Natural Landscapes in Kwale
Nyika: An Extensive Plateau of Dry Bushland
Nyika, a term universally associated with the Nyika Plateau in northern Malawi, in Kenya came to be used from 1896 to denote the self-same extensive plateau of dry bushland and thicket. In Swahili Nyika means ‘bush’ or ‘hinterland’, and the native of these lands, the Mijikenda, are sometimes known as the Wanyika. In Kwale County, the Nyika covers about 30% of its land surface area in the western and northland areas. Here, the landscape is typified by Commiphora and Acacia species in the southern half, with a flat-lying to gently-rolling monotonous plain sloping coastward up until the coastal range on an elevation of 150-1,000 ms asl.
Kenya’s coastal region was physio graphically divided by J.W. Gregory in 1896 into three precincts: the coastal plain, the foot plateau (foot hills and coastal range) and the Nyika. Along the coast region of Kenya the latter extends from near Lunga Lunga in the west, to an area 60 km west of Malindi, in Kilifi County, in the east, then northerly into the vast Tsavo National Parks. In Kwale the Nyika is narrower towards the south, becoming broader northward and covers the bulk of Kinango, Kasemini, Samburu, Ndavaya areas and parts of Lunga Lunga. Its domination, as it marches towards Tsavo West National Park, is only offset by few low-lying hills.
The C106 Lunga Lunga-Chigombero Road, trending just east of north, travels across the section of Nyika Plateau in Kwale for 100 km before reaching A109 Mombasa-Nairobi near Taru; the driest part of the Nyika, which, during a long spell of dry season the foliage dries up wholly, exposing reddish brown sandy land surface. This earns its epithet Taru Desert. C106 Road is an alternative route for visitors to South Coast, turning off the A109 Road toward Chigombero and driving until Kwa Mkwamba then south through Kinango and Kwale to Diani.
The 50 km stretch up to Kinango had been tarred by mid-2020. The driving time now is just 45 minutes with the remaining section up to Lunga Lunga in progress and slated for completion by end of 2022. Likewise, C103 Manyani to Malindi Road through Tsavo East National Park travels across Kilifi County’s zone of the Nyika, for 203 km. This too offers the chance to explore the vastness of the Nyika.
As the ocean air moves inland and provides much needed water and moisture for the plants and animals across the coastal range spread over Kwale, Kilifi and Taita Taveta’s counties, it supports a verdant agro-climatic zone of forest coastward as the moist current flowing inward collides with the barrier of the ranges and hills, forced up cooled and condensed, falls as rain on the coastal side. On the inland side, along the Nyika Plateau, a rainfall shadow exists. Just 300 ms of rain falls here in the year, and temperatures reach a scorching 35C during the dry months.
Here, plants have been forced to evolve very different strategies for survival, and few are as better adapted as the Commiphora and Europhobia. Here, it’s all about saving water. Rather unmistakable, the spurge like, ever-green Europhobia grow vertically to great heights, so when the sun is at its hottest, high in the sky, it hits only their narrow tops, reducing water loss through evaporation. Their branches also store a large amount of fluid in a form of a milky sup. This sup is poisonous and unpalatable to most animals, saving the plant from feeding caused damage.
The Commiphora use a less conservative approach, sending roots deep in the ground to reserves other plants can’t reach. Instead of saving that water like the Europhobia does, it uses it fast to grow dense nutritious leaves and berries, a rare food source for the animals living in this jerkwater country. The animals then spread the trees seeds across the country ensuring survival of the species. There are few animals that can survive the Nyika, among these the Zebra and Ostrich.
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 The Nyika
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
What’s The Air Like In Kwale?
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.
What’s The Lay of The Land In C.02?
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.