National Parks Africa » Arabuku-Sokoke Forest Reserve

The Arabuku-Sokoke Forest Reserve runs parallel to the coastline between Kilifi and Gedi for a stretch of about 360 square kilometres (144 square miles). Tightly surrounded by farmland, it is the last remaining extensive patch of brachestygia woodland and lowland coastal rain forest of azeleas left in Kenya.

Rare mammals: The forest is home to a number of interesting and rare mammals including Zanzibar duiker, Adder’s duiker, the bristle-tailed and the yellow romped elephant shrew. All are difficult to see because of their shy nature and small size. Elephant shrews, with their elephantine snouts, are the largest members of this peculiar African family, measuring 50 centimetres (20 inches) long.

A number of rare and common local birds are also found in this forest. These include the Sokoke stops owl, thick billed cuckoo, Retz helmet shrike, Amani sunbird, African pitta (rare), Fisher’s turaco, Sokoke pipit and southern-banded harrier eagles. Clarke’s weavers occur in flocks of 100 or more but their nests have never been found. Another memorable sight are the thousands of butterflies that drink along the pools near the forest tracks.

Take the Mombasa-Malindi road to reach the forest. Some 20 kilometres (12 miles) after crossing the gorge with the Kilifi ferry, the forest can be seen on the left. There are several access routes, most of which require four-wheel drive vehicles.