| A mere forty-five minutes from the hot and humid | | | | in Kenya, and more than 250 different species of |
| Kenyan coastal town of Mombasa, is Shimba, located | | | | butterflies that live in the rainforest. |
| in the Shimba National Reserve. Walk with the | | | | There are over five hundred elephants in the reserve |
| Elephants, Buffaloes and the endangered Sable | | | | and so although Elephant Hill is the ideal place to view |
| Antelope in the cool and refreshing jungle greens of | | | | these great animals, they can be spotted all over the |
| Shimba Hills tropical rain forest. | | | | reserve. A fenced corridor has been built that links |
| Although Shimba is only 48km from Mombasa, it has | | | | the Shimba National Reserve to Mwalunganje forest |
| a refreshingly cool climate with a remarkably cool, | | | | and its elephant sanctuary. |
| fresh breeze from the Indian Ocean. It is one of the | | | | The reserve has thick rainforest cover where the |
| largest areas of coastal rainforests in East Africa that | | | | animals prefer to keep cool during the hot day but |
| includes the Mijikenda tribe's sacred Kaya forest. The | | | | the best views of the animals are from the eastern |
| Shimba Hills Lodge located in the national reserve has | | | | side of the park, near Giriama Point in the late |
| been beautifully constructed from indigenous timber | | | | afternoon, where you can see the animals moving |
| where you can wine, dine and unwind at the | | | | towards the rivers to quench their thirst. Guided night |
| spectacular award-winning tree lodge which overlooks | | | | drives are also available - you're sure to hear the |
| a waterhole. There are also two campsites within the | | | | hyenas and, if you're really lucky, you may even spot |
| park but many hotels in Mombasa are close by so | | | | a leopard. |
| you can visit Shimba on a day trip. | | | | The main attraction of the park is the spectacular |
| Shimba is home to a variety of species including | | | | 25m high Sheldrick Falls. There is a two-kilometer |
| Elephants, Giraffe, Hyena and Buffalo as well as the | | | | marked footpath to the cascading falls where you |
| rare Roan and Sable antelope. The forests are home | | | | can safely swim in the pool or have a picnic by the |
| to a number of unusual species including the Black | | | | falls. A ranger is available at 10am and 3pm to |
| and White Colobus monkeys, Serval cats, Red Duiker | | | | accompany visitors on this walk at no charge. |
| and Suni Antelope. An abundance of birdlife is found | | | | Prego Hill is the highest point in the park at 450km. |
| among the hills, including Honey guides, Turacos, | | | | From here, there is an incredible view of the Tsavo |
| woodpeckers and Sunbirds. The Sable Antelope is | | | | Plains, Taita Hills, and on a really clear day, Mt. |
| considered the most beautiful of the large antelope | | | | Kilimanjaro. |
| and Shimba Hills contains Kenya's only population of | | | | Before you leave this beautiful National Reserve, you |
| the endangered species. The area also houses rare | | | | can buy a unique souvenir at the gates - paper made |
| plants including two of most beautiful types of orchid | | | | from elephant dung! |