3 Days Elgon Trekking A Nature Experience on the Sasa Trail

3 Days Elgon Trekking A Nature Experience on the Sasa Trail. Join us for an unforgettable three-day trek in Mt. Elgon National Park, where you’ll see breathtaking waterfalls, verdant foliage, wildlife, and breathtaking vistas of the valleys and settlements below.

Start your day off well with a satisfying continental breakfast. Then, stuff your lunch bread rolls with ham, chicken, tomato, onion, and cheese. Accompany it with your choice of tea, coffee, or fruit juice, and a fresh apple or orange. A daily soup, a main dish, and a dessert make up an evening meal. Drinks such as tea, coffee, and filter coffee made with freshly ground Arabica beans from Mount Elgon are available for those who prefer a more authentic coffee experience.

When making your reservation, you have the option to choose a more acceptable breakfast of Katogo (matoke and meat with tomato and onion), which is perfect for East Africans or anyone else who may prefer it. The lunch menu consists of bread rolls topped with ham, chicken, cheese, tomato, and onion, served with your choice of tea, coffee, or fruit juice. Soup in the evening, matoke (boiled rice or posho), stewed beef or goat, and dessert.

Make sure to let us know at least two days before your trip starts so we can buy the essential supplies. It’s not easy to prepare mixed European and East African meals for various people on a trek, so it’s either one or the other for everyone. No need to pre-order for European meals.

Hiking at mount Elgon national park

A Detailed 3 Days Elgon Trekking Itinerary

Day 1: Elgon Trekkers Base Camp

On the first day, you’ll hike 7.1 kilometers while climbing 1,162 meters in altitude from Elgon Trekkers Base Camp, which is above Bugiboni hamlet at 1,720 meters, to Hunwick’s Camp, which is at 2,882 meters. If you were to sleep in Mbale City, which is at 1,150 meters, you would have climbed 1,732 meters in one day. It usually takes about four or five hours to walk the entire loop.

Starting at Elgon Trekkers Base Camp, the journey winds its way through coffee plantations to the Gasawa steel ladders, which are located just above Bugiboni Village. The ascent to the ladders is not without its steep stretches. Coffee, onions, potatoes, and maize are the principal crops grown in the area where the river flattens out and flows through the town.

Or, if the weather is nice, you can take a boda boda up to 2,070 meters before beginning your climb, saving you energy and time to explore more of the national park. Directly below Dirigana Falls, which stands at 61 meters and is surrounded by sheer cliffs on all sides, begins a steady ascent to the park boundary. The trail has been modified with switchbacks to provide easier ascent to the cliff top. Thanks to this brand-new segment of the Sasa Trail, which has never been open to the public before, the route is even more impressive. Continuing along the Dirigana Valley and the base of the cliffs, the trail ascends to the base of the falls. At this point, you can stand below the falls to capture great photos. Afterwards, you can continue to the top of the escarpment, where you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the valley. A large rock shelter is there in case you need shelter during rainy weather.

Entering the montane forest, characterized by dense foliage and towering Podacarpus trees, the trail passes over the falls. A bridge and a picnic area by the river await you as you continue up the Dirigana valley for a while. Stunning views of the valleys below await you at the top of Mukoola Ridge, which you will reach after a little rest after a tough ascent. Once you cross the river, there’s a great place to stop for a snack and a little break before continuing your ascent to 2,882 meters at Hunwick’s Camp on the Mukoola Ridge. The Dirigana valley is your next stop along the way. From Hunwick’s camp, it’s just a short trek to the hilltop, where you can see Mbale City, Sironko, and other cities spread out across the hills and valleys. As the sun sets, you can make out the lights of distant cities. At this location, you’ll also find our dining hut, from which you can look out over Masaba Peak and Masaba Table, the locations of our next two camps.

Day 2: Walk through some stunning forest and down along the Dirigana River

The second day is a leisurely stroll through a beautiful forest and along the Dirigana River, where you’ll see several waterfalls.

At 2,930 meters, you’ll reach a lookout point overlooking the valley below after a long ascent through the montane forest that borders the Sironko Gorge cliffs. From there, you’ll turn left and descend softly into the forest, eventually reaching the Dirigana River. The walk winds its way along the riverbank, taking in views of rapids and little waterfalls as it goes. Listen to the birdsong as you take a deep breath of fresh air and relish in the beauty of nature first thing in the morning. The track forks after approximately two kilometers, continuing for a short distance before a steep ascent to the Sasa River Camp at 2,880 meters, where you will spend the night.

Day 3: Descend down through the forest along the original Sasa Trail

From Bugiboni, you will descend to Elgon Trekkers Base Camp after following the old Sasa Trail through the forest. From there, you will turn and climb Dirigana Falls, passing through a region of giant tree ferns.

End of the 3 Days Elgon Trekking Itinerary