Arabuko Sokoke National Reserve

Arabuko Sokoke National Reserve, located between Malindi and Kilifi along Kenya's coast approximately 180 kilometers north of Mombasa, is the largest remaining fragment of indigenous coastal forest in East Africa, covering 420 square kilometers. The reserve is internationally recognized as one of the most important forests for bird conservation on the African continent, harboring over 270 bird species including six globally threatened and several endemic species found nowhere else in the world, such as Clarke's weaver, the Sokoke scops owl, the Sokoke pipit, and the Amani sunbird. Beyond birds, the reserve shelters 40 mammal species including African elephants, African buffalos, caracals, Syke's monkeys, and some of Kenya's rarest mammals such as the golden-rumped elephant-shrew and Ader's duiker. Three distinct forest types, diverse butterfly communities, and ancient trees create a rich and layered ecosystem that makes Arabuko Sokoke a world-class destination for birdwatchers, naturalists, and eco-tourism visitors.