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Location
The Kakamega Forest National Park is located northwest of Nairobi in Kenya’s Nandi County.
Size
The size of Kakamega Forest National Park is around 92 square miles.
History
The Kakamega Forest National Park was gazetted in 1933 as a Forest Trust and in 1986 a portion of the forest was joined with the Kisere Forest to create the Kakamega National Park.
Entrance Fees & Permits
The entrance fee to Kakamega Forest National Park is USD25 per adult
Hours of Operation
The Kakamega Forest National Park is open between 8am and 5pm daily.
By Road
The drive from Nairobi to Kakamega Forest National Park is around 216 miles, a drive that would take over six and a half hours.
By Air
Visitors can take a 55 minute flight from Nairobi to Kisumu Airport and then drive 90 minutes to get to Kakamega Forest National Park.
Weather & Climate
The rainfall is low during the winter months of June and July, making this a great time to visit, and again during the high season from December to February. Enjoy a dry climate as you discover the wonders of the Kakamega Forest National Park.
Avoiding Crowds
Visitors looking to avoid crowds should consider visiting Kakamega Forest National Park between the months of December to March and again either late June and early July or at the end of October, just on the edge of high and peak season.
Value for Money
With a variety of accommodations that range from comfortable and simple three-star options to modest hotels, discovering this part of Kenya is a value for money experience.
Popular Wildlife Sightings
Discover unusual animals such as the potto and tree pangolin when visiting the Kakamega Forest National Park. Giant hedgehogs and Colobus monkeys are always a treat to see and if you are enjoying a night drive, look out for civet and genet. Over 400 species of bird have been discovered in the park.
The Terrain
On the eastern border of Kakamega Forest National Park, the Nandi escarpment presents steep cliffs with other parts of the park clearly hilly while the rainforest covers vast parts of the park.
Game Drives
Experience the wonders of the Kakamega Forest National Park with enclosed 4×4 game drives through a diverse landscape, the chance to see colobus monkeys, De Brasas Monkeys and the small duiker, among many other fascinating animals.
Game Walks
There are nature trails that can be walked either with or without a qualified guide and a chance during the 5am-7am sunrise walk to spot nocturnal favorites such as the Potto.
| Lodge or Hotel | Distance to park entrance (in miles) | |
| Rondo Retreat Centre |
| |
| Milimani Resort | 8.3 miles to Kakamega Forest National Park | |
| Golf Hotel | 8 miles to Kakamega Forest National Park | |
| Place Caravan Hotel | 10.4 miles to Kakamega Forest National Park |
The Crying Stone
Witness the mystery of this weeping rock, said to depict a mourning woman, the water seeping from the “neck” of the feature.
Murilo Gardens
Enjoy a walk around the grounds of the Muliro Gardens, enjoying some downtime under tranquil trees.
The best time to visit Kakamega Forest National Reserve is between June and October, when the weather is great and the rain is at bay.
If guests stay close to Kakamega pricing may range from around USD100 per person sharing, to guests paying around USD300 for safaris from further afield.
The drive from Nairobi is long, around six and a half hours, while the option to fly will be a 55 minute flight with a 90 minute drive to Kakamega Forest National Reserve.
The landscape of steep cliffs and forested ground makes this a different safari setting when compared to some of the larger, more popular national parks and reserves. The outstanding birdlife and array of unusual resident animals makes this a special experience.
Look out for the endangered African Grey Parrot and admire the bush pig and giant forest hedgehog. Duiker and other plains game are often spotted in the reserve.
The reserve is open between 8am to 5pm daily.
Most day trips can be done without pre-booking, however the more upmarket accommodation located near the reserve should be pre-booked.
Game drives in enclosed 4×4 vehicles or wildlife walks and trails are the best way to experience the Kakamega Forest National Reserve.
The Milimani or Golf Hotels are two options to consider for accommodation near Kakamega Forest National Reserve.
Restaurants will be very local and basic, examples are Delicato Fish Palace and Cassia Fries N Cafe. Most quests will dine at their hotels or lodges.
The Crying Stone
Witness the mystery of this weeping rock, said to depict a mourning woman, the water seeping from the “neck” of the feature.
