Karura Forest Birding

Karura Forest is one of the urban birding forests in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Karura Forest was gazetted in 1932 and is run by the Kenya Forest Service in partnership with the Friends of Karura Forest . Karura Forest is located north of central Nairobi and is bordered by the boroughs of Muthaiga, Gigiri, Runda, Ridgeway’s, Peponi, and New Muthaiga.

The western part of the forest is also known as Sigiria Forest which has more introduced tree plantations. Karura Forest has an area of 1063.0 hectares, making it the largest of the three main declared urban forests in Nairobi. The other forests are Ngong Forest and Oloolua Forest , The centrally located Nairobi Arboretum is much smaller. Karura Forest has well-marked and maintained nature trails. Five tributaries of the Nairobi River pass through Karura Forest: Ruaka River which separates Karura River and the Runda Residential area; Karura River traverses through the forest, Getathuru River borders the Forest along its Southern edge with the Muthaiga Residential area; Thigiri River (a tributary of Getathuru River) crisscross through the western section of Karura Forest, and Mathare River which forms part of the Southern boundary of the Sigiria block.

Wildlife in Karura forest includes Monkey species (recently re-introduced black and white Colobus Monkeys), Bushbaby, Bushbuck, Bushpig, Porcupine, Duiker, Genet, and Suni. Recently in one of the many camera traps installed in Karura forest, a little interesting carnivore was captured- the African Palm Civet a long, low-slung arboreal carnivore with a muscular, ringed tail longer than a body, strictly active at night

Karura forest birding is done on foot, which brings a sense of calm and is a great way to connect with nature. You will enjoy beautiful bird photography and marvel at various exciting bird species. More than 200 bird species have been recorded in Karura forest, its quiet, and tranquility, permitting encounters with amazing forest birds in rapid sequence. In a mindful birding walk of two hours in Karura forest, you can manage to record and see colorful and interesting birds numbering close to a hundred

Bird species in the Karura Forest include ; Singing Cisticola, African Goshawk, African Crowned Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Brown-chested Alethe, Narina Trogon, Long Crested Eagle, White-backed Duck, Malachite Kingfisher, Hartlaub’s Turaco, White-headed Barbet, Slender-billed Greenbul, African Black Duck, African Emerald Cuckoo, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Paradise Flycatcher, Grey-crowned Cranes, Spot-flanked Barbet. Recently a Red-chested Flufftail a secretive bird in bogs, swamps, and marshes, has been heard at the swamp next to KFEET . The sightings of birds that used to be seen 10 years ago have been attributed to planting more indigenous trees in patches with exotic species. But nothing beats tagging someone familiar with the birds of Karura Forest including their songs, secret locations, and habits.