Mount Elgon National Park
Explore ancient volcanic caves, lush montane forests, waterfalls, and vast calderas on one of Kenya’s most underrated hiking and safari destinations.
Book Mount Elgon Safari📍 Location
Western Kenya (Bungoma & Trans-Nzoia counties)
📏 Size
1,279 km² (Kenyan side)
⛰️ Type
Volcanic Mountain National Park
Overview of Mount Elgon National Park
Mount Elgon National Park is a massive volcanic ecosystem straddling the Kenya–Uganda border. It features one of the largest intact volcanic calderas in the world and offers a blend of hiking, wildlife viewing, and cultural exploration.
Unlike typical savannah parks, Mount Elgon is dominated by montane forests, bamboo zones, caves, waterfalls, and alpine moorlands, making it a top destination for trekking and nature exploration.
The park is relatively less crowded, offering peaceful and immersive wilderness experiences.
It is also home to the famous Kitum Cave, where elephants dig into the walls to extract salt.
Landscape & Natural Features
Mount Elgon is an ancient extinct volcano with a massive caldera measuring over 40 km wide. Its landscapes include caves, cliffs, waterfalls, and forested slopes.
Key features include:
- Kitum Cave: Famous elephant salt-mining cave
- Chepnyalil Falls: Scenic waterfall in forest zone
- Caldera Plains: Vast open volcanic plateau
- Montane Forests: Rich biodiversity zones
The mountain provides critical water catchment for western Kenya.
Wildlife in Mount Elgon National Park
The park supports a wide variety of forest and mountain wildlife species.
Mammals
Elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, duikers, hyenas, and primates inhabit the park.
Primates
Black-and-white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and baboons are common in forest zones.
Birdlife
Over 300 bird species are recorded including turacos, sunbirds, and forest raptors.
Things to Do in Mount Elgon
- Mountain hiking and trekking
- Exploring Kitum Cave
- Waterfall visits and forest walks
- Birdwatching safaris
- Photography of landscapes and caves
This destination is perfect for adventure travelers and hikers seeking a quiet alternative to Kilimanjaro or Mount Kenya.
Best Accommodation Near Mount Elgon
Sasa River Camp
Forest-based campsite ideal for trekkers.
Mbale Resort Hotel (Uganda side)
Luxury accommodation near the mountain region.
Western Star Hotel Bungoma
Comfortable mid-range stay for park access.
Self-Camping Sites
Designated campsites inside the park for hikers.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Mount Elgon is during dry seasons (June–August and December–March) when hiking trails are most accessible.
3–5 Day Mount Elgon Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Bungoma, briefing
Day 2: Forest hike & waterfalls
Day 3: Kitum Cave exploration
Day 4: Summit trek or caldera exploration
Day 5: Return journey
Book Your Mount Elgon Hiking Safari
Explore Kenya’s hidden mountain wilderness with Mara Triangle Safaris. We organize hiking safaris, guides, transport, and accommodation.
📧 info@maratrianglesafaris.co.ke
Book Your Safari Now