4DAY TREK WAGAGAI PEAK – MT ELGON NATIONAL PARK.

Trekking the Sasa Trail in Mt Elgon National Park is a truly rewarding experience with professional
guides, great food and good accommodation

Day 1. Hike to Hunwick’s Camp at 2,882m.

Day one is a 7.1km walk with an altitude gain from Elgon Trekkers Base Camp above Bugiboni at 1,720m to Hunwick’s Camp at 2,882m giving an altitude gain of 1,162 metres.
The trek starts at Elgon Trekkers Base Camp with a steady climb through coffee plantations, maize, potatoes and onions to Kigoma Primary School.
From here it is a steady walk up to the park boundary directly below the 61m Nabunyifu Falls (meaning cold wind) flanked by sheer cliffs. We have constructed switchbacks in the trail to make it a easier and offer excellent views of the community below and distant mountains. This section is a completely new trail which has never been accessible to tourists before and a great addition to the Elgon National Park. The trail climbs steadily up the Dirigana Valley through the montane forest with huge Podacarpus trees and thick vegetation to where you cross the river and stop for lunch at a shelter. From here it is a steady climb up to the Mukoola Ridge and the Hunwick’s Camp at 2,882 metres where you get fantastic views across the hills and valleys to Masaba Summit.
Overnight stay at: Hunwick’s Camp 2,882m.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 2. Hike to Masaba Camp at 3745 metres.

Day two is a 7.4km steady climb/walk from 2,882 metres to Masaba Camp at 3,745 metres, total height gain of 863 metres taking around 4 to 5 hours easy going all the way.
Continue climbing up through the montane forest to 3,200m when you enter open ground. This area used to be the bamboo zone which due to heavy exploitation by the communities for bamboo shoots and building materials is almost none existent but recovering since we opened the trail to tourists. As you continue climbing you will see new bamboo shoots and hope of recovery. Together with Uganda Wildlife Authority we will be implementing a programme to propagate the indigenous bamboo and replant the affected areas so future generations will be able to enjoy the beauty of the bamboo. At around 3,000 metres to 3,300 metres you walk through a newly discovered Giant Heather zone (Erica arborea) after which is breaks into the Heath or Moorland Zone which is open high-altitude grasslands and wildflowers with scattered areas of Giant Heather and rolling hills. We take a short break at a rest point in the upper levels of the Heather Zone before walking the last two kilometers to Masaba Camp @ 3,745 metres. You get excellent views from Masaba Camp across the high altitudes grasslands, the stunning forests and foothills. At night you see the lights of Mbale City in the distance.
At present the facilities are basic and accommodation is camping however we will soon be constructing huts and other accommodation.
After lunch you may decide to climb 1.2km climb to the top of the Masaba Table which is flat rock with
vertical cliffs all around averaging 70 to 90 metres above the surrounding moorland grasses studded with the giant lobelia and groundsel plants. Masaba Table is one huge rock 700 metres long and 200 metres wide and an average height above sea level of 4,000 metres and offers exceptional views.
Overnight stay at: Masaba Camp 3,745m.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3. Summit Wagagai peak 4321m, sleep at Mude Cave Camp
Day three is a 6.4km walk with an altitude gain or 576 metres up to Wagagai Peak at 4,321 metres then
descend back to Mudi Camp or you may decide to descend to Sasa River so as to reach the base camp around 11am the following day. However the trail to Sasa River Camp from Mude Camp 7.2km is in good condition and easily accomplished in around over two hours and from Sasa River Camp to Base camp is about 3 to 4 hours walk so you may opt to sleep in Mude Camp to enjoy the high altitude environment and maybe catch the sight of a Several cat or mountain hares at night.
As our trail passes close to the cliffs surrounding Masaba Table and just below Masaba Peak (Jackson’s
Summit) you have the option of a 30 minute climb to summit Masaba Peak and enjoy excellent views across the caldera to the peaks in Kenya. Is best to start your journey from Masaba Camp by 6.30am or latest 7am to trek the 2.6km and be on top of Masaba Peak before the mountain fog closes in.
Overnight stay at: Mude Cave Camp 3,472m or Sasa River Camp at 2,880m
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4. Descend down to the basecamp 1720m.
Descend down through the forest along the original Sasa Trail
Descend down through the forest along the original Sasa Trail before turning and cutting across to the top of Dirigana Falls through and area of Giant Tree Ferns and down to Elgon Trekkers Base Camp at Bugiboni.
Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch