Mount Elgon, Shield volcano at Kenya-Uganda border, East Africa.
Mount Elgon is an extinct shield volcano on the border between Kenya and Uganda in East Africa, reaching 4,321 meters (14,177 feet). The caldera extends across 40 square kilometers (15 square miles) and includes five major peaks with steep cliffs and expansive moorland at higher elevations.
The volcano formed 24 million years ago, making it the oldest extinct volcano in East Africa. It originally exceeded Kilimanjaro in height before erosion reduced it over time.
The Bagisu call the peak Masaba after their founding father, while its present name comes from the Maasai term 'Ol Doinyo Ilgoon'. Communities on both sides of the border farm the lower slopes and regard the summit as a spiritually important landmark.
The two dry seasons from June to August and December to March offer the best conditions for visits, while the rest of the year sees over 1,270 millimeters of rain. Trails pass through forest and open terrain, with higher areas becoming cooler and more prone to mist.
Kitum Cave attracts elephants who enter at night to lick salt deposits from the mineral-rich walls. The animals deepen the cave over generations through this behavior, exposing new areas.
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