MOUNT ELGON NATIONAL PARK

Mountain Elgon National park has an excellent location on the border of eastern Uganda and western Kenya, a lively and cosmopolitan home to over 300 species of birds and dangerous animals. It is a mountainous regional landscape with cool heights for those living near it. The park also provides refuge for flora and fauna on its higher altitudes which are protected by national park in Uganda and Kenya. This creates an extensive trans-boundary conservation area known as a UNESCO man and Biosphere reserve. Mount Elgon part of the Mount Elgon national park is an extinct volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya and the 4 highest mountain in eastern Africa. The Mountain slopes has distinct forest types that is, the mixed bamboo belt, the fascinating heath and spectacular moorland hyrachs which contain stands of some of the rarest endemic plant species, like the giant lobelia elgonensis and dotted clusters of peculiar groundsels Animals found in this park include bushbucks, antelopes, civets, wildcats and the elusive leopards roam freely below the mountain Bush duiker, hyena, jackal, rock hyrax, buffalo and elephant rove between the forest and the moorland. 

The park is also home to forest monkeys such as the black and white colobus blue monkey Many of these animals visit Mount Elgon ‘s bat filled caves for their valuable minerai deposits, around 144 species of birds which include Jackson’s francolin, the tacazze sunbird the endangered lammergeier .

The park has magnificent water falls, caves, gorges and hot springs not to forget the magnificent Sipi falls which is a gem due roaring sounds of falling water on steep rock which are about 66 kms north of mbale with a couple of activities such as;
Hiking and Climbing Mount Elgon which is usually accomplished in 4-5 days where no technical skills are required and all the major peaks are accessible to hikers since the climate is not harsh and climbing can be enjoyed by even the medium climber.
Mountain Biking Trails opened up in Mount Elgon National Park.

Birders will enjoy the area spotting bird species such as Hartlaub’s Turaco, Eastern Bronze napped Pigeon, Lemon Dove, Dusky-Turtle Dove, African Hill Babbler, Alpine Chat, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Thick-billed Honey guide, Grey Cuckoo-Shrike. 

Trout Fishing on the Sipi river however it has to be in the morning for success which provides an exciting challenge Budadiri Community Walk which offers cultural dances, guided coffee tours also the visitors can discover the region’s famous delicacy malewa (bamboo shoots), Bagisu – Imbalu Circumcision where no Gisu male can be married without being circumcised which is usually done publicly once a year, around September. A trip to the Nyero Rock Painting Caves which were created by ancient cave dwellers who were the first inhabitants of the area and have remain in relative good shape for thousands of years For accommodation there are hotels of international standards within Mbale town, inside the park there are wooden camping bandas, lodges. The national Park can be reached by road which is about 4 hours from Kampala.