A small national reserve, some 35 kilometres from Mombasa and around 15 from the coast, the Shimba Hills National Reserve is a precious jewel, comprising of coastal rainforest, grass- and woodland. Known for its richness of wildlife, maximum elephant density in Kenya, and primarily, as the safe haven of the endangered sable antelope, it ranks high among the beauties of nature. Its closeness to the famed Kenyan beach makes it for a great enriching and enlivening of your vacation.
Expect to see many mammals; besides the elephants and sable antelopes you’ll observe giraffes, buffaloes, bushbucks, and different duikers grazing, perhaps see a cheetah or a leopard hunt or lazily enjoy the caressing sun, spot hyenas, and many distinctive monkeys. Look out for pythons, lizards, and cute little geckos. Looking up you’ll surely see many of the 111 bird species living here, and in the dense Mwaluganje Forest as well as around the Sheldrick Falls expect to see some utterly different animals and vegetation.
And on top of that, you’ll have a cultural encounter, too! Visiting the Bantu-speaking Digo people and learning their butterfly-breading practices will surely add a different dimension to your experience.
