Shimba
Hills National Reserve
 Back Ground 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. |
