Kakamega Forest National Reserve Travel Guide and Map

Experience the most incredible wildlife spectacles, beach life, accomodation & safaris with us.

Kakamega Forest National Reserve is home to incredible wildlife

Overview

Kakamega Forest is a great green heart of Africa. It is the only left tropical forest in Kenya. It sits in Kakamega and Nandi Counties in Kenya. It is the best destination for viewing wildlife, especially primates, birds, and butterflies. Travelers enjoy hiking nature trails in the rainforest. Here are three reasons why you should visit Kakamega Forest National Reserve.ith us to the Kakamega Forest National Reserve and unlock the infinite possibilities thanks to our West East Tour & Safaris highlights.

Featured Kakamega Forest National Reserve Trips

Our trips are crafted with an idea of leaving you with great memories. Guided by your budget, interests and the season of the year, we will create an amazing tour plan. Our tour consultants are ready to make your travel dream come true.

FAQs about Kakamega Forest National Reserve

Where is Kakamega Forest located? It sits in two counties of Kenya, that is, Kakamega and Nandi. This is northwest of Nairobi, Kenya’s major capital city. It is also near the border of Uganda. From Nairobi to the reserve via Nairobi-Nakuru road is 350.3 km. You can locate it by its latitude and longitude, that is, 0.2913° N, 34.8565° E.

What activities are done in Kakamega Forest National Reserve? The reserve offers many activities. Wildlife is the most common activity in this rare tropical forest. Tourists enjoy the sightings of primates, snakes, and other mammals. Travelers enjoy bird and butterfly watching in this unique habitat. The reserve offers great opportunities for hiking forest trails.

How do I get to Kakamega Forest National Reserve? There are two ways to get to the reserve. You can get there by road. The shortest route from Nairobi is 418 km. This is the Nairobi-Nakuru-Kapsabet route. But you can choose air travel. There are scheduled flights from Nairobi to Kakamega. A safari vehicle will then pick you up from the airstrip for your safari in the national reserve.

When is the best time to visit Kakamega Forest National Reserve? The best time to visit is between December and February and June and July. This season rains less. The weather is better for exploring the reserve. It is a great time for hiking and viewing wildlife. For bird lovers, this is the breeding season for local birds.

Need to chat?

Find out more and tailor your perfect trip with the help of our specialist team

Some interesting facts about Kakamega Forest National Reserve

Wildlife
The national reserve is home to many primates. Some of these include a blue monkey, a red-tailed monkey, and a Colobus monkey. Other common animals found in Kakamega forest include bush pig, potto, and duiker, and dik-dik. The reserve is home to Kakamega forest snakes. You can spot Forest cobras, black-lipped cobras, and Gabon Viper. The reserve has recorded many species of birds. Some of these species include Grey Parrot, Black Billed Turaco, and Blue Headed Bee Eater. If you love butterflies, this is the best destination. The reserve has recorded over 400 butterfly species. You can enjoy their sights in August.

Climate
Kakamega forest is a tropical forest. It receives a lot of rain. On average, it can receive about 1200 to 1700 mm per year. Heavy rains are experienced between April and May. But March to November tends to be a wet season. December to February is less damp. But temperatures in the reserve are fair across the year. They don’t fall or rise much. They range between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. Cool nights usually follow hot days.

Scenery
Kakamega Forest National Reserve is locally referred to as a canopy of natural beauty. The fresh air and cool breeze of this rainforest make it a great destination. Nature trails and indigenous trees such as Elgon teak beautifies this rich tropical environment. Buyango Hill is the highest point. Most visitors enjoy hiking to this point. Primates, birds, and butterflies add to the beautiful scenery of this forest.

For an unforgettable safari experience, you should rely on a good tour operator. Companies offer different safari packages for a great adventure. Choose a package that satisfies your needs. The Kakamega forest entry fee is USD 22 for adults and USD 13 for kids. Some tour packages cover this fee while others don’t. You should confirm with your tour operator.

Don’t worry about where to stay in the reserve. Accommodation is readily available. You can stay at Udo or Isukuti Guest Houses offered by the Kenya Wildlife Service. You can also choose to camp at Udo Campsite.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Khwai Area

Chobe National Park

Moremi Game Reserve

Okavango Delta

The Great Salt Pans

Linyanti, Kwando & Selinda

Your Accommodation Options in Kakamega Forest National Reserve

We have several accommodation options in Kakamega Forest National Reserve which you can choose from depending on your budget and other interests. We have incredibly good hotels, lodges, and camps that offer good services which we believe all meets your expectations. With our fantastic relationships with these facilities, we can assure you that you’d definitely get value for your money in the facility that we’ll book you for your accommodation. Among others, some of them include the following:

Customer Reviews; What they had to say

Read what our customers said about their trip with us.

99% of reviewers recommend West East Tours & Travels (4.9* Rating) on review websites

Read more about Africa travel inspiration from West East Tours customers and travel specialists

Sign up to our newsletter

Need more travel inspiration delivered straight to your inbox? Then fill in your details here. Stay Informed!.

Well, start planning your holiday today

We're looking forward to hearing from you. Talk to us and let us plan your safari.