Karura Forest Activities And Charges

In this article, we will focus on Karura Forest Activities and Charges. Karura Forest is located in the Northern part of Nairobi, Kenya. The Kenya Forest Service and the Friends of Karura Community Forest Association manage the forest.

Karura Forest is a large urban forest with five entrances open to the public. The main entrance is Limuru Road, directly across from the Belgian Embassy. It is also accessible via Gate C, located along Kiambu Road, directly across from the DCI headquarters. It is a serene, safe, and secure environment with a lot to offer: scenic nature trails, archaeological sites, caves, marshlands, and well-maintained cycling trails. They now offer eco-tours that include a tour guide to help you navigate the forest. The tour gives you a better understanding of the forest. Karura Forest is open to all visitors who share a love for nature and a common respect for Kenya’s unspoilt natural beauty. There is a modest entry fee and all proceeds go to keeping Karura safe and secure.

History of Karura Forest

Karura Forest Reserve is one of Nairobi’s only three gazetted forests, the others being Ngong Forest and Oloolua Forest. Despite being gazetted in 1932, the land around Karura has been constantly contested. Because of its location in the heart of the capital city, the land it occupies is extremely valuable. Plans were put in place in the 1990s to reduce the size of the forest and build housing. Wangari Maathai, who died recently, was a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate for her contributions to conservation, which included establishing a greenbelt movement in Kenya. As part of her campaign to protect Kenya’s natural spaces, she organised a protest movement that resulted in the cancellation of the planned urban development and the preservation of Karura Forest.

Karura Forest Entry Fees

Citizen – Kenya	Charges
Adult	Ksh 100
Child	Ksh 50

Residents – East Africa	Charges
Adult	Ksh 200
Child	Ksh 100

Non-Residents	Charges
Adult	Ksh 600
Child	Ksh 300

Karura Forest Daily Car Parking Fees

Vehicle Type	Charges
Cars (4x4s)	Ksh 200
Minivan (14-seater)	Ksh 400
Minibus (15-31 seats)	Ksh 600
Buses (32 seats & more)	Ksh 1000

Karura Forest Activities And Charges

There are many things to do in Karura, and all activities are guided by the principle: “Leave nothing behind but footprints, take nothing away but memories.“ Currently, visitors are enjoying:

1. Mountain-Biking

Visitors to Karura Forest can now hire a sturdy multi-speed trail bike to use on designated forest trails. There are three bike depots: one on the KFEET grounds, best accessible through Gate A (Limuru Road) or Gate D (off ICRAF Road), a second rental point at Gate C (a.k.a. Sharks) off Kiambu Road and another at Gate F off Thigiri ridge road, the main entrance to Sigiria gate. Ksh 500 per two-hour hire will get you in motorless motion, daily from 8 am to 4 pm. Please be prepared to leave your ID in safe keeping with the bike shed staff during your ride.

2. Picnics

Picnics in Karura Forest Reserve may be enjoyed at one of the five designated picnic sites — near the KFEET Centre, adjacent to Amani Garden, at the Ruaka Swamp, in Sigiria near the Obstacle Course, or in Karura Gardens on Kiambu Road. On weekdays, there is no need to book a picnic, but on weekends, picnics must be pre-arranged and booked through the FKF office. Weekend picnics must be booked a day in advance (not later than 1800hrs) via email or phone. For picnic booking, call 0728-501333 or send an email to info@karurafriends.org

The Picnic Fee per person shall be as follows:

Adult -Ksh 150
Child (12 & under) -Ksh 100

NOTE: The picnic fees do not include forest Entry and Parking Fees. Entry and Parking fees must be paid separately.

3. Trekking/Walking

Karura Forest has over 50 kilometres of trails. Every time you visit, a new path awaits you. Wear appropriate walking shoes because the trails are more hilly than you might think and can cause strain if you’re not wearing the proper footwear. Bring plenty of water and perhaps a banana or two.

4. Bird-Watching

Karura Forest is home to over 200 different bird species. Guided eco-tours will take you to the best places to see various species.

5. Dog-Walking

Karura Forest has a cool, refreshing atmosphere, and there’s plenty to discover with your best friend. While most of the forest requires your dog to be leashed, there are designated off-leash areas. For safety and security reasons, you must register your dog and obtain a Dog Tag Card upon entry. Again, dog guidelines are strictly enforced in the reserve for the safety of everyone.

6. Guided Tours (Eco-Tours)

If you want to learn more about the history of Karura Forest, eco-tours are a great option. There are many landmarks with great legends, such as the Mau Mau caves, which were used as hideouts during Kenya’s struggle for independence. Eco tours can be booked at any gate.

Eco-Tours charges
The charges for a tour guide are exclusive of the entry fees and are divided according to class and age. These classes include:

General tour: Ksh. 300 for adults and Ksh. 150 for children
Specialised tour: Ksh. 800 for adults and Ksh. 400 for children
Exclusive VIP tour: Ksh. 1800 for adults and Ksh. 900 for children

7. Tennis

Visitors to Karura Forest are welcome to use the tennis courts at the KFEET Centre, which are open daily from 7 am to 5 pm. Singles and doubles games are both permitted. Tennis shoes should be worn on courts two and three. To avoid inconvenience, all reservations should be made at least one day in advance. All reservations should be made via email info@karurafriends.org or by phone 0791 398371.

The court fees are Ksh 200 for adults and Ksh 100 for children under the age of 12, excluding the entrance fee to the forest and parking fees. Entry and parking fees must be paid separately (see Fees). The courts are charged per hour; any additional time spent on the court will result in additional fees.

8. Jogging

If you like jogging, this is your go-to place. The place is organically interactive as you walk or jog. You will get to appreciate Nature more as you jog and sweat away to better health and a feel-good mood. (5-, 10- and 15-km trails are marked along forest paths.)

Other activities include;

Tree-Planting
Just Sitting
Gathering in designated areas for any number of events: Educational tours, Concerts, Weddings, Team-Building, Exhibitions, Dog-training, Sports & Fitness
Horse-riding

Although quite muddy, you will enjoy your walk. We highly recommend it as an escape from the city in a safe and beautiful setting, particularly if a business trip means a weekend stay in the city.

Karura Forest Attractions

The Mau Mau Caves – The Mau Mau used to hide here from the colonials.
Scenic Waterfalls and Rivers – The Karura Forest Reserve has spectacular 15-meter waterfalls and streams that run through it. The cascading sound of the waterfall combined with the melodious, enchanting birds around creates one of the most harmonious euphonies.
The Incinerator – This was used by the central bank of Kenya to burn the old and decommissioned currency back in the day.
Lily Lake – This is an abandoned stone quarry Pond, which is now known as Lily Lake.
Marshlands – They attract birdlife, including winter migrants from Europe and Asia

The River Café, Karura Forest

The River Café is located near the car park at the Limuru Road main entrance. The cafe celebrates the natural beauty of Karura Forest Reserve. A restaurant that is completely open to the elements, with a raised platform that overlooks the trees. The food and service are always excellent, and it is reasonably priced. The River Café in Karura Forest serves massive burgers, steaks, fish, pasta, salads, and sandwiches, as well as a large wine and cocktail list and delicious hot chocolates for those days when you’re cold and tired from biking in the woods. It is very popular on weekends, so I recommend you make a reservation. Dogs are permitted on a lead.