This 3-Day Sasa Trail Trek to Wagagai Peak & Masaba Summit takes you to Wagagai Peak at 4,321m and Masaba Summit at 4,152m. Along the way you also cross Masaba Table at 4,020m, a flat rock that rises above the alpine moorland, stretching 700 metres long and 200 metres wide with cliffs of 80 to 100 metres around it. The route follows the new Sasa Trail and includes the newly built Masaba Camp.
It is best to spend the night before in Mbale town, but you can also stay at a lodge near Sipi Falls. From Mbale it is about 52 km to the Uganda Wildlife Authority office in Budadiri, which takes about one hour by car. To begin early, be at the UWA office by 8:00 am. Park entrance fees are $35 per day for foreign non-residents, $25 per day for foreign residents, and UGX 15,000 for East Africans. The trek begins just above Bugiboni Village at the base camp.
Brief Itinerary
- Day 1: From base camp at 1,720m, hike to Masaba Camp at 3,745m
- Day 2: Hike to Mude Camp or Sasa River Camp at 2,880m
- Day 3: Descend back to base camp
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Hike to Masaba Camp (3,745m)
The first day is a 7.1 km walk with an altitude gain of 1,162 metres, starting at 1,720m at the base camp above Bugiboni and climbing to Hunwick’s Camp at 2,882m. The trail passes through coffee, maize, potato, and onion gardens and continues past Lusag Kigoma Primary School.
You then walk to the park boundary below Nabunyifu Falls, a 61m waterfall whose name means “cold wind,” set between tall cliffs. Switchbacks in the trail make the climb easier and give wide views of the community and distant mountains. This is a newly opened section, now part of Mt Elgon National Park.
The trail climbs up the Dirigana Valley through montane forest with tall Podocarpus trees and thick vegetation, crossing the river at a shelter where you stop for lunch. Afterward, you climb to Mukoola Ridge and Hunwick’s Camp at 2,882m, then continue another 7 km through forest and bamboo zones, now recovering after heavy use by local communities. You also pass through the Giant Heather Zone, home to two species of heather, one similar to that of the Rwenzori Mountains and another from Mt Kenya. Masaba Camp sits in a small valley next to a high rock where you can climb up to get network for sending messages.
- Overnight stay: Masaba Camp (3,745m)
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 2: Hike to Mude Camp or Sasa River Camp (2,880m)
From Masaba Camp, the trail climbs steadily to the top of Masaba Table, a large flat rock measuring 700m by 200m and rising 80m above the surrounding land. You walk its full length before climbing down to reach the base of Masaba Summit at 4,152m. You can choose to climb to the summit before following the rim of the caldera to Wagagai Peak at 4,321m. After resting at Wagagai, you descend to Sasa River Camp at 2,880m, passing via Mude Camp at 3,472m. You can also choose to spend the night at Mude Camp and descend the next day, which allows you to visit Dirigana Falls on the way down.
- Overnight stay: Sasa River Camp (2,880m)
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: Descend back to Base Camp (1,720m)
On the last day, you descend through the forest along the original Sasa Trail. The path cuts across to the top of Dirigana Falls, passing through an area of giant tree ferns before continuing down to the Elgon Trekkers Base Camp at Bugiboni. Most people reach base camp by 12 noon if they spent the night at Sasa River Camp, or around 3 pm if they stayed at Mude Camp.
- Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch
Important Note
According to the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), fast altitude gain can cause serious health problems. A three-day trek to Wagagai Peak at 4,321m is not recommended. Some operators sell it, but many trekkers suffer high altitude sickness, with headaches, nausea, and difficulty breathing.
The altitude in Mbale, Budadiri, or Sironko is about 1,156m. A three-day trek would mean skipping the first camp and climbing directly with an altitude gain of around 2,400m in one day, which is three times the safe international limit. Fitness does not protect you from altitude sickness; the body needs time to adjust to less oxygen and lower pressure. Rushing the trek can risk your health, and it is also very demanding for porters carrying food and luggage.
For safety, we recommend a minimum of four days for the Wagagai Peak trek. Going slower allows proper acclimatization and a safer, more enjoyable climb.
