MT ELGON

Mt. Elgon
Mt. Elgon is the second highest mountain in Kenya. The mountain straddles the Kenya-Uganda border. The name Elgon is a corruption of a Maasai word. The Maasai  called the mountain Ol doinyo loo lkony or the  mountain of the Il-kony. Il-kony refers to the Sabaot people who live on the slopes of Mount Elgon. The Sabaots are a part of the Kalenjin community.



Quick Facts:
Height:  4321 metres or 14,178 ft.
Peaks: 
Wagagai - 4321 metres Uganda
Sudek - 4,302m  Kenya
Koitobos - 4,222m KenyaStatus: extinct volcano
Age: 24 million years

Mount Elgon has the largest surface area of any extinct volcano in the world (50 km by 80 km ). Mt. Elgon It contains the largest intact caldera, a collapsed crater covering over 40kms at the top of the mountain, sorrounded by a series of rugged peaks

Vegetation
Dense montane forest
Bamboo
Heath and moorland
Giant lobelia and groundsels

Wildlife
 Black and White Colobus Monkey,
Blue Monkey,
Birds such as
Golden Winged and Tacazze sunbirds, Ross's and Hartlaubs Turacos, Black and White Casqued and Crowned Hornbills, the endangered Lammergeier and the Jackson's Francolin.
Buffalo,
Duiker,
Hyena
Leopard.
Elephant

Mount Elgon is sorrounded by the Mount Elgon National park on the Kenyan side and the main entrance is at Suam in Kitale

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MOUNT KENYA

Mt. Kenya
This is the mountain that gave the country its name. The name Kenya comes from the Maasai word "erokenya", which means mist or snow. The Maasai called the mountain Oldonyo Le-rukenya in reference to its snow-capped peaks and enveloping foggy cloud. Another popular Maasai name for Mt Kenya is Oldoinyo Keri, meaning striped mountain. Mt. Kenya, fittingly is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second highest in Africa.

Quick Facts:
Age: 3 and a half million years old
Status: extinct volcano
Height: 5,199m (17,057 ft) tall.
Peaks: Batian - 5,199m (17057 ft) tall.
            Nelion - 5,188m (17,021 ft) t
            Lenana - 4,985 meter (16,355 ft)

Nelion peak is the hardest to climb only experienced mountaineers should attempt to climb. Lenana Summit however is ideal for amateur climbers. It’s possible to hike to the Lenana summit of Mount Kenya without mountaineering experience.


The peak is permanently covered by snow and glaciers. The upper reaches of the mountain has unique forms of flora and fauna.

Flora
Bamboo
Montane forest
Moorland and
Tundra
Alpine and sub-alpine flora.
These include tufts of tussock grassland, Spanish moss, giant groundsels and giant lobelia that have adapted to the treacherous mountainous climate.

Fauna
Leopards,
African elephants,
Black rhino,
Buffalo, 
Giant forest hog.
MonkeyS
 Hyrax species 


Mount Kenya is surrounded at its base by the Mount Kenya National Park, which is a popular tourist attraction. There are several lodges and hotels around Mt. Kenya.

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LANDSCAPE

Kenya's landscape ranks among the most fascinating and diverse the world over. From the low-lying coastlands to the snow capped Mt. Kenya that rises to 17,058ft. above sea level. From the tree dotted plains to the jaggered escarpment that marks the sudden drop into the floor of the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley that is littered with alkaline lakes.

From the coast, on the Indian Ocean, - 500 kilometers of coral reef fringed by the most beautiful talcum-soft white sandy beaches, the Low plains rise to central highlands. The highlands are bisected by the Great Rift Valley; a fertile plateau in the east. The Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa.

The highlands are the site of the highest point in Kenya (and the second highest in Africa): Mount Kenya, on the Equator line which reaches 5,199 m (17,057 ft) has peaks covered with snow and it is ringed by tropical rainforests.The landscape also comprises of lush agricultural fields, savanna grasslands, and the world's second largest freshwater lake - Lake Victoria that is shared by three East African Countries.

Mountains: 

• Mount Kenya - Height 5199 metres - second highest mountain in Africa.Although it is on the equator, the top of the mountain (or the summit) is always covered with snow.

• Mount Elgon - (4,321m) - on the border between Kenya and Uganda.It is a volcanic mountain

• Mount Longonot -  (2777 m)A dormant volcano in the Rift Valley

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FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora
Kenya has a diverse plant variety. This ranges from dense mountain forests to savannah and scrub land.

Rainforest
Species

• Bamboo
• Camphor
• Teak

Savannah
Species:

• Grassland
• Acacia
• Papyrus

Coastal Forests
Species:

• Palm
• Mangroves
• Teak 
• Copal
• Sandalwood

Fauna:
Kenya is a land blessed with an interesting array of wildlife that is the pride and joy of the country's tourism sector.
The main attractions are the:
Big Five (Named for their difficulty to hunt and not size)

• Lion
• Elephant
• Buffalo
• Rhino
• Leopard

Others:

• Antelopes
• Giraffes
• Zebras
• Warthogs
• Baboons among many others

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CLIMATE

Kenya experiences a tropical climate.  The climatic condition varies greatly from one part of the country to the other. From deserts to Savannah plains to alpine highlands and semi - desert. At the coastal region it is hot and humid while the other parts of the country experiences temperate climate except for the northern and north eastern parts of the country where it is very arid. The equator passes through the country almost at the halfway mark making the climate to be very stable.

Stats for selected Cities:
                   Altitude            Temperature (Degrees Celsius)
Mombasa  17 m                   22.40 C - 30.30 C
Nairobi     1,661 m              13.60 C - 25.20 C
Eldoret      3,085 m              9.50 C - 23.60 Celsius
Lodwar     506 m                 23.70 C - 34.80 C

The weather is very pleasant and sunshine is  all the year allowing you to dress lightly. Cool conditions are experience at night and early in the morning.

Long rains season -  April to June
Short rains season - October to December.

Hottest Months - February to March
Coldest Months - July to August.

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