Mount Elgon
It is the oldest and largest solitary volcano in East Africa, covering an area of around 3500 km² located along Uganda-Kenya border and is the 17th highest mountain of Africa, located about 235km east of Kampala City. Its coordinates are as follows: 1.1183° N, 34.5250° E
The mountain’s highest point, named “Wagagai”, is located entirely within the country of Uganda, at 4,321 metres.
The mountain is a catchment area for Suam River downstream becomes Turkwel River and drains into Lake Turkana, Nzoia River flows to Lake Victoria and Lwakhakha River flows to Lake Victoria.
The mountain is the home of black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkey, de brazza monkey, Leopard, Buffalo, Sitatungas and Duiker. The mountain is also a home to s a rich variety of forest birds such as Jackson’s francolin, green tinker bird, Alpine chat, red-throated wryneck among others.
Vegetation
Elgon’s slopes support a rich variety of vegetation ranging from montane forest to high open moorland studded with the giant lobelia and groundsel plants, the vegetation varies with altitude. The mountain slopes are covered with olive Olea hochstetteri and Aningueria adolfi-friedericii wet montane forest. At higher altitudes, this changes to olive and Podocarpus gracilior forest, and then a Podocarpus and bamboo Arundinaria alpina zone. Higher still is a Hagenia abyssinica zone and then moorland with heaths Erica arborea and Philippia trimera, tussock grasses such as Agrostis gracilifolia and Festuca pilgeri, herbs such as Alchemilla, Helichrysum, Lobelia, and the giant groundsels Senecio barbatipes and Senecio elgonensis.
The botanical diversity of the park includes giant podocarpus, juniper and Elgon olive trees cedar Juniperus procera, pillarwood Cassipourea malosana, elder Sambucus adnata, pure stands of Podocarpus gracilior and many orchids.
Mount Elgon National Park
The area around the mountain is protected by two Mount Elgon National Parks one on each side of the international border. The park is also home to a variety of small antelope and forest monkeys, including the Black-and-white Colobus and Blue Monkey, elephants and monkeys. Over 300 birds can also be found in the area, including the Lammergeier, African Goshawk, and Baglafecht Weaver.
Organized climbs/treks on Mount Elgon
- Travel Hemispheres, African Safari Management Company
- Wild whispers Africa
- The Mountain Club of Uganda
- Mt. Rwenzori Climbing Adventures
- Pinnacle Africa Safaris
Beliefs and stories
Mt Elgon was known as “OI Doinyo IIgoon” (Breast Mountain) by the Maasai and as “Masaaba” on the Ugandan side. Mount Elgon was a mountain that remained the mountain of Wele Khakaba ‘Almighty God’ just like Mount Zion to the Jews. Mount Elgon was considered a shrine to Dini Musambwa followers and other shrines were in caves. ‘Dini ya Musambwa’ Religion of evil spirits whose founder was Elijah Masinde wa Nameme and his followers worshipped facing this mountain and offered sacrifices by slaughtering bulls, sheep and goats. This mountain was one of the shrines and sacred places that Masinde restored as a sacred site among his followers from the Abaluhyia (Ababukusu), Pokot, Iteso, Sabawaot, Nandi and Abagishu.
Traditionally, the Abagishu in Uganda, also known as the Bamasaba, consider Mount Elgon to be the embodiment of their founding father Masaba, and sometimes call the mountain by his name. Local people have long depended on forest produce and have made agreements with the park to continue to harvest resources such as bamboo poles and bamboo shoots a local delicacy called Maleya or Kamaleya among the Bamasaba people.
Sipi Falls
Sipi Falls a are a series of three beautiful waterfalls formed by the Sipi River on the slopes of Mount Elgon. Sipi Falls are 60km from Mbale Town on the Kapchorwa Road. They are 295 km from Kampala City, the capital city of Uganda.
Caves
Mount Elgon’s slopes are endowed with caves which include Kapkwai Cave, near the Forest Exploration Centre, and Khauka Cave on Wanale Ridge, other caves include, Tutum,Kitum, Ngwarisha, Makingeny and Chepnyalil caves.
