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Location and Habitat
In every region the colourful dances, dress and handicrafts
of the people are well worth seeing. The village markets bustle
with life, and local craftsmen work as they have done for generations.
In this area visitors can discover the infinite variety our
lifestyles and heritage which make Uganda so special In the
easternmost region of Uganda, along the border with Kenya, towers
the dramatic mass if that is Mount Elgon.
Although Mt. Elgon was well known to Arab traders passing along
old slaving routes to the East (Kenya), explorer Henry Morton
Stanley was the first to write about Mt. Elgon when he saw it
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circumnavigating
L. Victoria in 1875.
Joseph Thomson, a British explorer and geographer was the first
European to visit Mt. Elgon in 1883. Thomson referred to the
mountain as "Masawa" or "Elgon" and generated
curiosity among other explorers. In 1890, with a 400 men caravan,
Fredrick Jackson of the Imperial British Exploration Association
was the first European to visit the caldera and to climb any
of the major peaks. Ironically, Jackson climbed Sudek Peak from
the south and probably never even saw Masaba Peak, which was
later named Jackson's Summit after him. Formerly a forest reserve
since 1938, Mt. Elgon was promoted to national park status in
October 1993, making it one of Uganda's three youngest national
parks managed under the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Climate
Considering that Mt. Elgon is a massive solitary volcano in
the relatively flat plains of eastern Uganda and western Kenya,
it creates and experiences weather patterns considerably different
from the surrounding environment. The climate follows seasonally
alternating moist (southwesterly) and dry (northeasterly) air
streams. The wettest season occurs from March to October, while
the driest season is from November to February with a short
dry period around June or July. Annual rainfall records indicate
that the southern and western slopes receive more precipitation
(about 2000mm) than the northern and eastern slopes (about 1500mm).
It is generally accepted that maximum rainfall occurs in the
forest zone. Climatic conditions are more temperate and less
seasonal with the increasing altitude of the upper slopes. At
higher elevations, light rain is common, rather than the heavy
rains that occur down slope. Hail and freezing temperatures
may be encountered at any time of the year on the upper slopes.
Location & Access
The mountain is positioned approximately 100km northeast of
Lake Victoria and straddles the border of Uganda and Kenya.
The international boundary is marked by the Suam and Lwakaka
Rivers, and the beacon on Sudek Peak. Administratively, the
mountain falls into two districts (in Uganda); Kapchorwa District
to the north and Mbale district to the south. Measuring about
80km from north to south, and 50km east to west, more than half
of Mt. Elgon (including the majority of its caldera) lies in
Uganda. The fourth largest Ugandan national park, MENP encompasses
1154 sq. km and stretches between 0degrees 52'-1degree 25'N
and 34degrees 14'-34degrees 44'E. The majority of the park is
situated above 2000m and extends up to the highest peak (Wagagai)
at 4321m
Accommodation
Accommodation in this park is available at Volcanoes' Sipi Falls
Rest Camp
Activities
Walks, Game drives, Excellent Gorilla Trekking |
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