Kakamega Forest is a tropical rainforest in the Nandi and Kakamega areas of Kenya. It is watered by the Yala and Isiukhu rivers flowing into Lake Victoria. The forest and its reserves cover an area of about 238 square kilometers.
Kakamega Forest is the last remnant of the ancient Guineo-Congolian forest in Kenya, which once covered the entire African continent. The forest lies at 1500-1600 meters above sea level, receiving an average rainfall of 1200-1700mm annually.
Kakamega Forest boasts 380 recorded species of plants, including 150 species of trees and shrubs, 170 species of flowering plants, 60 species of ferns, and 60 species of orchids, 9 of which can only be found in Kakamega Forest. The forest is home to 489 species of butterflies, 27 species of snakes, 330 species of birds, and 7 species of primates.
Areas around Kakamega Forest are densely populated, and the forest is suffering from deforestation due to traditional medicine, cattle grazing, firewood, and building materials.
The forest is home to various types of vegetation and trees, such as Mount Elgon teak and Prunus africana, making it an ideal place for zoologists and botanists to conduct research. Kakamega is home to several species of insects, including the pink and green flower mantis and Goliath beetles.
Some trees in Kakamega are believed to be over 700 years old.
Entry Fee The entry fee to Kakamega Forest is $25 for adult foreign non-residents, $25 for foreign non-resident children, 300 KES for foreign resident adults and Kenyan citizen adults, and 215 KES for Kenyan children and foreign resident children. Different fees are charged for various activities in the reserve, such as forest walks, birding, and many other activities.
History Kakamega Forest was first gazetted as a forest reserve with two other small nature reserves in 1933.
Between 2001 and 2010, a German-funded project called BOITA worked in the forest to create several forest inventories for many life forms and aimed to find strategies for sustainable use of the forest.
Location Kakamega Forest is situated in Kakamega and Nandi counties, northwest of Nairobi, close to the Ugandan border in the Lake Victoria catchment area. You can reach the park by road from Nairobi via the Nakuru-Kapsabet 418-kilometer road, where you join the Kisumu-Kakamega road to the forest.
Tourists who prefer to travel by air can fly to Kisumu town or Eldoret town from Nairobi, then drive to the forest.
Best Time to Visit Kakamega Forest has two distinct rainy seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The long rainy season is from March to June, and the short rainy season is in October and November, while the dry season is from July to September and December to February.
The best time to visit Kakamega Forest is during the dry seasons when the trekking and walking trails in the park are in good condition, making it easier to traverse the forest.
Accommodation There are not many accommodation options in the park, but some places to stay include Udo Guest House, Isukuti Guest House, Udo Campsite, and many other campsites established within the forest with basic facilities like toilets and showers. You can also book accommodation in the nearby towns.
Animals Kakamega Forest is inhabited by blue monkeys, bush pigs, duikers, olive baboons, De Brazza monkeys, giant forest hedgehogs, red-tailed monkeys, pottos, African clawless otters, bushbucks, giant African water shrews, bats, porcupines, leopards, and vervet monkeys. The last sighting of a leopard was in 1991.
Some snake species in the forest include the rhinoceros horned viper, black forest cobra, Gabon viper, and black-lipped cobra, among many others.
What to Do Birding Kakamega Forest is a birder’s paradise with 367 species of birds recorded. Nine species are endemic to the forest and found nowhere else on Earth, 194 are forest-dependent species, 40 of the 43 Guinea-Congo forest biome species, 33 species of the Afro-tropical highland biome, and it is also home to two globally threatened species.
Some examples of birds found in Kakamega Forest are Chapin’s flycatcher, Turner’s eremomela, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, crested guineafowl, giant kingfisher, African broadbill, African goshawk, banded prinia, yellow-spotted barbet, white-chinned prinia, white-breasted negrofinch, chestnut wattle-eye, dusky tit, Cassin’s honeyguide, buff-spotted woodpecker, buff-throated apalis, hairy-breasted barbet, grey-green bushshrike, black-billed weaver, African emerald cuckoo, brown-eared woodpecker, black-faced rufous warbler, black-billed turaco, joyful greenbul, Mackinnon’s shrike, Least honeyguide, pink-footed puffback, red-bellied paradise flycatcher, Uganda woodland warbler, red-headed bluebill, Kakamega greenbul, Luhder’s bushshrike, white-browed crombec, banded snake eagle.
