WESTERN KENYA

Mount Elgon National Reserve Kerio Valley National Reserve Saiwa Swamp National Park Kakamega Forest Nat. Reserve Ruma National Park Ndere Island National Park Kisumu Impala Sanctuary

Mount Elgon, on the Kenya-Uganda border is a volcanic mountain, formed when the earth's crust erupted, creating the Great Rift Valley. The park is one of Kenya's most beautiful, wild and intact, with vast areas of untouched forest. Game viewing is excellent: the park is home to about 400 elephants, buffalos, leopard, the protected colobus and blue monkeys, the giant forest hog, waterbuck and other types of antelope. Over 240 species of birds have been recorded. The huge Elgon teak and cedar trees, some over 80ft. tall dominate the forest scenery.

A major attraction is a series of four caves: Kitum, Makingeni, Chepnyalil and Ngwarisha, all of which are explorable. Kitum is the largest, extending horizontally for 200m into the heart of the mountain. In Maasai, its name means Place of Ceremonies.

The caves are favourite gathering places for elephants. Every night, long convoys venture deep into the caves to feed on the salt rich deposits. This phenomenon has earned them the title "underground elephants".

Mount Elgon also offers excellent climbing and walking opportunities. No special equipment for hiking is required and the park management provides guides. The highest peak on the Kenyan side is Koitobos (4,200m). It is accessed through beautiful moorlands and springs that can be seen along the way.

The Park is criss-crossed by four rivers, leading to Lake Turkana: the Nzoia, Suam, Kerio and Turkwell. Sport fishing is possible in the Suam River. There are no lodges in the park, but there are three campsites and a picnic site. Three short nature trails lead to Kitum Cave, Makingeni cave and the Elephant Bluff.

Other places to visit include Kerio Valley National Reserve. Kerio Valley is a 4,000ft. deep valley with semi-tropical vegetation on the slopes leading down to dry thorn bush at the base, with impressive scenery. The Kerio Valley was made a national reserve in 1983 for its bio-diverse importance, covering an area of 66sq. kms.

Saiwa Swamp National Park is one of Kenya's smallest parks, only three sq. kms. It was opened in 1974 to protect the semi-aquatic Sitatunga antelope noted for its widespread hooves which allow it to walk on the surface of the swamp. It is also home of the endangered De Brazza Monkey and a variety of otter, giant forest squirrel, black and white colobus monkey, bushbuck and greyduiker. Accommodation is available at the Sirikwa tented camp outside the park. There is one camping ground and one serviced campsite within the park. It has three nature trails, bridges for walking over the swamp and three Sitatunga viewing platforms.

Kakamega Forest National Reserve

Fact File Altitude 4,000 - 7,000ft. Area 240 sq. kms. Distance from Nairobi 418 kms. Opened May 1985 Kenya's only Tropical Rainforest Excellent Bird Viewing Unique Species Game includes: Rare Monkeys & Porcupines Nature Trails, Camping, Picnics, Night Game Walks Butterfly watching snake observation

"A feast for the senses", said a visitor recently. Kakamega Forest National Reserve is the only tropical rainforest in Kenya, left over from past millennia when dense rain forest stretched from West Africa, across Central Africa and into the highland areas on the west and eastern walls of the Great Rift Valley.

The forest has been a protected area of Kenya since its vital role in the eco-system was first recognised in 1933.

The sheer size and grandeur of these rainforest trees, some over 100 years old, is impressive. The trees create a complete environment for birds, insects, butterflies and wildlife, which are plentiful in this area.

The forest includes some of Africa's greatest hard and soft woods: Elgon teak, red and white stink woods and several varieties of Croton and Aniageria Altisima. Splendid orchids sit amongst the branches of the larger trees. Walking beneath the lush forest canopy the deep shade is pierced by flashes of colour, exotic birdcalls, the scents of wood, flower and moss. The best time to visit is during the rainy season, April to July, when the flowers are at their most beautiful.

There are seven kms of trails with a team of ranger guides to escort visitors through the forest. The walk to Buyango Hill, the highest point in the forest, is a must for visitors. The indigenous trees lining the trails are identified on signs with their local and latin names.

The Reserve is twice the size of Nairobi National Park with 380 species of plants spread in swamps, riverine and hardwood forest areas, glades and the shallow forest around the edge of the reserve. About 350 species of birds have been recorded including rare snake-eating birds. Butterflies and snakes normally only found in West Africa can also be seen. Visitors need not worry about meeting them round every corner. Forest mammals include bushpig, grey duiker, vicet, sunni, clawless otters and some fascinating nocturnal game: Ground Pangolin, porcupines and the occasional leopard.

Kakamega offers an excellent primate viewing opportunity. Black and White Colobus are in plenty and the De Brazza Monkeys (known as 'Karasinga' in Swahili, thanks to its distinctive white beard) can be found in the adjacent Kisere forest area. Many rare species of primates are common. They include the Blue Monkey, frequently seen near the Ishiuki Fall, the Olive Baboon and the Red tailed Monkey.

Accommodation is available within the reserve: one guest house (total eight beds), self-help bandas with 10 beds and two campsites. Hotel accommodation is available nearby. Rondo Retreat, opened recently to visitors is located inside the reserve.

Easily included on the same western circuit is Ruma National Park. Created as a reserve in 1966 to protect the only remaining habitat of Roan antelope, the Park is in the Lambwe Valley in Southern Nyanza, 140 kms. from Kisumu town. The 120sq. km park is a mix of rolling savannah, woodlands, rivers and hills. Its main attractions are game-viewing, birdwatching, hiking and walking and fishing in the rivers.

Game in this park include Bohor's reedbuck, Rothschild's giraffe, Jackson's hartebeest, Roan antelope, buffalo, leopard, serval cat and hyena, as well as diverse birdlife. There is no hotel/lodge accommodation in the park, but there are two campsites.

Ndere Island National Park is only 4.2sq. kms. The island is just off the northern shore of Lake Victoria, opened in November 1986. Ndere means 'Meeting Place' in the dholuo language of the local Luo. According to Luo folklore, Kit Mikayi, mother of the tribe, rested near Ndere after her long journey south down the Nile Valley. She found the lush shoreline so pleasant that she and her people decided to stay.

It is home to a variety of birds including fish eagles and a big population of swifts. Hippos and crocodiles, including the lesser known Spotted Crocodile, are a familiar sight. Fifty impalas have been introduced to the woodland which fringes the shores. Attractions include hiking, walking, traditional fishing, boat safaris and picnics. No accommodation is available.

Kisumu Impala Wildlife Sanctuary was opened in October 1992, to protect a herd of impala and provide safe grazing grounds for hippo from the lake. It is used as a holding point and sanctuary for "problem" animals, such as leopard, hyena and baboon. It is close to Kisumu town and occupies less than one sq. km.