Elephants Maternity in Mt. Elgon

Mt. Elgon is unique is many ways. It is said to be the mountain with the largest volcanic base in the world - 4,000km2. It has caves that are visited by elephants for salt licking and has an elephant maternity. It is the oldest mountain in East Africa and it is claimed that long time ago, it was higher than Mt. Kilimanjaro but years of erosion have reduced its height to only 4,321 meters. The highest peak, Wagagai is located in Uganda. On Kenyan side, Koitoboss peak is the highest at 4,222meters. Sudek or Lower Elgon peak is 4,302meters, is at the boundary of Kenya and Uganda. 

                 Sosoi Rock in Mt. Elgon

Also known as Mountain of the Breast or mountain of Illusion, the bluffs of the enigmatic Elgon has been held sacred for ages. Its name originates from the Sabaot people who call it Ol Doinyo Iigoon, meaning the mountain resembling a human breast. The mountain is also known as Masaba, named after the legendary forefather of the Bamasaaba people. The forest is the home to the Bagisu, Sabiny and Ogiek who dwell deep within the forest.  

On the Kenyan side, Mt. Elgon has four caves within the National Park: Kitum, Making'eny Chepnyalil and Ngwarisha. Kitum and Making'eny caves are easily accessible. Kitum cave is visited by elephants, dubbed the troglodyte tuskers in search of salts and minerals. The elephants of Mt. Elgon are mountain elephants, which are smaller in size than the savannah elephants. 

Over the years, elephants have established a maternity within Mt. Elgon forest. Each year, usually in the months of August to December, families of elephants with expectant mothers pay pilgrimage to Lolwoot cave, their major maternity ward, in Chesamo. The elephants arrive in droves, some travelling for more than 100kms to the maternity

After a period of 680 days, the mother elephant gives birth while standing to an almost 3 feet tall calf weighing about 160kgs. The entire family circles around the delivering mother as they protect her from all sides. As the calf is born, usually head and forelegs first, the grandmothers, aunts, sisters and female cousins give their unique ululation by trumpeting, stamping their feet and wave their trunks to welcome the new born. 

The mothers safely give birth within the cave. The cave has several rooms - calves room, areas for salt licking, bedroom and even ‘washroom’ where the elephants relieve themselves.  The salty rocks of the caves contain necessary minerals for the lactating mothers. The mothers and the calves stay in the caves until the calves are strong enough to travel for longer distances.