Nkonkonjeru Ridge Mount Elgon National park– On your journey to Mountain Elgon national park, you will see the Wanale waterfalls. Wanale falls are also called “Nkonkonjeru” a Luganda word which translated as white cock in English. It was named after its whitish colour though it is usually changing to chocolaty brown mostly in the rainy seasons when the soils from the top of the hill get eroded by the river.

Climbing Wanale ridge is among the hidden gems of Uganda and it is a popular hike that will take you through to some new waterfalls that you cannot miss out on during your safari in Eastern parts of Uganda. These waterfalls are Nabuyonga and Namatyo.

Nkonkonjeru Ridge is different than other attractions in the forest and stretches outwards from the main massif of Mount Elgon. It stands at an elevation of 2,347m and covering 25kilomaters along the lava that runs out of the side of the volcano after the cone collapsed to block the main vent. Nkonkonjeru Ridge ends at the Wanale Cliffs which tower above Mbale Town. The seasonal Namatyo and Nabuyonga Waterfalls are found here. A trail at the Nkonkonjeru Ridge takes you through Khauka Cave and you will find petrified wood from here.

Nabuyonga trail takes about 5 kilometers, this trail will allow you to see flora and fauna, the Rocky Mountains in Karamoja region, Bisina and Salisbara plus Lake kyoga or you can also see Mbale town. Wagagai peak and some parts of western Kenya are seen.

Other interesting areas in Mount Elgon national park that one should not miss out on are;

The peaks and the caldera.

Mount Elgon has its highest peak that was formed due to high points around a jagged rim that enclose the calderas. These are 40km in the length and 8km in width. Wagagai is the highest peak which stands at 4,321m, Sudek is second with 4,303m followed by Koitobos which is 4,222m and the last one is Mubiyi which is 4,210m.

Caldera resulted from magma drainage in the chamber. It could not support the overlying volcanic cone and then later it collapsed into a depression-like shape. You will also find hot springs at the begging of Suam Gorge in the Eastern corner.

Jackson’s Pool and Jackson’s peak

Jackson’s pool is positioned at an elevation of 4,050m and is a natural pool with shallow waters. The pool is situated beside high Jackson’s peak of 4,165m.  , a free-standing volcanic plug rising from the western parts of the mountain. The feature was named after an explorer Jackson Frederick who climbed the mountain Elgon in 1889. The local people around use this peak as a place to communicate with their ancestors.

Caves

The slopes of Mountain Elgon have caves that are formed due to the moving magma and soil erosion of soft volcanic deposits.  You can easily access Kapkwai Cave which is near to Forest Exploration Centre and Khauka Cave which is found on Wanale Ridge. Years back these caves were homes of the local people with their livestock but later were used as manure inform of bat droppings.  Today the campsites are used by and climbers porters and are located at Hunters Cave which is near the hot springs, Mude Cave, and Tutum cave and they are good for sleepover expeditions.

Forest exploration Centre

Forest Exploration Centre at Kapkwai takes 13kilometres from the Sipi trading center. The Centre acts as an educational Centre for students and also an education Centre for the trailhead of hikers who use the Sipi trail to reach the Caldera. There are 3 circuits of 3-7km that will take you through the forest. From here tourists see escarpments, caves, waterfalls, and viewpoints. Also, primates and birds are seen.  Birds like African Hill Babbler, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Eastern Bronze-napped Pigeon, and Grey Cuckoo-Shrike. Lemon Dove, Dusky-Turtle Dove, Alpine Chat, Mountain Yellow Warbler Black-throated Wattle-eye and Thick-billed Honey guide and among others.

Compliment your hike to Mount Elgon Nkonkonjeru Ridge with 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 river Nile 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. Other destinations include Semuliki national park, Kibale forest, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo among others