Kaya Kinondo Forest Visit
Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Kaya Kinondo Forest, nestled in Kenya’s coastal region. This forest is home to a unique ecosystem and, as a sacred forest of the Digo tribe, rich in cultural heritage. As you make your way across tangled roots and chunks of ancient coral, the guide points out various plants used in traditional medicine. You also get the chance to transmit your fears and worries to an ancient tree by hugging it. Truly an unforgettable and unique journey into nature’s wonders.
Important details
- 38 USD per person – prices are subject to change
- 2 hours
Additional information
A guide will explain you the significance of some of the 187 plant species inside. They include the pimple tree (a known cure for acne), the rather self-explanatory Viagra tree and a palm believed to be 1050 years old. Enormous liana swings (go on, try it) and strangling fig trees abound.
600-year-old trees
Kaya Kinondo contains five possible endemic species, and 140 tree species classified as ‘rare’, within its 30 hectares – the space of a suburban residential block. 600 years ago the first people of the Mijikenda tribe came to Kenya from Singwaya, their semi-legendary homeland in southern Somalia. They started to worship the forest, and cutting vegetation within the kaya became strictly prohibited – visitors may not even take a stray twig or leaf from the forest.
