Welcome to the  arabuko Sokoke Forest  on the Kenya coast

For as long as I can remember I've wanted to visit Africa.  Originally it was an unstructured, childish dream of a safari with Lions, Gazelles, Elephants, & exotic birds spiced with the rythems of jungle drums, bright colorful costumes, and the heart beat of native dancers.  Now the dream has a specific goal and destination, Watamu, Kenya and the Arabuko Sokoke Forest.  So, as I explore this trip, virtually, I'll share it with you.  Someday, I hope to visit myself and replace these with my own photos and experiences.

As I was exploring the net looking for more information on the Arabuko Sokoke Forest, this wonderful photo just took me right there.  I wanted to stop and sit on this log listening to the birds, insects, and other African sounds; and, if I sit quiet enough, just maybe I'll see a little Sokoke peeking at me from behind a branch.  This lovely picture was taken by Javier Gomez-Garcia.  For a real taste of Kenya through some of his other beautiful photos, visit his web site.  This photo and many others are actually available for sale.  Visit Kenyalogy.com - Kenya safari guide est. 2000 to see the rest.

To give you an idea of where we will be headed, here is a map showing the forest.  Only a portion of what is in green here is protected as a National Park.  The area in the light yellow-green is the Mangrove Swamp area of Mida Creek.  The protected portion is northwest of Watamu about 10 Km and continuing west and south about 20 Km.  About 120 Km south of the town of Sokoke is the more familiar city of Mombasa, about  another 200 Km north from Malindi is the Island of Lamu, and east of this map is Mt Kenya - 2nd largest of Africa's mountains at 17,000 ft (only slightly smaller than Kilimanjaro just south of the border in Tanzania).  Another interesting note is that just south and west of the town of Sokoke is the Taita National Forest.  A huge preserve divided into several sections.  It is this area that our familiar African Violets originated.      The temperatures we can expect will range from 72o to 79o in the daytime and from 46o to 52o at night; this coastal area is usually humid or tropical in climate, but can be cool enough at night for a sweater.  I've been told to be sure to bring a high quality mesquito net for sleeping at night, plenty of bug repellant, and of cource sunscreen.  The beach is wonderful and sunbathing is allowed in modest bathing suits.  The best time to visit is between July & September or December & April.  The long rainy season is from April to June and the short rainy season from October to November.        The official language of Kenya is Kiswahili but English is widely spoken.  Many of the residents are Muslim.  It is suggested that travel is with a qualified guide & driver; though, if you have an international drivers license, you can rent a car.  (Driving is on the left side of the street.)  It is necessary to take anti-malaria medicine before, during and after your trip and it is not recommended that you drink the water (though the tourist motels etc. have bottled water readily available).

The most recently found Sokokes live here at Jeannie Knocker's place.  This first picture is of her back porch with all the lush cooling vegetation.  I'm sure this is the place to be in the afternoon.  From her front porch, you can see the Indian Ocean (picture 2).  These pictures were taken by Edith & Robert  Peulicke in the summer of 2002 and used with their generous permission.  To see more of their safari visit their web site.  Edith brought their new Sokoke pair, Genet & Mara, from the new lines recent discovered, home from Africa on that trip.  They were quarentined for 6 months in Denmark by Helle Lauridsen until they could continue on to Robert & Edith's in Sweden.  This pair are the parents of our new little Wahadi.

These photos were taken by Bob Swhartz of Italy.  He visited Jeni Slater's when the original Sokokes were being recieved from Africa.  The first is a Sokoke kitten on one of the entrance signs to the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest.  The other, one of my favorites, is of a Sokoke kitten on a palm frond (learning to balance).  These were both taken somewhere near Jeni Slater's place and used with permission of the Sokoke Council.

This lovely place is near where Genet, Wahadi's father, was found.  You can see some of the diverse foliage and grasses abundant in this forest.  Actually there are 3 completely different forest ecosystems, and some plantations in this forest.  [Cynometra Forest (dense forest with heavy canopy), Brachystegia Forest (a more open, semi-evergreen woodland), and Mixed Forest plus the Mangrove swamps of the Mida Creek area at the eastern edge of the Arabuko Sokoke.]  The Arabuko Sokoke forest is the largest one of it's type in the world and has many plants, animals, birds, insects, and amphibians that are unique to it's borders.  Butterflies are now 'farmed' to preserve many special varieties that are found only there and to keep from loosing them.  Several varieties are already extinct, along with the Sokoke Owl and Sokoke Frog.  Several plant and tree varieties are also lost.  This makes the preservations of this unique ecosystem extremely important.  (Photo used with permission of Edith Peulicke.)

An area of the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest that borders Mida Creek is a Mangrove Swamp.  Mangrove trees are found where there is too much salt in the water for many other types of trees to survive.  The second photo is a large Fig Tree. (Both photos used with permission of Edith Peulicke.)

Couldn't you just kick off your sandals and go wading?  Of course, we wouldn't want to disturb the Flamingo's but this is just so inviting.  Mida Creek is shown here near Jeannie's (walking distance at low tide, I understand).  This is where the fresh water of the creek mix with the salt water from the Indian Ocean.  Across the creek you can see the Mangrove and Fig trees.  (Used with permission of Edith Peulicke.)

This photo by Bob Shwartz is of a Giriama boy with a Sokoke kitten.  I'm not sure exactly where this was taken but understand it is near Watamu.      I found an exciting trip package offered by Eco-Resorts called a "volunteer safari" where you help at the children's home and still see the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Watamu, Malindi, Lamu Island, the Gedi ruins & Masi Mara game reserve.  For more information, visit their site at <www.eco-resorts.com>.  There is also good information at the Kenya Wildlife Service web site. (Photo used with permission of the Sokoke Council.)

 

Wyld Illuzion Cattery North American Sokoke Association  Index Robert & Ediths Web Site (click: "Africa & Sokoke Cats" for their visit to Africa) All photos used with the generous permission of the photographers.  All rights reserved.