Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve is the most ecologically unique place in East Africa. It is located alongside the Kenyan coast, approximately 11 kilometers north of Mombasa and near the town of Malindi. This forest reserve is well known for its unique biodiversity, rare wildlife, and emerging role even in conservation. It covers approximately 420 square kilometers and is the only remaining fragment of the once-extensive coastal forest that stretches across East Africa.
It is a few kilometers inland from the Indian Ocean. Even though it is a component of the East African coastal forest. It can be regarded as a biodiversity hotspot on the planet, a region of high endemic species density, which is threatened by habitat loss.
The forest spans the districts of Kilifi and Malindi. It is easily accessible from major cities, making it the most popular destination for eco-tourism and wildlife research, and an ecological corridor that supports a range of plant and animal species.
It is known as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for its unique ecosystems and rich wildlife. For the birdwatcher, it is a paradise. As you can witness with your bare eyes, the Ader’s duiker and the Sokoke scops owl. Forest’s dense canopy, winding trails, and unique coastal flora definitely offer visitors a peaceful environment for both adventure and exploration.
Guided tours enable visitors to explore a variety of unique forest zones while learning about the rich biodiversity and conservation efforts.
The Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve is home to rare and endemic species worldwide.
Enjoy a range of exciting outdoor activities that bring you close to both adventure and nature.
When you plan your trip, the time you choose to go on an adventure can have a tremendous impact. Planning your vacation based on factors such as weather, animal activity, and the number of other people (crowds) will give you the best possibility to view wildlife in their natural habitat! In particular, if you travel during Kenya’s dry season, you’ll find large concentrations of animals, which are easier to see than during Kenya’s wet season; however, it’s possible to view animals at any time of year, seasonally as well as annually!
It is also important for a safari traveler to consider their travel distance from home, budget, and level of comfort. Safari-style wildlife viewing can indeed offer some of the highest levels of wildlife viewing intensity. However, the cost varies considerably depending on individual preferences.
You can achieve your specific travel objectives by choosing the right time of year. If you’re planning your trip properly, you will have an unforgettable, rewarding experience with a custom-designed tour tailored to your unique requests!
The Forest is internationally recognized for its extraordinary biodiversity. Therefore, covering a significant portion of Kenya’s land area, it supports a unique percentage of the country’s wildlife. It is time to protect rare and endangered species like the Golden-rumped elephant shrew, Ader’s duiker, and Sokoke bushy-tailed mongoose.
The species are either endemic or near-endemic to the region, making the forest critical for their survival. As a tourist, you can witness around 270 bird species like the scops owl, Clarke’s weaver, and the Amani sunbird. It is a paradise for birdwatchers and ornithologists from all around the globe. You can even find rare plant species by enhancing their ecological environment.
Location Kenya
Arabuko Sokoke National Park lies along the Kenyan coast near Malindi.
Arabuko Sokoke is usually hot, humid, and tropical year-round.
It is the largest coastal forest in East Africa, covering about 420 square kilometers.
The best activities are birdwatching, wildlife viewing, guided tours, and nature walks.
Yes, there are guided hiking and walking trails in the forest reserve that visitors can enjoy.
Wonderful holiday - Fred arranged a fly-in Masai Mara safari for us, followed by five days on the beach at Diani. All of the arrangements, flights and transfers went smoothly with no problems,... read more and it was a pleasure to meet Fred in person at the end of our trip.
We stayed at the Royal Mara in the Mara North conservancy which was superb, and Sands at Nomad in Diani, which has a great restaurant on the beach and wonderful service. We will definitely use La Pisada again for future bookings.
Top quality Safari planner and an AMAZING trip! - Fred from La Pisada Africa Safaris planned two safaris for us in 2023: 3-days to Masai Mara, and 3-day in Amboseli. Those 6 days were amazing and every detail was... read more planned perfectly. Fred made the logistics smooth and simple so we could focus on just enjoying the safari. The driver guides were very knowledgeable and personable.
We were so impressed with how Fred arranged our trip that when we had the opportunity to visit Kenya a second time, we booked two more safaris through Fred. This trip had a small snag that was totally OUTSIDE of Fred’s control and NOT the fault of La Pisada Africa Safaris. As a true professional with years of experience, Fred jumped in to help solve the issue, even though neither he nor his company caused it! THAT is the quality customer service that Fred provides!
I highly recommend La Pisada Africa Safaris for anyone looking to have an awesome safari in East Africa.
Nairobi National Park Tour - Each time I visit Kenya, myself and family always make a point to enjoy a Safari tour. Of my many tours, this recent tour with La Pisada is without a... read more doubt the best! Our tour guide was passionate and a wealth of knowledge of Kenyan wildlife; they were on time and professional. I plan to return to Kenya in the near future and will be using La Pisada to book our next tour.
An awesome safari tour with La Pisada ! - With many choices of Kenyan safari tour companies, it can be difficult to choose one. La Pisada was the best decision I made!! Communication is key for me and... read more La Pisada did not disappoint. All of my inquiries were met with a prompt response & an itinerary was set which met our needs. Our experienced tour guide was prompt, professional, enthusiastic and quite informative (we had many questions about wildlife). The open roof-top vehicle was clean, comfortable & even had a charging port !! We saw rhinos and were so lucky to see lions twice during our safari. Our guide made sure we had the best views & stopped in order for us to capture the perfect photo. I will be certain to use La Pisada again !
Greatest experience in Kenya with Fred team - We spent 12 stunning days in Kenya. We are 2 families with kids 10-12 yo.
First if all, Fred designed for us the custom-made plan of the trip.... read more We added to the classical safari experience different activities - rafting, hiking, biking and even the horseriding and night safari! And All these providers were of very good quality.
Then Fred thought out the logistics to include all these activities in safari plan. We were in Masai Mara, Amboseli, Aberdare, Ol Pejeta, Lake Naivasha.
The choice of lodges was fabulous. We discovered so many beautiful lodges - tented camps, rooms, with views on nature, with animals, with observation points on animals, nature luxury lodges with no fences - sooo different impressions from our hotels. Wow!! And the lodges are very important in your experience, since you spend a lot if time there. All was great!
The guides Farah and Julias were so nice and friendly people and experienced professionals. They took care of us for our comfort and safety, and did extra effort for us to see animals. Kids were fans of Farah!
The safari in Kenya is just a MAGIC! 🪄 you need to come to experience it)))
Maruska_77
Thank you La Pisada - Our La Pisada driver showed up at our apt on time. He offered to drive us to get coffee, offerred us the use if his personal phone charger, and... read more gave us alot of personal attention and care. He explained alot about the different type of animals that we saw at Nairobi Game Park. You can tell that conservation of wildlife was a passion for our driver and we reallly connected and had a great time. Overall a great service by La Pisada.














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