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Mount Elgon National Park lies on the Uganda - Kenya boarder
east of the town of Mbale. The park size covers 1,145 square
kilometres. The park is named the mountain of the same name
which is the 8th highest mountains in Africa at 4,321m, with
the largest base of any extinct volcano in the world.
This volcano is estimated to have first erupted more than
20 million years ago and it is thought to have remained active
for another 14 million years. The tallest peak is on the Ugandan
side of the border is called Wagagai peak (4,321m). The other
three peaks on the Kenyan side are Sudek (4,302m), Kuitobos
(4,222m), Mubiyi (4,211m), with Masaba (4,161m) in Uganda.
The
first European to reach the mountains lower slopes was Joseph
Thompson who observed it from the direction of Masai land
in 1883 and named it the Mount Elgon. Elgon is an important
watershed and its slopes support a rich variety of attitudinal
vegetation raging from montane forest to high open moorland
studded with the other worldly Giant lobelia and Groundsel
plants.
Vegetation
and wildlife
The park’s vegetation is characterized by tall afromontane
forest, below 2500m and low canopy montane forest and bamboo
between 2500m and 3000m.
Other attractions are the ancient paintings close to the
hiking trail head at Budadiri, and spectacular caves and
hot springs within the crater. A variety of forest monkeys,
small antelope, elephant, buffalo and sitatunga have found
a home on the mountain. The mountain also supports a rich
variety of forest birds like Jackson francolin, Green tinker
bird, Alpine chat, and Red throated wryneck among others.
When
to hike
June - August and from December - March are the best seasons
when its dry.
Where to stay
Many visitors stay in Mbale prior to trekking on the mountain
at either:
Mbale Resort - Upmarket
Sunrise Inn – Mid Range
Mount Elgon Hotel – Upmarket
Landmark Inn – Budget
Sipi
Falls
This series of waterfalls commands some amazing views over
the surrounding countryside. Many of the falls can be accessed
by foot as well as viewed from a far. There are several
accommodation venues at Sipi that dominate the view of the
main falls.
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