For those looking for the best African safari experience, Mount Elgon National Park in eastern Uganda is a must-visit destination. It covers an area of about 1,145 square kilometers and is home to Mount Elgon, one of Uganda’s oldest natural features and an extinct volcano.
Due to erosion, this volcano has reduced in height to 4,321 meters, making it the eighth-highest peak in Africa and the fourth-highest in East Africa.
At one time, it was the tallest mountain in Africa, standing taller than Kilimanjaro’s current height of 5,895 meters.
The area is home to three tribes, including the Bagisu and Sabiny, as well as the disadvantaged Ndorobos, who lived deep within the Benet forest.
Mount Elgon, which stretches across the border between Uganda and Kenya, is the reason for the park’s name. The mountain reaches up to 3,000 meters and has a diameter of about 80 kilometers.
Visitors can enjoy the park’s unique plants and animals, including over 300 bird species, dense montane forest, bamboo belts, and rare plants such as giant lobelias and groundsels.
Some of the animals found here include black and white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys. Bird species include golden-winged sunbirds, tacazze sunbirds, Ross’s turacos, Hartlaub’s turacos, Jackson’s francolins, lammergeyers, crowned hornbills, and black and white casqued hornbills.
Things to See in Mount Elgon National Park
Mount Elgon attracts all kinds of visitors and is a great destination for mountain lovers. As you hike through the hills and enter the lush forest, you will see beautiful mountain lakes, glaciers, and a wide variety of plant and animal life.
The mountain range is stunning, making it one of the best places for a safari in Uganda.
Trekkers on Mount Elgon get a chance to experience nature and enjoy breathtaking views. The mountain offers different hiking routes, from an easy three-day trek to a more challenging and famous twenty-two-day trek.
You can choose a Mount Elgon trek that suits your needs and create a tour plan based on your interests. There are many amazing sights to see along the way, including:
Mount Elgon
Most of the trekking happens inside Mount Elgon National Park. The park is in eastern Uganda and covers an area of 1,148 square kilometers.
It was created on July 19, 1976, and was later listed as a Natural World Heritage Site in 1979.
Related Article: Explore Lake Mburo National Park – Uganda’s Haven for Zebras, Impalas & Birdlife
Bagisu People and Culture
The Bagisu people are native to the Elgon region. They belong to the Bantu-speaking ethnic group in Uganda. Many Bagisu work as mountaineers and guides because they know the land well.
They speak their own language, Lugisu, which is part of the southern branch of the Bantu language family.
During your trek on Mount Elgon, you will visit Bagisu communities, where you can see their way of life, traditions, and culture.
Flora
Mount Elgon National Park has many different types of plants and trees. The lower forested areas are home to firs, bamboo, rhododendrons, and blue pines.
As you go higher, the vegetation becomes smaller and shrubby.
The highest parts of the mountain have only lichens and mosses. Plants stop growing at around 5,750 meters (18,860 feet), which is the permanent snow line in this area.
Fauna
Mount Elgon National Park is home to at least 118 bird species. Some of the birds you can see include red-billed choughs and yellow-billed choughs.
The park is also home to several endangered mammals, including different species of monkeys.
