Straddling the Kenya-Uganda border, Mount Elgon National Park is a haven for adventurers and nature lovers. The park is famous for its ancient caves, spectacular waterfalls, and one of the world’s largest calderas. This extinct volcano offers lush landscapes, diverse wildlife, and a serene escape from the busier parks in Kenya.
The park’s caves, such as Kitum and Chepnyalil, are a highlight, with Kitum Cave being particularly known for its “salt-mining” elephants that come to lick the mineral-rich walls. The forested trails are ideal for hiking, while the cascading waterfalls like the 80-meter Chepkit Waterfall add a magical touch. Mount Elgon offers an off-the-beaten-path experience filled with natural beauty and adventure.
Key Features
– Kitum and Chepnyalil Caves
– Spectacular waterfalls, including Chepkit Falls
– Diverse flora and fauna
– One of the largest volcanic calderas in the world
Best Time to Visit
– June–September (dry season, perfect for hiking)
– December–March (cool and dry weather)
Activities
– Guided cave tours
– Hiking and trekking to the caldera
– Birdwatching (including rare species)
– Wildlife spotting (elephants, leopards, buffalos)
– Picnic at scenic waterfalls
Getting There
– 7–8 hour drive from Nairobi to the park’s entrance
– Flights to Eldoret or Kitale, followed by a drive
Recommended Stay
2–3 nights
– 1–2 days exploring caves and waterfalls
– 1 day trekking or hiking to the caldera
Travel is the movement of people between relatively distant geographical locations, and can involve travel by foot, bicycle, automobile, train, boat, bus, airplane, or other means, with or without luggage, and can be one way or round trip. Travel can also include relatively short stays between successive movements.
The origin of the word "travel" is most likely lost to history. The term "travel" may originate from the Old French word travail, which means ‘work’. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the first known use of the word travel was in the 14th century.
It also states that the word comes from Middle English travailen, travelen (which means to torment, labor, strive, journey) and earlier from Old French travailler (which means to work strenuously, toil). In English we still occasionally use the words "travail", which means struggle. According to Simon Winchester in his book The Best Travelers’ Tales (2004), the words "travel" and "travail" both share an even more ancient root: a Roman instrument of torture called the tripalium (in Latin it means "three stakes", as in to impale).
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