Mount Elgon National Park
Mt. Elgon is the second highest mountain in Kenya. The mountain is a remain of an extinct volcano whose central peak sunk under volcanic pressure forming a depression called a caldera and leaving its sides sticking out forming ridges which surround the caldera. At the floor of the caldera are hot springs. Water from the springs flows eastwards forming Suam River which cuts the eastern ridges and forms deep gorges with stiff cliffs.
The International border cuts through the caldera giving half of the mountain to Uganda where the highest peak, Wagagai reaches 4320m (14,178 ft) and the other half to Kenya with Sudek Peak 14,140 ft. being the highest. The peaks are not high enough for snow caps though they get brief snow cover from time to time. Koitoboss rock on the Kenya side, sits like a giant table and forms the best rock attraction in the National Park. The mountain’s south-eastern slopes are covered by Savannah woodland at the lowest zones bordering the Trans-Nzoia wheat and maize farms. The Savannah woodland merges with thick mountain forests dominated by Giant podo trees, Juniper, Elgon teak broken here and there by thick bamboo thickets as one ascends the mountain. Above the thick mountain forest is the relatively open forest dominated by Cedar and Hagenia trees hung with long stands of lichen called "old man’s beard", where one finds multitudes of ferns, mosses and orchids on the tree trunks and branches. Beyond the Cedar-Hagenia forest is the Afro-Alphine moorland dominated by several forms of heather where we find Giant Groundsels and Lobelia growing at above 3,600 meters (12,000 ft.) level and everlasting flowers (Helichrysum spp.) covering the moorland as far as the eye can see. Most of the south-eastern slopes existed as a forest reserve until 1968 when the area was declared a National Park for the preservation of its scenic beauty, flora and fauna.
The park is about 30 kms north-west of Kitale town. Its unique and exciting caves are frequented by Elephants, Buffalos, Duikers and Bushbucks licking salt on the walls of the caves. Leopards and hyenas are sometimes found hiding in the many crevasses in the caves to ambush the smaller salt lickers. The caves were once home of the Elgon Maasai before the park status forced them out. Today they are inhabited by thousands of bats and rock hyrax.
Governors' Camp Game Report, Masai Mara
