Mount Elgon National Park is at the border of Uganda and Kenya and is 140 kilometres Northeast of Lake Victoria. The park is named after the extinct shield volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya. The national park is shared by the 2 countries; the Uganda part covers 1,119 square kilometres and the Kenya park covers 169 square kilometres. The Kenyan park was gazetted as a protected area in 1968 and the Uganda part in 1992.
Mountain Elgon is a crucial water catchment for River Nzoia which drains into Lake Victoria and River Suam which drains into Lake Turkana.
The climate around the area ranges from moderate dry to moist and receives an average annual rainfall of over 1,270 millimetres. The dry seasons run from June to August and from December to March, but since the area is hilly and covered with forests, rain can be expected even during the drier months.
The mountain slopes are covered with a variety of vegetation depending on the vegetation zone. About 400 plant and tree species have been recorded in the park. The slopes are covered with olive Olea hochstetteri and Aningueria adolfi-friedericii wet montane forest and then a Podocarpus and bamboo Arundinaria Alpina zone. Higher still is a Hagenia abyssinica zone and then moorland with heaths Erica arborea and Philippia trimera, tussock grasses such as Agrostis gracilifolia and Festuca pilgeri, herbs such as Helichrysum, Lobelia, and the giant groundsels and Senecio elgonensis.
The park is home to a variety of mammals like; elephant, buffalo, various antelope species, duiker, forest monkeys like black and white colobus monkeys, and blue monkey, red-tailed monkey among many others. The park is also a habitat for 144 bird species some of which include; Jackson’s francolin, eastern bronze-naped pigeon, Hartlaub’s turaco, Tacazze sunbird and the endangered Lammergeier among others.
While on a trip to Mount Elgon national park, there are various activities one can do within and outside the park.
Mount Elgon hike: This is the major activity done in the park. The hike to this great mountain unveils a magnificent and uncluttered wilderness without the summit-oriented approach common to many mountains: the ultimate goal on reaching the top of the Mt. Elgon is not the final ascent to the 4321m Wagagai Peak, but the descent into the vast 40km² caldera. There are various trails trekkers can follow as they hike to the top of the mountain. The trails take from 3-4 days and the top meets you with beautiful views of the Elgon vegetation-covered highlands and valleys.
Birding: With about 400 bird species living in the park, this is a great birding destination. Mostly the activity is done around Kapkwai Forest Exploration Centre. Some of the birds spotted include; African Goshawk, Chubb’s Cisticola, White-chinned Prinia, African Blue Fly-catcher, Chinspot Batis, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, Dohertys and Luhders Bush-shrikes, Baglafecht Weaver, Cinnamon Bee Eater, Moustached Tinkerbird, Hartloub’s Turaco, Tacazze Sunbird, Olive and Bronze-naped pigeons, Black Kite and Black-collared Apalis.
Rock climbing: This is done outside the park around Sipi area. There are 14 climbs requiring various levels of rock scaling techniques, and all equipment can be hired from the Sipi Falls Tourist Guides Association. The toughest is a 35m climb while the easiest is 15m. all levels offer beautiful views of the Karamoja plains.
Nature walks: There are various trails within the park that tourists follow as they learn about the park. A full-day nature hike leads from Budadiri to the Mudange cliffs, known as the Walls of Death, at the boundary of the national park. As you walk through the park various mammals living in the park like; blue monkeys, black-and-white colobus and baboons are likely to cross your tracks as well as different bird species.
Sipi falls hike: guides from Sipi local community organize walks of a few hours up to a full day, around local viewpoints. the trek to Sipi falls takes from 2-3 hours depending on the hiker’s fitness level. The hike offers beautiful views of the Sipi falls.
Visit Mount Elgon National Park now and enjoy the beauty eastern Uganda has to offer.
