This is the fourth largest park in the country. Mt. Elgon is an extinct volcano that straddles both the Ugandan and Kenyan borders. Two million years ago, after its last major eruption, the top of Mt. Elgon collapsed, creating one of the largest calderas in the world.

The caldera resembles a large ‘bowl’, 8 km in diameter, surrounded by a ring of rugged peaks. The collapsed crater covers approximately 40 sq km with hot springs inside and shallow ‘crater’ lakes throughout.

Trekking to the top of Mt. Elgon will take you through four distinct vegetation zones. The lush Montane Forest, occurring between 2,000 and 2,500m, along with the Mixed Bamboo zone (2,400-3,000m) contains the largest biodiversity on the mountain.

Dense scrub and brilliant wildflowers characterize the Heath Zone (3,000-3,500m). Higher up the mountain at 3,500-4,231m, you will find the highest number of endemic plant species including clusters of peculiar so-called big game plants-giant fleshy herbs such as lobelias and groundsels that can reach up to 6m in height.

There are few mammals to be seen here, but occasionally Chanler’s mountain reedbucks can be spotted near the caldera rim.

There are several species of raptors to be seen, the most impressive of which is the lammergeier.

Distance from Kampala: 280km; estimated transit time: 6hrs