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Kakamega Forest

Kakamega is the last frontier of rain forest in Kenya, with unfortunately only 240 square kilometres remaining. This remnant is the eastern-most limit of rainforests of the Congo and West Africa. It is unique in Kenya and the forest contains many species found nowhere else in the country.

As small as it is though it still has over 300 species of birds, 7 different species of monkey, some 400 species of butterfly, which is about 45% of all butterflies recorded in Kenya, About 350 different species of plants and 27 species of snakes... the snakes are friendly given the wet nature of the forest throughout the year. Although there is no history of snake bites since the park was started over 20 years ago. Birds include the casqued hornbill, blue and Ross’s turaco, the rare African grey parrot, woodpeckers and the list goes on. The rare de brazza’s monkey can be seen here as well as the blue monkey, olive baboons, red tailed monkey and black and white colobus.

The vegetation is amazing with ferns, vines, herbs, orchids and strangling figs. Other animals you might see are bush babies, Leopard, flying squirrel, and the hammer-headed bat which is the largest in Africa with a wing span of 1m.

The best way to see all of this is by foot, just pick up an official guide from one of the forestry stations to provide you with the best experience.