Mount Elgon National Park Biodiversity
The vegetation of Mt. Elgon reflects the altitudinal controlled zonal belts commonly associated with large mountain massifs. Four broad vegetation communities are recognised, namely: mixed montane forest up to an elevation of 2500m studded with the giant lobelia and groundsel plants, bamboo and low canopy montane forest from 2400 to 3000m, and moorland above 3500m. The botanical diversity of the park includes giant podocarpus, pillarwood Cassipourea malosana, juniper and Elgon olive trees cedar Juniperus procera, elder Sambucus adnata, pure stands of Podocarpus gracilior to mention but a few.
Elephants and buffalo can be found on the lower slopes of the mountain. The park is also home to a variety of small antelope and duiker, as well forest monkeys, including the blue monkey, black and white colobus. The red-tailed monkey have been reported after being thought to be locally extinct. In the late 1990s, it is believed that both leopard and hyena existed there.
Mount Elgon is home to at least 300 bird species including; the Jackson’s francolin, Hartlaub’s turaco, the eastern bronze-naped pigeon, the Tacazze sunbird and the endangered lammergeier, due to their restricted range.
Maathai’s longleg, an endangered dragonfly was discovered in the park in 2005 and named after Nobel Prize winner Wangari Mathaai.
It’s quite apt to note that half of Uganda’s butterfly species have been reported in Mt. Elgon.
Mount Elgon National Park Overview
Mount Elgon National Park History
Mount Elgon National Park Climate and Geography
Mount Elgon National Park Tourism