​Overview – Arabuko Sokoke FR

Anthony Ham
Expert
By Anthony Ham

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve protects the largest remaining tract of coastal forest in East Africa. The reserve is mainly a bird-watching destination, and several endemics and near-endemics can be found here. The forest, which is home to the eerie Gede Ruins, is a magical place to spend a couple of hours. Arabuko Sokoke is a welcome refuge from the coastal heat – but don’t expect to see any of the big safari animals.

 
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Best Time To Go July to September and January to February
High Season December to March and July to October (Not busy)
Size 420km² / 162mi²
Altitude 11-181m / 36-594ft
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Pros & Cons

  • Rare coastal forest habitat
  • Rare forest wildlife including several endemics
  • Large variety of butterflies and frogs
  • The reserve is little visited and it never gets busy
  • Guided and unguided 4x4 tracks and walking trails
  • Stunning scenery
  • Excellent birding with forest specials and endemics
  • Easy day trip from Malindi and Watamu
  • Only basic camping, including a treehouse platform, available
  • Very small chance of seeing any of the endemic mammals
  • No big safari animals

Arabuko Sokoke FR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Wildlife

Arabuko Sokoke is home to a big variety of wildlife, but most of it isn’t very visible to visitors. There are some elephants and buffalo, but you are very unlikely to encounter them. Of greater interest are the three endemic mammals: Aders’s duiker, Sokoke bushy-tailed mongoose and the golden-rumped elephant shrew. Troops of yellow baboons are a common sight.

Scenery

The reserve’s main habitat is coastal dry forest. The ecosystem comprises three forest types: mixed forest, miombo woodland (lovely for walking, with its open canopy) and cynometra (tropical forest). Each is home to different animal species. There are several forest-fringed ponds with water lilies along the trails, as well as some viewpoints over the canopy.

Weather & Climate

Arabuko Sokoke doubles up on its dry and wet periods. There are two drier seasons (December to March and June to September) – a hotter one at the start of the year and a cooler one midyear. In between are the long rains of April and May, when storms are common, and the short rains of October and November.

Best Time To Visit

You can visit Arabuko Sokoke year-round. The rain will test your stamina and perseverance on forest hikes in the wetter months, but you’ll have lots more birds, as well as frogs, for company. Alternatively, visit in the drier months, when the sunshine makes getting around that much more pleasant.

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Arabuko Sokoke FR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Stuart Butler  –  
United Kingdom UK

Stuart is a travel writer and author of numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including 'Kenya', 'Rwanda' and 'Tanzania'.

Elephant Shrews and ghosts
3/5

You don’t come to Arabuko Sokoke expecting to see the Big Five, but this, one of the last, large tracts of typical coastal forest left on the Kenyan coastline, makes for a brilliant half-day trip from the nearby beach resorts of Malindi...

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Latest User Review
RiNique  –  
Belgium BE
Reviewed: Mar 24, 2016
Very happy birding
4/5

This was my second time in Arabuko Sokoke forest. I especially went there for the owl's. My guide was very good, knew all the birds, made sounds to lure them and overall it was one of my better birdwalks in Kenya. ( a lot) I did book a...

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