Location:
Situated 140 km north-east of Lake Victoria on the Kenya-Uganda border  in Trans-Nzoia District, Rift Valley Province. This is 420 kilometres from Nairobi.

History: The Kenyan part of the park was gazetted in 1968 and the Ugandan part in 1992. The park is named after the Mountain – Elgon – which is an extinct volcano with the largest surface area of any extinct volcano in the world (50 by 80 km). The mountain is the 2nd highest in Kenya and the 4th highest in Eastern Africa……( height of mt.)

Size: The park covers an area of 1279 km. The Ugandan part of the park covers 1110km and the Kenyan part covers 169 km.

Geography/Habitat: 
Mount Elgon is Kenya’s second highest mountain. Mount Elgon is an important water catchment for the Nona River which flows to Lake Victoria and for the Turkwel River. An ancient, eroded volcano with a huge caldera, its summit has the spectacular flat-topped basalt column known as Koitobos. Another unique feature of the mountain is the lava tube caves, some over 60 metres wide and only caves in the world frequented by elephants (and other animals) digging for salts. 

The park is comprised of forest and moorland vegetation. While ascending Mt. Elgon’s enchanting slopes, you will pass through dense montane forest and mixed bamboo belts teeming with birdlife. You will then enter the fascinating heath and moorland zones containing several interesting endemic plant species such as Giant lobelia and groundsels. 

Animals:
Elephants and buffalo can be found on the lower slopes. The park is also home to a variety of small antelope and forest monkeys, including the Black-and-white Colobus and Blue Monkey. Over 300 birds can also be found in the area, including the endangered Lammergeier, African Goshawk, and Baglafecht Weaver. Maathai’s Longleg an endangered dragonfly was discovered here in 2000 and named after Nobel Prize winner Wangari Mathaai. 

Of Interest: mountain climbing, game viewing, camping, birdwatching, hiking and exploring caves.