National Reserves in Kwale
Shimba Hills National Reserve: A Sable Enclave
Using either the turnoff at Waa, or the alternative turnoff 2 km ahead, Shimba Hills National Reserve is situated 16 km away from A14 Likoni-Ukunda Road along the C106 Kwale-Kinago Road through Kwale Town. From here, it is a short 3 km drive to the main park gate. Established in 1968, in part to save the rare and exquisite Sable antelope, the 192 km2 Shimba Hills National Reserve hosts a distinguished troupe of wildlife including a small population of the handsome Roan’s antelope.
It also serves as a great model for both the value of protected areas for conserving Africa’s elephants and the complexities of human–animal conflicts ineradicable in such an approach. Other game at Shimba Hills National Reserve include, in prolific numbers: giraffes, leopards, genets, Civet cats, servals, Hyenas, waterbuck, bush pigs, Cape buffalo, African bush baby, bushbucks, coast black and white Colobus, blue Duikers, bush duikers, red Duikers, great Galago, black-face Vervet monkeys, Sykes monkeys, serval cats, black and red shrews, and Knob-bristled Suni shrew.
Due to the high elephant population causing habitat degradation, measures such as translocation have been implemented. Additionally, the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, situated north of the reserve, was established in sequel to provide a corridor for elephants, mitigating human-wildlife conflicts. Approximately 700 elephants inhabit the reserve. In the early 2000s, this population was considered unsustainably high, leading to significant vegetation damage and human-wildlife conflicts. In 2005, the Kenya Wildlife Service translocated over 150 elephants to Tsavo East National Park, marking one of the largest game translocations in Kenya.
Shimba Hills National Reserve is both faunal and scenic. It’s one of the prettiest in Kenya. The focal point are the rolling hillocks, open grasslands and patches of rain forest overlooking the Indian Ocean. Its diverse ecology encompasses a coastal rainforest, woodland, and grassland ecosystems. It stands as one of the largest coastal forests in East Africa, second only to Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. There are plenty of ways to enjoy this immense diversity, preferably on a walking safari to viewpoints looking out to Pengo and Taita Hills, Shimba Range, the distant coastal plain, convergence of the seven rivers, the rain forest and Mwaluganje Sanctuary.
By far, the crowning-stroke for visitors to Shimba Hills is a rest at the memorable Giriama viewing point en route Sheldrick Falls with breathtakingly wide-angled views of the ecological gamut. Overall, Shimba Hills National Reserve offers a unique blend of coastal rainforest and savannah ecosystems, providing visitors with diverse wildlife sightings and natural beauty. The 20-rooms tree-house Shimba Hills Lodge is the anchor lodge at the reserve, which is open daily year long. Park charges in Kes: Citizens 300, Residents 600, and Non-Residents 2,200.
Kenya certainly has enormous touring resources. There are no less than sixty national narks, reserves and game sanctuaries, covering approximately 11% of the land surface. Each of these diverse and stunning national parks and reserves offers unique wildlife experiences and unique, breathtaking landscapes.
