Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve

Nature Reserve · Kenya

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Photo © Николай Максимович

Photo © Николай Максимович — CC BY 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Coastal forest rises from the Indian Ocean plains of Kilifi County, where sandy soils and seasonal rainfall have sculpted a woodland ecosystem unlike anywhere else on the East African coast. The reserve's mix of dense woodland, open grassland, and forest edge creates a mosaic of habitats that support a remarkable diversity of animal life adapted to the reserve's As climate—characterized by dry summers when water becomes precious and concentrated, and wetter winters that trigger breeding cycles and movement. In the shadowed interior, small forest mammals shelter among the leaf litter and root systems, while canopy dwellers exploit the three-story structure of tall trees, middling emergents, and understory growth. Woodland raptors hunt above the open patches; ground birds and songbirds navigate the dense vegetation where insects thrive in seasonal pulses. The forest's ecological character depends entirely on its moisture rhythm: wet enough in winter to support evergreen forest patches, yet constrained enough by summer dryness to prevent the development of true rainforest, creating instead a fire-adapted, human-shaped landscape of immense conservation value.

For wildlife photographers and observers, the reserve demands patience but rewards it abundantly. The winter months bring the richest concentrations of birds as migrants arrive and resident species breed, while early morning light cuts through the forest canopy at angles that transform dense woodland into a photographer's canvas of dappled gold and shadow. Access is straightforward from Kilifi town, and experienced guides familiar with the reserve's trails and seasonal patterns are essential; they read the landscape for sign and sound, navigating to water sources where animals gather during the dry season. Birdwatchers will find themselves in constant motion, tracking songbirds and raptors through the canopy and along forest edges, while those seeking mammals must embrace the slower, quieter approach that rewards keen observation. The reserve's conservation status and relative isolation from major tourist circuits mean that wildlife encounters often feel personal and unhurried, offering the kind of authentic bush experience that has become increasingly rare along the Kenyan coast.

Polemaetus bellicosus

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Eastern Crested Guineafowl

Guttera pucherani

European Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

Fiery-necked Nightjar

Caprimulgus pectoralis

Caprimulgus inornatus

Mottled Spinetail

Telacanthura ussheri

Ceuthmochares australis

Chrysococcyx klaas

Cuculus canorus

Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

Yellow-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

African Goshawk

Aerospiza tachiro

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

African Barred Owlet

Glaucidium capense

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Apaloderma narina

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

Trumpeter Hornbill

Bycanistes bucinator

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Mangrove Kingfisher

Halcyon senegaloides

African Pygmy Kingfisher

White-throated Bee-eater

Merops albicollis

Olive Bee-eater

Merops superciliosus

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Northern Carmine Bee-eater

Cryptolybia olivacea

Green Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus simplex

Pallid Honeyguide

Indicator meliphilus

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Mombasa Woodpecker

Campethera mombassica

Pitta angolensis

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

Retz's Helmetshrike

Prionops retzii

Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike

Prionops scopifrons

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher

Trochocercus cyanomelas

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Long-tailed Fiscal

Lanius cabanisi

Eastern Nicator

Nicator gularis

Sombre Greenbul

Andropadus importunus

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Lowland Tiny Greenbul

Phyllastrephus debilis

Northern Brownbul

Phyllastrephus strepitans

Pycnonotus barbatus

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Little Yellow Flycatcher

Erythrocercus holochlorus

Black-headed Apalis

Apalis melanocephala

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Black-bellied Starling

Notopholia corusca

Red-tailed Ant Thrush

Neocossyphus rufus

Bare-eyed Thrush

Turdus tephronotus

Ashy Flycatcher

Fraseria caerulescens

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Ploceus cucullatus

Dark-backed Weaver

Ploceus bicolor

Zanzibar Red Bishop

Euplectes nigroventris

Black-winged Red Bishop

Euplectes hordeaceus

Black-and-white Mannikin

Spermestes bicolor

Red-throated Twinspot

Hypargos niveoguttatus

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Anthus cinnamomeus

Anthus melindae

Yellow-fronted Canary

Crithagra mozambica

Emberiza poliopleura

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Alopochen aegyptiaca

African Pygmy Goose

Nettapus auritus

Spatula querquedula

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Northern Pintail

Southern Pochard

Netta erythrophthalma

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena

Coqui Francolin

Campocolinus coqui

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Slender-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus clarus

