Mount Elgon is found on the Eastern part of Uganda sharing with the counterpart Kenya. The Park covers an area of 1,279 Square Kilometers of Ugandan part Covers an area of 1,110Km square (430sq mi) while Kenya covers 169km2 (65sq mi). Uganda and Kenya gazette the park different time of the years, Uganda from 1992 and Kenya 1968 respectively.
This extinct volcano is one of Uganda’s oldest physical features, which is estimated to have erupted in 24 million years and later re-erupted 12 million years ago reducing the mountain to 4321masl, relegating it as the 4th highest peak in East Africa and 8th on the continent, though it was documented as the Africa’s highest mountain, exceeding Kilimanjaro at the time.
Mount Elgon is a home to two tribes, the Bagisu and the Sabiny plus the marginalized Ndorobos who were evicted from the park and currently dwell deep within the boundary of the Forest in Benet area, Kween District, on the slopes of Mount Elgon.
Culturally, the Bagisu also known as the Bamasaba, consider Mount Elgon to be the embodiment of their founding father Masaba lived within the area from Masaba Peak which is currently renamed as Jackson Peak to Montane Forest where they were using the forest for their natural resources.
At 4000km2, Mount Elgon has the largest Volcanic base in the world, Located on the Uganda-Kenya border. It is also the oldest and largest solitary, volcanic mountain in East Africa. Its vast form 80km in diameter, rises more than 3000m above the surrounding plains.
Birds: Mount Elgon National Park is a home over 300 bird species including the Moorland Francolin and Moustache Green Tinker as well as the endangered Lammergeyer which can be spotted around the Caldera and the Suam Gorge. For those with limited time, you can find species like Black-Shouldered Kite, Tacazze Sunbird, Jackson Spurfowl, and Eastern Bronez napped pigeon, Hartlaubs Turaco and Great Blue Turaco on the lower slopes of the mountain.
Wildlife: Mount Elgon National Park supports a variety of wildlife that are found at different elevations such as Tree Hyraxes, Defassa waterbuck, Oribi, Bushbuck, Duikers, Forest hog, Bush pig, Leopard, Civet and Serval Cats, Spotted Hyena. Some of these animals are rarely spotted around the mountain and you may not see them unless you are very lucky. The common, must see animals are Black-and-White Colobus Monkeys, Baboons, Red tailed, Vervet, De Brazzas, Blue Monkey, Tree Squirrel and Duikers.
Elgon Vegetation: The vegetation in Mount Elgon varies with altitude ranging from mountain forest to high open moorland covered with Giant Lobelia, groundsel plants. On the mountain, slopes are covered with Olive Olea Hochstteri and Aningueria adolfi friedercii wet montane Forest. And at the higher altitude, you encounter Podocarpous Gracilior, and Bamboo Arundinaria alpine zone. (Higher still Hagenia abyssinica Zone) and heaths Erica Arborea and Philippia trimera, Tussock grasses, Senecio barbatipes and Senecio Elgonensis.
The higher slopes are protected by national parks in Uganda and Kenya, creating an extensive trans-boundary conservation area which has been declared a UNESCO Man & Biosphere.
