Arabuko Sokoke National Park

Arabuko Sokoke National Park is a large forest reserve on Kenya's coast with three distinct woodland types: mixed forest, Brachystegia woodland, and Cynometra vegetation. The landscape shifts between dense tree coverage and more open areas, with ancient trees and diverse plant life shaping the forest environment.

The area was first protected as a Crown Forest in 1943 and later became a national park in 1990 through official government action. These two milestones show how the woodland has been formally safeguarded over decades.

The forest is deeply connected to local communities who have lived alongside it for generations, practicing traditional ways and depending on the woodland's resources. Today, you can still see how these people and the forest remain intertwined in daily life.

The park is best accessed during the dry season when trails are easier to walk and wildlife spotting improves. Sturdy shoes and insect repellent are essential, as paths wind through dense forest and insects are common throughout the reserve.

The forest shelters more than 270 bird species, including the rare Sokoke scops owl and Amani sunbird, drawing birdwatchers from around the world. This remarkable diversity makes the reserve one of Africa's most important havens for ornithological study.