3 day trek to Wagagai peak 4,321meters and Masaba summit 4,152meters.

3 Day trek to Wagagai peak 4,321meters
and Masaba summit 4,152meters.

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

Overview;

3 DAY TREK TO WAGAGAI PEAK at 4,321metres, MASABA SUMMIT 4,152 metres (two peaks plus climbing and crossing the Masaba Table at 4,020 metres which is a long flat topped rock rising above the alpine moorland and measures 700 metres long by 200 meters wide with 80 to 100 metre high cliffs all around via the new Sasa Trail and the newly constructed Masaba Camp.

The best option is to have a pre-night stay in Mbale town or at Rostows Hotel in Sironko. It is 52km from Mbale town to Budadiri Uganda Wildlife Authority office, taking approximately one hour drive from Mbale town. To get an early start be at UWA offices at 8:00am. The trek starts just above Bugiboni Village at Elgon Trekking Services basecamp.

3 DAYS to Wagagai peak at $350 trekking fees plus $35 per night, National Park fees. TOTAL $420

Inclusive of: Guides, Porters, Meals & accommodation whilst the trek.

Exclusive of: Transport to and from the starting point, Accommodation before and after the trek, Insurance and tips

Brief itinerary:

Day 1. At the basecamp 1,720m, Hike to Masaba Camp 3,745metres.

Day 2. Hike to Mude camp/Sasa River Camp 2,880 meters.

Day 3. Descend down to the basecamp

Day 1. Hike to Masaba Camp at 3,745meters.

Day 1 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 past Lusag 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 an 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 stop for lunch before continuing another 7km with a steady climb through the montane forest with open areas of bamboo which is now regenerating after heavy exploitation from the community for bamboo shoots, building materials and stakes for crops and the Giant Heather Zone where there are two species of heather. One simular to the Giant Heather species found in the Rwenzori Mountains in Western Uganda and the other from Mt Kenya. Masaba Camp is set in a small valley next to a high rock where you climb to get access to network and send messages on Whatsapp.

Overnight stay at: Masaba camp 3,745meters.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 2. Summit Wagagai Peak at 4,621m, descend down and hike to Mude camp or Sasa River Camp at 2,880 metres.

From Masaba Camp you have a steady climb up to the top of Masaba Table which is a large rock 700m by200m standing 80 metres above the surrounding land and which you walk the full length where you climbdown and from here the trail passes close to the base of Masaba Summit 4,152m where you have the optionto climb the summit before continuing along the rim of the caldera to Wagagai Peak at 4,321m After a shortrest at Wagagai you descend to Sasa River Camp @ 2,880m via Mude Camp 3,472m for the night or, you maywish to stay in Mude Camp and walk down the next day. This gives you the chance to visit Dirigana Falls asyou descend.

Overnight stay at: Sasa River Camp 2,880m.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3. Descend down to the basecamp 1,720m.

You descend down through the forest to Base Camp through the montane forest to meet the upwards trail just above the waterfalls and down through the community to finish your trek. Most people reach Base Camp by 12 noon if they sleep in Sasa River Camp or 3pm if you sleep in Mude Camp.

Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Please Note:
In accordance with the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) recommendations on altitude gain and the risk of high altitude sickness and severe headaches and nausea we do not recommend three day treks to Wagagai Peak at 4,321 meters above sea level. Some operators do sell three day treks however many people experience high altitude sickness and some become very ill and weak. The altitude in Mbale, Budadiri or Sironko is around 1,156 metres. A three day trek would means you would have to skip the first camp which would be an altitude gain of around 2,400 metres (2.4km height gain), three times the internationally recognized limit for altitude gain in one day. Altitude does not recognize fitness; it is your body that needs time to adjust to altitude, less atmospheric pressure and less oxygen. If you rush and do not acclimatize correctly then it may have consequences of altitude sickness, with severe headaches, difficult breathing, nausea and even death. It is also tough for porters to climb directly to higher camps with food and luggage in one day and put their lives and wellbeing at risk. We recommend a minimum of a four day trek as it would be irresponsible for us to recommend a three day trek to Wagagai Peak. The choice is yours, go slower and enjoy or take the risk.