Kakamega Forest Reserve has an area of 240 kilometers square. Kakamega forest is a tropical rainforest easternmost remnant of once continuous forest spreading from the Congo basin to East Africa and Central Africa, located in Western Kenya about 40 kilometers northeast of Kisumu along the northeastern rim of Lake Victoria basin
Butterflies
Kakamega forest is known for its high number of butterflies, with more than 450 recorded, more than half of the total species found in Kenya
Mammals
A wide range of mammals includes giant forest squirrels, scaly-tailed flying squirrels, hammer-headed fruit bats, bushpigs, grey duikers, civets, and suni. There are many nocturnal animals too like the ground pangolin; potto, hedgehog, aardvark, brush-tailed porcupine, and leopards are also to be found in the Kakamega forest though rarely seen. There are rare primates like the Black and white Colobus, De Brazza Monkeys, Blue Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, and Olive Baboon
Plants
In the Kakamega forest, there are about 385 species of plants. This includes 60 species of ferns, 150 species of trees and shrubs, and 170 species of flowering plants including 60 species of orchids with 9 species endemic to this forest.
Reptiles
The Kakamega Forest has 61 reptiles (38 snakes, 21 lizards, 1 terrapin, and 1 tortoise) and 24 amphibian species (all frogs). The forest is host to a number of lizards, amphibians, and snakes, and true to the forest’s continental origins, the snakes of Kakamega are mainly from West Africa, the Forest Cobra, Jameson’s Mamba, Bush Viper, Gabon Viper, and Rhinoceros Viper.
Kakamega Forest receives some of the highest rainfall in the country and annually the precipitation is 2,000 millimeters. Most of this rain falls between April and November, with a short dry season from January to March. Rain falls mostly in the afternoon or early evenings and is often accompanied by heavy thunderstorms. The temperatures do not vary greatly throughout the year, with a mean maximum shade figure of 270 C and a mean minimum of 150 C
Kakamega Forest Birds
Kakamega Forest is undoubtedly the best birdwatching place to visit in Kenya. Essentially the easternmost limit of the West African rainforest, its flora, and its fauna are virtually unique in Kenya. Birdwatching in Kakamega Forest is done while walking, the forest has well-established nature trails, which are very productive in terms of bird species seen, and you get to experience the best forest birds in Kenya Birding in the Kakamega forest is done in the early morning and late afternoon. Mixed feeding parties, usually in some sections of the forest provide an opportunity to see and record interesting species.
Kakamega Forest has 410 bird species of which 194 are forest-dependent, two globally threatened species are known to occur in Kakamega; Chapin’s Flycatcher and Turner’s Eremomela, other bird species include; Black and White Casqued Hornbill, Black-billed Turaco, Pygmy Kingfisher, Jameson’s Wattle-eye, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Red-breasted Owlet, Martial Eagle, Crowned Eagle which has been nesting at the Rondo Retreat Centre for a while, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Chubb’s Cisticola, Yellow-billed Woodpecker, Shining-blue Kingfisher.
A full-day birding in the famous Ol Pejeta Conservancy offers a wealth of possibilities, the park hosts exciting bird species and special animals. Ol Pejeta exhibits such a versatile geography, endowed with endless rolling plains, rivers, marshes, and wetlands which are responsible for the great variety and abundance of birds and mammals. There is a lot to see here- fabulous birds, endless splendid wildlife sightings including the alarmingly rare Northern White Rhino. The climate is mostly cool, dry and enjoyable throughout the year.
