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The Shimba Hills
National Reserve
is an area of
coastal
rainforest,
woodland and
grassland
located less
than 30
kilometers away
from Kenya's
Coastal
city/town of
Mombasa in the
Kwale region of
Coast Province.
Shimba Hills
National Reserve
was established
in 1968 and the
park features
coastal bush
land, riverine
forests and
grasslands and
its main
attraction is
the sable
antelope, which
can only be seen
here in the
whole of Kenya.
The ecosystem
holds one of the
largest coastal
forests in East
Africa after
Arabuko-Sokoke
forest.
The reserve is
rich in flora
and fauna and
hosts the
highest density
of African
elephant in
Kenya. Other
animal species
found in the
area are Sable
antelope, black
and rufous
elephant shrew,
bushy tailed
mongoose and
other small
mammals like
fruit bat. The
forest is an
important bird
area and is
endowed with
forest birdlife
while the
grasslands hold
localized
species such as
red-necked-Spurfowl,
Croaking
Cisticola and
Zanzibar Red
Bishop.
The reserve is
also home to a
number of other
wildlife species
such as the
elephant, bush
pig, waterbuck,
reedbuck,
warthog and the
roan antelope
which was
recently
introduced. The
famous Sheldrick
Falls can also
be found here (
25m high ).
Guided forest
walks are
available from
the Sheldrick
Falls ranger
station. There
is a swimming
hole and picnic
area at the
scenic Sheldrick
Falls on the
Machemwana
River.
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