Karura Forest Guide
Karura Forest Guide : All You Need To Know About Karura Forest Nairobi : The largest of Nairobi’s three primary gazette forests—the others are Ngong Forest and Oloolua Forest—is Karura Forest, which is situated in the city’s northern region. It is located in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, and was gazetted in 1932. It is overseen by the Kenya Forest Service.
How to get there
By Private Vehicle: The primary entrance to Karura Forest is located on Limuru Road, which is located after the Belgian Embassy. There are two more entrances as well: the KFS main gate, which is off Kiambu Road and across from the CID Headquarters, and the Old Kiambu Gate, which is located on Old Kiambu Road. A taxi from the city center will set you back Ksh 1,000.
Public transportation: From Nairobi City Center, take buses 11B, 106, 107, 108, 114, or 116 to reach the main entrance on Limuru Road. If you enter by the Kiambu Road KFS main gate, ride matatus 100 or 120.
Packing list: What to bring and wear
To make the most of your vacation, it is advised that you wear comfortable shoes. Bring water to drink, a camera, binoculars, and books about nature, particularly birds and butterflies.
Climate At Karura Forest
The region experiences a range of temperatures all year round. There are two periods of precipitation: the extended rainy season from April to June and the brief rainy season from October to December. With the exception of July and August, which are typically chilly and overcast, the remaining days of the year are bright and dry. Karura receives 930 mm of rain on average each year.
The Best Time To Visit Karura Forest
One of the best seasons to explore Karura Forest is from July to December. It’s the height of the dry season, when zebras and the Great Wildebeest Migration occur. Additionally, visiting the area during the rainy season is an excellent idea. This is the best time of year to view the foliage to its fullest because there are fewer visitors. In particular, December is a fantastic month to visit Kenya. There is a great chance to see migratory bird species and newborn animals because the rain is not too heavy.
Fauna At Karura Forest
Along with Harvey’s duikers, bushbucks, bush pigs, genets, honey badgers, civets, bush babies, porcupines, Syke’s monkeys, bush squirrels, hares, and fruit bats, the forest is home to up to 200 different species. In addition, the forest is home to a variety of reptile species, including monitor lizards, green snakes, and pythons.
Ayres Hawk-eagle, African Crowned Eagle, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Narina Trogon, Owls, Crested Cranes, Sparrows, Doves, Weavers, and Vultures are just a few of the approximately 200 species of birds that may be found in the forest. Desmond’s Green Banded Swallowtail and African Qu een are among the butterflies found in Karura.
Flora At Karura Forest
The 2,570 acres that make up Karura Forest are divided into three sections by the Kiambu and Limuru highways. Native species of upland forest trees make up about 36% of the forest.
Plants found in the 632-hectare region include Cupressus torulosa, Cupressus lusitanica, Eucalyptus saligna, E. globula, Grevillea robusta, and Araucaria cunninghamii. Additionally, there are shrubs that include Solanum incanum (Mutongu), Elaeodendron buchananii (Mutanga), Vangueria madagascariensis (Mubiro), Rhamnus prinoides (Mukarakinga), Erythrococca bongensis (Muharangware), Rhamnus henningsii (Muteta), and Rhus natalensis (Muthigio).
Moving on to native trees, it spans 260 hectares and includes species such as Uvaridendron anisatum, Markhamia lutea, Vepris nobilis, Juniperus procera (Cedar), Olea europaea subsp. auspidata, Croton megalocarpus, Warburgia ugandensis (Muthiga), Salvadora persica, Ficus thonningii, Trichilia emetica, Calodendrum capense, and Dombeya goetzenii.
The forest is home to groves of Arundinaria alpina, a native bamboo species of Kenya, among other flora. Visitors can also take in views of the exotic big bamboo Dendrocalamus giganteus along the Karura River close to the tree nursery, as well as the riparian belts of the Gitathuro and Ruaka rivers. Keep an eye out for tiny wetlands, which serve as crucial bird homes.
Things To Do In Karura Forest
In general, Karura Forest is a terrific area to hang out because it offers beautiful locations for picnics where guests may explore the waterfalls and caverns. In addition to having scouts and guides who regularly monitor the forest, it is safe. They can provide you with transportation back to the trailhead.
The forest is the ideal location for bicycling. It has a 12-kilometer-long bike trail. Because of how steep the slopes are, you may lose sensation in your legs. You will travel through sections of lush woodland, streams, waterfalls, and caverns on the paths. It is calming and revitalizing. Additionally, Karura is a great place for yoga, pilates, and personal training sessions. There’s nowhere better to do these things than in the middle of nature.