Böhm's Spinetail

Neafrapus boehmi

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

Tachymarptis melba

Forbes-Watson's Swift

White-rumped Swift

White-bellied Go-away-bird

Crinifer leucogaster

Fischer's Turaco

Tauraco fischeri

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Clamator jacobinus

Thick-billed Cuckoo

Pachycoccyx audeberti

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Cuculus gularis

Mourning Collared Dove

Streptopelia decipiens

Spilopelia senegalensis

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

African Green Pigeon

Paragallinula angulata

Gallinula chloropus

Allen's Gallinule

Porphyrio alleni

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Lesser Flamingo

Phoeniconaias minor

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Recurvirostra avosetta

Pluvialis squatarola

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Spur-winged Lapwing

Vanellus spinosus

Black-headed Lapwing

Vanellus tectus

Senegal Lapwing

Vanellus lugubris

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

Anarhynchus asiaticus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Actophilornis africanus

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Eurasian Curlew

Numenius arquata

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

Black-tailed Godwit

Gallinago gallinago

Terek Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Tringa glareola

Common Redshank

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Calidris pugnax

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Calidris minuta

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

Madagascar Pratincole

Glareola ocularis

Onychoprion fuscatus

Sternula albifrons

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Hydroprogne caspia

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Lesser Crested Tern

Thalasseus bengalensis

Greater Crested Tern

Thalasseus bergii

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Ichthyaetus hemprichii

Lesser Black-backed Gull

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Ciconia abdimii

Microcarbo africanus

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Bostrychia hagedash

Plegadis falcinellus

African Spoonbill

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egretta ardesiaca

Egretta garzetta

Ardeola ralloides

Malagasy Pond Heron

Yellow-billed Egret

Ardea brachyrhyncha

Scopus umbretta

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

Pandion haliaetus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Necrosyrtes monachus

Terathopius ecaudatus

Southern Banded Snake Eagle

Circaetus fasciolatus

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Macheiramphus alcinus

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

Hieraaetus ayresii

Hieraaetus pennatus

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Micronisus gabar

Eastern Chanting Goshawk

Melierax poliopterus

Circus macrourus

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Grasshopper Buzzard

Butastur rufipennis

Western Barn Owl

Sokoke Scops Owl

African Scops Owl

Otus senegalensis

Southern White-faced Owl

Ptilopsis granti

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Blue-naped Mousebird

Urocolius macrourus

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Abyssinian Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus minor

Von der Decken's Hornbill

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

Bycanistes brevis

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Pied Kingfisher

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

Red-and-yellow Barbet

Trachyphonus erythrocephalus

D'Arnaud's Barbet

Trachyphonus darnaudii

Black-collared Barbet

Lybius torquatus

Brown-breasted Barbet

Pogonornis melanopterus

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Nubian Woodpecker

Campethera nubica

Green-backed Woodpecker

Campethera maculosa

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

Falco biarmicus

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Brown-headed Parrot

Poicephalus cryptoxanthus

African Broadbill

Smithornis capensis

Black-throated Wattle-eye

Platysteira peltata

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Gorgeous Bushshrike

Telophorus viridis

Slate-colored Boubou

Laniarius funebris

East Coast Boubou

Laniarius sublacteus

Green-headed Oriole

Oriolus chlorocephalus

Northern White-crowned Shrike

Eurocephalus ruppelli

Lesser Grey Shrike

Isabelline Shrike

Lanius isabellinus

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Red-tailed Shrike

Lanius phoenicuroides

Corvus splendens

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucotis

Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix signatus

Little Greenbul

Eurillas virens

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Mascarene Martin

Phedina borbonica

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Riparia riparia

Hirundo rustica

Ethiopian Swallow

Hirundo aethiopica

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Cecropis senegalensis

Northern Crombec

Sylvietta brachyura

Red-faced Crombec

Sylvietta whytii

Phylloscopus trochilus

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Common Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Acrocephalus palustris

