Mount Elgon Foundation

The aim of the Mount Elgon Foundation is to seek viable long-term measures that will help mitigate the challenges faced by Mount Elgon. More specifically, it wishes to: • reduce human-elephant conflict, protecting people, their livelihoods and the elephants; • prevent deforestation and promote reforestation; • promote further recording and preservation of local cultural heritage, and • provide alternative environmentally and culturally sensitive economic opportunities. The Foundation in seeking to support both cultural and natural heritage objectives, also wishes to collaborate in its work with colleagues both in Kenya and Uganda. The formation of the Mount Elgon Foundation came about through archaeological research at Chepnyalil Cave, Mount Elgon National Park, Kenya (see banner photo) that brought two of the trustees together and led to further investigation of caves on the mountain to identify new sites to undertake archaeological digs. While looking for more caves to dig in, the extent to which the elephants use caves widely across the mountain started to become apparent.