Mount Elgon

A grotesque eroded volcano with a huge caldera that can shackle the life of a colossal being into an obscure and minuscule mound lies unperturbed in Mount Elgon National park. With a thriving bionetwork spiraling it, Mt. Elgon, Kenya’s second highest mountain covers an area up the North Eastern slopes stretching to the forest and the moorland beyond. It lies 140km North East of Lake Victoria on the Kenya-Uganda border. On its summit, a fabulous even topped basalt column known as Koitobos announces its presence. The lava tube caves, enticing and dicey at the top of the mountain often get big visitors - elephants digging for salts.

Visitors were officially allowed in the park in April 1978. The enthralling and entrapping series of four caves: Kitum, Makingeni, Chepnyalil and Ngwarisha is inviting to hordes of visitors. Kitum, the place of ceremonies ( Maasai ), extends horizontally 200m into the heart of the mountain. Elephants make ritual visits every night to feed on the salt rich deposits way deep into the caves, consequently earning them the title ‘Underground Elephants’.

Best Time to visit

September to March brings less rainfall so this period is suitable. Moreover, heavy rains of the April are usually copious, long and are often accompanied by lightning. This is when mosquitoes reproduce to the tune of millions just to spread Malaria, deadly to the unknowing visitor.