| SHIMBA HILLS NATIONAL RESERVE RESTOCKED | | | | species of plants have been recorded, a fourth of |
| WITH WILDLIFE | | | | them endemic to the area. |
| Kenya Wildlife Service has started restocking Shimba | | | | The ecosystems' close proximity to the coast means |
| Hills National Reserve with various wild animals to | | | | it has the potential to attract large numbers of |
| improve biodiversity and enhance tourist experience. | | | | visitors on short excursions from the coast to see |
| The restocking operation funded by the Eden Wildlife | | | | elephants. The Shimba Hills are regarded as one of |
| Trust to the tune of Kshs.2, 750,000.00 is one of the | | | | the most diverse forested ecosystems in the Coastal |
| many projects the UK charitable outfit for the | | | | Region as about 15 percent of the rare plants in |
| conservation of wildlife has funded. The translocation | | | | Shimba Hills are coastal endemic and over 50 per cent |
| of wild animals from Tsavo East National Park over a | | | | of the 159 rare plant species known to occur in |
| 150 km distance to one of Kenya's treasured coastal | | | | Kenya are found in the ecosystem. |
| rainforests includes 100 impalas, 15 giraffes and 50 | | | | The ecosystem is an important water catchment as |
| kongoni. | | | | it provides fresh water locally and regionally. The |
| The restocking is meant to attract more visitors not | | | | Shimba Hills are the source of three permanent |
| just to the Shimba Hills National Reserve but also to | | | | rivers, which include: Marere/Manolo/Pemba river; |
| the Mwaluganje Elephant Community Sanctuary. The | | | | Mkurumudzi and Ramisi. Water from Marere springs in |
| grazing area in Shimba Hills ecosystem has been | | | | the Shimba Hills reserve is supplied to Kwale, |
| under- utilised due to a low number of mammals. | | | | Mombasa and the south coast of Mombasa. |
| Many tourists to Shimba Hills expect to see not only | | | | Waterfalls in the hills serve as key tourist attractions |
| a beautiful coastal rain forest but also a variety of | | | | while the forest tends to moderate temperatures |
| wildlife but get disappointed by limited game viewing. | | | | and encourage rainfall locally. |
| The restocking is meant to address this challenge. | | | | FACT SHEET |
| The reserve is the only place in Kenya with the | | | | AREA: 250 km square |
| magnificent but endangered population of the Sable | | | | LOCATION: 35 km southwest of Mombasa, off the |
| antelope. Other wild animals found in the park include | | | | main south coast road that leads to the Tanzanian |
| elephants, Columbus monkeys, the leopard, serval | | | | border. |
| cats and hyenas. | | | | GAZETTEMENT: September 1968 |
| Shimba Hills located 35 km south west of Mombasa | | | | WHEN TO VISIT: All year round, most roads consist |
| via the Likoni Ferry offers plentiful panoramic picnic | | | | of all- weather murram roads |
| and observation points: Makadara Picnic site, Giriama | | | | ACCESSIBILITY: The reserve has one airstrip 1.9 km |
| Point, Ocean View Point, Pengo Hill Lookout and | | | | long. Regular passenger flights land at nearby Ukunda |
| Elephant Lookout. The Shimba Hills are cloaked in a | | | | airstrip on Diani beach or the Moi International Airport |
| mantle of ancient forests, one of the largest | | | | in Mombasa. |
| contiguous pieces in East Africa. Over a thousand | | | | |