CHEPKITALE FOREST

Chepkitale Forest in Mt Elgon is one of the oldest protected forests in Kenya and is home to over 1,500 tree species, including endangered species like Juniperus procera, Olea chrysophylla and Vachellia xanthophloea.

Numerous species of birds and animals such as the bateleur eagle, bushbuck and impala antelopes, can also be found in the forest. The elevation of the forest is around 1500m above sea level and it receives an average of 1300mm of rainfall each year.

Chepkitale Forest is an enchanted place filled with the secrets of nature and the earth. Here, you'll find towering trees, both living and dead, that spread across the forest floor like gentle giants.

As you wander through this enchanting landscape, you will come across fallen trees that are slowly decomposing. As you observe closely, you can see that mushrooms are thriving on these decaying trees, as if they are feeding off their remains. The forest is known for its chilly weather conditions.

Mt Elgon is an important natural resource in western Kenya's Bungoma County and serves as one of the big water towers that feeds water along the Nile basin all the way to Egypt.