MT. ELGON NATIONAL PARK
INTRODUCTION.
Mt. Elgon is Kenya's second highest mountain. It is located on the border of eastern Uganda and western Kenya. It is an ancient eroded volcano with a huge caldera and, on its summit, the amazing flat topped basalt column known as Koitobos. Another unique feature of the mountain is the lava tube caves, some over 60m wide and frequented by elephants and other animals digging for salts. The mountain soils are red laterite. Mt Elgon is an important water catchment for the Nzoia River which flows into Lake Victoria and for the Turkwel River which flows into Lake Turkana.
Mt Elgon National Park was gazetted in 1968 and covers a narrow transect up the North Eastern slopes of the mountain, from lower montane forest to the caldera edge. The remaining forest and moor land is part of the Mt Elgon Forest Reserve. The Ugandan side of the mountain is protected within Uganda's Mt Elgon National Park.
The botanical diversity of the park includes giant Podocarpus, juniper and Elgon olive trees cedar Juniperus procera, pillar wood Cassipourea malosana, elder Sambucus adnata, pure stands of Podocarpus gracilior and many orchids.
Climate
The climate is moist to moderate dry. Annual rainfall is over 1,270mm.
HOW TO GET THERE
Roads:
Mt. Elgon is located 470 kms from Nairobi and lies 235km east of Kampala. Access is via tarmac road to Kitale and then to the Chorlim Gate. Two routes to the gate can be used, either via Endebess or take the tarmac road 11km past Kitale and turn left onto a murrum road leading to the gate. Another route is the tarmac road that runs through Jinja to Mbale town at the western base of Mount Elgon, before climbing to Kapchorwa and Budadiri.
Airstrips:
Found at the Park Headquarters.
Park Roads:
Adequate road network.
Park Gates:
There are four park gates i.e. Chorlim main gate, Kassawai, Kiptogot and Kimothon.
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Together with the fauna and flora, the park is gifted with variety and amazing scenery of cliffs, caves, waterfalls, gorges, mesas, calderas, hot springs, and the mountain peaks.
The most popular areas are the vast caves where frequent night visitors such as elephants and buffaloes come to lick the natural salt found on the cave walls. Kitum cave, with overhanging crystalline walls, enters 200 m into the side of Mt. Elgon.
Mountain Elgon NP
The vegetation cover of Mt Elgon depends on the altitude. The slopes of the mountain are covered with olive Olea hochstetteri and Aningueria adolfi-friedericii wet montane forest. At higher altitudes, this changes to olive and Podocarpus gracilior forest, and then a Podocarpus and bamboo Arundinaria alpina zone. Higher still is a Hagenia abyssinica zone and then moor land with heaths Erica arborea and Philippia trimera, tussock grasses such as Agrostis gracilifolia and Festuca pilgeri, herbs such as Alchemilla, Helichrysum, Lobelia, and the giant groundsels Senecio barbatipes and Senecio elgonensis.
The breathtaking natural beauty of the park can be best appreciated from the Endebess Bluff where one gets a panoramic view of the areas' escarpments, gorges, mesas, and rivers.
The highest peak of Mt. Elgon on the Kenya side, Koitoboss, measures 13,852 ft (4,155 m), and is easily reached by hikers in about two hours from the road's end.
FACILITIES
Bandas:
Kapkuro Banda
Campsites:
Public campsites: Rongai Campsite; Nyati Campsite; Chorlim Campsite.
Special campsites: Salt lick Campsite.
Lodges:
Mt. Elgon Lodge situated 0.5 km outside the park gate.
Picnic Sites:
There is one picnic site at the Elephant platform.
Nature Trails:
The park has three short nature trails to Kiptum cave, Makingeny cave and the Elephant Bluff.
TOURIST ACTIVITIES INCLUDE
Game drives.
Self guided walks.
Hiking.
Primate and bird watching
Cave explorations
Camping Photography
Information about Trekking Stages
Sasa Trail:
1st Stage: Budadiri - Sasa River Camp 10.5km by way of the village of Bumasola and Mudange Cliffs.
2nd Stage: Sasa River camp - Mude Cave 5km via Sasa Patrol hut.
3rd Stage: Mude Cave - Wagagai Summit - Mude Cave 18km
4th Stage: Return to Sasa River Camp 5km. Time permitting before leaving Mude Cave a side trek exists to Jackson Summit 8km return.
5th Stage: Sasa River Camp - Budadiri 10,5km
Sasa Trail combined with Piswa Trail
1st Stage: Kapkata - Piswa Patrol Hut Camp 11km
2nd Stage: Piswa Patrol Hut Camp - Hunters Cave Camp 18km
3rd Stage: Hunters Cave Camp - Mude Cave Camp 11km, side track to Hot Springs Hot Springs 3km.
4th Stage: Maude Cave - Wagagai Summit - Mude Cave Camp 18km
5th Stage: Mude Cave - Sasa River Camp 5km
6th Stage: Sasa River Camp - Budadiri 10,5km
Sasa Trail combined with - Sipi Trail
This is route has been created and it’s still new the most popular alternative is trekking from Budadiri to Wagagai Peak to Sipi Falls. It is possible to do the trail in the reverse direction. The route follows the Sasa Trail path via Maude Cave to Wagagai summit descending on the Sipi Trail to Sipi Falls by way of Kajeri Peak and the Forest Exploration Centre.
One doing a Sasa-Piswa Trail or Sasa-Sipi Trail combination is expected to pay for the transport of his or her porters and guide back to Budadiri or Kapkwata depending on which direction you make the traverse. In case you live your vehicle at the starting point you will get yourself back to the start point. inquire>>>