Uganda offers various hiking destinations and sites for both veteran hikers and the day hikers. Some sites are is a great haven for family hiking where you can bring your children and younger members of the family without having to worry about the dangers that might await you in other more rugged terrains.
There is so much with hiking in Uganda that it is fairly difficult to begin mentioning a great spot. So we have narrowed down your search into the best day hiking spots in Uganda. Here are brief descriptions of what you might see in each site:
Mount Elgon
Mount Elgon is located in the Eastern Uganda in the borders of Uganda and Kenya, Mt Elgon is yet another interesting mountain to hike. The mountain stands at 4321m above sea level and is the 8th highest peak in Africa yet the 4th highest in East Africa. The hike to the top of this mountain “wagagai” takes about 4 days but day hikes through the forests on the lower slopes of the mountain can be arranged.
During a hike in the Elgon Mountains is a home to a variety of animals such as Elephants, forest monkeys, Buffaloes and other small antelopes among others. An encounter with these animals is an added advantage for the hikers.
Mount Rwenzori
Also known as the “Mountains of the moon”, the Rwenzori is the highest peak in Uganda and the third highest in the whole world. Mount Rwenzori is situated in Kasese district on the borders of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hiking to the summit of mount Rwenzori is a long trek which last for roughly 8 days to reach Margherita the highest peak standing at an altitude of 5,109 meters above the sea level. The hike top the top of the Rwenzori takes about 7-8 days. Day hikes through the forests on the lower slopes of the mountains and on the hills around the mountains can be organized, these hikes have a lot to offer to hikers from the scenery to animals and plants and trees.
Various ranges have been formed which together form the Rwenzori chain of mountains. At the base of the mountain is Mount Rwenzori national park covered with tropical rain forests and a home to various animals.
Sipi Falls
Sipi falls are located in Kapchorwa district Eastern Uganda just in the foothills of Mount Elgon, Sipi falls is worth hiking. The fall is a composition of three stunning waterfalls, which originate from the hot springs at the summit of Mount Elgon in the border of Uganda and Kenya. Sipi falls fall roughly 85 meters over the cliff continuing with its course through farmlands and local communities over small rocks to form rapids. The second waterfall is formed after the first fall plunges 65 meters over a big cliff forming a natural shower.
Mount Muhabura
Mont Muhabura’s highest peak stands at 4,127 meters above sea level, which take roughly 5 hours to reach the summit. Also known as mount Muhabura translated as “guide” in Kinyarwanda, is the third highest volcano after karisimbi in Rwanda and Mikeno in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Virunga range. At the summit is a crater lake surrounded by a swamp rewarding you with spectacular views of adjacent karisimbi and Mikeno volcanoes.
Mount Sabyinyo
Mount Sabinyo is shared in the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Much as the three countries share it, Mount Sabyinyo is best hiked from Uganda. The rugged terrain and the many crater lakes on the sides of Rwanda and Congo make it difficulty to hike in these countries. The volcano has three peaks one in Uganda and the other two in Rwanda and DR Congo respectively but hiking to the summit is difficult. The name Sabyinyo is a Kinyarwanda word translated as “old man’s teeth” due to the shape of the peak in form of three spaced teeth of an old man. The slopes of the mountain are covered in the alpine forest a home to famous golden monkeys providing travelers with a chance to see these endangered species and other wildlife that inhabit there.
A day hike is not necessarily a strenuous hike towards a mountain summit, it merely means hiking for moderate hikers and beginners.
