Arrived in Uganda

Yesterday we traveled from Kenya to Uganda.  We were very excited and happy after a long bumpy ride to arrive in Mbale.  We were looking forward to climbing Mt. Elgon, but today we went to the Park Headquarters and found some disturbing info.  The price had nearly doubled over the year.  It is now $90 US per person per day, which covers $25 per person per day entry fee, a ranger guide, and hiking experience.  A ranger guide and "hiking experience," whatever that is, cost $65 per person per day.  We requested no guide and said we already had hiking experience, but the guy in the office could not be persuaded.  We told him there was no way we could afford nearly $1000 total for the 4-5 days it would require for us to climb up and down the routes we had researched.  We also asked if we could talk with someone about lowering the cost or volunteering to lower the cost.  We have to write to someone and by the time all that goes through it's bound to be a couple weeks we imagine.  Oh well.  We may have to go back to Kenya to climb it or make other plans.  Elgon was supposed to be one of the more inexpensive treks in Uganda and now we may have to just travel through Uganda and go to Rwanda and see some gorillas.  Time will tell.