Kakamega Forest National Reserve is located in Western Kenya, 418 km from Nairobi. It 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 ecosystem was first recognised in 1933. The sheer size and grandeur of these immense trees, some over a hundred years old, is impressive. The trees create a complete environment for the birds, insects, butterflies and wildlife, so 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 'Aningeria altissima'. 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 7kms. of trails with a team of ranger guides to escort visitors through the forest. The walk to Buyangu Hill, a short, sharp climb to a rocky summit from where one can see the whole forest to the south, is worth visiting. 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. 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, although visitors need have no concern about meeting them around every corner. Forest mammals include bushpig, grey duiker, civet, Suni, clawless otters and some fascinating nocturnal game: Ground Pangolin, porcupines and the occasional leopard.

Kakamega offers excellent primate viewing: Black and White Colobus are plentiful 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 primate are common here such as the Blue Monkey, frequently seen near the Ishiuki Falls, the Olive Baboon and the Red Tailed Monkey.

While walking through the forest, one will inevitably come across examples of resource utilization. Firewood gathering is perhaps the most obvious; Vines being collected for use as ropes, bark removed for medicinal purposes (the bark of Antiaris is even used for making blankets!). In the grassy glades cattle grazing and collection of thatching grass is common; while in the areas around the Yala river deep pits dug for gold-extraction or the panning for gold along the river bank itself is common.

Other Local Attractions: from Kakamega it is a short drive along the Kisumu road to see the so-called Weeping Stone. This is a remarkabe eight metre-high vertical rock on which is balanced a smaller one from the base of which a continous trickle of water emerges, even in the driest of dry seasons.