It is very
unlikely that your trip includes a visit to Boni and Dodori, both
located at the northernmost corner of Kenyan coast, next to the
Somali border. Sadly, the reason is the unsafety conditions. The
area is raided by Somali guerrillas and therefore the visit is strongly
discouraged, especially to Boni.
Boni National Reserve is a 1,339sq. km forest reserve created
as a sanctuary for elephants. Buffalo, giraffe, topi, gerenuk,
Harvey's and Ader's Duikers are also found here. This Reserve
do not have accommodation but could make interesting excursions
for small groups of keen naturalists, if prior arrangements are
made through the KWS. Dodori National Reserve was opened in 1976
to preserve a breeding ground for the East Lamu Topi, pelicans
and with other local birdlife. Covering 877sq. kms with views
of Dodori River and creek outlet with the densest most varied
species of mangrove forest in Kenya.
Both reserves were gazetted in 1976 and belong to Lamu District,
in the Coast Province. Boni lies right next to the Somali border,
in the traditional dwelling region of the Boni hunter tribe, today
reduced to a few hundreds of people. Dodori reserve is named after
the river ending in the Indian Ocean at Dodori Creek, a breeding
place for dugongs.
Dodori hosts a vegetal diversity mainly consisting of coastal
and riverine forests, mangroves, swampy grasslands and savannah.
Away from the rivers and channels, impenetrable thorn bush is
scattered with gigantic baobabs. At the Dodori coastal area, waterholes
are frequently visited by gazelles, antelopes and water birds.
Dodori's main wealth is its topi population, one of the largest
in Kenya. Other mammals include elephants, gazelles, lesser kudus,
zebras and lions. The channels are breeding grounds for the green
turtles and the dugongs, severely endangered aquatic mammals which
feed on the sea grasses.
Birdlife at Boni and Dodori has not been yet deeply researched.
The wet areas attract large numbers of palearctic migratory birds.
Pelicans and other water birds are frequent in the channels and
waterholes, while prey birds also abound. Bird species recorded
include Brown-Hooded Kingfisher, Violet-breasted Sunbird, European
and Carmine Bee-eaters, Honey Buzzard, Palmnut Vulture, Southern
Banded Harrier Eagle and Brown-breasted Barbet.