Hiking Mount Elgon during the rainy season
Hiking Mount Elgon during the rainy season: Yes, it is possible to hike Mount Elgon in the rainy season though it’s not highly recommended. Mount Elgon is an extinct volcano in the eastern part of Uganda between the Uganda Kenya borders. The mountain is 4321 meters tall making it the second tallest mountain in Uganda.
Hiking is the most done activity on Mount Elgon and it does happen all throughout the year. The dry season is the best time to hike but tourists who hate crowded places and those who get time in the rainy season can still hike the mountain. The rainy season happens from March to May and October to November.
The rainy season in Mount Elgon national park where Mount Elgon is located comes with bad weather and climate. The days are characterized by little sunshine and plenty of rainfall which makes the hiking challenging. Well prepared hikers can conquer the mountain with some challenges and still get to the summit.
How is the hiking experience on Mount Elgon during the rainy season?
Hiking Mount Elgon during the rainy season might be challenging but hikers eventually get to the summit. The hiking activity starts in the morning with park authorities teaching the hikers the rules and regulations of the hiking activity. Later hikers are driven to the starting points of the hikers where they find armed ranger guides who are to lead them throughout the hike.
At the starting point of the hike, armed ranger guides give out hiking sticks to the hikers to help them while walking the slippery hiking trails. There are porters whose role is to help hikers on access luggage but they do it a small fee. Before the actual hiking starts, the armed ranger guides brief the hikers one more time about the rules and regulations of the hiking activity.
Hikers must follow the armed ranger guides and stay in the group all the time during the hiking. Hikers are asked to hike at their own pace so that they don’t get too tired and fail to make it to the summit. During the hike, hikers pass through different vegetation covers on the lower slopes which are home to different wildlife species and birds.
Hiking is a 7 to 8 hours activity done only during day and the hikers rest during the night. Food is served at specific levels on the mountain and the hikers are allowed to rest for some time and then continue with the hike. Since the hiking trails are muddy and slippery, the hikers move slowly and the time taken to reach the summit increases.
While climbing Mount Elgon in the rainy season, hikers will have views of the surrounding areas and other attractions but the view might not be as clear as that in the dry season for the skies are always dark and it rains most times of the day.
The hiking trails are muddy and slippery but the hikers will get to the summit of Mount Elgon and get to see the different attractions found there. They will see the largest caldera lake and hot springs if they move around the lake. The hikers still see areas that surround the mountain and many more attractions. Recording videos and taking pictures is allowed for future memories.
Is Mountain Elgon hiking difficult in the rainy season?
Hiking Mount Elgon in the rainy season is not as easy as it is during the dry season. The activity is more challenging in the rainy season with the hiking trails being muddy and slippery all the way to the summit. It’s the too much rainfall that makes the hiking trails muddy and slippery and the hikers have a difficult time while going through. Hikers are however given walking sticks to help them balance while moving through the slippery trails.
What to pack for Mount Elgon hiking during the rainy season
During the rainy seasons, hikers should know that there is plenty of rainfall with Mount Elgon national park and therefore they need to come well prepared for the activity. The hiking gear includes waterproof hiking shoes, long-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved pants, a sleeping bag, a backpack, cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, sunglasses, gardening gloves, a torch, headlamp, insect repellent, sunscreen, a camera, a pair of binoculars, drinking water bottle, and energy giving snacks to mention but a few.
