The forests around Elgon are a haven for many species of monkey, as well as elephant, buffalo, and leopard. The higher moorland plains are popular with grazing game. The mountain is deservedly famous for its elephants, which enter the caves at night to excavate salt from the walls with their tusks. The best way to witness this remarkable sight is to visit the large Kitum Cave at Dawn, and see the procession of elephant as they make their way out of the gloomy caverns and into the morning light.
This is an important bird area, species of interest recorded here include the Slender billed Starling, Sharpe's Longclaw, Crowned Eagle, Ring necked Francolin, Striped Rufftail, Red chested Owlet, Thick billed Honeyguide, Toro Olive Greenbul and Purple throated Cuckoo Shrike.
Spend some time souvenir shopping - the Kisii people of Western Kenya are gifted stone carvers. They use a locally quarried soapstone to produce a range of carvings. The most popular items are small animals, chess pieces based on traditional African designs and more functional items such as egg cups, soap dishes, coasters and ash trays. The soapstone here varies in colour from white (the easiest to carve) through various shades of pink to a deep lustrous red (the most difficult to carve).
Western Kenya, Kenya
Saiwa Swamp National Park is one of Kenya’s smallest parks - only 3 sq. km. It was opened in 1974 to protect the semi-aquatic Sitatunga Antelope notable for its wide spread hooves which al...
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Western Kenya, Kenya
The people living around Mt. Elgon appeared to be physically similar to the Maasai, and for some time that is how they were known. In fact, these people were not Maasai. There were members o...
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