Kapchorwa is one of only a handful of established high altitude training destinations in East Africa - a hotbed of endurance running talent.
Recognised as the running mecca of Uganda, it is a permanent home and training base to hundreds of elite endurance runners from Uganda and beyond. The presence of celebrated Ugandan Olympic and World champions such as Stephen Kiprotich and Joshua Cheptegei as well as rising star Jacob Kiplimo has given the region the title: ‘The Land of Champions’.
Kapchorwa is a simple farming town perched at 1800m altitude on the flanks of the extinct volcano Mount Elgon and offers stunning views over the plateau far below. Visitors are rewarded with fresh mountain air, challenging terrain rising to 2600m, minimal traffic and endless trails of the famous red dirt to run.
Due to it’s remote nature, the region is still relatively untouched by tourism. It’s only in recent years that tourists have ventured here to run, hike and cycle amongst the beautiful nature, passing through villages, banana plantations and farmland alongside the athletes who train morning and evening as they aspire to become champions themselves.
With the construction of a high-altitude elite training facility in Teryet at 2600 metres above sea level well on the way, the future is bright for the running community in Kapchorwa.
