Every year Kenya attracts many visitors from all over the world to come and view Kenya’s wildlife in our renowned game reserves and National park. A wildlife safari in Kenya means more than just seeing animals.The western region is less visited than other parts of the country; this region has some of the most captivating sights in Kenya . The landscape ranges from Tropical forest, the savanna to arid and semi arid desert. The circuit broadly comprises of Kaka mega Forest , Mount Elgon, Saiwa swamp, Nasalot south Turkana, kamnark and Lake Victoria .
The forests of Kakamega lie at the traditional heartland of the luhya people who Bantu are speaking. Abaluhya means those of the same grouping. Luhyia is the third largest ethnic grouping in the country and are Kenya’s most culturally diversified people, with large number of clans and sub clans ( including Abaisukha, baidako, Abanyole, Maragoli, Samai, Bukusu ,Bakheke, Batsotso, Mariachi, Tiriki, Bashia Bamarama and many more.
Each Luhya group is comprised of conglomeration of heterogeneous clans, perharps one or two major ones and several minor ones. The closely scattered homesteads practice mixed agricultural economy though most emphasis cultivates animal husbandry. Traditional principal crops were finger millet, sorghum, sweet potatoes, peas sesame, a variety of nuts and bananas. Today maize is stable food.
The luhya communities are renowned for their culture and organized traditional bullfights to test the strength of the local live stock. In addition to that, the luhyis are known for their spectacular traditional dances called the Sikuti. The dance is performed by groups of paired men and women to the accompaniment of a cacophony of bells and whistles.
The region is mostly savanna and undulating hills but contain the Kakamega forest and Bunyala Forest . Kakamega forest is the town’s real treasure, a remnant of unbroken Equatorial jungle that arched west to East across the continent. It was gazetted in 1985 and it covers 447 square kilometers. It is famous among zoologists and botanists around the world as an example of how isolated environment can survive out from its larger body.
Important to note is that the forest was gazetted to protect the only forest in Kenya of true equatorial nature, West Africa in nature. It, s flora and fauna are of immense interest 10 km south of Kakamega town. The forest is fragmentary, interspread with open fields of grassland, cultivated stream margins and small settlements. It is set at an attitude of between 1,520 and 1,680(4,990-5, 5,512 feet), the hilly terrain is also scattered with seasonal swamps with 2 major rivers (the Isiukhu in the north and the Yala in the south)
The tropical rainforest of Kakamega is a living museum of rare and endemic bird and animal species. From the soaring canopy to the thick forest floor, kakmega is a thriving world of wildlife. The forest is home to troops of primates, including rare colobus and blue monkeys, beautiful chameleons, spectacular giant squirrels and an overwhelming diversity of bird life.
Among the most common birds are the noisy and gregarious black white casqued hornbill and the very striking deep violet Rossa’s Turacco, African Grey Parrots and the huge crowned hawk eagle. Kakamega’s avian stars are the great blur turaccos, big glossy birds, and the size if turkeys that look like dowagers in evening gowns. Most notable is the joyful green bill beater. The forest‘s reptile life is legendry, but few people actually seem to see the snakes. There are no dangerous animals in the reserve and so one ca easily wanders in the reserve.
If you are a nature’s lover or ornithologists, Kakamega forest offers you an amazing wealth of rare birdlife, animal species and untouched paradise which is most pure.
Kakamega forest is easily accessible; you can either use a saloon car, 4wheel drive or a 8 seater van. The obvious routes lie a long the A1 to Kitale or Kisumu (Kisumu-A1 highway- Khaega). Kakamega town was founded as a buying station on the ox-trail known as Scalter’s road which reached here from the cost in 1896; it is only fame in 1930s when gold was discovered nearby.
If you are a golfer, then Kakamega golf club is a place to be in and experience the fresh air, freedom and fantastic views.