KITUM, MACKINGENY AND CHEPNYALI CAVES

Although you are unlikely to encounter elephants, the caves are an exciting place to visit. If you don't have a vehicle, a ranger can accompany you, but expect a long walk. Kitum Cave (Maasai ceremonial place) is the most famous, located at an altitude of 2,400 meters on the Kenyan side of Mount Elgon, not far from the border with Uganda. With a depth of 165 m, it is about fifty meters wide at its entrance. We reach it by a small path which winds in the middle of a luxuriant vegetation. After a few minutes, we are in front of a cliff covered with mosses and ferns. Under a small waterfall is a large opening in the shape of an arch. An impression of mystery emerges from it, still reinforced when we penetrate inside a huge room. Inside, neither stalactite nor river bed, it is a "dry" cave. The darkness quickly becomes total - absolutely plan a flashlight - and one is struck by a strong pungent smell. It is due to the thousands of bats hanging over your heads! In the light of the torches, you can see the traces of tusks on the walls, but it is difficult to imagine dozens of pachyderms digging in the total darkness. The nearby Mackingeny cave is just as spectacular. The one of Chepnyali is less impressive, but still worth a visit.