The East at Mount Elgon

From the national parks in the west, it is a longer drive to the far east of Uganda. This journey across the country is something special: Green hills, endless fields, and small villages alternate. The road varies from being newly paved and in top condition to being cracked and riddled with deep potholes. There are no road safety measures, no orange cones here in Uganda. We always have to be prepared for anything…

The worst are the large trucks that sometimes race toward us at high speeds! Most of the time, they come right at us in the middle of the road, forcing us to swerve aside.

Breakdowns are also not uncommon: Larger buses or trucks often have some kind of defect.

In the few larger cities, traffic suddenly increases. Along the main road, there are many shops and stalls.

 

Off the main roads, there are no paved roads, just dirt paths (so-called dirt roads). Boda-Bodas (motorcycle taxis) are used for transportation and can be found at every street corner!

 

After a brief stop in the provincial capital Mbale, we continue into the mountainous landscape surrounding Mount Elgon. The expansive mountain massif rises step-like above us. Here we plan to hike for several days and enjoy nature!

First, we will visit the Sisiyi Falls. They drop from a mountain edge into the depths. From above, there is a beautiful panoramic view.

Next, we stay for several days near the Sipi Falls in the mountains. It has been raining repeatedly lately, and the ground is softened. We carefully explore the surroundings. The waterfalls are truly impressive!

The Sipi Falls reappear throughout the green nature and tumble down mountainsides.

Our guide takes us around between banana and coffee plantations. We get an impression of how people live here. The main livelihood is agriculture! The soil here is very fertile, and the climate is more humid and cooler than elsewhere. Many different beans are harvested in the area.

Close to our accommodation, there is a unique viewpoint that we visit in the evening. The mountain panorama and the view down into the valley is breathtaking 🤩

On the third day, we continue further into the mountains with Boda Bodas!

There we visit a part of the Mount Elgon National Park, the Kapkwai Forest Center. Together with a guide and an armed ranger, we start our hike from here onto narrow paths into the mountain forest.

On our way through the dense nature, we pass by large trees and a cave.

After a round, we finally come across a beautiful waterfall.

On the subsequent return trip to the Forest Center, we are caught off guard by a heavy downpour. Within seconds, our shoes are filled with water.

But after a short break, the sun comes out again, and we dry off quickly. The dirt road is so washed out from the rain that we decide to walk a part of the way. The landscape here is incredibly idyllic!