Most people especially Nairobians, get a fever when it comes to getting into the forest. Reason why? Its creepy in the forest. Well, with Kereita Forest, there is nothing like creepy, its actually the opposite, adventure and fun.
Referred to as ‘The Forest’ its located near a vibrant Kimende Town, Lari District in Kiambu County, about 50 kilometers North West of Nairobi and further 10 kilometers south, 45 minute drive from Nairobi CBD.
Kereita forest, under the Aberdare forest eco-sytem, is an outstanding place with natural beauty, 75% of indigenous trees, 8% exotic forest and the rest are bamboo, shrubland and herbaceous crops. Its classified as an important bird area by birdlife international organisation and is surely a bird watchers paradise.
It’s a home to the magnificent waterfall on the Gatamaiyu River, a cave that is home to a small colony of bats and wild animals. African elephants are occasionally found wandering into Kereita from Aberdare Forest.
Black and White Colobus Monkey, Sykes’s Monkeys, forest hogs, small antelopes like duikers, bush babies, porcupines and mongoose are also found in the forest.
The forest also contains a multitude of wildlife activity, with some 138 species of bird, 31 of the bird species are from the forest and 20 of them are considered rare including three endemic species, one being the Abbott’s Starling, where it is recorded nearly all year around.
Kereita is a Kikuyu word ‘Kere-ita’ meaning Armed people. The locals has it that the place was once teeming with warriors and its evidenced by the Lari Massacre (1953), unmarked mass graves where over 5,000 victims of revenge attacks on the local population by the British colonial administration were buried.
As a visitor, there are plenty of activities in the forest that you can engage in including:
Zipling by the flying fox Asia,
Nothing beats group fun
archery,
paint balling,
mountain biking,
guided nature walks,
donkey rides,
community tours,
tree planting
fly fishing,
team building,
ebiking/Forest Rovers,
footgolf,
camping, and
horse riding among others.
If you are not a fun of packed lunch, well, meals are available at The Forest’s Restaurant overlooking the distant Aberdare Ranges.
Fancy a trip here? Be sure to check out our next stop to The Forest if not talk to us, we will help you craft a day or two itinerary here.
