Malindi Day Trip Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Nature Walks

Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve is located on the coast of Kenya, just inland of the small beach town of Watamu. The 416 km² forest lies 110 km north of Mombasa, between Malindi and Kilifi. The forest is a 2-hour drive from Mombasa and a 30-minute drive from Malindi. It is a beautiful, convenient natural ecosystem to visit and an easy site to add on before or after time on the beach.

This is the perfect wilderness for day visitors. Arabuko-Sokoke Forest is the most significant remaining section of dry coastal forest found in Eastern and Southern Africa. It is a unique habitat characterized by an enormous array of flora and fauna.

The main activities in the forest include

✓ Learn about the local community’s forest conservation efforts, butterfly farming, and bee farming
✓ There is also a cultural center where visitors can learn about the Giriama community and witness traditional dance performances
✓ guided walks tailored to your interests, picnics at selected sites, running and cycling, and forest drives. There are over 100km of forest trails open to the public

Our action-packed day safari in Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve begins and ends in Malindi. The tour could also start from Watamu, Kilifi, or Mombasa.  Spend the day in the African bush observing elephants and other wildlife, including birds, insects, plants, and trees, in Arabuko Sokoke Forest.  The tour begins early in the morning, around 0600 hours, when wildlife and birds of the forest are most active. This time is also more comfortable for you because you avoid the hot part of the day. After picking up at your residence, we proceed directly to Arabuko Sokoke Park. Upon arrival at the park, we check in and embark on our guided nature walk through the untamed bush.

A birder’s delight, the forest offers an exceptional birding experience with more than 482 bird species documented, including endemic, rare, and endangered species such as Sokoke Scops Owl, Sokoke Pipit, East Coast Akalat, Spotted Ground Thrush, Amani Sunbird, and Clarke’s Weaver. The forest is one of the best places to view the endangered Golden-rumped elephant shrew.

Spend time at the Arabuko-Sokoke swamp and enjoy sightings of elephants and buffalo that come to drink. The forest is home to approximately 200 elephants. Other forest animals include African civets, baboons, Vervet monkeys, Sokoke bushy-tailed Mongoose, Ader’s Duiker, and red, blue, and common Duikers.

There are also blotched Genet, Caracal, Bushbabies (Garnetts and Zanzibar bushbabies), Aardvarks, Sykes’ monkeys, Yellow baboons and Vervet monkeys, red-bellied coast squirrels, and red-legged sun squirrels.

On the four km-long nature trail, which is close to the Forest Visitor Centre, you can learn more about the unique features of Arabuko-Sokoke.  If you wish to go on a more extended tour, you can visit good spots such as the Whistling Duck Pools, the Kararacha Pools, or the fascinating Nyari Cliff, and a viewpoint where the ground suddenly plunges about 50-80m in depth and offers unmatched views of the forest, Mida Creek, and beyond to the Indian Ocean.

After a couple of hours, we exit the forest and return to Malindi, Watamu, or Mombasa. Back in the city, you will be dropped off at your residence, bringing your action-packed day safari to a close.

Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Nature Walk is an excursion to the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve situated 20 km South of Malindi, 110 km north of Mombasa, and 45 km from Kilifi.

The best times to visit Arabuko-Sokoke forests are early morning (around dawn) and early evening (around dusk), when wildlife and birds are most active.

These times are also more comfortable for you because you avoid the hot part of the day. Expert guides lead our forest tours. They are expert ornithologists and can help visitors spot rare and unique forest birds.

Attractions in the Arabuko-Sokoke forest include wildlife such as African elephants, African Buffalo, African civets, Caracals, Syke’s Monkeys, Yellow Baboons, and Lesser Galagos (bushbabies).

There are more than 270 bird species recorded in the forest, including several rare and endemic species. The Clarke’s Weaver is only found in the Arabuko-Sokoke forest. There are reptiles & amphibians about 49 reptiles and 25 amphibian species.

During your Malindi day excursion to the Arabuko-Sokoke forest, you can undertake the following activities:
* Cycling
* Running
* Camping
* Picnicking
* Forest walks
* Forest drives
* Bird watching
* Butterfly watching

Malindi Day Trip Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Nature Walks Rates Includes;

Mineral water during tour + Professional English speaking guides + All entry fees, guide fees, service charges, and taxes & Pickup from your hotel in Malindi and drop-off to your hotel

Notes

* Other activities include Forest drives, Bird watching, Butterfly watching, Cycling, picnicking, and running
* Suggested items to wear/ bring: Bottle of water, comfortable walking shoes, bag, hat, sunglasses, and binoculars
* The forest has a network of driving tracks and walking trails. You can opt to drive as it is the easiest way to see transitions between the different forest types but one learns more about the forest by walking

Malindi Day Trip Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Nature Walks Rates Do Not Include:

* Drinks
* Tips or gratuity
* Travelers Insurance
* Communication charges
* Visas, international airfares, and airport taxes; meals
* Sightseeing not included in the package; optional activities
* Personal expenses such as transfers to/ from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport)

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