Visit Mount Elgon National Park from Kenya Side
Credited for its untouched wilderness, Mount Elgon National Park lies at the border between Uganda and Kenya. This park is situated in western high in the mist wreathed hills of western Kenya and towers volcanic giant, crowned by a vast crater. This volcano is at times described as the Mountain of the Beast; Mount Elgon extends up to 43000 meters at its highest peaks.
This tremendous mountain forms part of the Great Rift Valley in Africa and 8th highest mountain in Africa. Its slopes are popular for its overlooking cliffs, snaking river valleys, caves and plunging waterfalls. Mount Elgon National Park covers an area of about 196 square kilometers and it is located 420 kilometers away from Nairobi along the western border area between Uganda and Kenya in Trans-Nzoia County.
The notable tourist attractions at this national park include caves that are mostly scattered and formed from the ancient Lava tubes especially Kitum, Ngwarisha, Chepnyalil, and Makindgeny. Kitum and Makindgeny caves are reachable from the park road especially on the well kept trails. Salt mining elephants of Kitum cave; this is frequently visited by large numbers of elephants, bush bucks, duikers and buffaloes. Waterfall-Makingeny cave situated near Kitum features stunning waterfall over its mouth, wildlife viewing along the mountain especially elephants, waterbucks, olive baboons, giant forest hogs, duikers, black and white colobus monkeys, buffaloes and leopards. Birding, this park features among the best significant bird areas in Kenya with over 240 bird species that can be spotted around the mountain.
The notable birds for you to spot include the purple throated cuckoo shrike, thick billed honey guide, Toss’s and hartlaub’s Turacos, black and white casqued hornbills and African crowned eagle. Its vegetation comprises of the lush montane forest that thrives at altitude 2000 to 2500 meters and features mostly the dry, highland evergreen type and consists of more than 100 species and epiphytic orchids, ferns and trailing lianas.
Mixed bamboo thrives at altitude 3000 to 3500 meters, heath zone at 3000 to 3500 and this features thick scrub and brilliant wild flowers, moorland zone at 3000 to 4321 meters which is characterized by open moorland grassland, scattered with clusters of peculiar giant grounded and lobelia plants.
The interesting activities for you to engage in at this park include mountain climbing, hiking, walking safaris, horse riding and many more.
Where to stay in Mount Elgon National Park-Kenya
Visitors on safari to Mount Elgon National Park can spend a night in Kenya Wildlife Service Self Catering-Kapkuro cottage and other campsites like Chorlim campsite, Salt lick, Rongai public campsite, Nyati campsite.
Getting to Mount Elgon National Park
This park is accessible both by road and air.
- By road
There is a route for you to take from Kitale town and Eldoret both are murram and they take visitors up to Mount Elgon Lodge and Chorlim gate and this is the main gate that goes to the park headquarters.
- By air
You can take a flight to Eldoret airport or Kitale airstrip. The park is best visited from June to August when the park experiences minimal amount of rainfall. However, a 4×4 vehicle is highly recommended. For those on self drive safaris in East Africa, we recommend 4×4 Self Drive Kenya for 4×4 vehicle renting in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. Among the recommended vehicles to access Mt. Elgon National park in Kenya include Land Cruiser Hardtop, Nissan Patrol / safari, Land Rover Defender, Land cruiser Prado, Vx, Gx and V8 among others.
In conclusion, Mount Elgon National Park is a shared national park between Uganda and Kenya. It is equally very stunning and rewards visitors on Kenya safari with remarkable experiences of lifetime due to its unique attractions and safari activities available for one to engage in.