The Forest Exploration Centre
The Forest Exploration Centre at Kapkwai, 13km from Sipi Town, doubles as an educational centre for schools and the trailhead for climbers using the Sipi trail to the caldera.
Jackson’s Pool and Jackson’s Peak
Jackson’s Pool stands at 4,050m and is a natural pool with shallow waters. This pool lies in the shadow of the 4,165m high Jackson’s Peak, a free-standing volcanic plug rising from the western flank of the mountain. These features were named after the explorer Frederick Jackson, who in 1889 was the first European to climb Mount Elgon. The peak is used by the locals as a spot to communicate with their ancestors.
Nyero Rock Paintings
65km north of Mbale, the Nyero Rock Paintings are the finest of several rock art sites in the region. Three panels are found within the extensive granite outcrop of Moru Ikara, 10km from Kumi Town and 55km from Mbale on the Soroti Road. The most impressive is Panel Two which includes two canoes bearing human figures.
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve and Matheniko Bokora Wildlife Reserve
In the plains of Karamoja to the north of Mount Elgon lie Matheniko Bokora Wildlife Reserve and the expansive Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, the second largest protected area in Uganda, with an area of 2,788km2. Wildlife found here includes rare species such as the roan antelope, lesser kudu, Bright’s gazelle and ostriches which, in Uganda, are found only here and in Kidepo Valley National Park. Wildlife is concentrated around the Loporokocho swamp; bird species encountered here include 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 and Grey Cuckoo-Shrike.
Mountain Biking in Mt. Elgon
A mountain biking trail runs from Sipi trading centre to Chema Hill in Kapchorwa Town. It should take 1.5 hours and provides views of various waterfalls and the Karamoja plains
Agriculture
The main land use in the mountain slopes is subsistence agriculture; the main crops grown on the slopes of the mountain are maize, coffee, potatoes and matoke with a number of other seasonal vegetables. The main source of cash is from the sale of maize and coffee.
Accommodation around the mountain
| Hotel/ Lodge | Contact |
| Suam Guest House (UWA) | Contact Mt. Elgon National Park office
Tel. +256 454 433170/ +256 772 674063 Email: menpuwa@yahoo.ie |
| Kapkwata Guesthouse (self-catering) | Contact Mt. Elgon National Park office
Tel. +256 454 433170 / +256 772 674063 Email: menpuwa@yahoo.ie |
| Masha Hotel | Plot 6 Mutui Close, Kapchorwa
Tel: +256 700 868193 Email: mikemwanga@yahoo.com |
| Noah’s Ark Hotel | Kapchorwa
Tel: +256 772 646364 Email: hotelnoahsark@yahoo.com |
| Savanna Guesthouse | 3-5 Kasumbein Road, London Bridge/Kapchorwa Suam Road, Kapchorwa Tel: +256 772 350411, +256 110129 Email: savannaguesthouse@yahoo.com |
| Mt. Elgon Hotel | Mbale, Uganda Tel: +256 454 433454
Email: info@mountelgonhotel.com Website: http://www.mountelgonhotel.com/ |
| Green Gardens | Bufombo, Mbale
Tel: +256 772 322884 |
| Rose’s Last Chance – Community-run Camp | Budadiri Trading Centre
Tel: +256 4536172 Mobile: +256 772 623206, +256 752 203292 Email: mananarose@gmail.com, lastchance.hotel@yahoo.com |
| Sipi River Lodge | PO. Box 276, Kapchorwa, Uganda. Mobile: +256 751 796109 Email: info@sipiriverlodge.com Website: www.sipiriverlodge.com |
| Sipi Falls Resort | Sipi trading centre
Mobile: +256 753 153000 Email: sipiresort@yahoo.com |
| Kayegi Hotel | Plot 45B, Masaba Road
PO Box 1777,Mbale,Uganda Tel: +256 454 432119, +256 392 852311 Email: info@kayegihotel.com |
For more reading
http://www.travelhemispheres.com/national-parks/mount-elgon-safari/mount-elgon.html
http://www.wildwhispersafrica.com/uganda/mount-elgon/
http://www.mcu.ug/?page_id=460
http://www.climbingrwenzoris.com/
http://tourstouganda.com/uganda-tours/mountaineering/mountelgon-tour-ug12-8days.html