Mount Elgon, an extinct shield volcano in Kenya, is a remote and inaccessible place for the most part. Situated at the border of Uganda and Kenya, Mount Elgon has something far more dangerous than most volcanoes: the hidden Kitum cave at its base.
The surrounding dense and lush forestation implies that the cave is not frequented by tourists. However, this is probably for the best, as Kitum cave has a lot more hidden in its dark crevasses and mysterious rocks.
Many people have described the cave as the doorway to evil, considering the ominous tales about visitors who had entered the cave. Believed to be the site of origin of both the Marburg virus and Ebola, the Kitum cave remains under suspicion.
It must have served as a shelter for native tribes against raiders and a cultural site for religious ceremonies and gatherings. On the other hand, it is difficult to undermine the role of the cave in spreading two of the most deadly diseases known to mankind.
A Cave of Disease
The Kitum Cave is located in the Mount Elgon National Park in Kenya near the Ugandan border. You can visit the cave by landing at the Nairobi airport and traveling along the Kinshasa highway to reach your destination.
The highway crossing through central Africa was only a dirt path used by local villagers before it was paved in the 1970s. After paving the dirt path, the Kinshasa highway opened up travel opportunities for many tourists and visitors.
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On your journey to the Kitum Cave in Kenya, you might be going through the same path through which the HIV virus traveled to the world in the 1980s. The virus, responsible for around 36 million deaths and counting, also originated in the area.
Upon your arrival at the cave, you can feel the vibes of an Indiana Jones movie where you are at the gate of a forbidden temple. The massive entrance of the cave measures about 60 feet (18 m) in width, and the cave runs around 700 feet (200 m) deep into the side of the mountain.
The Kitum Cave is believed to be the source of Marburg virus disease and Ebola, according to the description of the cave in a book by Richard Preston. The book by Richard Preston, The Hot Zone, describes two different incidents which show that the cave might have been the site of origin for both these dangerous and highly infectious diseases.
According to the book, a French tourist visited the cave in January 1980 and went deep into the cave to explore. After a week after his visit to the cave, the French tourist experienced symptoms such as severe headache, nausea and vomiting, and fever.
The condition of the Frenchman worsened further as he spewed black vomit and blood discharged from all orifices in his body. Later studies revealed that the French tourist had been affected by the Marburg virus.
Another anecdote in the book by Richard Preston reflects on the case of a young boy from Denmark who had visited the cave in 1987. Surprisingly, the boy also faced the same fate after visiting the Kitum Cave, pointing out strong evidence of something mysterious in the cave.
What is In There?
Two people visiting the same cave seven years apart and dying in the same manner does not seem to be a coincidence, but it was only the start. There was a much larger Marburg outbreak in Angola in 2004-5 which claimed 227 lives out of 253 infected people, with a 90% fatality rate. Did the Kitum Cave play a role in introducing the virus to the world?
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The cave developed due to the cooling volcanic rock rather than in the form of a lava tube. A glimpse at the interior of the cave shows marks, furrows and stretches along the walls. Some would believe that these marks were made by ancient Egyptians in search of gold, diamond or precious minerals.
On the contrary, the marks and furrows on the walls of the cave have a “natural” explanation. The marks on the walls have been made by elephants who dig the walls with their tusks for the salt deposits. Many other animals, such as hyenas, buffaloes, leopards and antelopes, travel into the cave in the darkest hours of the night for the salty walls.
The deeper sections of the cave have served as a breeding ground for many insectivorous and fruit-eating bats. Popular belief suggests that the bats in the cave served as the carriers of Ebola and Marburg virus. On top of it, powdered guano or bat excrement is believed to be the disease vector for Ebola and Marburg virus disease.
The two cases highlighted in the book by Richard Preston created a horrifying representation of the dangers of the Kitum cave. One of the notable observations about the cave and its role in spreading Ebola and Marburg virus points to the bats residing in the cave.
As a matter of fact, it is still one of the biggest concerns for any tourist before entering the cave today. However, blood and tissue samples from bats did not reveal any signs of Ebola virus. On the other hand, bats were found capable of becoming reservoir hosts. The best way to make your way into the cave is by avoiding the deep corners where bats reside.
But, ultimately, the origins of the Ebola and Marburg virus in Kitum Cave remains inconclusive even today. The lack of evidence for Marburg virus in fruit bats has created further problems and we cannot even confirm their role as an animal vector.
However, you can still visit the cave and find a welcome notice on the cave asking tourists to explore the cave. The mystery of the cave can add up to the excitement of exploring somewhere that has been depicted as the gateway to evil.
Just be careful, is all.
Top Image: The entrance to Kitum Cave. Source: Nina R / CC BY 2.0.
By Bipin Dimri
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