Mount Elgon national park is located 140 kilometers (87 mi) northeast of Lake Victoria. The park covers an area of 1279 square kilometers (494 sq. mi) and is bisected by the border of Kenya and Uganda. The Ugandan part of the park covers 1,110 km2 (430 sq. mi) while the Kenyan part covers 169 km2 (65 sq. mi). The Kenyan part of the park was gazetted in 1968, while the Ugandan part was gazetted in 1992.
Attractions in Mount Elgon national park.
Animal species.
Due to the fact that it has cool admired peaks this has favored the varied animal species to live, the guests do visit the park to spot various animal species that are found in the park as these includes blue monkey, white and black colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkey, buffaloes, small antelopes, duikers and among many in the park the guests can also be able to spot other mammals including the civet, bushbuck, and many more.
Bird species.
Mount Elgon national park is also a birding haven as the birds usually find home in the series of the rugged peaks, the park has over 296 bird species and these include the Hartlaubs turaco, eastern bronze-napped pigeon, guinea fowls, Jacksons francolin, Tacazze sunbird and many others, the bird lovers it is said that the park is the perfect place to be in and the passionate bidder who loves mild hiking safari should definitely put these bird species as the key things on what to see in Mount Elgon National Park.
Caves.
Mount Elgon’s slopes are comprise of the various caves left by moving lava and erosion of soft volcanic deposits that erupted some years back, the most accessible of these caves are Kapkwai cave which is near the Forest Exploration Centre, and Khauka Cave on Wanale ridge. These are greater attraction safari to most of the tourists in the park, it is said that those caves long time used to act like shelters for the livestock of the local people who were the traditional inhabitant of the mountain.
Vegetation.
Mount Elgon national park has the vegetation that is banded into broad zones whose characteristics are dictated by the altitude and rainfall, the lower mountain slopes are covered with the dense forest and regenerating forests, hung with vine-like lianas, epiphytes and lichens, while the floor is covered with a carpet of ferns, orchids and the flowering plants these supports the wildlife in the park.
Sipi Falls.
Mount Elgon national park in its northern and western sides of Mount Elgon rise in a series of the massive basalt cliffs, often several kilometers in length, over which the mountain’s rivers plunge as beautiful waterfalls, these are the best known as the three waterfalls at Sipi on the Kapchorwa road, just outside the park. The tourists always come to the park to because they are impressed with those three beautiful waterfalls.
Scenery.
Mount Elgon scenery if filled with the peaks, cliffs, caves, waterfalls, mesas, gorges, calderas and hot springs that gives accompaniment to the entire attractions in Mount Elgon national park, thus the towering peaks of the Elgon mountain cool height a cool breeze for the people from the hot plains that watch in admiration of the peaks above them.
Activities done in Mount Elgon national park.
Mountain Biking.
Mountain biking safari is done through Kapchorwa and the entire Mount Elgon region this provides great mountain biking routes that will keep your adrenaline high as you traverse the area, the mountain biking routes start from Sipi trading centre to Chema hill in Kapchorwa, here the tourists enjoy the beautiful views of Karamoja plains and several water falls enroute.
Rock climbing.
Rock climbing is done outside Mount Elgon national park, this takes place at sipi with 14 climbs that require rock scaling techniques. The toughest climb is 35 meters while the easiest is 15 meters for those tourists that are interested in rock climbing safari.
Bird watching.
Bird watching in Mount Elgon national park gives the bird lover with all the unique bird species that cannot be spotted anywhere else apart from the Mount Elgon national park destination, that is the common trail can be found in the Kapkwai forest exploration centre that continues along the Chebonet river, the birder can be able to spot Chubb’s cisticola, African Goshawk, white-chinned Prinia, Doherty’s Bush-shrikes and many others.
Nature and hiking safari.
Nature and hiking safari are mostly done using the numerous trail both inside the park and outside walking through Mount Elgon vegetation, at the sipi falls guides from the community take you on walks that can start from two hours to a whole days walk where you will have views of the Karamojong region and Sebei region. Another hike can be done through Budadiri to Mudange cliffs, which is known as the walls of death these cliffs are located in a tropical forest at the boundary of the national park, during the hiking safari the guests can spot various animal species like the Black and white colobus monkeys, baboons and among others along the trail.
Agro-tourism, cultural encounters and community trails.
It is so privileged in that it has the best history thus the best coffee in Uganda is from this rich and fertile region of Mount Elgon, experience the entire coffee process by taking a guide walk through the coffee shambas on the slopes of Mount Elgon. The tourists visit the Shambas and homes to experience coffee planting demonstration, picking, grinding, storage, the coffee from this area is Arabic and also known as sipi or Bugisu coffee.
Abseiling.
Abseiling safari involves going down cliff with a firm rope-like device fastened around the harness. The Sipi falls are the only area where abseiling is organized in Uganda, the activity is well organized with good imported equipment, well trained instructors and guides who ensure the safety of participants outside Mount Elgon national park.
Best time to visit Mount Elgon national park.
The best time to visit Mount Elgon national park is during the dry season in the months of June to August and December to March, it is important to note that hiking safari to the top of the mountain and all other park activities continues even during the wet/ rainy season.
