Your Professional Trekking Services
A passion for mountains, communities, and the quiet magic of Mt Elgon.
The Founder
John Hunwick
Founder & Managing Director
Elgon Trekking Services
Elgon Trekking Services was founded by John Hunwick, who first visited and climbed Mt Elgon in 1993 and was immediately inspired by its stunning forests, open high-altitude moorlands, vast caldera, hidden caves, and rich cultural heritage.
With deep roots in the Australian bush and a love of Uganda's amazing wilderness, we created this service to share the mountain's quiet magic with the world. Our mission is simple: offer authentic, safe, and sustainable treks that uplift our communities and protect the natural beauty we call home. Every step taken with us supports local guides, porters, and conservation efforts.
Mt Elgon isn't just a destination — it's where our story begins.
Authentic, safe, and sustainable treks that uplift local communities and protect the natural beauty we call home. Every step supports local guides, porters, and conservation efforts.
Our MissionJohn Hunwick — Managing Director and founder — brings many years' experience in tourism, travel, and wilderness guiding. At 15 he climbed his first mountain: the east face of Mt Barney in Queensland, Australia. He has since climbed many more peaks and travelled widely, developing a lifelong passion for nature and the wilderness.
Even at 76, John is often on the mountain himself — sometimes for weeks at a time — driven by his desire to conserve nature, protect wildlife, and empower Ugandans to manage and steward these trails long into the future.
Our Background
We are a Ugandan company with over 30 years in tourism and 12 years of specialised mountaineering experience, including a concession to develop the Kilembe Trail in the Rwenzori Mountains, Western Uganda.
Our journey in Uganda began in August 1993, taking tourists to every corner of the country — from gorilla trekking in the south-west to Murchison Falls and Kidepo. It is this breadth of experience that helped us win the concession for the Kilembe Trail, where we became the top trekking company focused on professional guides and exceptional service.
Over the years we have hosted several international mountaineering instructors to train our guides in rock climbing, rescue techniques, flora and fauna identification, meal preparation, customer service, and first aid. That expertise is now fully transferred to Elgon Trekking Services (U) Ltd.
Operating across Uganda since 1993, from mountain gorillas to remote savannah — we know this country and its wilderness intimately.
Holders of the Kilembe Trail concession in the Rwenzori Mountains — the top trekking operator on that range, with a decade-plus record of safety and service.
International mountaineering instructors have trained our guides in rescue, rock climbing, wildlife ID, first aid, and customer service — skills now deployed on Elgon.
We are constructing new huts and infrastructure on Mt Elgon and developing a new loop trail opening areas never before accessible to trekkers.
