Asking yourself why visit Mount Elgon? Here are the major reasons why you shouldn’t delay. Mount Elgon is the most favorite park in Africa. It is less crowded, which makes it so spectacular, and since there are less people on the slopes, you have a much greater chance of spotting a variety of wildlife.
There are several waterfalls on the slopes of Mount Elgon, and hot springs to soak in inside the crater, which make views on and around Mount Elgon amazing. Climbing the mountain is an experience that can not be forgotten so soon. Many visitors interested in mountain climbing see Mount Elgon as an easier mountain to climb and it is, compared to hiking Rwenzori mountains.
You do not need to be a skilled mountain climber to enjoy a mountain climbing experience on Mount Elgon. An average hiker or biker can enjoy this experience as well. Mount Elgon is a among the best Uganda safari destinations, having the biggest surface area of all extinct volcanoes on the planet, although it is the 4th highest mountain in East Africa.
Mount Elgon National Park is known for its unique largest volcanic base in the world in addition to being the oldest largest solidarity volcanic mountain in East Africa. Its vast form is 80 km in diameter, rise more than 3,000m above the surrounding plain. The mountain’s cool height offers respite from the hot plains below with the higher altitude, providing refugee for a variety of flora and fauna. It was built up from lava debris below out from gently enlarged volcanic vent during the Pliocene epoch and rise to a high of about 4,320m above sea level.
Jackson’s Pool stands at 4,050m and it is a natural pool with shallow waters. This pool lies in the shadow of the 4,165m high Jackson’s Peak, a free-standing volcanic plug rising from the western flank of the mountain.
More Reasons Why visit Mount Elgon
The best attraction at this mountain are the three Sipi waterfalls on the Kapchorwa road, just outside the park. The lowest of these falls is the most spectacular as it cascade over 100m over the entrance to a cave. Visitors can stand in this cave and enjoy a view of the back of the falls, which is so enjoyable. The third waterfalls also known as Ngasire, gushes over an 87m high ridge.
Mount Elgon is the fourth-highest mountain in East Africa and eighth in Africa, with the largest base area of any free-standing volcano in the world. The elephants on the mountain are savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana), not the forest elephants of west and central Africa.
The cave in Mount Elgon that most frequently is visited by elephants is ‘Kitum’, a Masai word meaning ‘place of ceremonies’. It stretches for some 160 meters into the mountain. The cave also home for extraordinary elephants. Mount Elgon is also home for a colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, leopards, giant forest hogs, bushbucks, elands, buffaloes, duikers and golden cats. There are unique hot springs within the crater, so Mount Elgon National Park is indeed a great Africa tour destination.
After visiting Mount Elgon National Park, Uganda is such a blessed destination that you can explore as a beautiful garden. You can make your way to Murchison Falls National Park, one of Uganda’s spectacular wildlife safari park, to encounter the big five on your lucky day. Don’t miss the amazing boat cruise amidst the aquatic life and countless bird species. Further west, you can’t afford to miss the lifetime gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks.