The Arabuko
Sokoke Forest Reserve near the Malindi and Watamu Reserves and Parks
is the largest surviving coastal dry forest in East Africa. This
tiny national park in Kilifi district, with only 6 km², is
a small part of the largest stretch of indigenous coastal forest
that survives today in East Africa. The Arabuko Sokoke forest, with
358 km², settles in the region from north of Kilifi to Gedi,
south of Malindi, and inland toward the town of Jilore. The forest
preserves the landscape that formerly covered all the strip adjacent
to the shore line of the Indian Ocean. This jewel of nature has
been declared the second most important forest in Africa for bird
conservation, and is currently under consideration for the rank
of World Heritage Site.
The treasures in this forest were already appreciated during the
Colony days, when the place was declared Reserve of the Crown. In
1977 it was further protected as a Forest Reserve, and in 1991 a
small part was ranked National Park, mainly to protect two rare
mammal species bordering extinction, the Ader's duiker and the yellow-rumped
elephant shrew, as well as six bird species.
When the park was gazetted, in 1991, native residents were largely
dissatisfied, since the forest was a block to the agricultural development
of the land resources that could perhaps help relief the region's
battered economy. A survey revealed that 96% of the locals were
unhappy with the presence of the forest and a 54% supported its
complete elimination. Land hunger, scarce availability of resources
and crop raid by wildlife posed an uncertain future for a world
unique natural space.
Initiatives undertaken since then have made the Arabuko Sokoke forest
one outstanding model of sustainable development. Aiming at the
balance between forest resources utilization and conservation, the
Forest Department and Kenya Wildlife Service joined to launch the
Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Management Team (ASFMT). The goal of this
group is to avoid the abuse of forest stretches for shortsighted
uses on behalf of local communities, pursuing at the same time a
role for the forest as a booster of the region's economy. On the
other hand, the Kipepeo Butterfly Farm Project has relaunched domestic
economy in such a way that, in 1998, a new survey revealed that
84% of the locals supported forest conservation.
Together with the neighbouring Mida Creek, Arabuko Sokoke hosts
a large biological diversity, with plenty of rare species of birds,
butterflies, amphibians and plants. The region's trees have traditionally
supplied the local communities with firewood, medicines, poles,
timber and carving wood.
The stars of the park are two rare and small mammals, shy and difficult
to spot. The Ader's duiker (Cephalophus adersi), also known as Zanzibar's
duiker since in this island it was first described, is a tiny antelope
only 35 cm high, partly nocturnal, which hides in the forest and
lives in couples. The yellow- or golden-rumped elephant shrew (Rhynchocyon
chrysopygus), 0.5 m long and hardly half of it belonging to the
tail, leads a solitary existence and it is of diurnal habits. Both
mammals are a bit more easily found around Gedi, where tourists
are fewer. A third mammal, the extremely rare Sokoke bush-tailed
mongoose, was last spotted in the mid 1980's.
The park also hosts rich endemic bird diversity. Amongst them, six
species are exclusive to Arabuko Sokoke: the Sokoke pipit, Sokoke
scops owl, Clark's weaver, spotted ground thrush, East Coast akalat
and Amanu sunbird. Finally, the park is home to several species
of butterflies, five of which are only found in this forest.
Guided walks through the forest can be arranged for interested small
groups.
The Reserve has no accommodation facilities, but there are many
at the nearby Watamu and Malindi.
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