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MOUNT ELGON

The 169 sq km Mount Elgon, Kenya’s second highest mountain is an ancient eroded volcano with a huge caldera and, on its summit, the spectacular flat-topped basalt column known as Koitobos.  It lies 140kms north east of Lake Victoria and is bisected by the Kenya-Uganda border.  Another unique feature of the mountain is the lava tube caves, some over 60 metres wide that are frequented by elephants and other animals such as buffalos digging for natural salt found on the cave walls. 

Kitum cave, with overhanging crystalline walls, enters 200 metres into the side of the mountain.  The mountain soils are red laterite.  Mt Elgon is an important water catchment area for River Nzoia (which flows into Lake Victoria) and River Turkwel (which flows into Lake Turkana).  Mount Elgon National Park covers a narrow transect up the north eastern slopes of the mountain, from the lower montane forest to the caldera edge.  The remaining forest and moorland is part of the Mt Elgon Forest Reserve.  The Uganda side of the mountain is protected within Uganda’s Mt Elgon National Park.  The mountain has a moist to moderate dry climate with annual rainfall of over 1,270mm.  Together with the flora (400 species of plants) and fauna, the park is endowed with variety and breathtaking scenery of cliffs, caves, waterfalls, gorges, mesas, calderas, hot springs and the mountain peaks.