Mountain biking in Mount Elgon national park
Mountain biking in Mount Elgon national park: In 2012 Uganda Wildlife Authority introduced mountain biking in Mount Elgon national park. Biking around the national park is a very exciting and adventurous activity that enables tourists to explore the different attractions within the region. The activity takes bikers through diverse landscapes including the moorland, lush montane forest, and the mixed bamboo zone.
The biking experience in Mount Elgon national park
The biking exercise in Mount Elgon national park does start with a briefing from the park rangers who teach the rules and regulations of the activity. After the briefing, the bikers choose a trail to use because some are easy while others are difficult. The 1 to 2-hour activity starts from Sipi Trading Center all the way to Chema Hill and back to Sipi.
The biking trails take tourists through different areas of the park where they meet some of the attractions recorded there. Bikers pass through different vegetation covers which are homes to different mammals, primates, and birds. The bikers also pass through different villages where they meet local people.
For tourists to have a successful biking experience, they must have the biking skills and a certain level of fitness. When starting the activity, the bikers are asked to choose the biking trail they can manage because some are easy while others are hard. While biking, you can stop and relax if you get tired and later continue biking.
What to pack for biking in Mount Elgon national park?
For safety during biking in Mount Elgon national park, you need to pack the right equipment. What to pack includes a helmet, water bottle, riding shorts, cotton stocks, riding gloves, a rain jacket, insect repellent, sunscreen, a light backpack, a camera, and a pair of binoculars to mention but a few.
How much is biking in Mount Elgon national park?
For any tourist to carry out biking they need to pay a fee to the Uganda Wildlife Authority. This fee can be paid at the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices in Kampala or it can be paid at the park headquarters. Mount Elgon biking costs $100 for foreign non-residents, $80 for foreign residents, and UGX50,000 citizens of East Africa member states.
Renting the bikes
While on a safari to Mount Elgon national park and you want to be part of the biking experience but you don’t have a bike, you have so many places to get one. Bikes can be hired from the lodges where you stay for example Sipi River Lodge, Rafiki Lodge, and Sipi Heritage Lodge to mention but a few. Good tour operators make it easy for their guests by hiring the bikes in advance.
Which other national parks in Uganda have biking tours
Mount Elgon national park has mountain biking tours but there are other national parks with biking tours. Biking on a safari in Uganda does take place in other national parks such as Lake Mburo national park, Queen Elizabeth national park and Murchison falls national park.
Apart from biking, there are so many activities arranged within Mount Elgon national park to enable travelers to explore the region. Activities in the park include hiking, rock climbing, bird watching, nature walks, and community tours among others. Biking activities can always be combined with some of the park activities to make the safari more interesting.
When to do biking tours in Mount Elgon national park?
Biking in Mount Elgon national park can take place at any time of the year but the dry season is the best period. June to September and December to February when the national park is receiving little rainfall and plenty of sunshine are the best time to carry out biking.
The biking routes are dry and easier to ride through during the times when the park is receiving little rainfall. The vegetation along the biking trails is dry and passable which enables tourists to have a clear view of different attractions along the way. Tourists can still carry out biking in the rainy season but trails will be muddy and slippery.
