Mount Elgon National Reserve

Background Information
Western Kenya, entrance to park 27 km from Kitale Town

Area:
16,916 hectares or 169 square kilometre

Altitude:
2100 to 4300m (1400 feet) at its highest peaks

History:
Established in October 1967 and gazetted as a National Park in April 1968

Status:
National park and forest reserve. In 2003, the park was declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco in recognition of its importance as a water tower for Lake Victoria and the River Nile, and its diverse habitats.

Administration:
KWS manages the park while the forest reserve is protected by the Forest Department

Main attractions and activities:
Mountain peaks, caves, vegetation and wildlife viewing, camping photography, vehicle circuits, hiking to Entebess Bluff and Koitoboss peaks.

Picnic Sites:
There is one picnic site at the Elephant platform with no facilities.

Nature Trails:
The park has three short nature trails to Kiptum cave, Makingeny cave and the Elephant Bluff.

Geography:
It’s part of Africa’s Great Rift Valley and sits on the Pre-Cambrian bedrocks of the Trans Nzoia plateau.

Fauna | animals present:
Elusive cave elephants, Cape buffaloes, giant forest hogs, leopards, black rhinos, golden cat, golden mole, black fronted duikers, black and white colobus monkey, sunbird, crowned eagles, Ayres’ hawk eagle, bushbuck, water buck in abundance, rufous-breast sparrow hawk

Vegetation | fauna present:
Afro-alpine flowers on the moorland, terrestrials and epiphytic orchids, gigantic podo trees, juniper, Elgon olive, bamboo forests

Social economic and cultural value:
Critical water catchment for Lakes Kyoga, Turkana and Victoria and eventually for the River Nile, honey gatherers site, source of medicinal plants and products, provides fodder and grazing materials to local livestock and support to agricultural production.

Access:
By road from Kitale Town or by air from Eldoret airport (70 km away/two-hour drive) or to the airstrip at the park headquarters. There is also an airstrip in Kitale Town, mostly used by small charter aircraft. There are four park gates i.e. Chorlim main gate, Kassawai, Kiptogot and Kimothon.

Entry:
Daily, dawn to dusk 6 am to 7pm. No entry permitted after 6.15pm and no entry is permitted on foot except with a guide. Walking and hiking allowed in designated areas in the company of a KWS ranger.

Accommodation:
KWS Guest House, Kapkuro bandas, Nyati, Chorlim, Rongai and Saltlick public campsites, 28-bed capacity Mt. Elgon Lodge, situated 0.5 km outside the park gate.
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