Savannah Elephants of Mountain Elgon, Wildlife at Mountain Elgon National Park

Mountain Elgon National Park is located along the border of Uganda about 100 kms north of Lake Victoria and western Kenya.

It is also referred to as an “Elephant den” due to the fact that it inhabits a large number of elephants i.e 100 individuals which are prominent around the caves despite the fact that the numbers reduced due to increased poaching for ivory around the 1980s and 90s.

They get salt hungry since their plant diet does not provide them with enough minerals like sodium so they go deep into the natural caves in the sides of the mountain to lick salt.

They then exhume the mineral rich rock with their tusks breaking off coarse chunks and eating the salt as a vital diet increment.

These elephants are referred to as Savannah elephants also known as the Loxodonta africana Africana. The beautiful terrain of the area includes rocky slopes, shrubs, forest trees, legendary volcanic caves with lots of salt and many elephants.

This has enabled the elephants to live longer from one generation to another. Kitum cave is the most prominent among caves that have been visited by the elephants which has led to their continuous expansion over the years.

These elephants are the only elephants that go salt mining in the dark caves around the entire world so conserving and protecting these is a priority so that they don’t run into extinction.

The Kitum cave is referred to as the ‘Place of Ceremonies’ in Masai due to the fact that it is frequently visited and extends about 160m into the mountain.

Wildlife animals as well as primates and these include; colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, leopard, giant forest hog, bushbuck, eland, buffalo, duicker, golden cat etc.