Mount Elgon is not only waterfalls and open ridgelines.
Tucked into cliffs, forest belts and highland villages, you’ll find caves that shaped the region’s history — as shelters, cattle hideouts, ritual sites and salt mines.
Some are reached by short village walks. Others require a full-day mountain effort.
Here are seven caves on the Ugandan side of Mount Elgon that combine hiking, landscape and local history.
1) Kaptuuch Caves – Tumbaboi, Kapchorwa District
Distance: +/- 25 km full-day hike (or shorter assisted option)
Terrain: Remote ridges & cattle grazing land
In the quiet hills of Tumbaboi lies a series of four caves known locally as Kaptuuch — “home of cows.”
The hike here is long and raw. You pass grazing slopes, isolated homesteads and wide valley views before reaching the caves.
Some men still live here seasonally with their cattle. Inside, the cave floors show layers of dried cow dung — a reminder that these are not museum sites but lived spaces.
This hike is less about performance and more about immersion in remote highland life.
Options:
Full 25 km hiking circuit
Half-day assisted version with vehicle drop-off
👉 Read more about the Kapchorwa Wilderness Hike that leads you to the Kaptuuch caves.
Views from the first Kaptuuch cave with layers of cow dung on the cave floor
2) The Cave Complex – Barawa Village, Kapchorwa
Distance: 10-minute walk from Home of Friends
Terrain: Easy village path
This accessible cave near Barawa village is often combined with the Kapchorwa Nature Walk.
Semu and his family grew up using this cave as refuge during times of cattle raids. Today, the cave is easily reachable and offers a gentle introduction to Elgon’s cave landscape.
This is ideal if you:
Have limited time
Want a short cultural stop
Prefer minimal hiking
👉 Learn more about the Cave Complex and museum!
Semu giving cultural backgrounds to a guest
3) Mukuuso Cave – Kitowoi Parish, Kween District
Distance: Moderate-to-challenging hike (Mosopisiek Trail)
Elevation: Highland belt
Mukuuso is the largest cave in the Kween highlands.
Reaching it involves a steady climb through farms and open slopes. The entrance is dramatic — wide and dark — and exploring inside requires a torch.
The cave is part of the Mosopisiek Trail, making it ideal for travellers who want to combine hiking with deeper exploration of the highlands.
Terrain here is more rugged, and weather can shift quickly. Good shoes are essential.
👉 Discover the Mosopisiek Trail.
Native guide David in front of Mukuuso cave
4) Yatui Cave – Sabu Village, Kween
Distance: Moderate hike
Terrain: Remote village paths
Yatui sits higher in the Mosopisiek area, reached through farmland and scattered settlements.
The hike offers open valley views toward the Karamoja plains. It’s a quieter, less-visited cave, often included as part of multi-day highland routes.
If you’re looking for:
Fewer visitors
Remote scenery
A longer walking day
Yatui is a rewarding detour.
5) Mise Cave – Near Sipi Falls
Distance: Short walk from road
Terrain: Easy access
Mise Cave is one of the most accessible caves near the Sipi Falls area.
Its mineral-rich rock walls once attracted cattle herders seeking salt deposits. Today, it’s a calm stop during a Sipi Falls visit.
This is a good addition if you’re:
Combining waterfalls with short cave visits
Not looking for strenuous hiking
Visits can be arranged locally near the falls.
6) Tutum Cave – Mount Elgon National Park
Distance: 11 km from Kapkwai Exploration Centre
Terrain: Forest trail inside the National Park
Tutum Cave lies inside Mount Elgon National Park and requires a proper forest hike.
The trail passes through montane forest, bamboo zones and bird-rich clearings. Wildlife signs are common, and the air feels cooler as you gain altitude.
Tutum can be visited:
On a long Kapkwai day hike
As part of the multi-day Sipi Trail to the peaks
This is one of the most scenic cave hikes in the region.
Our operations manager Eliza in Tutum cave as part of her Kapkwai nature walk
7) Sangura Cave – Bukwo District
Distance: Moderate scenic walk
Terrain: Open hills & village paths
Located near Bukwo, Sangura Cave sits in a dramatic landscape close to the Kenyan border.
The walk offers wide-open views and a sense of remoteness. Historically used to shelter livestock, today it’s peaceful and rarely crowded.
This cave fits well into a longer eastern Elgon exploration, especially if you’re already travelling toward Bukwo or Suam border.
Team Home of Friends discovering Sangura cave
How to Choose the Right Cave Hike
If you prefer:
Short & accessible
→ Cave Complex (Barawa) or Mise Cave
Moderate & scenic
→ Yatui or Sangura
Challenging & immersive
→ Kaptuuch or Mukuuso
Forest adventure inside the National Park
→ Tutum Cave
Mount Elgon’s caves are spread across districts — Kapchorwa, Kween and Bukwo — and each offers a different hiking character.
Planning Your Cave Exploration
Some caves are easy to reach independently.
Others require:
Local guide coordination
Village permissions
Multi-day planning
Proper hiking gear
If you’re staying with us, we’re happy to suggest which cave fits your time, fitness level and curiosity.
This blog is written by Daan Oxener, a Dutch social entrepreneur who is based in Kapchorwa since 2016. Daan manages Home of Friends Guesthouse, together with his wife Eliza. He is passionate about documenting Mount Elgon’s beautiful nature and remarkable culture. Daan is also engaged in Community & youth empowerment through adventure tourism.
