Shimba Hills

Just forty-five minutes from the hot and humid coastal city of Mombasa, is Shimba, located in the Shimba National Reserve. Walk with the endangered elephants, buffalo and sable antelope in the cool, refreshing greens of the Shimba Hills rainforest jungle.

Although Shimba is only 48 km from Mombasa, it has a refreshing and cool climate with an extraordinarily cool cool breeze from the Indian Ocean. It is one of the largest areas of coastal rainforest in East Africa that includes the sacred Kaya forest of the Mijikenda tribe. The Shimba Hills Lodge located in the national reserve has been beautifully built with indigenous wood where you can have wine, dine and relax in the spectacular lodge in the award-winning tree overlooking a pond. There are also two campsites within the park, but many hotels in Mombasa are nearby, so you can visit Shimba on a day trip.

Shimba is home to a variety of species including elephants, giraffes, hyenas, and buffalo, as well as the rare roan and sable antelope. The forests are home to a number of unusual species, including black and white colobus monkeys, Serval cats, the red Duiker, and the Suni antelope. A large number of birds are found among the hills, including honey guides, turacos, woodpeckers, and sunbirds. The sable antelope is considered the most beautiful of the large antelopes and Shimba Hills contains the only Kenyan population of the endangered species. The area is also home to rare plants, including two of the most beautiful types of orchids in Kenya and more than 250 different species of butterflies that live in the rainforest.

There are over five hundred elephants in the reserve and although Elephant Hill is the ideal place to see these large animals, they can be seen throughout the reserve. A fenced corridor has been built linking the Shimba National Reserve with the Mwalunganje Forest and its elephant sanctuary.

The reserve has thick rainforest where the animals prefer to stay cool during the hot day, but the best views of the animals are from the east side of the park, near Giriama Point in the late afternoon, where the animals can be seen moving around. towards the rivers to quench their thirst. Guided night tours are also available – you are sure to hear hyenas and if you are very lucky you may even see a leopard.

The park’s main attraction is the spectacular 25-meter high Sheldrick Falls. There is a two kilometer signposted trail to the falls where you can safely swim in the pool or have a picnic by the falls. A ranger is available at 10 a.m. M. And at 3 p.m. M. To accompany visitors on this walk free of charge.

Prego Hill is the highest point in the park at 450 km. From here, there is an incredible view of the Tsavo Plains, the Taita Hills and, on a very clear day, Mount Kilimanjaro.

Before leaving this beautiful National Reserve, you can buy a unique souvenir at the gates: paper made from elephant dung!