Mount Elgon is an extinct volcano and one of Uganda’s oldest geological formations, with its first eruption occurring around 24 million years ago. At one point in history, it was Africa’s tallest mountain, standing even higher than Kilimanjaro’s 5,895m. However, millions of years of erosion have gradually reduced its height to 4,321m, ranking it as the 4th highest peak in East Africa and the 8th highest on the continent.
A Mountain of Cultural Significance
Mount Elgon is home to the Bagisu and Sabiny tribes, while the Ndorobo community has historically lived in the forests of Benet. To the Bagisu (BaMasaba), the mountain represents their ancestral father, Masaba, and they continue to honor this heritage by referring to the mountain by his name.
The Bagisu circumcision ritual (Imbalu), one of the region’s most significant cultural traditions, is directly tied to the mountain. This public initiation ceremony, held every even-numbered year, marks a young man’s transition into adulthood and attracts visitors from across the country.
