Mt. Elgon National Park

Overview

Introduction

Kenya's very isolated Mount Elgon, 250 mi/400 km northwest of Nairobi, is seldom visited. A dormant volcano covered with equatorial vegetation, it rises to 14,170 ft/4,320 m (the summit is actually across the border in Uganda). Hikers can trek to the highest peak on the Kenya side, which is about 13,850 ft/4,290 m. The park also has cliffs, waterfalls, calderas and hot springs. The main attraction, however, is the caves: Some are open to the public, and sometimes you'll see elephants in them, licking salt off the walls.

The park is an interesting place, but it is so far off the beaten track that it isn't worth a special trip unless you're spending several weeks in Kenya.