Mount Elgon National Park
Mountain Elgon National Park is one of Uganda's interesting parks for Mountain climbing or Mountaineering. It is a massive solitary volcanic mountain on the border of eastern Uganda and western Kenya. Mount Elgon has been a regional landmark for a long time: this extinct volcano is one of Uganda's oldest physical features. The mountain is a highly important water catchment area and this is because It’s forests receives up to 3000mm of rain each year, which they store and release to support flora, fauna with in the park and to the surrounding population. A climb on Mount Elgon is to explore a magnificent and uncluttered montane wilderness without the summit-oriented approach common to higher regional mountains.
Mount Elgon in Uganda receives far fewer visitors than other higher and more famous mountains in East Africa. However as routes on Mts. Kilimanjaro and Kenya become increasingly crowded and degraded, hikers start to appreciate Mount Elgon's deserted moorlands.
The park is governed by the Kenya wildlife service on the Kenyan side, Uganda wildlife Authority on the Ugandan side.
Location; It is located in Mbale district in Uganda. The Park is located on the border of Kenya and Uganda. Mount Elgon is an important water catchment area for the Nzoia River which flows to Lake Victoria and for the Turkwel River which flows into Lake Turkana in Kenya.
Size; The park is gazzeted on a surface area of 1,154 sq. km on the Ugandan side and 169km on the Kenyan part and this implies that the biggest portion of the Park is in Uganda. The park in Uganda was gazzetted in 1992 and that of Kenya was gazzetted in 1968.
Tourism activities
Hiking/Mountaineering/Mount climbing
This is the most tourist activity taking place in Mount Elgon National Park. Climbing Mt. Elgon is relatively easy as the mountain is not difficult to climb and there fore there are no specialized skills or equipment is required to access the peaks. Tourists are free to climb this mountain any time of the year though the dry months of June to August and December to March are the most preferred. However November/December when the highland flowers are in bloom is the best period.
The Park is a roadless wilderness and can only be explored on foot.
There are different trails which are followed by the hikers or climbers on Mount Elgon and they include the following;
- The Sasa trail. This trail takes 4 days and starts from Budadiri town which is the closest town to Mbale and is the most easily accessible. The trail provides the most direct route to the peaks of the Mountain. Always hikers or tourists who are Mountain Climbers battle with a stiff climb which is over 1,600m high on the first day. It crosses the park's largest area of bamboo forest and passes through lovely Jackson's Pool on the way to Wagagai Peak.
- The Piswa trail. This trail takes 7 days and it starts at Kapkwata, 30km away from Kapchorwa, it is a longer route, but starts at a higher altitude and follows a more gradual route to the caldera. It is good for the Podocarpus forest en route there is a prime habitat for wildlife viewing.
- The Sipi trail. This route also takes 7 days and it starts at the Forest Exploration Centre at Kapkwai which is a few kilometers away from the Sipi Falls which lies just outside the park. The trail visits the spectacular Tatum cave hidden within extensive forest.
- The Suam trail. This long and little used trail starts at the village of Suam on the Kenyan border crossing. It follows the Suam River through the steep and spectacular Suam Gorge to the hot springs on the eastern side of the caldera.
Other attractions
The Park has other attractions such as the Elephants and buffalo which are found on the lower slopes. The park is also home to a variety of small antelope and forest monkeys, such as the Black-and-white Colobus and Blue Monkey. It also has over 300 birds which can be found in the area.
In addition to the fauna and flora, the park has a variety of scenery; such as the cliffs, caves, waterfalls, gorges, mesas, calderas, hot springs, and the mountain peaks. The most popular areas are the four explorable, 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, Chepnyali, and Mackingeny caves can also be explored by the visitors.
Accommodation
- Accommodation in the park is offered at forest cottages at Kapkwai. There are four wooden Bandas, which are naturally air-conditioned, have warm and cold showers and fitted with lighting system.
- Accommodation facilities are also available at Suam and Kapkwata guesthouses and the Forest Exploration Center (dormitory style rooms) at Kapkwai. This conducts a four-day environment program for school groups, and allows participants to experience a living forest Eco-system while learning the importance of conservation.
Good hotels outside the park exist in Mbale town namely,
- Mount Elgon Hotel,
- Mbale Resort Hotel,
- Sunrise Inn
- Country home.
- Sipi Falls Resort
