Shimba Hills National Reserve
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HIGHLIGHTS
* Sheldrick’s Falls
* Kaya forest
* Sable antelope
* Exceptional views: to the east of the escarpment
the turquoise of the Indian Ocean; to the west hazy
vistas of the cast plains with Taita Hills ascending in
the distance
FACT FILE
* Altitude: up to 450 m
* Area: 320 km2
* Distance from Mombasa: 40 km
* Airstrip: 1
* Opened: 1968
LOGDES & CAMPS: Shimba Hills Lodge
Shimba Hills National Reserve is a small park situated in Kenya's Coast Province, very close to the local beach resorts. It is a dissected plateau that ascends steeply from the costal plains - it rises from around 120 m to 300 m across the bulk of the plateau and as high as 450 m at Marare and Pengo hills.
Its close location to the beach makes the reserve a perfect destination for a one day or overnight trip; offering beach dwellers the opportunity to enjoy some of Kenya’s famous wildlife without having to head to one of the bigger national parks and reserves. About 400 elephants live in and around the reserve, a population that is unsustainably large.
The Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary has been established north of Shimba Hills and is connected to it by a fenced corridor to provide a route for elephants to leave Shimba. The remainder of the Shimba Hills National Reserve's boundary is fenced, to prevent the elephants from invading surrounding farmland.
LANDSCAPE
Containing coastal rainforest, woodland and grassland, the reserve is also an important stronghold of plant biodiversity. More than half of Kenya's 159 species of rare plants are found in the Shimba Hills, including some endangered species of cycad and orchid; two of Kenya's most beautiful orchids can be found here.
The best places to see game are on the flat grasslands near the spectacular Sheldrick's Falls and on the Lango Plains near Giriama Point with a tremendous view over rolling parkland to the escarpment, from where you can also look out to the Indian Ocean.
GAME & BIRDS
In East Africa, the reserve is also the last remaining habitat of the rare and impressive Sable Antelope, with its handsome near-black coat.
The Kenyan authorities are trying to carefully experiment the introduction of wildlife in this region for example, Masai giraffes were introduced here in the 1990's and they have started to assimilate in this new environment. In December 1996 the first resident giraffe was born. Also, Roan antelopes were imported from western Kenya but unfortunately couldn’t adjust to the different environment.
Birds are not so common in this park. But during spring migration you may find lesser cuckoos, golden orioles, honey buzzard, European hobby, red-backed shrike, hawk eagles, red-necked spur fowl, guinea fowl, blue quail, crowned hornbill and others.
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