Mount Elgon is a massive extinct volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya. The caldera is one of the world's biggest, and the mountain itself is a national park on both sides of the border. On the Ugandan side of Mount Elgon there are three routes going to the summit: the Sasa, Sipi and Piswa Trails. Below we'll share some more information about Elgon's most popular trail, the Sasa Trail.
The Sasa Trail is the standard route to the summit of Mount Elgon, Wagagai (4321m high). Although it is the most used route, it is not busy by any means. On most days you have a good chance you've got the trails (or even the entire mountain) to yourself. Along the route you can sleep in two camps: Sasa River Camp at 2900 metres and Mude Camp at 3500 metres. Both camps have a hut, though the current state of the huts is not great. Camping next to the hut is recommended for comfort and warmth.
Most people climb Mount Elgon via this route in three days, though it is possible to do it in two days for very fit trekkers. Or 4 days for families or those who would like to take it easy. The hike is not technical at any point, but you will feel the altitude as the summit is well beyond the 4000 metre mark.
Note that a new route is being developed. We will publish this as soon as it is operational.
Day 1: Budadiri - Bumasola (1700m) - Mude Camp (3450m)
After checking in at the UWA office in Budadiri you'll be going up to the trailhead at Bumasola with a boda (motor taxi). Here you start hiking. The first part of the trail is steep and follows the community trail through the fields. At around 2100m you'll reach the national park boundaries and the so-called Wall of Death. The climb up the escarpment used to be dangerous but these days there are a series of stairs that make the short climb easy. On top of the escarpment you head into the forest on a broad, easy path. At 2900m you pass Sasa River Camp, a potential place to stay. Quickly after this camp the landscape opens up and you'll have views across the slopes of Mount Elgon. After a long day you will reach Mude Camp at 3450m.
Day 2: Mude Camp - Wagagai Peak (4321m) - Mude Camp
Summit day! With an early start you can make the most of the hike to the summit of Wagagai Peak. You'll be hiking in open moorland on easy-going trails. On a good day you can see the city of Mbale, Mount Kadam and the savanna plains of Karamoja. At 4000m you pass Jackson Pool, a small but beautiful pond. You continue in a southern direction, passing Jackson Peak aka Masaba Peak and soon you will reach the crater rim. Here you peer into one of the biggest calderas in the world. The opposite side is Kenya. If you're lucky you can spot elephants inside the caldera. It's not far from Wagagai Peak anymore. On the summit you will notice the thin air. And it can be chilly so make sure you bring a wind and water proof jacket. You use the same trail to go back to Mude Camp.
Day 3: Mude Camp - Bumasola - Budadiri
The final day is the long downhill back to Bumasola, retracing your steps from day 1. From here bodas will take you to Budadiri where you will receive your summit certificate at the UWA office.
Private car
It's roughly a one hour drive (40km) from Mbale to the UWA ranger post in Budadiri. The best route is via Sironko, as the quality of the road is much better than the shorter route via Buwalisi. You can reach Budadiri year-round. There is an option to stay the night at Rose's Last Chance, a basic but comfortable accommodation. After registration at UWA, you'll be taken to the trailhead in the village of Bumasola by boda boda. You need a 4X4 to reach Bumasola by car. You can leave your car at Rose's Last Chance for a small fee.
Public transport/taxi
It is possible to reach Budadiri by public transport. Take a boda to the Namakwekwe Main Market (around 5000 Ugandan Shillings). From here you can take a matatu (mini-bus) directly to Budadiri (also 5000 Ugandan Shilling). They run frequently during daytime. Another option is to take a private taxi. The price depends on your negotiation skills but it should be in the range of 100k-150k Ugandan Shilling.
It's a good idea to organise your multi-day trek up the Sasa Trail in advance. There are quite a lot of arrangements to make before you can set out. Note that the UWA office in Budadiri doesn't accept cash and card payments often don't work. Either pay for your UWA fees with mobile money, or pay at the Mount Elgon National Park HQ in Mbale.
The local team involves one or two UWA rangers, depending how big your group is. A cook will join to keep you fed during the trek. And a small army of porters will help you to get your luggage to the different camps and back. The Hiking Uganda team has been up the Sasa Trail many times and can help organise this tour for you with one of our partners. Just fill out our inquiry form on the bottom of this page.
The Sasa Trail is not a difficult hike, but you do need to be reasonably fit. The first stage starts in Bumasola and ends in Mude Camp. That's a vertical gain of 1800 metres over 14 kilometres. Also bear in mind you'll be hiking to an altitude of 4321m, and you will notice the thinner air. As said, the hike is not technical and every healthy person with the right mindset can do it.
Mount Elgon can be climbed year round. Having said this, the best time to go hiking on Mount Elgon is November to March when it's officially dry season. Our team members have been climbing Mount Elgon in April and May without any rain, and seasons seem to move some years.
Mount Elgon can get pretty cold as you are at high altitude. Even when it's dry it can be bitterly cold at the summit of Wagagai, with temperatures dropping to just above freezing level. Add some wind and it feels as if it's freezing. Elgon is a big mountain that creates its own weather. It happens that on lower grounds it's raining heavily while at higher altitude you're in the sun. It hardly ever snows on Mount Elgon.
The temperatures and terrain are very diverse and you need to be prepared for changing conditions. You can get a downpour of rain and bright sunshine the same day. You will also need good equipment for the camps, where it is high and cold. Below you can find a pack list for a 3-day trek on the Sasa Trail.
Pack list for a 3-day hike on the Sasa Trail
- Quick drying (not cotton) t-shirt (3x)
- Long sleeve thermal shirt (2x)
- Mid-layer like fleece jacket or soft shell
- Hiking boots
- Pair of long trouwers
- Breathable rain jacket (like Gore-Tex)
- Waterproof trousers (optional)
- Hiking socks (3x)
- Walking poles
- Day pack (20-30 litres)
- 50 litre bag for kit you don't need while hiking
- Small first aid kit
- Smartphone / photo camera and power bank
- Plastic bags or dry bags to keep your electronics, valuables and clothes dry
- Snacks
- Water bottle (2 litres minimum)
- Sunscreen/hat/sunglasses
- Tent (if you decide to camp)
- Sleeping bag with comfort temperature of 2 degrees Celsius
- Sleeping mat
- Camping pillow
- Warm jacket (like down) for the camp
- Wooly hat and gloves
- Headlamp
- Toiletries