Mount Elgon Nationwide Park is Uganda’s nationwide park on the japanese aspect of the nation. It’s positioned in Mbale district, on the borders of Uganda and Kenya.
The Ugandan aspect of Mount Elgon Nationwide Park was gazetted in 1992, whereas the Kenyan aspect was gazetted in 1968.
Mount Elgon Nationwide Park will get its identify from Mount Elgon, which is discovered on the japanese aspect of the park. Mount Elgon is a well-liked attraction throughout the park, having the biggest volcano base and caldera lake on the earth. It’s 80 km extensive and rises to 4321 meters tall at Wagagai Peak.
The Park was gazetted in 1992 to guard a number of points of interest, together with dwelling and nonliving issues. As of as we speak, it has Mount Elgon, the second tallest mountain in Uganda, 300 chook species, just a few mammals, and primates.
Associated learn: Tips for Planning a Safari in Uganda
Right here’s an outline:
Tourism Actions in Mount Elgon Nationwide Park
Climbing Mount Elgon
Mount Elgon is the second-tallest mountain in Uganda with the second-highest peak of 4321 meters at Wagagai peak. Mount Elgon is the second-tallest mountain in Uganda after Mount Rwenzori which has its highest peak at 5109 meters above sea degree.
The mountain is the oldest and largest solitary volcanic mountain in East Africa.
Vacationers require a climbing allow to climb Mount Elgon. This may be purchased from the park headquarters or the Uganda Wildlife Authority reservations workplace in Kampala.
On the primary day of climbing, hikers are pushed to the beginning factors of the exercise the place they’re first briefed in regards to the guidelines and what to anticipate from the hike.
There are porters to assist vacationers carry extra baggage at a small payment firstly of the climbing trails.
Climbing trails on Mount Elgon embrace bushiyi, piswa, sipi, and sasa trails.
Hikers on Mount Elgon ascend with armed ranger guides who ensure that the hikers are protected all through the exercise.
For a spherical journey, vacationers want 6 to 7 days, and the quantity depends upon the climbing path used and the tempo. Climbing is finished solely throughout the day for about 7 to eight hours, and the lodging is finished on campsites on the slopes of the mountain.
As hikers ascend to the summit of the mountain, they get to satisfy completely different points of interest like mammals, primates, birds, rocks, water sources, and far more.
After days of climbing, hikers get to Wagagai peak which is the second-tallest peak in Uganda. At this level, hikers are allowed to take pictures, file movies as they have a good time reaching their dream locations. On the summit of Mount Elgon, hikers will discover the biggest caldera lake on the earth with sizzling springs on the perimeters.
After having fun with some high quality time on the summit, hikers use the identical trails to descend the mountain and this takes a single day. Whereas transferring down the mountain they nonetheless meet just a few of the points of interest on the mountain as they benefit from the stunning surrounding areas.
Fowl Watching
Over 300 chook species have been recorded in Mount Elgon Nationwide Park together with the endangered Lammergeyer.
The completely different vegetation covers throughout the park have acted as shelter for these birds and it’s from this vegetation that these birds nonetheless get what to eat and survive. On a birding safari in Uganda, birders can check out Mount Elgon Nationwide Park to see what the park has to supply.
Associated learn: Best Places for Bird Watching in Uganda
For birders who’re concerned about watching the completely different chook species of Mount Elgon Nationwide Park, right here is the birding guidelines:
Nyanza swift, hadada ibis, gray topped crane, lanner falcon, northern crombec, mountain yellow warbler, ayres’s hawk-eagle, Abyssinian thrush, barn owl, pink chested owlet, black and white mannikin, African paradise flycatcher, little bee-eater, augur buzzard, grey-backed fiscal.
African thrush, northern grey-headed sparrow, pin-tailed whydah, malachite sunbird, Abyssinian crimsonwing, brown-capped weaver, African stonechat, brown woodland warbler, Eurasian blackcap, red-winged starling, red-billed oxpecker, white-necked raven, red-rumped swallow, frequent bulbul, chinspot batis, red-eyed dove.
Angola swallow, streaky seedeater, slender-billed greenbul, yellow-whiskered greenbul, red-capped robin chat, variable sunbird, white-starred robin, japanese mountain greenbul, kandt’s waxbill, white-eyed slaty flycatcher, yellow-crowned canary, western home martin, northern double-collared sunbird, black-billed weaver, pale flycatcher.
Chestnut throated apalis, collared sunbird, white-browed robin chat, bronze sunbird, thick-billed seedeater, green-headed sunbird, baglafecht weaver, waller’s starling, buff throated apalis, African black-headed oriole, brimstone canary, cinnamon black warbler, chubb’s cisticola, green-backed camaroptera, African dusky flycatcher, northern yellow white eye.
Nature Walks
Vacationers who’re concerned about seeing the hidden points of interest of Mount Elgon Nationwide Park can at all times participate in nature walks.
The character walks take vacationers to areas that aren’t accessed whereas finishing up different park actions. The exercise helps these vacationers to get so near nature as they uncover completely different points of interest.
Throughout nature walks in Mount Elgon Nationwide Park, vacationers get to go to the rocks that individuals used to dwell lengthy time in the past. Vacationers additionally meet rivers and see lakes that get water from the mountain. Vacationers additionally get to see completely different chook species in addition to animals resembling buffaloes, elephants, leopards, and monkeys amongst others.
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Greatest Time to Go to Mount Elgon Nationwide Park
Vacationers who’re concerned about exploring Mount Elgon Nationwide Park can go to it any time of the yr.
Dry Season
The driest months from June to September and December to February are nevertheless one of the best to go to the park. These months have little or no rainfall acquired and loads of sunshine which is sweet climate for all park actions.
The driest months of the yr discover the vegetation throughout the park dry and brief which makes it straightforward for vacationers to see a lot of the park points of interest.
The climbing and strolling trails are dry and simpler to stroll by which makes it straightforward for vacationers to hike and in addition entry a lot of the park areas.
Wet Season
Vacationers on a smaller finances and people who hate crowded locations can go to Mount Elgon Nationwide Park in the course of the wet season. The wet season occurs from March to Could and October to November, a time when the park is receiving loads of rainfall and little sunshine.
Funds vacationers will get discounted tour packages, nevertheless vacationers ought to know that the rainfall makes the climbing trails muddy and slippery which makes the exercise difficult.
The vegetation on the decrease slopes of the mountain is tall, giving unclear views of points of interest, and the roads resulting in the park are in dangerous situation.
How To Get To Mount Elgon Nationwide Park
Mount Elgon Nationwide Park is discovered within the japanese a part of Uganda in Mbale district and may be accessed by highway transport.
By highway transport, the journey from Entebbe passes by way of Kampala, Mukono, Jinja, Iganga, after which Mbale the place Mount Elgon Nationwide Park is discovered. It takes 5 to six hours to succeed in the park and the time taken depends upon the pace of the driving force and in addition the variety of stopovers.
Associated learn: Tips for Planning a Safari in Uganda
The place To Keep Whereas on a Safari in Mount Elgon Nationwide Park?
On a safari to Mountain Elgon Nationwide Park, vacationers can keep in lodging earlier than or after visiting the park.
These lodges embrace Rafiki Lodge, Sipi Heritage Lodge, Mbale Resort Lodge, and Wagagai to say however just a few.
For vacationers going climbing, tents are at all times accessible on the slopes of the mountain.
Get in contact with Africa Journey Holidays to guide your journey to the Mount Elgon Nationwide Park:
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