How to Combine Mt. Elgon with Murchison Falls in One Trip

Combining Mt. Elgon Hiking with Game Safari in Murchison Falls in One Trip

To combine Mt. Elgon with Murchison Falls in one trip, you start with the challenging but rewarding mountain trek and then relax with wildlife viewing in Murchison Falls National Park. This adventure offers the perfect balance between physical activity and safari relaxation. You’ll climb Uganda’s oldest volcanic mountain, reaching the stunning Wagagai Peak at 4,321 meters. After descending, you’ll drive to Murchison Falls to see elephants, lions, giraffes, and hippos. The journey combines mountain hiking, waterfall visits, game drives, and boat cruises. This 11-day trip takes you through diverse landscapes, from alpine moorlands to savannah plains, giving you the best of Uganda’s natural beauty.

Discovering Mount Elgon National Park

Mount Elgon National Park sits on the Uganda-Kenya border and covers about 4,000 square kilometers. The park features the largest volcanic base on Earth, measuring approximately 80 kilometers across. Mount Elgon rises over 3,000 meters above the surrounding plains, with Wagagai Peak standing at 4,321 meters high. However, the mountain’s most unique feature is its vast 40 square kilometer caldera, one of the world’s largest intact volcanic craters.

The park displays dramatic landscapes shaped by deep valleys, waterfalls, caves, gorges, and lush forests. As you climb higher, the forests transition into open moorlands and Afro-alpine vegetation. This diverse environment creates multiple ecological zones that support rich biodiversity. Over 300 bird species live here, including the endangered Lammergeyer, Tacazze sunbird, and Jackson’s francolin. Furthermore, the park shelters various mammals such as small antelopes, forest monkeys, elephants, and buffaloes.

Giant lobelias and groundsels thrive in the high-altitude moorlands, creating an otherworldly landscape. UNESCO has designated this area as a Man and Biosphere Reserve, highlighting its ecological importance. Visitors enjoy exploring scenic cliffs, hot springs, and remarkable caves where elephants and buffaloes visit natural salt licks. The park offers vehicle circuits, self-guided trails, hiking, primate watching, bird watching, cave exploration, camping, and photography opportunities.

Exploring Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park, located in northwestern Uganda, is the country’s largest protected area at 3,893 square kilometers. Established in 1952, the park features diverse ecosystems including savannahs, woodlands, and wetlands. The Victoria Nile bisects the park and creates the magnificent Murchison Falls. At this point, the river forces through a narrow 7-meter wide gorge and drops 40 to 45 meters into a turbulent pool below, producing a thunderous roar and dense mist.

The park hosts over 70 mammal species and 450 bird species. Four of Africa’s Big Five live here: buffaloes, leopards, lions, and elephants. Most notably, the park protects three-quarters of the world’s Rothschild giraffe population. Large herbivores such as Uganda kobs, buffaloes, and elephants roam the savannah. Meanwhile, hippopotamuses and Nile crocodiles inhabit the Victoria Nile’s waters. Additionally, the Budongo Forest supports over 600 chimpanzees.

Conservation efforts have helped wildlife populations recover after declines during Uganda’s political instability in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, visitors enjoy excellent game drives, boat safaris on the Nile, and wildlife viewing against stunning natural landscapes. The park remains a vital conservation area and premier safari destination in Uganda.

Day-by-Day Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Journey to Mbale from Kampala

Your adventure begins with a 4-5 hour drive from Kampala to Mbale, covering approximately 230 kilometers on good tarmac roads. You’ll pass through Jinja, famous for the source of the River Nile, and continue through scenic countryside and trading centers. Upon reaching Mbale town at the foot of Mt. Elgon, you’ll drive another hour to Budadiri, the trailhead for your mountain trek. You’ll spend the night at Hotel Rostows with lunch and dinner included.

Day 2: Begin Your Mountain Trek to Hunwick’s Camp

After breakfast, you’ll transfer to Bugiboni Elgon Trekkers Base Camp and start your 7.1-kilometer trek. The trail climbs from 1,720 meters to Hunwick’s Camp at 2,882 meters, gaining 1,162 meters in altitude. First, you’ll walk through coffee plantations, maize fields, and potato farms to Kigoma Primary School. Then, the trail leads steadily up to the park boundary below the impressive 61-meter Nabunyifu Falls.

Next, you’ll climb through montane forest with huge Podacarpus trees and thick vegetation. The trail follows the Dirigana Valley, where you’ll cross the river and stop for lunch at a shelter. After lunch, you’ll continue climbing up to Mukoola Ridge and arrive at Hunwick’s Camp. From here, you’ll enjoy fantastic views across hills and valleys to Masaba Summit. This 5-7 hour trek takes you through diverse landscapes. You’ll camp at Hunwick’s with all meals included.

