Shimba Hills National Reserve
One of East Africa’s greatest coastal forests
The Shimba Hills National Reserve is one of the most striking coastal forests in East Africa, second to the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. It borders Kenya’s coastline and is a well-blessed reserve with an excellent diversity of flora and fauna. It is a haven for nature lovers and all those who love animals. This national reserve is home to the largest population of African elephants within Kenya and is a good chance to view these massive beasts in their natural setting. Leaving aside elephants, other interesting wildlife that is resident in the reserve includes the elusive sable antelope, a very curious elephant shrew, and the bushy-tailed mongoose. Small mammals, like fruit bats, too do very well in this varied ecosystem.
Shimba Hills is a haven for bird watchers, with its dense woodlands teeming with a wide range of forest birdlife. Equally appealing is the surrounding grassland that hosts some of these isolated species, like the red-necked spurfowl, melodious croaking cisticola, and striking Zanzibar Red Bishop. For those who would like some adventure, the reserve has four campsites where visitors can experience the beauty of nature in this area. The falls are dominated by the beautiful Sheldrick Falls, a cascading waterfall-very photogenic and an ideal place for leisure and rest. Added to this is the deep Mwaluganje Forest, part of the reserve, adding mystique and allure to any post seeking to delve into its dense, virgin beauty.
Shimba Hills National Reserve is considered a key destination in Kenya, owing to its great biodiversity and scenic landscapes that it possesses. Not visiting it while in Kenya would be to miss out on a lifetime of wildlife experience and an ecological experience among the most interesting in East Africa.
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