Start › Mountain Gorillas & More › National Parks: Unspoilt Nature in Uganda › Mount Elgon National Park in Uganda
The centrepiece of the Mount Elgon National Park of around 1,150 km² is its namesake: the 4,321-metre (14,176 ft) high Mt Elgon. As an extinct volcano – last active around 24 million years ago – the mountain was presumably once the highest elevation in all of Africa. Even higher than Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. But over the course of millions of years its summit collapsed in on itself and now forms the mighty caldera with a total of 5 peaks. The crater lakes found there today were formed by glaciers during the last ice age in the Pleistocene.
The original vegetation, above all the montane rainforests, has been pushed far back by agriculture. The national park was therefore established in 1993 in order to protect the last natural remnants. In addition, the mountain region plays an important role for the groundwater in eastern Uganda.
Today caves, gorges, hot springs, waterfalls, the 5 peaks that are easy to climb and the caldera itself offer numerous destinations of rare value.
From Kampala, 250 km away, the park is quickly reachable via Mbale on largely impeccable roads. Within the national park, apart from some campsites and the Kapkwai Cottages near Sipi, there is only one accommodation option. In the nearby town of Mbale, however, good hotels are available.