Kitum Cave, Called 'The Cave Of Death,' Is Possibly One Of The Most Dangerous Places On Earth
Along the border between Kenya and Uganda sits the picturesque Mount Elgon, a 14,177-foot extinct volcano that acts as the centerpiece of Kenya’s Mount Elgon National Park. Hidden within the mountain lies Kitum Cave, a 600- to 700-foot arid cave home to a wide variety of animal and insect life. Despite the area's serene landscape, Kitum Cave is believed to be home to the deadly Marburg virus, a relative of Ebola.
Since the first human death was reported at Kitum Cave in 1980, the location has obtained a negative reputation and is, in some instances, considered one of the most dangerous places on Earth. Despite its danger, Kitum Cave has fascinated scientists and explorers for decades; the list below provides a brief history of the cave - and its deadly history.
Some Scientists Believe Kitum Cave Is The Source Of Both The Ebola And Marburg Viruses
Numerous scientific studies have shown that the soil found within Kenya's Kitum Cave contains the Marburg virus, a filo virus closely related to Ebola. Some scientists have even theorized that Ebola itself originated in Kitum Cave, although Ebola's origins are still a source of debate.
What is certain is that those who contract the Marburg virus typically experience extreme headaches, followed by a high fever, nausea, and vomiting. Since the Marburg virus was first detected in the late 1960s, it has often proved fatal to those who contract it.
Kitum Cave's decades-long association with Marburg virus outbreaks and violent death have resulted in it earning the nickname “the Hell Hole.”
Kitum Cave Hides Among The Remnants Of An Extinct Volcano
Kitum Cave is located 8,000 feet above the base of Mount Elgon's eastern side. The cave is believed to be between 600 and 700 feet deep, although its exact depth is difficult to discern due to the various wildlife that excavate the cave, as well as the many steep drops and low ceilings that make it difficult to navigate. The cave mouth is a massive 60 feet wide and is largely hidden by the dense vegetation growing around it.
Kitum Cave itself is not just a cave but a petrified forest created millions of years ago when Mount Elgon was still an active volcano. Today, it's home to countless species of insects and wildlife, including bats, monkeys, elephants, antelope, shrews, hyenas, leopards, buffalo, spiders, and moths.
Caves And Mines Are Reportedly Ideal Hosts For The Marburg Virus
Despite Mount Elgon's rainforest landscape, Kitum Cave is extremely dry and completely dark. The cave's dryness and lack of light likely account for why it has become such a rich breeding ground for disease, as most viruses can't survive for long in damp areas with lots of natural light.
As with caves like Kitum Cave, mines have also become hot spots for the Marburg virus. In 1999, the Democratic Republic of Congo experienced a deadly outbreak of the Marburg virus. The virus's origin was eventually traced to mines in the area, where people worked in close proximity to one another in a dark, dry environment.
Kitum Cave Contains An Elephant Graveyard
Kitum Cave is one of five known “elephant caves” in Mount Elgon. At night, elephants enter the cave and use their tusks to pick up large pieces of salt from the cave's walls and eat them.
Early explorers of Kitum Cave initially believed the unusual markings on the cave walls were from ancient Egyptians who mined the cave for precious stones; in actuality, the marks were thousands of years' worth of tusk marks from elephants visiting the cave.
Just as Kitum Cave can be dangerous for humans, it's also dangerous for elephants, who are unable to see in the darkness. This has led to many younger elephants falling into deep crevasses, which can become vast graveyards for elephant bones over centuries.
In 1980, A French Man Died After Visiting Kitum Cave
On January 1, 1980, Charles Monet, a 56-year-old French engineer living in Kenya, embarked on a camping trip to Mountain Elgon and set up camp not far from Kitum Cave.
Unaware of the cave's dangers, Monet reportedly explored the cave, likely coming into contact with the deadly Marburg virus. Because the virus didn't immediately present itself, Monet continued his trip before returning home.
About a week after his visit to Kitum Cave, Monet began experiencing severe headaches, followed by a high fever accompanied by nausea and vomiting. His symptoms only worsened, and he began experiencing frequent nosebleeds, vomiting blood, and eventually hemorrhaging from every orifice of his body.
Monet's unexpected and violent death was believed to be the result of his time in Kitum Cave.
In 1987, A Danish Teen Died Shortly After Visiting Kitum Cave
Seven years after Charles Monet's untimely death, Peter Cardinal, a 15-year-old boy from Denmark, was visiting Kenya with his family when he stumbled upon Kitum Cave in 1987.
Soon after he explored the cave, Cardinal began displaying the same systems as Monet. Reportedly, the teen was even taken to the same Nairobi hospital as the Frenchman.
The Danish boy's death was attributed to the Ravn virus, which can be directly linked to the Marburg virus. This second death consequentially spurred an international investigation into Kitum Cave.
