Kereita forest is located in Lari Kiambu County, approximately 60 km from Nairobi. Kereita forest forms part of Aberdares national park and is home to a magnificent Gatamaiyu river, caves, wild animals, and a water fall which rises at a height of 60 feet. The forest and the surrounding area have animals such as elephants, leopards, and colubus monkeys. The forest covers 47 square kilometers and is designated an important bird area with quite a several bird species residing in the rich biodiversity. Kereita forest bears the distinction of being the site of mass graves for over 5,000 victims of revenge attacks on the local population by the British colonial administration. These reprisals were triggered by the so-called Lari massacre in March 1953 after Mau Mau combatants attacked and killed about 100 loyalists in this area including the local chief Kahangari.
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International House next to Hilton Hotel Nairobi
8:00 am
Highlights
At 7:00 hrs meet at International House next to Hilton Hotel Nairobi, Kenya for pick up and briefing and time to shop for snacks and drinks and at 8:00 hrs depart for Kereita. Our scenic drive is about one hour to Kimende on the upper escarpment enter through carbacid gate. Upon arrival, our walkthrough Kereita Forest starts at the Carbacid Forest Gate. We will visit a small natural spring in the neighborhood to view water bubbling from the underground. This is actual carbon dioxide gas from the ground. The trail then goes deeper into the forest, with the undergrowth now getting thicker and more interesting and varied. Giant ferns and climbers abound deep in the forest, competing for the meager light filtering though old gnarled mammoth trees that stand tall and proud, untouched by human exploitation. The sounds of various species of monkeys and birds increasingly become a regular part of the jungle. The trail is hardly discernible due to infrequent visitors to this part of the forest.
After walking up and down two steep river valleys for about two hours, we will pass by Elephant Pool, a large natural water body that Elephants love to frolic in. A further one hour walk will finally bring us to Kereita Waterfall on Gatamaiyu River. To the right side of the waterfall is a cave with a small bat population. Kereita has been classified as an Important Bird Area (IBA), and boasts over 138 species, of which 20 are considered rare.
