Mountain Elgon National Park is situated in Eastern Uganda at the very end of country’s East and sits close to the border with Kenya. Its main attraction is Mountain Elgon from which the national park attained its name. In Uganda, it spans an area of 430 square miles, whereas in Kenya, it spans an area cover of 65 square miles.
It became officially gazetted as a national park in Uganda in 1992, and 1968 in Kenya. This national park sits in the northeast of Africa’s largest fresh water lake, Lake Victoria with a difference of just 87 miles apart. The Park’s climate is mixed with both moist and dry conditions depending on the season of the year.
What to see in Mountain Elgon National Park?
- Mountain Elgon.
This is one of Uganda’s major highlands and is an extinct shield volcano. It’s the second highest mountain in Uganda. This mountain has a strong cultural attachment to the Bagisu people who have lived along its slopes for many generations. They locally refer to it as Mountain “Masaba” which name was derived from their believed first man of the tribe named “Masaba” who lived on the mountain. Its highest point is at Wagagai peak at 4,321 meters in elevation. This mountain is readily available for hiking which is an interesting activity for tourists to look out for.
- World’s largest caldera.
Mountain Elgon has the world’s largest caldera and this covers an area of 4 miles. This caldera was formed hundreds of years ago as a result of volcanic eruption activities. It’s a beautiful place to explore.
- Wildlife.
The Mountain Elgon National Park is not without wildlife. These are majorly mammal species which are both ground species and tree climbing species. The commonest on the Mountain Elgon slopes within the park are the buffalos and elephants that are always visible as they feed on the green vegetation of the national park.
Duikers, hyenas, antelopes, and leopards are also present in commanding numbers. Among the tree climbers includes primates such as the red-tailed monkeys, colobus monkeys, and the blue monkeys. Other smaller mammals are equally present in the park.
- Flora.
The botanists also have a strong vegetation pool for their tourism. The vegetation on the Mountain Elgon slopes varies with changes in altitude. The very first vegetation on the earliest slopes is the montane forests due to the fertile soils and the moist conditions that sustain their growth. As a tourist progresses with altitude, they cross paths with moorlands which are made up of giant groundsel, lobelia, and heather vegetation.
It is therefore common for a tourist to come across olives, bamboo, Afrocarpus gracilior forests, and the Senecio elgonensis. Mountain Elgon has over 400 plant species readily available for exploration by the tourists.
- Bagisu culture.
Uganda has numerous tribes, and the Bugisu tribe is one of those beautiful ones there’s to explore. This tribe has for decades lived on the slopes of the mountain Elgon ranges. The Bugisu culture is beautiful to explore for tourists especially the “Imbalu” tradition. The tradition is composed of compulsory male circumcision in each even numbered year. All males of age, the young too sometimes, are subjected to this practice and it is seen as the only way a boy is ushered into adulthood, and until then, only can a male be regarded as a man.
The custom includes a dance known as the Imbalu dance which goes on for many days and nights before the set date for the circumcision of the male subject. Circumcision is done in public during day for everyone to witness the bravery of the male subject. There are other traditions to explore in the Bugisu culture such as the traditional dressing, marriage practices, the Bugisu beautiful language, the traditional dish of “Malewa,” among many more.
- Bird life.
Mountain Elgon attracts hundreds of bird species from the great lakes and distant plains. It’s also a home of mountain accustomed birds. There is an estimation of about 144 species of these birds that fly within the national park and some of these include lammergeier (classified as endangered), bronze-naped pigeon, Tacazze sunbird, blue turaco, and the Jackson’s spurfowl. These birds can be viewed as they fly and chant over the national park’s vegetation.
When to visit Mount. Elgon National Park?
The best time to visit Mountain Elgon National Park is during the dry season. Its dry seasons run between the months of June to August, and then between December and March. These months has less or no rainfall interference while on a tour within the park.
Tourist activities to engage in.
- Hiking mountain Elgon.
- Game viewing.
- Bird watching.
- Camping.
- Primate viewing.
- Cave explorations.
Explore the beautiful Sipi falls.
This is one of the surrounding attractions close to the Mountain Elgon National Park. It is about 55 kilometers outside Mbale. It is situated in Kapchorwa district and lies on the steep slopes of Mountain Elgon. It is a fascinating waterfall that tourists should visit as they tour Mountain Elgon National Park.
Where to stay in and around Mount. Elgon National Park?
- Casa del turista.
- Sipi Valley Resort.
- Wagagai hotel.
- Rafiki Lodge Sipi.
- Mount Elgon & Spa.
- Kapkwai Cottages.
- Mbale Resort Hotel.
- Masha hotel.
- Home of Friends Mount Elgon.
- Fredson’s Homestay.
- Noah’s Ark hotel.
- Rose’s Last Chance.
- Wash and Wills hotel.
Location and getting there.
Closest to Mountain Elgon National Park is Mbale city. From Mbale, the park is about 20 kilometers. While from Kampala city, it’s about 235 kilometers to the national park. This means about 3 to 4 hours’ drive on road.
