conservation Center – Mt Elgon National Park
After breakfast, check out and set off for Mt Elgon national park, this is about 10 kms away from your hotel of stay. Upon arrival at the park headquarters, you will be received by your ranger guide and briefed on the expedition. He will also introduce you to your helpers who include porters and a cook before you begin the expedition.
The conservation area has two major entrances thus SIPI trail which is less steep and Sasa trail which is steeper. On this expedition, for a complete experience, you will have a loop where you go through SIPI and return via Sasa.
There are various sceneries of flora and fauna including cliffs, caves, waterfalls, gorges, calderas, hot springs and mountain peaks.
The caves have frequent night visitors like elephants and buffaloes which come to lick the salt found on the walls of Kitum cave on the lower slopes of the mountain, this cave enters 200 meters into the mountain.
You may encounter small antelopes and duikers, blue monkeys, white and black Columbus monkeys which seem to be extinct and about 144 bird species including the endangered lammergeier. Half of Uganda’s butterfly species have been reported to be here.
Meals prepared by your cook. Camping overnight
Day 3-6: Hiking expedition
Enjoy breakfast and continue with your hike to the peak. There will be breaks in between for meals and refreshment. Mt Elgon is known as the world’s largest caldera with 40 km in length and 18 km in width.
Wagagai peak is 4,321 m above sea level. Enjoy photography at the peak for memories and return to the conservation center which is the starting point of this adventure. Return to SIPI lodge for overnight stay and dinner on day 6.
Overnight camping throughout this expedition.
Day 7: Transfer back to Entebbe/ Kampala
After your wild adventures, you will be driven back to Kampala or Entebbe with a stopover in Jinja for lunch with the Nile in view, arrival will be late afternoon or evening and drop off to your place of residence.
Safari inclusions;
- All activities mentioned in the itinerary
- Transfers, accommodation, meals and photography
- Camping gear and related fees (tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag)
