To trek Mount Elgon Via Kenya and get to the trailhead, make your way by bus to Eldoret and then to Kitale via ‘matatu’ (mini-bus). From Kitale, a limited number of matatus go to Mount Elgon National Park. You are apparently not permitted to walk the roads with in the park, so you may have to hire a driver at the park entrance to take you closer to the mountain.
Mount Elgon Via Kenya
There are three commonly-used routes on the Kenya side. One is through the Mount Elgon National Park and you must have a 4WD, since walking along the road is not permitted. A second route is from Kitale, Endebess, and Masara. A third route is via Kimilili and is said to be the best route from the Kenyan side.
Note that the highest summit is completely on the Uganda side and you may be told not to cross the border, unless you booked to continue to the Ugandan side. Unfortunately, a full traverse of the mountain is not allowed at this time.
Hiking Mount Elgon is not as difficult as compared to hiking Rwenzori Mountain in western Uganda. However, any climber intending to hike Mount Elgon needs to reasonably be fit, but no specialized skills or requirements are required to reach the peaks. Mount Elgon is not that so high that there’s any serious risk of altitude or related illness risks that regularly afflict many mountain hikers.
Other Activities
In Uganda, most visitors seeking mountain climbing experiences will always compliment their visit with hiking the Rwenzori Mountains. In addition, a safari game drive in the nearby Kidepo Valley National Park is also exciting for many visitors.
After visiting Mount Elgon National Park, you can also extend further west for a wildlife safari in Murchison Falls National Park. Here, you will encounter the Big 5 including the rhinos, African elephants, buffaloes, lions and leopards, making Murchison Falls National Park Uganda’s most spectacular wildlife reserve. You can also opt for the breathtaking gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.