Malindi Day Trip Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Nature Walks

Malindi Day Trip Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Nature Walks: Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve is located on the coast of Kenya, and 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 hours drive from Mombasa and 30 minutes from Malindi and is a beautiful and convenient natural ecosystem to visit, and an easy site to add on to before or after spending time on the beach. This is the perfect wilderness for day visitors. Arabuko-Sokoke Forest is the largest 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 walks led by experienced guides as you enjoy your interests, picnics at selected sites, running and cycling through the forest, and forest drives. There are over 100km of forest trails open to the public. There is also a cultural center where one can visit to learn about the Giriama community and witness traditional dance performances. Learn about the forest conservation efforts by the local community, butterfly farming, and bee farming. Our action-packed day safari in Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve begins and ends and ends in Malindi. The tour could also start from Watamu, Kilifi, or Mombasa. Spend the day out in the African bush watching elephants and all kinds of other wild animals, birds, insects, plants, and trees in Arabuko Sokoke Forest.

The tour begins early morning at 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 pick up from your residence we make our way straight to Arabuko Sokoke Park. Arriving at the Park we check-in and embark on our exciting guided nature walk in 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 a population of about 200 elephants. Other animals of the forest include African civets, as well as Baboons, Vervet monkeys, Sokoke bushy-tailed Mongoose, Ader’s Duiker, red, blue, and common Duikers, blotched Genet, Caracal, Bushbabies (Garnetts and Zanzibar bush-babies), Aardvarks, Sykes’ monkeys, Yellow baboons and Vervet monkeys, red-bellied coast Squirrels and red-legged sun squirrels.

On the 4 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 longer tour you can visit good spots such as the Whistling Duck Pools, the Kararacha Pools, or the fascinating Nyari Cliff, and 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 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 discover Arabuko-Sokoke forests are the early morning hours around dawn or the early evening hours around dusk when wildlife and birds of the forest are most active.

These times are also more comfortable for you because you avoid the hot part of the day. Our tours into the forest are accompanied by expert guides. They are expert ornithologists and can help visitors find and see some of the rare and unique birds of the forest.

Attractions in the Arabuko-Sokoke forest include wildlife such as African elephants, African Buffalo, African civets, Caracal, Syke’s Monkeys, Yellow Baboons, and Lesser Galago (or bushbaby).

There are over 270 species of birds 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, one 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 fee, service charge, 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)

Mobile: +254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: info@africanspicesafaris.com
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com