Tourist activities to do Kakamega Forest National Reserve: Kakamega Forest is a tropical rainforest situated in the Kakamega, Vihiga, and Nandi regions of Kenya, which is northwest of the capital Nairobi, and close to the border with Uganda. This forest is special because it is the only tropical rainforest in Kenya and is often referred to as the ancient Guineo-Congolian rainforest that covers a large part of Africa.
The forest covers an area of about 238 square kilometers, and just under half of that is still natural, or indigenous forest. In the northern part of the area, you’ll find the Kakamega National Reserve, which is about 4,468 hectares in size. This reserve was established officially in 1985. Right next to it, to the north, is the Kisere Forest Reserve.
The forest is the home to some of Africa’s greatest hard and soft woods such as Elgon teak, red stinkwood, white stinkwood, and several varieties of croton. Amazingly, the holds large populations of black-and-white colobus monkeys and red-tailed monkeys as well as a small number of de Brazza’s monkeys. the forest reserve is also one of the birding destinations in Kenya, housing over 367 bird species that have been recorded in the forest such as the West African great blue turaco and black-and-white casqued hornbill. The reserve is also a dwell for a variety of mammal species such as bush pig, bushbuck, African clawless otter, giant African water shrew, and more. However, there are many activities visitors can enjoy or participate in while on a safari in Kakamega Forest National Reserve and we are going to discuss some of the most popular activities such as;
Nature walks
The forest is a lively place filled with many kinds of monkeys, making it an important spot for these animals. If you look closely in the bushes, you might catch a glimpse of beautiful chameleons. At night, the forest changes—bats fill the air, and you can hear the croaks of frogs, the calls of night birds, and the loud sounds made by big forest squirrels. While walking through this natural wonder, you can see towering trees, stunning waterfalls, and a variety of birds and monkeys.
Night walks
The Kenya Wildlife Society organizes events at the park where you can take a two-hour evening safari. This is a great chance to see the animals that come out at night and listen to the unique sounds of the forest after dark. At night, the place transforms into a lively scene filled with the calls of night birds, the croaking of frogs, and even the chatter of large squirrels, not to mention the sounds made by bats.
During these night hikes, guided by a spotlight, you can spot various nighttime animals like civets, genets, and bush pigs. You might even see hammer-headed fruit bats flying around. If you’re lucky, you could catch a rare glimpse of potto or tree pangolins. Another interesting creature you might encounter is the large otter shrew, a special find in Kakamega. Plus, there are many intriguing insects to discover, including the impressive goliath beetle.
Wildlife watching
Wildlife watching in Kakamega Forest National Reserve is a thrilling part of your Kenya safari. Although it’s not mainly known for wildlife, the reserve is home to many fascinating animals. During your wildlife watching, you can expect to see a range of creatures in their natural surroundings, including bush pig, bushbuck, African clawless otter, giant African water shrew, blue monkeys, De Brazza’s monkeys, redtail monkeys, and more.
Hiking safaris
You can find various hiking trails throughout the forest in Kenya, offering a unique experience for visitors. The trails range from 1 km to 7 km in length. One of the most popular longer hikes is the Isiukhu Trail, which links Isecheno to the small but lovely Isiukhu Falls and usually takes around half a day to complete. If you venture to Buyangu Hill, which is about 4 km away by car or on foot, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views looking east towards the Nandi Escarpment. These hiking paths allow you to get really close to the beautiful nature all around you.
Butterfly sightings
Kakamega National Park is home to over 4,800 types of colorful butterflies and about 6,000 kinds of less colorful moths. Some of the butterflies you can often see there are the Mocker Swallow-tail, Regal Swallow-tail, Black-tipped Diadem, and Forest Mother of Pearl.
Birding
Kakamega Forest National Reserve is an amazing place in Kenya for birdwatching. There are over 390 different kinds of birds living here. While on your birding safaris, you might see some really special birds like black-billed turaco, grey parrot, blue-headed bee-eater, African broadbill, hornbill, yellowbill, white-headed wood-hoopoe, white-tailed ant thrush, yellow-spotted barbet, shrike-flycatcher, red-headed malimbe, purple-throated cuckoo-shrike, pink-footed puffback, grey parrot, grey-throated barbet, brown-throated wattle-eye and red-headed bluebill among others.
Best time to visit Kakamega Forest National Reserve
Kakamega Forest National Reserve can be visited year-round. There is quite heavy rain throughout the year, but December to February are the driest months. June to August is an excellent time for bird watching, as many birds breed and display after the rains of April and May. August and September are the best months for butterflies. Migrant birds are present from November to April.
Where to stay at Kakamega Forest National Reserve
There are accommodation facilities and camping sites where to stay at Kakamega Forest National Reserve. Visitors planning to stay overnight here have the choice to choose from a variety of self-catering chalets and lodges to rustic campsites. Such as Isecheno KEEP bandhas, Senel Guest House, Isukuti Guest House, Golf Hotel Kakamega and others.
