3 Day trek to Wagagai Peak @ 4,321m

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 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 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.

Day 3 From Masaba Camp you have a steady climb up to the top of Masaba Table which is a large rock 700m by 200m standing 80 metres above the surrounding land and which you walk the full length where you climb down and from here the trail passes close to the base of Masaba Summit 4,152m where you have the option to climb the summit before continuing along the rim of the caldera to Wagagai Peak at 4,321m After a short rest at Wagagai you descend to Sasa River Camp @ 2,880m via Mude Camp 3,472m for the night or, you may wish to stay in Mude Camp and walk down the next day. This gives you the chance to visit Dirigana Falls as you descend.

Day 4 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.

Note in line with UIAA health & safety recommendations we do not recommend 3 Day treks to Wagagai Peak as your body needs to acclimatise to reduce the risk of  headaches and possibility of High Altitude Sickness and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, however we are forced to accept to set aside international health and safety recommendations so as to be able to compete with UWA on other trails where they have been hiking to Wagagai Peak in 3 days for many years but where more that half of trekkers do experience headaches and sometimes vomiting due to ascending too fast and not acclimatizing. However this is your choice.

NOTE; You may ask, who are the UIAA.

The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) was founded in 1932 and as of its 2024 General Assembly, has a global presence on six continents representing 94 member associations and federations in 73 countries. The UIAA is supported by over 200 volunteers, promotes the growth and protection of mountaineering and climbing worldwide and fulfils its Mission Statement mainly through the work of its Commissions, which make recommendations, set policy and advocate on behalf of the international mountaineering community. The Medical Commission (MedCom) was founded during the 1981 UIAA General Assembly. Its history dates back to an earlier time when there were only a few doctors representing the largest mountaineering federations. The Commission has grown to include 19 delegated doctors from 15 different mountaineering federations, as well as 19 corresponding members from all over the world. UIAA Commissions are comprised of experts in their field and has been recognised by the International Olympic Committee since 1995 as the international federation representing mountaineering and climbing.  The UIAA is also very actice in addressing climate change.

It has been our goal for many years to register a Mountaineering Federation in Uganda and join UIAA however this goes under the matt by having to flaunt the recommended advisories of UIAA