Shimba Hills National Reserve is a verdant oasis of coastal rainforest just 33 kilometres south of Mombasa, protecting 300 square kilometres of rolling hills covered in dense forest and grassland. The reserve is the only place in Kenya where the magnificent sable antelope can be found.
The reserve’s lush forests harbour elephants, buffalo, leopards, colobus monkeys, and the rare Aders’ duiker. The birdlife is exceptional, with forest-dependent species including the rare Fischer’s turaco and palmnut vulture among over 200 species recorded.
The highlight for many visitors is the hike to Sheldrick Falls, a beautiful waterfall cascading into a natural swimming pool in the heart of the forest. The walk to the falls passes through magnificent old-growth forest with towering trees and buttress roots.
Shimba Hills makes an excellent half-day or full-day excursion from the Diani Beach or Mombasa coast resorts, offering a taste of bush safari combined with coastal forest ecology. The Shimba Hills Lodge, built on stilts overlooking a waterhole, offers overnight stays with nocturnal wildlife viewing.