Are you looking to explore Mount Elgon Caldera in the eastern part of Uganda? Well, Mt Elgon is among the largest intact calderas in the entire world. The Caldera was made as a result of magma being drained after the chamber, and it cannot still manage to support the overlying volcanic cone, it collapsed into a depression-like shape. In the Eastern corner of the caldera, hot springs are found.  In the Northwest, Simu Gorge was formed by the sheer weight of the water in the caldera passing through 2 stream beds out of the weak volcanic ash and agglomerate walls.

The mountain is not only known as the largest surface area of an ancient extinct volcano in the world but also peppered with gorges, cliffs, caves, and waterfalls with the most famous being the romantic Sipi falls. The caldera takes approximately 40 square km at the top of the mountain. The mountain derived its name after the Elgeyo tribe, who were living around the huge caves on the south parts of the mountain. It was called “Ol Doinyo Ilgoon” which means breast Mountain by the Maasai of Kenya and as “Masaba” by the Ugandans.

Mountain Elgon has a huge caldera and when you reach the edge, and the interior caldera there is an amazing sight. It is lush green with lakes and hot springs, you can use the Piswa trail, and take you to the hot springs inside. You turn to the caldera edge and slowly gain elevation towards Wagagai summit with the interior to your left and a beautiful mountain range out to your right which includes a ridge that is the Kenyan border.

Reaching the peak mountain Elgon is an unforgettable moment and you can take a picture from there and also hang around for short while enjoying the area as it being quite windy and exposed. On the descending, the mountains look different mostly in the midday light and you have to be careful with your footing every step of the way.

 There are some testing short hikes along the way as you pass through in alpine landscape and into alpine forest up in an amazing rainforest that is around the Sasa River.

Where to stay on your visit to Mount Elgon caldera in Uganda.

There is various accommodation while at mountain Elgon national park where you can stay to complete your safari which includes; Moroto Bandas, Pian-Upe, Suam Guesthouse,  Wilderness Camp and guest house Kapkwai Bandas or other accommodation facilities outside the park are Sipi River Lodge, Masha hotel, and Sasa River Camp among others.

How to get to Mount Elgon National Park by road.

Visitors can access Mount Elgon National Park from Kampala city. The national park is about 235kilometers from Kampala City via road. you will have to drive for approximately 3-4 hours to get to the park. Those traveling from Mbale town will have to travel just 20kilometers to get to the national park.

Mount Elgon National Park is a place to be for any tourist traveling to the eastern part of Uganda. The national park offers wonderful and stunning views with ideal spots for visitors to take memorable pictures.

After visit mount Elgon caldera, you can go for a gorilla safari in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park of Uganda and explore more about these special primates. You can visit Murchison falls national park and take a boat cruise on the river Nile and Kazinga channel in queen Elizabeth national park where you will see various aquatic animals like hippos, crocodiles and many more or you can do a game drive and view many wildlife animals such as buffaloes, giraffes,  Uganda kob, hippos plus countless bird species.