Mount Elgon National Park

Mount Elgon Hotel is conveniently located just across the road from the National Park's Headquarters, which makes it thebest option if you intend to trek to its summit or to go discovering the forest reserve. The rangers are very helpful and can organise for you everything form directions to porters, while Mount Elgon Hotel can provide transport to the trailhead in Budadiri. The National Park covers most of the mountain and is famed for spectacular scenery and its population of elephants, buffaloes, monkeys, antelopes and around 300 species of birds. The climb is undemanding and there are some good sights along the way, such as hot springs, rock paintings and spectacular caves. Hickes to the top and back can take as little as three days, although a five days trek is a better option for a deeper exploration of the muntain. The best periodo to visit is between June and August and from December to March.

Forest reserve

Mount Elgon Hotel can organise for you a day excursion to the forest reserve located at around 2000m on Mount Elgon. The walks, available with different grades of difficulty and lenght, are led by a National Park Ranger, who can point out animal and plant species.

Waterfalls

Mount Elgon is an important watershed and waterfalls are linin up its slopes. Three of them, including the Sipi Falls are within easily reacheable with good tarmac or all weather roads, and, of course, Mount Elgon Hotel can organise everthing for you.

Rock paintings

There are a couple of caves around Mbale where you can observe the ancient rock paintings made by early settlers on the walls and ceilings. The scenes depicted are of an animistic content, along with the representation of daily activities of the hunters / fishers - gatherers tribes. Very informed guides are available on the spot, that you can easily reach as a half day trip from Mount Elgon Hotel.