Karura Forest

Karura Forest Reserve is located in the northern part of Nairobi city off Limuru Road. At 1,041 hectares, it is one of the largest urban gazetted forests in the world.  The forest contains nearly all the 605 species of wildlife found in Nairobi including three types of antelope. It is managed by Kenya Forest Service (KFS).

Wildlife
Mammals: Harvey’s Duiker, Grimm’s Duiker, Bushbucks, Bush pigs, Genet Cats, Civets, Bush babies, Porcupines, Syke’s Monkeys, Ground Squirrel, Hares and the Epauletted-bat.

Reptiles: pythons, green snakes and monitor lizards.

Birds
The forest hosts about 200 species of birds including Ayres Hawk-eagle, the African Crowned Eagle, the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, the Hartlaub’s Turaco, the Narina Trogon, Owls, Crested Cranes, Sparrows, Doves, Weavers and Vultures.

Butterflies: African Queen and Desmond’s Green Banded Swallowtail.

Plants

  1. I.Plantations: Plantations cover 632 hectares. Species found include Araucaria cunninghamii, Eucalyptus saligna, E. globula, Grevillea robusta, Cupressus torulosa and Cupressus lusitanica.
  2. Indigenous trees: Cover 260 hectares. Species include Olea europeae subsp. auspidata, Croton megalocarpus, Warburgia ugandensis (Muthiga), Brachyleana huillensis (Muhugu), Uvaridendron anisatum, Markhamia lutea, Vepris nobilis, Juniperus procera (Cedar), Craebean brownii, Newtonia buchananii, Salvadora persica, Ficus thonningii, Trichilia emetica, Calondendrum capense and Dombeya goetzenii.
  3. Shrubs: Include Strychnos henningsii (Muteta), Erythrococca bongensis (Muharangware), Vangueria madagascariensis (Mubiro), Rhamnus prinoides (Mukarakinga), Caesalpinia volkensii (Mubuthi), Solanum incanum (Mutongu), Elaeodendron buchananii (Mutanga) and Rhus natalensis (Muthigio).
  4. Other plants: There are groves of Arudinaria alpina, Kenya’s native bamboo species along the riparian belts of Gitathuro and Ruaka rivers; exotic giant bamboo Dendrocalamus giganteus along Karura River near the tree nursery and; small wetlands that are very important habitats for birds.

Other areas of special interest

  • Mau Mau caves
  • Scenic waterfalls and rivers
  • Marked walking trails
  • Small wetlands that are habitats for birds Picnic sites
  • The forest is the land that Conservationist and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Wangari Maathai carried out extensive campaigns to save.
  • The incinerator formerly used by Central Bank of Kenya to burn old currency notes.

Rules to remember when visiting

  • Enjoy yourself; in addition to seeing, pause and listen regularly.
  • Stop to allow wildlife to move off the tracks before you pass.
  • Do not feed wild animals.
  • Do not start fires in the forest.
  • Do not take away animals, animal products, plants or plant parts.
  • Do not mark or deface tree stems, stones and other features.
  • Avoid unnecessary noise as it disturbs both wildlife and other visitors. Do not exceed 40kph when driving in the forest.
  • Take all the litter that you brought away with you.
  • Keep to the designated tracks and paths when walking and always be sure of where you are headed to or coming from as orientation in forests can be difficult.