Plan to do coffee tours around Mount Elgon? Mount Elgon, located on the border of Uganda and Kenya, is known for its fertile slopes that support the growth of Arabica coffee. This coffee is popular for its good taste and high quality. The Sabiny people often guide tourists on coffee tours around the area.
The tours usually include visits to coffee farms where tourists learn about the crop. Guided walks take them through the plantations while learning about the history of coffee, how seedlings are planted, and how ripe cherries are picked. Depending on the season, visitors may also take part in picking the cherries.
Tourists are shown how coffee is processed using traditional methods. This includes pulping, fermenting, washing, and drying the beans. The experience becomes more exciting when visitors join in and also roast and grind the beans manually with a mortar and pestle.
Another highlight is the coffee-tasting session, where tourists enjoy freshly brewed Arabica coffee. They also interact with local communities during coffee ceremonies, share stories, and sometimes visit homesteads to learn about cultural practices. Coffee is an important part of the lives of the Bagisu and Sebei people. Visitors may even witness cultural ceremonies like the Bagisu Imbalu (male circumcision) and enjoy dances such as the Kadodi.
Tourists can combine the coffee tour with other activities like hiking to Sipi Falls, visiting Tutum Cave, climbing mountain peaks, and spotting wildlife such as over 300 bird species and 12 animal species found in the park.
The best time for coffee tours is during the harvest season, which peaks in June and again from September to December. Visitors should pack well, including comfortable boots, a reusable water bottle, a camera with extra batteries, sunscreen, long-sleeved clothes, and insect repellent.
Coffee growing and coffee tours around Mount Elgon not only give tourists a memorable experience but also support the local communities and improve their livelihoods.