Index of National Parks & Reserves in Kenya
Baringo County - Lake Baringo National Reserve, Lake Bogoria National Reserve, Kerio Valley National Reserve, Lake Kamnarok National Reserve, Bomet County - The South Western Mau National Reserve, Busia County - Malaba Sanctuary, Elgeyo Marakwet County - Rimoi National Reserve, Embu County - Mount Kenya National Park; Irangi Forest Station, Mwea National Reserve, Garissa County - Bour-Algi Giraffe Sanctuary, Rahole National Reserve, Arawale National Reserve, Boni National Reserve, Homa Bay County - Ruma National Park, Isiolo County - The Bisanadi National Reserve, Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Shaba National Reserve, Kajiado County - Amboseli National Park, Kakamega County - Kakamega National Reserve, Kilifi County - Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve, Watamu Marine National Park, Malindi Marine Reserve, Kisumu County - Kisumu Impala Sanctuary, Ndere Island National Park, Kitui County - Mwingi National Reserve, South Kitui National Reserve, Kwale County - Shimba Hills National Reserve, Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve, Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park & Reserve, Lamu County - Dodori National Reserve, Kiunga Marine National Reserve, Machakos County - Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, Makueni County - Chyulu Hills National Park, Ngai Ndethya National Reserve, Mandera County - Malka Mari National Park, Marsabit County - Losai National Reserve, South Island National Park, Marsabit National Park & Reserve, Sibiloi National Park, Meru County - Meru National Park, Mombasa County - Mombasa Marine National Reserve & Park, Nairobi County - The Nairobi National Park, Nakuru County - Mount Longonot National Park, Crescent Island Sanctuary, Hell's Gate National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Nandi County - Bonjoge National Reserve, Narok County - Masai Mara National Reserve, Nyeri County - The Aberdare National Park, Samburu County - Samburu National Reserve, Maralal National Reserve, Siaya County - Lake Kanyaboli Reserve, Tana River County - Kora National Park, The Tana Primate National Reserve, Taita Taveta County - Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park, Tharaka Nithi County - Mutejwa National Reserve, Trans Nzoia County - Mount Elgon National Park, Saiwa Swamp National Park, Turkana County - Central Island Reserve, South Turkana Reserve, West Pokot County - Nasolot National Reserve
Located along the Kenyan coast, and a hub renowned for its pristine beaches, rich cultural heritage, and breathtaking landscapes, Kwale County uniquely combines two of Kenya’s unsurpassed offerings – beach and safari. Kwale County is also a melting pot of coastal traditions, modern development, farming and trade to boot.
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Explore Destinations Nearby Shimba Hills National Reserve
A Guide to Kwale County
A Summa Digest of Kwale
About Kwale Way Back When
85 Destinations in Kwale County, arranged as one would visit these - north, south, east then south - with aid of in-depth narratives, images, maps and distance chart:
Shelly Beach, Time Out Art Camp, Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, Kutazama Lodge, Mandhari Lodge, Kimerimeta Safari Lodge, Baraza Park, Kwale Town, Shimba Hills National Reserve, Shimba Hills Lodge, Elephant Lookout, Sheldrick Falls, Shimba Hills Organic Farm, Nyalani Dam, WWF Nursery, Tiwi Beach, Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve, Kongo Mosque, Twiga Mosque, Diani Mosque, Diani Beach Art Gallery, Diani Bikes, Center Point Mall, Diani Beach, Almasi Art Agency, Diamond Leisure Beach & Golf Resort, Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant, Kenya Kite Masters, Kite Festival, Funguo Wreck, Swahili Beach Resort, Raydon Water Sports, Colobus Conservation Trust, Sails Beach Bar & Restaurant, H2O Extreme, Nomad Beach Bar & Restaurant, Baobab Beach Resort, Lantana Galu Beach, Galu Ruins, Bora Bora Wildlife Park, Skydive Diani, Kalista Bar & Restaurant, Kaya Kinondo (Forest), Kinondo Kwetu (Resort), Chale Island, Tulia Eco Garden, Gazi Beach, Gazi Mangrove Boardwalk, Gazi Ruins, Msambweni Beach, Munje Beach, Munje Beach Villas, Munje Ruins, Munje Octopus Closure, Funzi Island, Shirazi Ruins, Fikirini Caves, Hormuz, Pongwe, Shimoni Caves, Betty's Camp, Shimoni Ruins, KWS Shimoni Cottages, Wasini Island, Wasini Ruins, Wasini Boardwalk, Charlie Claw’s, Chambocha Cemetery, Wasini Dolphin Tours, Pilli Pipa Dhow, Blue Monkey Cottages, GVI Mkwiro, Mwaozi Tumbe's Gravestone, Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park, Sii Island, Mrima Hill, Maji Moto Springs, Vumba Kuu, Vanga, Vanga Ruins, Nyika Plateau
Know More About Kwale County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including strip maps, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Kwale has monsoon type of climate marked by hot and dry weather from January to May and cooler temperatures from June to August. Average annual temperatures ranges between 24oC and 30oC.
Kwale is widely known for its 35 km long coast, where Diani Beach sits. Inland, the coastal uplands, commonly referred to as Shimba Hills, is a sharp elevation in altitude. The land then steeply falls again into the Nyika Plateau and Tsavo.