Mt Elgon National Park

Mountain Elgon is the 8th highest national park in Africa rising from the broadest base of any freestanding mountain in the world. Elgon is the relic of an extinct volcano related to the tectonic forces responsible for the formation of the Great Rift Valley several million years ago. The tallest peaks of Mountain Elgon form a jagged circle around the more or less intact caldera with a diameter of about 8km (making it one of largest in the world); and is dotted with hot springs and small crater lakes resulting from Pleistocene glacial activity. The tallest peak on the Ugandan side of the border is Wagagai (4,321m) lying on the southwest caldera rim. Other prime peaks are Kiongo (4,303m) in the south, Mubiyi (4,210m) in the north, and Jackson's Summit (4,160m) in the east. Elgon is the main source of fresh water to millions of people at the slopes of the mountain.

Elgon's vegetation zones, like other East African mountains, constitute, below the 3000m contour, a contiguous belt of evergreen forest. This belt is divided into 2 broad strata: tall Afro-montane forest below 2,500m, and low-canopy montane forest and bamboo between 2,500m and 3000m. Above 3000m lies the heather belt. At 3,500m it gives way to Afro-Alpine vegetation studded with stands of giant lobelia and groundsel including the endemic Senecio barbatipes and Senecio elgonensis.

The park harbors 24 mammal species including blue monkey, black-and-white colobus, striking De Brazzas monkey, a small number of elephants, buffalo, bush pig, sitatunga, common duiker and leopards. The bird checklist of 305 species includes a rich variety of forest birds, as well as several endemic species to East Africa's montane moorlands. 12 of the species occur in no other Ugandan national park. Of particular interest are Jackson's Francolin, moorland francolin (elsewhere common only in Ethiopia's Bale Mountains), red-throated wryneck, Hunter's Cisticola, black-collared apalis, Moustached-green tinkerbird, Alpine Chat, Weynes weaver and endangered bearded vulture or Lammergeier.

GORILLA TOURS IN UGANDA

GORILLA TOURS IN RWANDA

SAFARIS IN RWANDA

Akagera Wildlife Tour (3 Days)
Nyungwe Chimps Tours(4 Days)
Rwanda Tours Adventure (10 Days)
Uganda Rwanda Tours (12 Days)
Primates Safari (12 Days) Tour
USA Contact Agent

Bruce Winfree
East Africa Adventures
www.eastafricaadventures.com
contact@eastafricaadventures.com
P.O.Box 26892
Winston-Salem, NC27114
Tel: +13367491400.