Sun, sand and wildlife on Kenya’s coastline

By Ngumbao Kithi

Kenya’s coastline has entered the ranks of tourism destinations that offer sun, sand and wildlife holiday treats in a single package. This combination is rare in most tourist destinations in the world.

New attractions at the Kenyan Coast, which account for more than 70 per cent of tourists visiting the country, include a tree top hotel in the Shimba National Reserve in Kwale. The Lodge is a wooden tree establishment overlooking a water hole in the middle of a tropical rainforest.

Refreshing treat

After the heat and humidity of the sea, the Lodge offers a cool and refreshing treat and a great spectacle of rare animal species that include elephants, buffalos and leopards. The Lodge is 45km south of Mombasa town, 40km from Likoni ferry and approximately 45 minutes drive through Kwale town.

All 30 rooms at the Lodge (that include 23 standard twin rooms, five standard triple rooms and two suites), have private balconies that overlook the water hole. The view is enhanced through the large windows.

The restaurant is an open facility by the veranda that also overlooks the floodlit water hole. A wooden walkway extends 120m into the tropical rain forest at the end of which lies a bar and a quiet haven for bird watchers.

Recently, the Shimba Hills National Reserve benefited from a wildlife-restocking programme that is expected to attract more tourists to the area. The batch included giraffes, zebras and impalas that were moved from the expansive Tsavo National Park in a bid to improve the Shimba Hills ecosystem. Apart from the big five, other wildlife found in this Reserve include the sable antelopes.

Wildlife circuit

Already the Kenya Wildlife Service is laying the ground for additional species by constructing dams and watering holes within the expansive Reserve, which is popular for its nightlife game viewing. It is also famous for its great landscapes with hills and valleys that boasts of a pristine wonderland of giant primeval trees.

Plans are also underway to create a wildlife circuit in the region that will largely target domestic tourism.