Experience the Mt. Elgon Sasa Trail, beginning at Bumasola village. Traverse lush bamboo zones, moorlands, and rocky outcrops. Rest at the Sasa River and Mude Cave campsites during your journey.
Overview:
This is the most direct and well-traveled path to Mount Elgon’s peaks. It begins in the village of Budadiri and ascends sharply to reach the peak in a thick highland forest. Typically, it takes a minimum of three days and two nights to finish the trek.
Mount Elgon is an extinct volcano, found on the border between Kenya and Uganda. The Sasa trail is the shortest and the steepest route to the summit and it offers some of the most breathtaking views.
The village of Bumasola, after Budadiri township, is the trailhead for the Sasa Trail. It is about 40km from Mbale town. You should expect to spend two to three days finishing the 16-kilometre course, depending on your fitness level and the speed of your group.
Hikers can anticipate a range of landscapes along the Sasa Trail, such as lush bamboo zones, treelines, vast moorlands, and rocky outcrops. There are two public campsites, Sasa River Camp and Mude Caves Camp, where hikers can rest and spend their nights.
DAY 1: Mbale/ Bundandri – Sasa River Camp
Leave Mbale town or Bundandiri village after breakfast and hike for 13 km to Sasa River camp
(2800m) through the rich highlands. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
DAY 2: Sasa River Camp – Mude caves
After an early breakfast hike for 5km to Mude care camp for lunch. Explore these ancient caves, once used as hideouts in political wars. Dinner and overnight at the Mude Caves camp
DAY 3: Mude caves – Wagagai Peak – Mude Caves
Leave after breakfast and hike up to Wagagai (4,300m) and the Jackson Summit, which are lower than Wagagai (4200m).
Descend back to Mude caves for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4: Mude caves – Mbale
Descend the last bit of the mountain to Sasa River camp and Budandiri village, where the trip ends. An optional extra day to visit the hot springs and the caldera is advisable.
What to bring:
Mountains have their own climate on account of their height. Rain clouds can appear without warning and be gone hours later. An early morning frost is possible at any time of the year, and guests should bring a fleece and light rain jacket, although, during the heat of the day, shorts and T-shirts should suffice.
Sleeping bag: one rated for four (4) seasons is fine. The bag should be a snug fit since if it is too large, there will be more cool air for the body to warm
-
-
- Rain Trouser
- Rain Jacket [Poncho]
- Balaclava [Hat Woollen]
- Warm Clothes down jacket
- Thermal underwear
- Fleece Jacket
- Hiking Boots
- Gloves
- Walking Sticks
- Head Torch
- Sunglasses
- First Aid box
- Ruck Suck 65L (duffel bags are unacceptable) to be carried by porters
- Day Pack 35 [For your personal effects]
-
-
-
- Optional comfort accessories;
-
Walking poles, hot water bottle, Bivy bag
Wet wipes; ideal for those who want to stay fresh but are unable to bear dips in the freezing mountain weather
4: Passport/Identification Card {ID}
5: Personal travel/ medical insurance
Options are, of course, many and varied, and in many cases, we can be flexible about the itinerary for accommodation facilities and the extension of the safari destinations.