Shimba
Hills National Reserve
Background
Information
The Shimba Hills were gazetted as a National Forest in 1903,
grassland areas were incorporated in 1924 and several subsequent
extensions took place to bring the Reserve to its present
size. In 1968 most of the Reserve was double gazetted as the
Shimba Hills National Reserve. Two smaller areas to the west
adjoining the reserve and almost entirely forested remain
as Forest Reserves; Mkongani North and Mkongani West Forest
Reserve.
A
fenced elephant corridor connects the Shimba Hills with Mwaluganje
Forest Reserve to the North.
The
Shimba hills are a dissected plateau that ascends steeply
from the coastal plains, 30 km south west of Mombasa and just
south of Kwale town. The surrounding escarpment rises from
around 120m to 300m across the bulk of the plateau and as
high as 450m at Marare and Pengo hills.
The
underlying rocks are the Triassic Shimba Grits and in the
north central part near Kwale town Pliecone Magarini sands.
Rivers flowing from the hills supply fresh water to Mombasa
and the Diani/Ukunda area.
Location:
The reserve is approximately 33 km South of Mombasa, in Kwale
district of Coast Province.
Climate:
The climate is hot and moist but is cooler than that at the
coast with strong sea breezes and frequent mist and cloud
in the early morning. Annual rainfall is 855mm-1682mm. Mean
annual temperatures is 24.2 degrees Centigrade.
HOW
TO GET THERE
Roads:
The reserve's main access is via Diani. - 56 kms from Mombasa.
Airstrips:
The reserve has one airstrip.
Park
Roads:
Inside the Reserve is a 153 km road network.
Park
Gates:
Main gate, Kivumoni Gate, Kidongo Gate, Shimba Gate.
MAJOR
ATTRACTIONS
Scenic
landscape comprising of hills and valleys extending beyond
the reserve boundaries
- Sheldricks
Falls
- Sable
antelope
- Coastal
rainforest
- Potential
for bird-shooting outside the Reserve
FACILITIES
Shimba
Hills Lodge; KWS
Bandas; 2 campsites
COMMON
VEGETATION
The
Shimba Hills hold one of the largest areas of coastal rain
forest in East Africa after Arabuko Sokoke. The vegetation
consists of forested scarp slopes and undulating grasslands
interspersed with woodland clumps and ribbons of riverine
forest in the steeply cut valleys. |
