What Is Mountain Elgon National Park Famous For? : Mount Elgon National park is located in the Eastern part of Uganda in Kapchorwa and Mbale districts. This park borders with Uganda and Kenya and due to the result of its strategic location, Mount Elgon forms an extensive trans-boundary conservation area, which is highly protected by both countries.
Mount Elgon National park is commonly known to have the largest caldera in the whole world, it covers a total surface area of 4,000 square kilometers, and part of the national park that is located in Uganda is under the management of Uganda Wildlife Authority. This park was gazzetted as a national park in 1992 and more so the Kenyan part of this national park was also established in 1968.
This National Park harbours a variety number of 300 bird species which include the endangered Lammergeyer and it has two tribes that consider mount Elgon there home and these tribes are the Sabiny and the Bagisu who are as well-known as the Bamasaba they consider this mountain as the embodiment of Masaba their founding father.
Mountain Elgon derives its name from the Elgon Mountain which in history it is known to be an extinct volcanic mountain because of its last eruption that took place many years back. More so, it was once marked one of the Africa’s highest mountain but due to its continuous erosion, its height kept reducing up to 4,321 meters hence making it the fourth highest peak in East Africa and the eighth highest peak on the African continent.
Tourists who travel from all over the world for a uganda safari in Mount Elgon national park engage in adventurous, thrilling and exciting different activities in the park such as; Hiking and Mountaineering, the Sasa trail, Sipi trail, piswa trail, Cultural encounters, Community visits , Guided Nature walks, Mountain biking, Rock climbing Camping and many others.
Attractions in Mount Elgon National Park.
Mount Elgon National Park is commonly known because it has unique attractions that make people anxious to travel from all the parts of the world to come and check them out and these attractions include;
Wildlife.
Mount Elgon National park is a good spot for bird lovers because it is a home to over 300 bird species that attract tourists such as; Jackson’s francolin, Hartlaub’s Turaco, the endangered Lammergeyer, and the eastern bronze-naped pigeon. This park also mammal species such as buffaloes, antelopes, duiker, elephants, and the primate species such as the red-tailed monkeys, the black and white colobus monkeys, and the blue monkeys.
Caves.
A number of caves can be found along the slopes of Mount Elgon and these caves are located in Mbale, Kapchorwa, kapkwai, and kitgum. Among these caves, the most caves that are easily accessed by tourists are the Kapkwai caves and they are strategically located near the forest Exploration centre.
The Khauka caves are situated on the Wanale Ridge. Mount Elgon national park has other caves like; Siyo Cave, Mude cave, Tutum cave, the hunters cave and tourists spend time hiking through the caves.
Mount Elgon Peaks and the Caldera.
Tourists visiting Mount Elgon National Park can engage in hiking activities and get an opportunity to sight see its caldera, which is considered the largest in the world. More so, Wagagi is the tallest peak of Mount Elgon standing at 4,321 meters, followed by Sudek at 4,303 meters, Koitobos at 4,222 meters and lastly there is Mubiyi, which stands at 4,210 meters.
The Caldera was formed because of Magma, which was drained from Volcanoes chamber, which later collapsed into a depression like shape because it could no longer support the overlying volcanic cone. The Eastern part of Caldera has hot springs, which visitors can see at the start of the Suam Gorge.
Nkokenjeru and Wanale Ridges.
The Nkokenjeru ridge stands at an elevation of 2,347 meters and covers a distance of 25 kilometers long tongue of lava which flows out of the side of the Volcano due to the collapse of the cone, hence blocking the main vent of the volcano. The Nkokenjeru Ridge ends up at the spectacular Wanale cliff/ ridge, which overlooks Mbale town. Visitors get classic views of the dazzling and beautiful Namatyo and Nabuyonga waterfalls.
Sipi Falls.
The sipi falls are situated outside Mount Elgon National Park and the drive to sipi falls is just less than an hour. 65there are only 3 water falls found in Sipi and the lowest among these falls is a 100 meters. Simba is the second waterfall and it plugs at a height of 69meters over the entrance of the cave, more so, Ngasire is the third waterfall, which plunges 87 meters high. However, there are plenty number of waterfalls around Mount Elgon National park and visitors can get an opportunity to see other waterfalls while on their safari such as Bulago, Chebonet, Wanale, Sisiyi and many others, What Is Mountain Elgon National Park Famous For?.
Jackson’s Pool and Peak.
The Jackson’ peak stands at an altitude of 4,165meters, the local people in the area use it as a means of communication while the Jackson’s pool is a shallow and natural water pool standing at an altitude of 4,050meters. Both the Jackson’s pool and the Jackson’s peak were named after the Fredrick Jackson because he was the first European to climb Mount Elgon in 1889.
Nyero Rock paintings.
The Nyero rock paintings are the famous attractions located in the Eastern region of Uganda and they are known to be the oldest rock in the country, which is made up of six panels of prehistoric art involving abstract and geometric patterns. The Nyero rock paintings cover a distance of 65 kilometers from the North of Mbale town and many tourists travelling to Mount Elgon national park always stop over to see the beautiful rock arts.
Vegetation Cover.
Mount Elgon National Park is richly blessed with a variety of vegetation, which varies with an altitude ranging from montane forest to open moorland, which comprises giant lobelia and groundsel plants. The high altitudes of this national park are characterized by Bamboo, olive trees, lobelia, moorland with heaths, montane forest while the parks lower altitude comprise rocky ground and tussock grass.
However, with these attractions mentioned above, other attractions attract tourists to Mount Elgon national park and these include; The Tewei Hill, Matheniko Bokora Wildlife reserve, and the Pian Upe wildlife.
