Kakamega Forest

Since I was already in Kisumu, we decided to make a weekend of it and visit Kakamega Forest. Allys flew into Kisumu airport from Nairobi Friday evening; Kisumu airport is a tiny place, the departures lounge is an awning stretched outside the main building, the baggage claim is a hand cart and you walk straight off the plane out of the gates, passing a sleeping guard on the way. A much more relaxed atmosphere than most western airports.

Kakamega Forest is the last remaining area of rainforest in Kenya, it used to be part of a forest that stretched from the Congo to the Kenyan coast. We got there in a couple of hours leaving from Kisumu Saturday lunchtime by matatu and a bumpy piki-piki ride (no Whigfield this time) down a dirt track. We arrived at Kakamega Environmental Education Program (KEEP) bandas a collection of eight bandas run by the local community to be met by Abraham our forest guide to take us on our sunset walk. 

The sunset walk consisted of a walk through the forest to a hill in the middle which rose above the tree line with spectacular views of the entire forest. The forest has a huge number of birds, insects and reptiles as well as 3 types of monkeys (blue, red-tailed & colobus). We saw all 3 types of monkeys within about 30 mins of setting off so they certainly weren't shy. The hill was a steep climb, another reminder that we hadn't been exercising. But as you can see the sunset at the top of the hill was worth the exhaustion.

On our way down we entered into the bat cave half way down the hill. This is a man made cave, an exploratory cave for some unsuccessful gold miners, which now houses a large number of bats. Whilst, you may initially think this was an experience not for the faint of heart, the bats are in no mind to fly into you and will avoid you better than you can avoid them.

Once we left the bat cave, the full moon had risen and the fire-flies came out in the forest giving the forest a magical feel. We were unlikely to be able to see many animals in the night-time part of the walk but the noises of the forest did make up for it.  On our return, the rather simple meal of beans and rice at the bandas, was made up by the Tusker beer available and our hunger from the lengthy walk.

The next day, our legs somewhat heavier than the day before, Abraham met for us for hike to the river. We hiked along a stream, seeing more monkeys and much more bird-life including a black & white hornbills and African eagles. The only downside was the occasions when we inadvertently crossed the paths of some safari ants, once you are rid of them you do spend some time imagining that the are still on you and scratching just make sure they are gone. But once we got to the river, the views spoke for themselves.

PS Thanks to Ricky for lending us his camera!