Stunning activities to do at Shimba Hills Reserve
Stunning activities to do at Shimba Hills Reserve : Shimba Hills National Reserve is the most extensive area of coastal rainforest in East Africa after the Arabuko Sokoke Forest. The reserve began its journey in 1903 as a national forest. Later, in 1968, the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary and the reserve were combined to form a conservation area. Elephant populations surged to unsustainable levels in the early 2000s, forcing the Kenya Wildlife Service to relocate over 150 animals to the Tsavo East National Park in 2005. “The single largest movement of animals ever undertaken since Noah’s ark” was the moniker given to the translocation at the time. The 74,132-acre reserve is home to lush, picturesque scenery that will appeal to beachgoers want to get away from the crowds to see land animals. Open meadows and a distinctive, botanically rich coastal rainforest can be found here.
Admire Two of Kenya’s Most Beautiful Orchids.
There used to be 200 or more species of orchids in Kenya. You hardly see 40% of this number nowadays. Due to habitat destruction, horticultural collection and commerce, these stunning wild plants are almost gone. A same destiny awaits the cycads. However, the Shimba Hills National Reserve is still home to two of Kenya’s most striking orchids, which are native to the area.
See the Last of the Kenyan Sable Antelope.
The final breeding herd of Kenya’s locally endemic sable antelope has a home at Shimba Hills National Reserve. The antelope’s name comes from the characteristic black and white sable-shaped markings on its face and horns.
See Kenya’s Highest Density of Forest Elephants.
The elephant population at Shimba is so high that the reserve cannot accommodate them. Consequently, there are a lot of human-wildlife conflicts and significant harm to the already vulnerable vegetation. In the park, ostriches and Maasai giraffes have been successfully reintroduced, while zebras and impalas have not.
Spot Rare Birds.
Twenty-two of the more than 111 bird species that call the Shimba Hills National Reserve home are endemic and in danger of extinction. A number of migrating birds pass through this area in the spring, from late March to early April. The Ground Thrush, Crowned Eagle, Flycatcher, Sokoke Pipit, and Fischer’s Turaco are a few of the birds you might observe here.
See Rare Vegetation.
At Shimba, about 1,100 distinct plant species are flourishing. There are only two hundred and eighty of these in this park. Of them, nineteen are uncommon.
Take a Cold Shower at the Sheldrick Falls.
One of the park’s must-see safari attractions is Sheldrick Falls. Elephants and a few buffalo occasionally appear on this 2 km walk along a designated route, so it’s best done in the presence of a Kenya Wildlife Service ranger.
At the park, Sheldrick Falls is a must-see. Elephants and a few buffalo occasionally appear on this 2 km walk along a designated route, so it’s best done in the presence of a Kenya Wildlife Service ranger.
The season has an impact on the pool’s water level. There’s a single waterfall during the rainy season, and there’s enough water to swim in. The pool is too small for swimming and the waterfalls split into two when it gets dry. Late afternoon is a nice time to visit. It is named for the renowned game warden, David Sheldrick, and is 25 M tall. It is stated that David turned the hostile Taru desert now called the Tsavo National Park into one of Kenya’s most well-known wildlife refuges. They claim that he was the first person in history to witness these falls, which not even the natives were aware of.
Camp and Picnic at the Reserve.
After your tour is over, the Ocean View picnic areas and the Sheldrick Falls Walk are fantastic places to refuel and reflect on your experience.
After your tour is over, the Ocean View picnic areas and the Sheldrick Falls Walk are fantastic places to refuel and reflect on your experience. Every picnic area has space for fifty people. You can tent at the Makadara and Professional campgrounds if you have to stay longer. 50 campers are taken by the former, and 100 by the latter.
A fantastic day safari destination is Shimba Hills National Reserve, particularly if you’re in the vicinity of Diani or Mombasa. The flat grasslands and Lango Plains near Giriama Point are the greatest locations to get the most of your animal adventure. From here, you have a fantastic view of the slope and the undulating parkland. You may also see the Indian Ocean from this location.
