Kakamega Forest National Reserve Western Kenya

Do you know why Kakamega forest National Reserve is called the Canopy of natural beauty?

Are you aware that Kakamega forest is a home of some of the rare wildlife in Kenya?On this site we will guide you about the details of Kakamege game reserve in Kenya and its tourist attractions.

Kakamega Forest was established To protect Kenya’s only mid-altitude tropical rainforest – as the forest contains many species found nowhere else in the country..

The forest lies in the Lake Victoria catchment, north of Kisumu and west of the Nandi Escarpment. It was first gazetted as a trust forest in 1933 and two small reserves, Yala and lsecheno were established within the forest in 1967.

In 1985, nearly 4,400 hectares of the forest together with the adjacent Kisere Forest were gazetted as Kakamega Forest National Reserve.

The forest is an important water catchment area with two rivers flowing through it.

Kakamega Forest National Reserve Western Kenya

Contact details

PO Box 879, Kakamega Tel: +254 (0)56 20425 www.kws.go.ke

Contact person 

Senior Warden

Location 

Kakamega District, Western Province

Distance from Nairobi

402 km (15 km from Kakamega along Kakamega-Eldoret road).

Size 240 square km

Park fees 

Go to www.kws.go.ke or contact tour operator.

Climatic conditions

Annual rainfall is over 2,000 mm. Most of it falls between Apriland November with a short dry season from December to March.

Rain falls mostly in the afternoon or early evening and is often accompanied by heavy thunderstorms. Average temperatures remain similar throughout – between 15-28°C.

The Canopy of Kakamega Forest

Major Attractions

Over 300 bird species, over 350 varieties of trees, 27 species ofsnakes, over 400 species of butterflies. Game watching. The forest is mostly indigenous vegetation.

Wildlife

The majestic black and white colobus monkey alongside flying squirrels, blue monkey and potto (world’s slowest mammal) are among the attractions.

Forest buck, duikers and dik-diks are also found as are the endangered Turner’s eremomela, Charpin’s lycatcher and the voice mimicking African grey parrot. The forest is home to the endangered DeBrazza’s monkey found at the isolated Kisere Forest Reserve.

Big trees in Kakamega Forest National Park

Access

By Road:

Access is through the Buyangu gate, 600 metres frommain road.

On public transport, visitors alight at Kambiri junction. Local ‘boda boda’ cyclists operate from the junction topark.

Watch for signpost after 15 km from Kakamega.

Accommodation

The forest reserve offers a serene atmosphere for both campersand banda accommodation. KWS self-service accommodation:Udo Bandas

Best time to visit

All year round

Activities

Game viewing, bird and butterfly watching, camping, self guided nature walks, night walks, picnicking.

Accommodation at Kakamega Golf Hotel

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