Lake Victoria catchment
Kakamega Forest
Source: Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership (opens in a new tab) · checked 18 Oct 2026
Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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About Kakamega Forest
Kenya's only remnant of the tropical rainforest that once stretched across central Africa — a mid-altitude rainforest that is the easternmost outlier of the Congo Basin forests.
Sources: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab); Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership (opens in a new tab) · checked 18 Oct 2026
Highlights
- More than 330 bird species recorded, including the great blue turaco
- De Brazza's monkey, black-and-white colobus and blue monkey
- Around 350 butterfly species thought to occur
- Nature trails and the Buyangu Hill viewpoint at sunrise
Sources: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab); Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership (opens in a new tab) · checked 18 Oct 2026
Suggested time
At least 2 days
KenyaPlus editorial guidance for a comfortable visit, not an official rule.
Confirm before booking
- Which part of the forest you will visit — it is managed in sections
- Guided walks and accommodation near the forest
- How you will travel from Kisumu or Kakamega town
KenyaPlus does not yet hold verified data for these.
When to go
Rain affects travel in Kenya, especially on unpaved roads. Here is the yearly pattern and the current forecast for Kakamega Forest, both from the Kenya Meteorological Department.
- January: between the rains.
- February: between the rains.
- March: long rains.
- April: long rains, expected peak.
- May: long rains.
- June: between the rains.
- July: between the rains.
- August: between the rains.
- September: between the rains.
- October: short rains.
- November: short rains.
- December: short rains.
- Long rains
- Short rains
- Between the rains
- Expected peak (2026 outlook)
A summary of Kenya's national rainfall pattern from the Kenya Meteorological Department: long rains March to May (with the peak in April inland and May on the coast, as KMD expected for 2026) and short rains October to December. Other months are shown as between the rains. Rain varies by year and place, and between-the-rains months can still be wet.
Forecast: October–December 2026
For Kakamega County, the Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average rainfall in October–December 2026, with rains already falling from September and continuing into January.
Source: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
A seasonal forecast, not a guarantee. KMD also issues monthly and weekly updates.
Kenya's rainy seasons
March to May is the main rainfall season — the “long rains” — over most parts of Kenya.
Information status: VerifiedSources: Kenya Meteorological Department: Climate outlook for the 'Long Rains' (March–May) 2026 season (KMD/FCST/01-2026/SO/01) (opens in a new tab); Kenya Meteorological Department: Climate outlook for the 'Long Rains' (March–May) 2025 season (KMD/FCST/01-2025/SO/01) (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
For the 2026 long rains, the Kenya Meteorological Department expected the peak in April over most regions, and in May along the coast.
Information status: VerifiedSource: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
October to December brings the “short rains”, a major rainfall season in Kenya.
Information status: VerifiedSource: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
More in our guide: Best time to visit Kenya.
Park entry fees
Information status: VerifiedKakamega National Reserve — daily entry
Per person, per 24 hours. Children under 6 enter free.
| Visitor | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| East African citizen | KES 500 | KES 250 |
| Kenya resident | KES 675 | KES 350 |
| African citizen | USD 20 | USD 10 |
| Non-resident / foreign visitor | USD 50 | USD 25 |
Official KWS tariff "Conservation Fees 2025", supplied by the KenyaPlus owner and checked on 17 Oct 2026.
- Listed by KWS with the scenic parks. Covers the KWS-managed national reserve; the southern forest reserve is managed separately.
- Entry is charged per person and is valid for one visit of up to 24 hours.
- Children aged five and younger enter free; the child rate covers ages 5–17, and students up to 23 on an organised visit from their school or college.
- Kenyan citizens aged 70 and over and persons with disability are exempt.
- Vehicle charges are extra (from KES 600 a day for a vehicle with fewer than 6 seats), as are camping and activities.
Guides for Kakamega Forest
Kakamega Forest: Kenya's rainforest
Kenya's only tropical rainforest remnant: hundreds of bird species, forest monkeys, butterflies and walking trails.
Mount Elgon: caves, salt-mining elephants and moorland
A mountain park on the Uganda border — Kitum Cave, Koitoboss Peak, and reaching it from Kitale.
Things to do in Kakamega Forest
Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Adventure and the outdoors
Walk Kenya's last tropical rainforest
Monkeys, rare birds and a sunrise viewpoint in Kakamega Forest.
Where: Kakamega Forest
Where next from Kakamega Forest
Close by
Photo: Nina R · CC BY 2.0 · original
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Mount Elgon National Parkabout 2½ h by road (estimate)
Photo: Syllabub · CC BY-SA 3.0 · original
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Lake Nakuruabout 4 h by road (estimate)
Photo: Arthur Buliva · CC BY-SA 3.0 · original
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Lake Bogoriaabout 5 h by road (estimate)
If you like Kakamega Forest
Photo: Bett Duncan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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NaivashaAlso good for hiking, wildlife
Photo: Galkey · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
Resized to 1,920 px wide and metadata removed; displayed cropped to fit. All photo credits
Mount KenyaAlso good for hiking, wildlife
Photo: Matteo Frigo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Aberdare National ParkAlso good for wildlife, hiking
Thinking of visiting Kakamega Forest?
Add it to a plan and run the Trip Reality Check.
Sources
- Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership (opens in a new tab) — Kakamega Forest — Key Biodiversity Area factsheet (last assessed 2012) (checked 18 Oct 2026)
- Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab) — Kakamega Forest National Reserve (checked 18 Oct 2026)
Spotted something out of date? Tell us — we check corrections against the source before changing anything.