 Kerio Valley is a 4,000ft. deep valley with semi-tropical vegetation on the slopes leading down to dry thorn bush at the base. Kerio Valley is in the Eastern arm of the split of the Rift Valley. Its bounded in the East by the Kerio River and to the west by Cherang’ani Hills which rise to 11,000 feet. The Kerio Valley was made a national reserve in 1983 for its bio-diverse importance. The deeply faulted and greatly eroded volcanic blocks of the Eastern Rift Valley present some of the most spectacular and wildly beautiful scenery in the world. It is a land of lowland deserts, highland plateaus and mountain forests. A land of wide spaces with always the prospect of spectacular sunrises and sunsets over the distant hills and escarpments, the area is inhabited by the Keiyo people who migrated to the area many hundreds of years ago. Gradually, they have moved away from their traditional pastoral way of life into settled agriculture. Despite the change in lifestyle, the people still preserve a strong affection for livestock, particularly cattle.
The Kerio Valley and its surrounding areas are ideal for cycling, paragliding and walks.
Kakamega Forest National Reserve
is the only tropical rainforest
in Kenya and could well be one
of the remnants of the vast
forest that once stretched across
the girth of Africa from the
Congo Basin.
The sheer size and grandeur
of the rainforest trees, some
over a hundred years old, is
impressive. The trees create
a complete environment for the
birds, insects, butterflies
and wildlife which so plentiful
in the area. The forest includes
some of Africa's greatest hard
and soft woods and splendid
orchids sit amongst the branches
of the larger trees. Walking
beneath the lush forest canopy
the deep shade is pierced by
flashes of colour, exotic birdcalls,
the scents of wood, flower and
moss. The best time to visit
is during the rainy season,
April to July, when the flowers
are at their most beautiful.
There are 7 kilometers of trails
with a team of ranger guides
to escort visitors through the
forest. The walk to Buyango
Hill, the highest point in the
forest, is beautiful.
The forest is home to a huge
variety of animals, birds and
reptiles. Here you will find
black and white colobus monkeys,
red tailed monkey, potto, bushbaby,
tree pangolin and the occasional
leopard. Furthermore, 350 species
of bird have been recorded including
rare snake-eating birds.
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