Mount Elgon National Park Kenya
Mount Elgon National Park Kenya – Mountain hiking trips in Kenya Africa
Mount Elgon National park Kenya – “Untamed Wilderness, Secluded Splendour” High in the mist-wreathed hills of western Kenya is a towering volcanic giant, crowned by a vast caldera etched by glacial tarns, honeycombed by labyrinthine caves, fissured by valleys and cascaded by streams. Visitors can explore the forest, see the elephant caves and also enjoy biking, hiking, and rock on the eighth highest mountain in Africa, Mount Elgon.
General park information.
Mount Elgon National Park is unique in a number of ways, from Elephant salt licks to been bisected by the international boundary between Kenya and Uganda. Mount Elgon offers untamed wilderness, in secluded splendour. The park is unique in that it is split by the Kenya Uganda boundary, and is managed by the parks departments of the individual countries. It has been declared a UNESCO Man & Biosphere Reserve. Visitors can explore the forest and enjoy hiking, biking and climbing Mount Elgon.
Hiking and walking is one of the highlights of a visit to Mount Elgon, although the vehicle routes lead to animal viewing areas and to some of the caves. Along the routes there are spectacular views of the escarpments, gorges and rivers.
Self-guided walking trails are popular and the routes lead to the caves that can be explored including Kitum. Besides the cave exploration other activities include birding and primate viewing.
The Mountain has a number of large caves that can be explored by visitors but one of the more fascinating aspects of the caves is the Elephant, and Buffalo, that walk to the caves at night to lick the salt from the walls. They do this as a nutritional supplement.
One of the caves, Kitum, stretches almost 200 meters into Mount Elgon and it is believed that the salt-licking Elephants and other animals have contributed over time in the expansion of the caves. Rock paintings can be found in one of the caves.
The area is also home to over 300 bird species including the endangered Lammergeier, African Goshawk and Baglafecht Weaver.
Kenya’s Nobel Prize winner Wangari Mathaai has an endangered dragonfly that was discovered on Mount Elgon in 2000 named after her, Maathai’s Longleg . Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan activist and conservationist who founded of the Greenbelt Movement. The aim of the movement is to link the importance of conserving natural resources, including forests with poverty alleviation.
Birds of Mount Elgon National Park.
The park boasts over 240 bird species. Three of the eight Kenya Mountains Endemic Bird Area species, five of the thirteen species of the Sudan-Guinea biome species, 19 of the 43 Guinea-Congo Forests biome species, 47 of the 70 species of the Afrotropical biome, and a number of the Sudan-Guinea Savannah biome species that occur in Kenya have been recorded here. The park also favours one globally threatened species- Sharpe’s longclaw along with some regionally threatened and range-restricted species; Gypaetus barbatus, Stephanoaetus coronatus, Francolinus streptophorus, Sarothrura affinis, Bubo capensis, Glaucidium tephronotum, Indicator conirostris, Phyllastrephus baumanni, Kakamega poliothorax, Sheppardia polioptera, Campephaga quiscalina and Cisticola hunteri, Francolinus jacksoni respectively.
Wildlife of Mount Elgon Nation park.
Besides the Elephants and Buffalo found on the lower slopes the park is also home to a number of small antelope and monkeys including the Black-and-white Colobus and Blue Monkey.
How to Get to Mount Elgon National Park.?
By Road: One route leads from Kitale town, while there are two options leading from Eldoret. Both lead by murram (dirt) road to Mt.Elgon Lodge and Chorlim gate. Chorlim gate is the main gate which also leads to the park headquarters
By Air: Visitors can fly to the Eldoret airport (70 KM away) or the airstrip within the park. Please contact the warden for airstrip details. Kitale airstrip, located 10km outside Kitale town on the main Kitale-Bungoma road, is 30 km from the park.
Where to Stay in Mount Elgon National park.
-Woodland resort kitale.
-Crane Hotel.
-At’ Ease Guest house.
-Le voyage resort.
Best time to visit Mount Elgon National Park.
The best time to climb Mount Elgon is during the dry seasons between June-August and December-March. However, it should be noted that climbing Mt. Elgon can be done all year round.