Kakamega Forest National Reserve
The Kakamega Forest National Reserve which is also known as Canopy of Natural Beauty, best for bird and butterfly watchers is located in the Lake Victoria basin, approximately fifty kilometers north of Kisumu city.
Kakamega rainforest is one of the most excellent tourist destination in Kenya and East Africa that you can visit and explore the reserve on foot enjoying the wildlife in wild, feeling relaxed, with a cool breeze and fresh air of the rain forest.
The park offers unique wildlife and scenic beauty as it’s the only remnant in Kenya of the unique Guineo-Congolian forest ecosystem. There are seven kilometers of nature trails with indigenous trees lining the trails which are identified on signs with their local and latin names., The highest point in the forest; Buyango hill is a must walk for most visitors.
Kakamega Forest National Reserve can be accessed by both road and Air. It is about 415km from Nairobi via Nakuru and Kapsabet towns and about fifty kilometers from Kisumu city. Visitors to the forest can either opt to fly to Kakamega, Eldoret or Kisumu where there are scheduled flights and then travel by road to the forest.
The forest is mostly visited by the lovers of butterfly and bird watchers. The park also supports more than 350 species of trees and is the natural habitat for more than 300 bird species, over 400 species of butterflies, 27 species of snakes and seven primate species as well as the rare, black and white colobus monkey, DeBrazza monkey and vervet monkey. Other animals to be found in Kakamega forest are the duikers, dik diks and potto.
Flora found in the park comprise some of Africa’s greatest hard and soft woods such as red and white stinkwood, Elgon teak, and several varieties of Croton and Aniageria Altisima.
Fauna which can be found in the forest include Duikers, Bush Pig, Bushbuck, Mongoose, African Clawless Otter, Squirrels, Giant African Water Shrew, Tree Pangolin, Porcupine, Bats and a number of primates including the redtail monkey, blue monkey, baboon, De Brazza’s monkey, potto and the vervet monkey.
For insect lovers the forest also is home to a number of insects such as pink and green Flower Mantis, Goliath beetles and numerous colorful butterflies
The size of the forest is about 44 Km2. The Forest is very wet, with temperature ranging from 20-30 c and has two rainfall seasons; long rains (March and April) and short rains (November/ December) in which rainfall ranges from 200mm to 700 mm. January and February are the driest months.
Accommodation is available within the Reserve: 1 guest house that has eight beds, self-help bandas with 10 beds and two campsites. There is other nearby hotel accommodation that one can book.
Attractions at Kakamega Forest National Reserve
- Butterfly watching
- Primates Watching
- Massive Trees, Scenic Spots and Waterfalls
- Snakes
- Bird watching,
Activities at Kakamega Forest National Reserve
- Forest Walking
- Hiking
- Bird Watching
- Camping
- Butterfly Watching
- Self-Guided nature walks
- Primate Watching
- Village walks
- Game watching
Other Kenya National Parks and Game Reserves