Murilo Gardens
Enjoy a walk around the grounds of the Muliro Gardens, enjoying some downtime under tranquil trees.
The best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda is during the dry season (December– February and June - August) when conditions are especially good for trekking to view mountain gorillas. Game drives in the national parks are also fruitful during this time.
Wear neutral colored, lightweight clothing on your Uganda safari. Dress in layers and bring a warm sweater for morning and nighttime game drives. For gorilla trekking, bring a waterproof rain jacket, hiking boots, long socks, hiking pants, bug repellant, and a daypack. A sunhat and gardening gloves are also a good idea; the jungle is dense and thick.
Natural World Kenya Safaris offers Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda with basic accommodations starting at $96 per person, per day, plus the Uganda gorilla trekking permit which costs $700 per person per day (the permits are required, and those fees are non-negotiable.) Costs increase from there.
Natural World Safaris can provide basic, mid-range, and luxury trekking safaris and is eager to work with almost any budget.
Suggested tips range from $10 to $20 per person per day for a private guide and the same amount for your driver if that is a different person than your guide.
If you are on a guided safari or gorilla trek in Uganda, your chances of encountering problems are minimal. However, it is always a good idea to take precautions on your safari, particularly when traveling through urban areas or in regions close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The trek to spot gorillas can be strenuous. It could take anywhere from two to eight hours to find and observe the gorillas, depending on the time of year. Be prepared to hike for multiple hours through uneven terrain at high altitude. It is advisable to train before any gorilla trekking trip by walking uphill, or better yet, by taking day hikes.
When it comes to wildlife viewing, there are never any guarantees. There are no fences in the parks in Uganda and the gorillas are free to roam. However, our expert guides and gorilla trackers have years of experience taking guests to see these magnificent creatures. They know their favorite spots to congregate and work closely with park officials each day to provide the best possible chance of seeing gorillas in the wild.
Most mountain gorillas in Uganda live at between 4,900 to 7,500 feet. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the country’s mountain gorillas, has a high point of 8,550ft.
The best time to go on a gorilla trek in Rwanda is during the dry season (June - September) when conditions are best for trekking to view the country’s highlight: the fascinating mountain gorillas.
Wear neutral colored, lightweight clothing on your Rwanda gorilla trek. Dress in layers and don’t forget a sweater for chilly morning and nighttime game drives. For gorilla trekking, bring a waterproof rain jacket, broken-in hiking boots, long socks, hiking pants, bug repellant, and a daypack. A sun visor and protective gloves – such as gardening gloves - are also useful.
Natural World Kenya Safaris offers Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Rwanda with basic accommodations starting at $720 per person, per day, plus the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit which costs $1,500 per person per day (the permits are required, and those fees are non-negotiable.) Costs increase from there.
Natural World Safaris can provide basic, mid-range, and luxury trekking safaris and is eager to work with almost any budget.
Suggested tips for your guide are $25 per person, per day for a private guide and the same amount for your driver if that is a different person than your guide.
Rwanda is one of the safest countries in Africa, particularly if you are on a guided safari or gorilla trek. Your chances of encountering problems are minimal. However, it is always a good idea to take precautions on your safari, particularly when traveling through urban areas. Cross-border travel into the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Burundi is not safe, however, so steer clear of this.
The trek to spot gorillas can be strenuous. It could take anywhere from two to eight hours to find and observe the gorillas, depending on the time of year. Be prepared to hike for multiple hours through uneven terrain at high altitude. It is advisable to train before any gorilla trekking trip by walking uphill, or better yet, by taking day hikes.
When it comes to wildlife viewing, there are never any guarantees. There are no fences in the parks in Rwanda and the gorillas are free to roam. However, our expert guides and gorilla trackers have years of experience taking guests to see these magnificent creatures. They know their favorite spots to congregate and work closely with park officials each day to provide the best possible chance of seeing gorillas in the wild.
Most mountain gorillas in Rwanda live at between 8,000 to 13,000 feet. Volcanoes National Park has a high point of 15,000ft.
Contact us for more information
For more information about our safari excursions, or to book your dream safari trip with Natural World Kenya Safaris, simply get in touch with our friendly travel advisors. Give us a call on +254 704 001 122 or leave your details on our contact us page, and we'll reply as quickly as possible.
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