Nature Guided Forest Walks Kakamega Forest can best be explored on foot to come close to its flora and fauna. Numerous walking trails have been established, each providing a thrilling experience through the forest. During nature-guided walks, you will be able to see a lot of wildlife and birds.
Hiking Kakamega Forest lies at a high altitude of 1500-1600 meters above sea level. Hiking is one of the main tourist activities within the forest, with many different trails established. Tourists planning to hike in Kakamega Forest should come prepared with waterproof hiking boots, plenty of drinking water, energy snacks, a raincoat, long-sleeved clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, and other necessities.
Primate Walks Kakamega Forest is predominantly inhabited by primates that you can spot during the walk. Examples of primates living in the forest include African clawless otters, blue monkeys, giant forest hogs, aardvarks, De Brazza’s monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and many others.
Butterfly Watching Kakamega Forest is home to about 400 species of butterflies and 600 butterfly-related species, making it one of the highest concentrations of butterflies in the world.
Picnicking Kakamega Forest is an ideal place for picnicking in Kenya. Several picnic sites have been established within the reserve for tourists to choose from.
Camping The best way to wake up to the African call of chattering birds in peace is by camping in Kakamega Forest. There are both public and private campsites available, with most public campsites providing basic facilities like toilets and showers.
What to See/Attractions Kakamega National Reserve Kakamega National Reserve was established in 1985, covering 235 square kilometers. It is home to black and white colobus monkeys, giant forest hedgehogs, clawless otters, and pottos, with numerous species of birds.
Kisere Forest Reserve For forest lovers, a trip to Kakamega can be combined with a visit to Kisere Forest Reserve, also located in Kakamega County. The forest is home to several species of monkeys, including the endangered De Brazza’s monkey, although it suffers encroachment from humans who have deforested it for its resources.
Mama Mtere Tree Unfortunately, the famous Mama Mtere tree, which was one of Kakamega’s forest attractions, fell after about 300 years. This tree was important to the local communities because they believed a god resided there and would pray under the ancient tree for various blessings like rain and good harvests. The tree was also used for the medicinal value of its bark and seeds.
Buyangu Hill Buyangu Hill is one of the best viewing points in Kakamega to observe the beautiful flora and fauna of the forest. It is best to visit this point early in the morning or late in the evening for breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.
Isiukhu Falls The spectacular Isiukhu Falls are located on Buyangu Hill. The hike to the falls usually takes half a day of discovering the ancient Kakamega Forest before the beautiful falls open up to you in the middle of nowhere. It’s an ideal place for picnicking and bird watching. The hike will require you to carry long-sleeved clothes, insect repellent, good hiking shoes, plenty of drinking water, energy-boosting snacks, a camera, binoculars, and any other necessities you might need.
Crying Stone One of the most interesting attractions around Kakamega is the Crying Stone, located 3 kilometers from the forest, overlooking the main road highway. This unique rock resembles the shape of a person crying, and the locals around Kakamega believe that when the stone ‘cries,’ it symbolizes a good omen of a good harvest.
Mount Elgon National Park You can combine your trip to Kakamega Forest with a visit to Mount Elgon National Park, also situated in western Kenya. Cave exploration is one of the highlights of a Mount Elgon National Park visit; there are numerous ancient lava caves to be explored, one of the most interesting being Kitum Cave, which elephants frequently visit in search of salt.
Mount Elgon National Park is also an Important Bird Area and designated by UNESCO as a Man and Biosphere Reserve. The park is home to animals such as elephants, bushbucks, grey duikers, red duikers, buffalos, olive baboons, and black and white colobus monkeys, among many others.
There are over 240 bird species recorded in Mount Elgon, 47 of the 70 Afro-tropical biome species, and 19 of the 43 Guinea-Congo biome species. Some of these birds include the globally threatened Sharpe’s longclaw and several other species of birds.
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