Wanale Ridge | Hiking Above Mbale on the Elgon Foothills

Wanale Ridge in Mbale District: Sitted in east of Mbale district, the Wanale ridge is always mistaken by the new visitors to Mbale district to be Mountain Elgon. Mbale town is right below the Wanale ridge, it can be visible while in some few neighboring districts like Tororo, Bukedea and even Budaka district. The ridge is about 7 km away from mbale town. Mbale town is the home of the Bagisu speaking people.

Wanale ridge is raised at 6864 ft above sea-level. It is blessed with three water falls running downwards making a splashing loud sound that can be heard from the closer you get to it. It’s glittering white rock coating is viewed from a far. Wanale ridge was also baptized by Semei Kakungulu as “Nkokonjeru Rock”, it also means “white cock” in lay man’s language. Semei Kakungulu was a colonial agent to the colonial masters then. While others believed that Wanale was named after one of the sons of Masaba, the elder one of the Bagisu; it is thought to be the origin of Nabarwa, the Kalenjin woman who endured upon Masaba to get circumcised before they got married. .

The Wanale ridge is packed fully with caves, deep valleys, escarpments, deep valleys, rocks and some few water lined cliffs. The wanale ridge is lessed talked about by the visitors because it is over shadowed my the over towering mountain Elgon.

HOW TO GET THERE

Mbale is located in the Eastern part of Uganda near the Uganda– Kenya boarder. Mbale can be connected to by use of road transport at most. It takes you approximately 4 hours by road from Kampala city, you go through Mukono town ,the industrious Jinja town where you can view the river nile, the new suspended bridge and lake victoria, the sister Busembatya and Namutumba districts ,then you will approach Budaka district which is the last district before you reach mbale. As you get closer to Mbale town, the Wanale ridge is viewed at almost 25km away from Mbale, along the way, Uganda clays Kamonkoli is also sited. Mbale town is a bright and beautiful town where you feel welcomed as you enter with nature at its best.

While in Mbale town, one can afford to get some snacks and drinks and even accommodation because the hill is at sight. It is a 16km walk or a 30-20 minutes’ drive, a left turn immediately after Mbale high court will connect you towards the Hill.

HIKING THE WANALE RIDGE

Hiking is so physical that it requires one to be at least trust their abilities. 6,864 ft above sea-level, Wanale hill is a challenge to Hikers though not compared to the massive Rwenzori and Elgon mountains.  The hike takes approximately one hour sto the top.

The hike will take you through challenging nature in hills, jumping over stones, small water streams, caves and forests. A walk through several home steads with coffee and banana plantations also makes the difference in a new environment. Children and elders will wave at you wishing you to a successful hike. Khaukha cave is along the western side of the ridge, it is one spot where you get a stop-over and be told about it’s history.

The hike is led by a well-trained guide, he will brief you about the precautions of the hike and give you some few skills about how you will go about it. It advisable to carry some water with you because the temperatures sometimes change depending on the higher you go to the unsung hill.

As you get close to the top of the hill, Mbale town centre is cited in a needle’s eye. Streams of water making water falls will be sighted to along the hike. Company tele-communication masts too will be sighted as you get to the top of the hill. While at the top, photographs can be taken to create memories.

CAVES AND THE WATER FALLS TALES

There believed to be a number of caves on the Wanale ridge but only one is common to the people, the “Khaukha cave”. It i is believed to have been the home of the early Bamasaba people who dwelt in it. Even though there some other caves, Khaukha cave is well known to the natives because of it’s well designed walls. It also believed that Khaukha cave has a fateful water stream which was named “Mwausa” by the elders many years ago.

Wanale hill is blessed with fast water running waterfalls that can even be viewed while at Mbale town Centre. One of the water falls is “Namatsyo”, it makes  very deep tunnels through the rocky bottom, it starts from the top of the Wanale ridge. With it’s high above sea-level, wanale hill ridge gives a beautiful view of the water falls that fall down the steep cliff onto the valley. The water makes a thunderous sound as it falls onto rocks forming steam-like/ mist environment.

 Apart from Hiking Wanale ridge, mountain Elgon also neighbors the towering hill ahead, it is also another spot for hiking. Mbale is blessed with fine coffee. The Bagisu too have a variety of food dishes, for example, Malewa, Bufukye, Makila, Kamalwa, Kumushelekhe and Shinoko. Malewa is the most prominent dish among the Bagisu and is made up with smoked fish. The bamboo shoots are dried above a fire place for about three days and later prepared.

Accommodation around mbale town area is affordable and easily accessed, we recognized few places, they include;  Hotel Restville,Mount Elgon Hotel, Mbale Resort Hotel,  Kayegi Hotel. Wash & Wills Country Home, Sunrise Inn, Hotel Eldima,Green Gardens Hotel and many more.