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Little Rush Warbler

Bradypterus baboecala

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Coastal Cisticola

Cisticola haematocephalus

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Zosterops flavilateralis

Rufous Chatterer

Argya rubiginosa

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Golden-breasted Starling

Lamprotornis regius

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

Shelley's Starling

Lamprotornis shelleyi

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Magpie Starling

Speculipastor bicolor

Spotted Ground Thrush

Geokichla guttata

Bearded Scrub Robin

Tychaedon quadrivirgata

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Collared Palm Thrush

Cichladusa arquata

Spotted Palm Thrush

Cichladusa guttata

Thrush Nightingale

Luscinia luscinia

Common Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

Common Rock Thrush

Monticola saxatilis

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Isabelline Wheatear

Oenanthe isabellina

Cyanomitra olivacea

Cyanomitra veroxii

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Purple-banded Sunbird

Cinnyris bifasciatus

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris pyrgita

Parrot-billed Sparrow

Passer gongonensis

Passer domesticus

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver

Bubalornis niger

White-headed Buffalo Weaver

Dinemellia dinemelli

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Black-necked Weaver

Ploceus nigricollis

Eastern Golden Weaver

Ploceus subaureus

Golden Palm Weaver

Ploceus golandi

Chestnut Weaver

Ploceus rubiginosus

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps

Red-billed Quelea

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes axillaris

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Mandingoa nitidula

Estrilda astrild

Crimson-rumped Waxbill

Estrilda rhodopyga

Cut-throat Finch

Amadina fasciata

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus bengalus

Green-winged Pytilia

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

Jameson's Firefinch

Lagonosticta rhodopareia

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Pin-tailed Whydah

Tmetothylacus tenellus

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Macronyx croceus

Pangani Longclaw

Macronyx aurantiigula

Anthus sokokensis

Reichenow's Seedeater

Crithagra reichenowi

Southern Crested Guineafowl

Guttera edouardi

African Black Swift

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Ceuthmochares aereus

Speckled Pigeon

American Flamingo

Phoenicopterus ruber

Eurasian Oystercatcher

Haematopus ostralegus

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

African Skimmer

Rynchops flavirostris

Saunders's Tern

Sternula saundersi

Sterna dougallii

Asian Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia episcopus

Butorides striata

Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus pusillus

Ethiopian Boubou

Laniarius aethiopicus

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

Winding Cisticola

Cisticola marginatus

Black-capped Apalis

Apalis nigriceps

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Abyssinian Crimsonwing

Cryptospiza salvadorii

Brown Firefinch

Lagonosticta nitidula

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Four-toed Sengi

Petrodromus tetradactylus

Papio cynocephalus

Zanj Sun Squirrel

Heliosciurus undulatus

Red Bush Squirrel

Paraxerus palliatus

Caracal caracal

Nesotragus moschatus

Southern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Cercopithecus mitis

Garnett's Greater Galago

Otolemur garnettii

Short-snouted Sengi

Elephantulus brachyrhynchus

Golden-rumped Sengi

Rhynchocyon chrysopygus

African Sheath-tailed Bat

Egyptian Slit-faced Bat

Nycteris thebaica

Harrison's Giant Mastiff Bat

Otomops harrisoni

African Straw-colored Fruit Bat

Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit Bat

Epomophorus wahlbergi

Egyptian Rousette

Rousettus aegyptiacus

Sundevall's Roundleaf Bat

Hipposideros caffer

Heart-nosed False-vampire

Cardioderma cor

Decken's Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus deckenii

Bushy-tailed Mongoose

Bdeogale crassicauda

White-tailed Mongoose

Ichneumia albicauda

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