Arabuko Sokoke National Park
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* Second most important forest in Africa for bird viewing
* Habitat for rare mammal and bird species bordering extinction
* Butterfly centre
This tiny national park in Kilifi district, with only 6 km², is a small part of the largest stretch of indigenous coastal forest that survives today in East Africa.
The Arabuko Sokoke forest, with 358 km², settles in the region from north of Kilifi to Gedi, south of Malindi, and inland toward the town of Jilore.
The forest preserves the landscape that formerly covered the entire strip adjacent to the shore line of the Indian Ocean.
This jewel of nature has been declared the second most important forest in Africa for bird conservation, and is currently under consideration for the rank of World Heritage Site.
The treasures in this forest were already appreciated during the Colony days, when the place was declared Reserve of the Crown. In 1977 it was further protected as a Forest Reserve, and in 1991 a small part was ranked National Park, mainly to protect two rare mammal species bordering extinction, the Ader's duiker and the golden-rumped elephant shrew, as well as nine bird and six butterfly species.
When the park was gazetted in 1991, native residents were largely dissatisfied, since the forest was a block to the agricultural development of the land resources that could perhaps help relief the region's battered economy. A survey revealed that 96% of the locals were unhappy with the presence of the forest and a 54% supported its complete elimination. Land hunger, scarce availability of resources and crop raid by wildlife poses an uncertain future for a natural space unique in this world.
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