Day 3: Acclimatization Day at Hunwick’s Camp

On this day, you’ll spend an extra night at Hunwick’s Camp for better acclimatization. This rest day allows you to explore Amayah Falls and Mwambu Falls at a relaxed pace. You can choose to relax in the morning and visit the waterfalls in the afternoon. Alternatively, you can set out after breakfast for a gentle excursion and return to camp in the evening. This acclimatization day prepares your body for the higher altitudes ahead.

Day 4: Trek to Masaba Camp

On day four, you’ll trek 7.4 kilometers from Hunwick’s Camp to Masaba Camp at 3,745 meters. This steady climb gains 863 meters in altitude and takes 4-5 hours. You’ll continue climbing through montane forest until reaching 3,200 meters, where the landscape opens up. This area was once a bamboo zone, but heavy exploitation depleted it. However, you’ll see new bamboo shoots showing recovery.

Between 3,000 and 3,300 meters, you’ll walk through a giant heather zone before entering the heath or moorland zone. This open high-altitude grassland features wildflowers and scattered giant heather areas. After a short break in the heather zone, you’ll walk the final two kilometers to Masaba Camp. From camp, you’ll enjoy excellent views across high-altitude grasslands and stunning forests. At night, you’ll see the lights of Mbale City in the distance.

After lunch, you can optionally climb 1.2 kilometers to the top of Masaba Table. This flat rock formation has vertical cliffs averaging 70-90 meters high. Masaba Table measures 700 meters long and 200 meters wide at an average altitude of 4,000 meters, offering exceptional views. You’ll camp at Masaba with all meals provided.

Day 5: Summit Wagagai Peak and Descend to Kaiyah Camp

Summit day arrives! You’ll trek 6.4 kilometers with a 576-meter altitude gain to reach Wagagai Peak at 4,321 meters. This takes approximately 2-3 hours. After celebrating at the summit and taking photos, you’ll descend 8 kilometers into the caldera to Kaiyah Camp at 3,695 meters. The descent takes another 2-3 hours. You’ll camp in 2-person tents that porters carry and set up for you.

Day 6: Trek to Mude Cave Camp

From the caldera, you’ll hike to Mude Cave Camp at 3,472 meters, taking approximately 4 hours. The route goes via Mogongo and offers beautiful mountain views. The terrain is relatively flat until you reach steep hills near Uganda Pass. You’ll spend the night at Mude Camp with all meals included.

Day 7: Descend and Transfer to Sipi Falls

On this day, you’ll descend along the original Sasa Trail through lush forest and tree ferns to reach Elgon Trekking Services Base Camp in Bugiboni. After debriefing and saying farewell to your mountain guides, you’ll start your journey to Kapchorwa, home to the magnificent Sipi Falls. This hilly landscape features spectacular waterfalls and walking trails winding through villages and coffee fields. You’ll stay at Sipi Heritage Lodge with all meals included.

Day 8: Explore Sipi Falls

After an early breakfast, you’ll hike to three beautiful waterfalls. Optional activities include abseiling and rock climbing around historical islands. This enriching and serene day allows you to explore the area at your own pace.

Day 9: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

You’ll leave Sipi Falls and drive to Murchison Falls via Soroti Road. Upon arrival, you can rest at your lodge or take an evening hike to the top of the falls. The drive offers scenic views of Uganda’s countryside.

Day 10: Game Drive and Boat Cruise

Your day starts with an early morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. You’ll search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, and various antelope species. The savannah landscape provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. In the afternoon, you’ll enjoy a boat cruise on the Victoria Nile. The cruise takes you to the base of Murchison Falls, where you’ll see hippos, crocodiles, and diverse water birds. This relaxing boat ride offers spectacular views of the falls from below.

Day 11: Return to Entebbe

On your final day, you’ll leave Murchison Falls National Park and drive back to Entebbe for your departure flight. This marks the end of your incredible 11-day adventure combining mountain trekking and wildlife safari.

Safari Pricing and Inclusions

The safari costs $1,950 per person when sharing accommodation & transportation. This price includes all activities listed in the itinerary, transfers to trek starting points, accommodation before and during the trek, meals as specified, an English-speaking driver guide, national park entrance fees, mountain guides, porters, meals on the mountain, mountain accommodation (bring your sleeping bag), transfer to Sipi Falls and complimentary bottled water.

The price excludes visa fees, international flights, optional activities, tips for guides, laundry, alcoholic and soft drinks, personal travel insurance, personal shopping, and phone calls.

You can customize this adventure to add chimpanzee trekking or gorilla trekking. The trip runs year-round, though some months from June to September and from December to February offer better trekking conditions than others.