Mt. Elgon National Park

Mount Elgon National Park is a unique transboundary protected area, straddling the border of Kenya and Uganda. The park’s core feature, Mount Elgon, is an ancient, extinct shield volcano estimated to be 24 million years old. With its vast, 4,000 square kilometer base, it is considered the oldest and largest solitary volcanic mountain in East Africa. The park itself, established in stages with the Kenyan side in 1968 and the Ugandan side in 1992, covers a total area of 1,279 square kilometers, with the larger portion located in Uganda.

The landscape is defined by dramatic elevation changes, ranging from about 1,750 meters to the mountain’s highest peak, Wagagai, at 4,321 meters. Its volcanic past has created a wealth of geological wonders, including one of the world’s largest intact calderas, cliffs, gorges, and hot springs that bubble up to 48°C in the crater. These highlands serve as a vital “water tower,” with their rivers feeding major lakes like Victoria and Turkana. As a result, UNESCO has designated it a Man and Biosphere Reserve, recognizing its crucial ecological role and unique biodiversity.

The park’s biodiversity is remarkable and changes with altitude, creating distinct vegetation zones from savannah woodlands at the base to lush montane forests, bamboo zones, and high-altitude moorlands dotted with giant groundsels and lobelias. This habitat supports diverse wildlife, including forest elephants, buffaloes, and primates like black-and-white colobus and blue monkeys. The park is also a noted haven for birdwatchers, with at least 144 species recorded, such as Jackson’s francolin and the endangered lammergeier (bearded vulture). One of its most unique attractions are the famous “salt caves,” like Kitum Cave, where elephants and other mammals venture deep inside to mine for salt in the volcanic rock.

For visitors, Mount Elgon offers a range of activities distinct from other East African parks. The park’s slopes are a major destination for hiking and trekking, with the journey to Wagagai Peak considered a more accessible and less-crowded alternative to climbing other regional peaks like Kilimanjaro. Other popular activities include exploring the Kitum Cave, viewing the three-tiered Sipi Falls, and enjoying panoramic vistas from spots like Endebess Bluff. The area is also rich in culture, being home to the Bagisu and Sabiny tribes, who have cultural traditions tied to the mountain.