Mt. Elgon is Kenya's second highest mountain. It lies 140km North East of Lake Victoria and is bisected by the Kenya-Uganda border. It is an ancient eroded volcano with a huge caldera and, on its summit, the spectacular flat topped basalt column known as Koitobos. Another unique feature of the mountain is the lava tube caves, some over 60m wide and frequented by elephants (and other animals) digging for salts. The mountain soils are red laterite. Mt Elgon is an important water catchment for the Nzoia river which flows into Lake Victoria and for the Turkwel river which flows into Lake Turkana.

Mt Elgon National Park was gazetted in 1968 and covers a narrow transect up the North Eastern slopes of the mountain, from lower montane forest to the caldera edge. The remaining forest and moorland is part of the Mt Elgon Forest Reserve. The Ugandan side of the mountain is protected within Uganda's Mt Elgon National Park.

Location:
On the western border of Kenya with Uganda, in Trans-nzoia District of Rift Valley Province. It covers an area of 169km2.

Climate:
The climate is moist to moderate dry. Annual rainfall is over 1,270mm.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Together with the fauna and flora, the park is endowed with variety and breathtaking scenery of cliffs, caves, waterfalls, gorges, mesas, calderas, hot springs, and the mountain peaks.

The most popular areas are the four explorable, vast caves where frequent night visitors such as elephants and buffaloes come to lick the natural salt found on the cave walls. Kitum cave, with overhanging crystalline walls, enters 200 m into the side of Mt. Elgon.

The breathtaking natural beauty of the park can be best appreciated from the Endebess Bluff where one gets a panoramic view of the areas' escarpments, gorges, mesas, and rivers.

The highest peak of Mt. Elgon on the Kenya side, Koitoboss, measures 13,852 ft (4,155 m), and is easily reached by hikers in about two hours from the road's end.

(Uganda - Kenya)

Day 1 Kampala.
Arrival at Entebbe airport. Transfer to Victoria Hotel; a hotel with country style building overlooking Lake Victoria - the second largest fresh water lake in the world. If you arrive early, you can have an optional visit to the Zoo and the Botanical gardens of Entebbe. Dinner and overnight will be at the hotel.

Day 2 Kampala - Mbale
Drive to Jinja, Uganda's second largest city via Kampala - Uganda's capital city. From its humble beginning to present day, old Kampala hill has extended to sit on more than ten hills. Jinja is popularly known as the industrial Center. It is Jinja that harbors the Hydro Electric Power station that serves the county's population with its electricity requirements. A visit to the source of Victoria Nile and the Bujagali Falls makes your day. After lunch, continue to Mbale - the 3rd largest city in Uganda. Situated along a low ridge at the foot of a volcanic mountain - Mt. Nkokonjeru, which is part of the waterfalls, combined with the evergreen cultivated slope forms a very attractive background that captures your attention. Dinner and overnight will be at the Mt. Elgon Hotel.

Day 3 Mbale - Mudange Cliffs.
After breakfast, drive via Budadiri (1250 m) to Bumasola (1,770m); the starting point of your Mt. Elgon climb. After brief introductions to your crew, the 4 hours walk starts taking you through a volcanic landscape ascending the Mudange cliffs on ladders along a ridge. The numerous waterfalls that characterize Mt. Elgon are water reservoirs for the Nile. The night will be spent in tents at the top of the Mudange Cliffs (2,290) where the Montane Forest begins.

Day 4 Mudange Cliffs - Mude Caves.
Your walk today takes through the Montane Forest and mixed Bamboo with lunch on the way to Mude caves. Enroute you will see black and white colobus and blue monkeys apart from the various bird species. The Montane Forest gives way to Heath and Moorland at 3,000m. Overnight will be at the Mude Caves 3,500m.

Day 5 Mude Caves (Uganda) - Koitaboss (Kenya).
Today's trek takes you to point Wagagai - 4,321m; the highest peak on Mt. Elgon. As you approach the peak; you will walk along the rim of one of the world's largest calderas, which harbors a number of small lakes left behind from glaciers of the last ice age. Beyond the peak lies the border between Kenya and Uganda. Cross over to Kenya and walk through the Moorland to a fly camp next to Koitabos where you will spend the night and meet the Kenya game rangers.

Day 6 Koitaboss - Mt. Elgon Lodge.
After breakfast, you will say goodbye to the Ugandan crew and start your 2 hours descend to the road head. Vehicles will be awaiting at the head to take you round the Mt. Elgon National Park for game viewing with a possibility of viewing elephants, buffalo, and antelopes just to mention a few. Lunch will be at Kitum cave; one of the famous elephant caves where elephants and buffalos visit for a mineral lick. Continue to the Mt. Elgon Lodge; a converted old farm house, for dinner and overnight.

Day 7 Mt Elgon Lodge - Eldoret.
After an early breakfast at 6.00 am, drive to the Saiwa National Park for a hunt of the 'Sitatunga', the unique antelope that spends most of the day under water and may get out to graze at night and early mornings. Saiwa is the only National Park in Kenya that hosts this antelope species. Continue to Sirikwa Hotel in Eldoret for late lunch. Eldoret is one of the biggest industrial towns in Kenya and harbors an international airport. The afternoon will be spent at leisure, you can otherwise take a walk in town and mix with locals. Overnight will be at the Sirikwa Hotel.

Day 8 Eldoret - Lake Bogoria.
After breakfast, continue to the Kerio valley, a scenic part of the Great Rift Valley. The drive takes you down the Elgeyo escarpment to the floor of the Kerio valley and up and down the Tugen Hills to Lake Bogoria National Reserve. Lunch will be taken at Lake Bogoria Hotel. Lake Bogoria is one of the Rift Valley salt-water lakes famous for its Hot Springs and millions of flamingoes. After lunch, you will have game drives at the reserve. Besides Flamingos, Zebra, Impala, Gazelles and sometimes Leopards can be viewed. Back at the hotel, you can enjoy a swim at the swimming pool filled with natural hot water. Dinner and overnight will be at the hotel.

Day 9 Lake Bogoria Hotel - Lake Nakuru - Lake Naivasha .
Continue to L. Nakuru National Park. Lake Nakuru is another of the Rift Valley lakes know for its Flamingo Population. Game drives within the park gives you the unique opportunity of viewing the almost extinct Rhino, and may be lions and leopards. Lunch will be taken at a lodge in the park. Evening transfer to Lake Naivasha Country Club for dinner and overnight. Lake Naivasha is another of the Rift Valley Lakes and the third largest lake in Kenya. You can have an optional sundowner boat trip to the lake where Water Bucks and hippos are resident.

Day 10 Lake Naivasha - Nairobi.
After breakfast, proceed to Hells gate National Park; short walks in the heat of the day between the towering walls of volcanic rocks take you to another world. The unique volcanic features and hot springs that surround you are simply fascinating. The geothermal power station that supplies 20% of Kenya's electricity is in itself an attraction at the Hells gate. After lunch, drive to Nairobi for overnight at the Boulevard Hotel; the country hotel in town. From here, you can opt to have a break from the comfort zones in Hotels and engage in a light trek to the Maasai area around the Chyulu Range.

Important: This program can also start from Nairobi and end at Entebbe from where you can connect to your Ruwenzori climb or the Gorilla Trek.

• Climbers must bring along their own climbing gear.
• Our porters carry 8 kg of personal climbing gear
  Price Per Person = USD $1800